So without a large trade next years Celtics...

[Celtsman]

Currently have 7 players under contract for next season and are already over the cap.  So they have little choice but to try and contend with the same old team a year older.  Maybe they bring Ray back or Tony Allen but otherwise we are looking at alot of veteran minimum type of players.  This was the Chance for the C's to position themselves for the future.  Now they are looking at the New Big 3 ending the same way the original Big 3 did.

[droopdog7]

Um, one of the Big Three will likley be gone next year.  Not trading Ray has only pushed it back a year.  We will have the same opportunities next year.  Be patient.

[greg683x]

I agree about the Patience part. Panic moves and impulsive trades leave you  with players like Vin Baker

[celticinorlando]

i think Ray will be resigned on the cheap..and they will just ride out with what they have for the next 2 years...bench is going to have to be reconstructed

[Celtsman]

You are seeing this team now becoming old and ineffective.  They have no mechanism to make serious change going into next year.  So how exactly do they get any better next year?  It will be the same old guys except older.

[Celtsman]

i think Ray will be resigned on the cheap..and they will just ride out with what they have for the next 2 years...bench is going to have to be reconstructed

I assume that Ray will be brought back as well but what does that really do?  Allow us to win the Atlantic?  Maybe get a 4 seed in the playoffs?  The whole thing with the Big 3 was that the contracts were staggered to allow us to keep the window open by moving the expiring deals for younger players.  That hasn't happened and any young players with a glimmer of talent find themselves glued to the bench in Boston anyway.  So now we lose the value of moving Ray for Talent, Pierce's opt out makes it unlikely we could move him until at least the deadline next year.  Then you have KG in his final year but by that point the C's will be at the bottom of the standings.

[celticinorlando]

i think Ray will be resigned on the cheap..and they will just ride out with what they have for the next 2 years...bench is going to have to be reconstructed

I assume that Ray will be brought back as well but what does that really do?  Allow us to win the Atlantic?  Maybe get a 4 seed in the playoffs?  The whole thing with the Big 3 was that the contracts were staggered to allow us to keep the window open by moving the expiring deals for younger players.  That hasn't happened and any young players with a glimmer of talent find themselves glued to the bench in Boston anyway.  So now we lose the value of moving Ray for Talent, Pierce's opt out makes it unlikely we could move him until at least the deadline next year.  Then you have KG in his final year but by that point the C's will be at the bottom of the standings.

good enough to make playoffs...not good enough to win it all....see last year's pistons

[Evantime34]

Next year could get ugly. Hopefully we can get an impact rookie in the 20's.

[celticinorlando]

Next year could get ugly. Hopefully we can get an impact rookie in the 20's.

naw...next year will be like this year...win the atlantic...finish a 3 seed. the year after will be the ugly year

[BballTim]

I agree about the Patience part. Panic moves and impulsive trades leave you  with players like Vin Baker

  We try not to mention Vin Baker here.





  kidding.

[Evantime34]

Next year could get ugly. Hopefully we can get an impact rookie in the 20's.

naw...next year will be like this year...win the atlantic...finish a 3 seed. the year after will be the ugly year

Let's say things look bad in the offseason, does Wyc sign off on paying someone the MLE? I doubt it. So that means we need to sign 6 free agents to the league min.
In other words it will be like this year, only if we had no depth at all.

[Celtsman]

i think Ray will be resigned on the cheap..and they will just ride out with what they have for the next 2 years...bench is going to have to be reconstructed

I assume that Ray will be brought back as well but what does that really do?  Allow us to win the Atlantic?  Maybe get a 4 seed in the playoffs?  The whole thing with the Big 3 was that the contracts were staggered to allow us to keep the window open by moving the expiring deals for younger players.  That hasn't happened and any young players with a glimmer of talent find themselves glued to the bench in Boston anyway.  So now we lose the value of moving Ray for Talent, Pierce's opt out makes it unlikely we could move him until at least the deadline next year.  Then you have KG in his final year but by that point the C's will be at the bottom of the standings.

good enough to make playoffs...not good enough to win it all....see last year's pistons

Exactly and this was their chance to push for a Kevin martin or an Iggy or a younger guy that could give us some type of hope for the future.  As it stands now we are just slowly watching the team fade away

[ManUp]

This team has zero tradeable assets, zero prospects, we probably won't be good enough to win it all(ultimate goal), and not bad enough to miss the play-offs(draft picks). The definition of Mediocre right in the middle of things. I also think it's going to be really hard to convince FA's to come here in 2012 without a decent core in place. Danny is either going to make an absolute steal in the draft or trade Pierce which I don't see happening.

[Celtsman]

Next year could get ugly. Hopefully we can get an impact rookie in the 20's.

naw...next year will be like this year...win the atlantic...finish a 3 seed. the year after will be the ugly year

Let's say things look bad in the offseason, does Wyc sign off on paying someone the MLE? I doubt it. So that means we need to sign 6 free agents to the league min.
In other words it will be like this year, only if we had no depth at all.

And had they not moved Giddens and Walker for a deal that really does little to improve them this year then maybe they could be given a chance to step into a regular role.  

[Who]

Currently have 7 players under contract for next season and are already over the cap.  So they have little choice but to try and contend with the same old team a year older.  Maybe they bring Ray back or Tony Allen but otherwise we are looking at alot of veteran minimum type of players.  This was the Chance for the C's to position themselves for the future.  Now they are looking at the New Big 3 ending the same way the original Big 3 did.

That was my mode of thought all through the season but I'm wavering on it now.

I think the Celtics should strongly consider spending their MLE on younger talent who can stick with the franchise after the Big Three. Even if that younger talent isn't the type of player, or position, that the Celtics need most. And even if that young talent isn't quite as good as a veteran player in the immediate future.