Time to re-build

[RonnieG]

We got KG, Allen and Pierce together to win us A CHAMPIONSHIP, which they did so mission "New big 3" was accomplished, but we are far from being a championship team and right now look like a team that could get bounced in the first round, I think now it's time to try and start over keeping our young guns (Rondo, Perkins) and whatnot around.

I understand I just sound like a sad C's fan (which I am), but I really think it's the right thing to do.

[gpap]

We got KG, Allen and Pierce together to win us A CHAMPIONSHIP, which they did so mission "New big 3" was accomplished, but we are far from being a championship team and right now look like a team that could get bounced in the first round, I think now it's time to try and start over keeping our young guns (Rondo, Perkins) and whatnot around.

I understand I just sound like a sad C's fan (which I am), but I really think it's the right thing to do.

I think this summer, if we can't land a max free agent we should try to shop Paul Pierce (IF we don't win a championship this June.)

Despite his age, I still think Pierce has trade value and can land us a couple of decent players. Then if we can use the mid-level excpetion on another decent free agent, resign Marquis, let Ray walk, maybe pick up another big man, we'd be okay.

Then whenver we can spend the big money and go crazy, try to land either Mello or Durant whenevery they're available.

[cdif911]

I do want to see PP retire a Celtic, but I understand business.  Next year (this summer) is going to play a big role in how the next 4 or 5 years go down.  I have a feeling Ray is gone.  Maybe we can get an asset for a sign and trade, but who knows.  PP will be an expiring, KG will be 2 years off.  The question becomes do you build around Rondo, and if so how?  Boston typically isn't a hot spot free agent destination, the last few years being the exception with guys looking for gold.  Do we keep Quis as the starting 2? I don't think he's durable enough.  Building through the draft is a tough prospect as well as we don't have the picks, but perhaps some trades could position us better over the next few years.  But honestly, this year is the last of the 3 year window, that's why I really hope they get it together.  Next year could be a playoff team, probably should be even, but then it may be doldrums for a few years (hopefully not decades) before we're back in contention

[WW1MR]

I say no, let's not be too hasty to start the rebuilding process. I agree we may not rank among the top teams in the NBA anymore. Probably a long-shot to win another title with this group. But...

I REMEMBER the year in, year out pain of the ML Carr and Pitino years. I REMEMBER how it felt to watch my C's win one game out of every four. It seemed like every game we were playing from behind and with every made basket I would find myself thinking, "ok, we've got it (the other team's lead) down to 12... now get it to Barros and we'll have it down to single digits... wait how mush time is left?"

It WAS NOT FUN. At least now I can enjoy watching the boys in green win almost three out of every four games. I can enjoy watching three future HOF players... two guys in the Big Ticket and Jesus Shuttlesworth that before 2007 I could only envision pairing with the Truth in my WILDEST DREAMS. I get to watch the newest all-star, my boy Rondo, and "Mr. Scowl" Perkins. And when all else fails, you never know what kind of antics Sheed or Robinson might bring to the table.

When we're "on" (and yes we we've most certainly been "off" the last few games) and when we're healthy, we can be competitive against any other team. Going to the Playoffs every season that we've got the big three together is DEFINITELY NOT a stretch. I'll take that over six consecutive seasons without a playoff berth any day.

Sometimes I wonder who these posters are? Those that are "omg we're going to get bounced in the first round Better trade Paul Pierce for Ty Thomas and Kirk Hinrich fire Danny and start the rebuilding process so i can watch more games like the loss to the nets yesterday i loooove that!" I think that the born on date for these celtic fans must have be early summer 2007, because those who have watched the c's for the last couple decades should have developed a significantly thicker skin against losing, and much more appreciation for quality players (even if some are in the twilight of their career) and a 36-21 record.

That's what rebuilding is: Miserable Losing and Prolonged Periods of Mediocrity. Ya'll have the right to your own opinions but I for one want none of it.

Rant over/

[wdleehi]

We must see this team in this playoff before there is real information on the best course of action.


Be it re-build
Re-tool
Celebrate.

[Brickowski]

That's what rebuilding is: Miserable Losing and Prolonged Periods of Mediocrity. Ya'll have the right to your own opinions but I for one want none of it.

Rant over/

There is no choice but to rebuild because there is no viable alternative.

Rebuilding sucks.  Getting old and mediocre and then rebuilding sucks worse. 

[GreenFaith1819]

Well, we'll rebuild, in due time. I just don't see the need for wholesale changes, though.

I think the biggest difference from our team now vs the team of the late 80's is that we have Rondo and Perk. Back then, our entire starting 5 was starting to age...we didn't have young stars at the 5 or 1.

Rondo is among the top 5 PGs (maybe the best?) in the game right now and will only get better.

Perk is a top Defensive center, and he will only get better.

I just don't see The Boston Celtics hitting rock bottom even as the current Big Three continue to age. Center and PG are two of the toughest positions to fill and we are fortunate to have Two Winners at those spots.

Rondo needs to take the keys to the car, though...PGs lead the team.

Drive the car, man....Now.

Sure - lately times have been tough, but this team won't go silently into the night..this year or even over the next few years.

Danny - Resign Perkins...I'd say 7-9 mil a year. Lock Perk up for a few years, and we're good.

[Toine43]

Hey, the season isn't over yet. It's kind of pointless to act like we have no chance when there's still time yet. That's just depressing. I'd rather focus on turning it around with this group this year and getting banner 18.

[slamtheking]

Sometimes I wonder who these posters are? Those that are "omg we're going to get bounced in the first round Better trade Paul Pierce for Ty Thomas and Kirk Hinrich fire Danny and start the rebuilding process so i can watch more games like the loss to the nets yesterday i loooove that!" I think that the born on date for these celtic fans must have be early summer 2007, because those who have watched the c's for the last couple decades should have developed a significantly thicker skin against losing, and much more appreciation for quality players (even if some are in the twilight of their career) and a 36-21 record.

That's what rebuilding is: Miserable Losing and Prolonged Periods of Mediocrity. Ya'll have the right to your own opinions but I for one want none of it.

Rant over/

But for those of us who've been watching the team longer than 20 years are used to contending for more than a couple of years at a time.  The C's have had a couple of rough spots between championship windows--Russell to Cowens to Bird.  Each era was born from getting a prime young player to carry the torch forward.  To do that, the C's will need either a real coup in free agency in a couple of years or need to get a really sweet lottery pick then.

The post-Bird era was the aberration so far due to the deaths of Bias and Lewis and the lack of development of Antoine into the player he could have been ([dang] Pitino for turning him into a chucker).  After KG's contract is up, Danny will have to rebuild (provided he doesn't do something foolish to lock us into more years with old players).  Hopefully for less than 2 years but the team will bounce back again.

[RonnieG]

I know it just sounds like a desperate C's fan reaction, but I know none of you are fools so do we think we have the team to win it all this year? I personally in my opinion don't think so, being that, it leads me to think well why would they be any better next year?

I liked the idea of letting this season come to a close and see what kind of moves you can make in free agency, but landing a Joe Johnson, or waiting until 2011 and snagging Melo would be sweet 

[RonnieG]

I say no, let's not be too hasty to start the rebuilding process. I agree we may not rank among the top teams in the NBA anymore. Probably a long-shot to win another title with this group. But...

I REMEMBER the year in, year out pain of the ML Carr and Pitino years. I REMEMBER how it felt to watch my C's win one game out of every four. It seemed like every game we were playing from behind and with every made basket I would find myself thinking, "ok, we've got it (the other team's lead) down to 12... now get it to Barros and we'll have it down to single digits... wait how mush time is left?"

It WAS NOT FUN. At least now I can enjoy watching the boys in green win almost three out of every four games. I can enjoy watching three future HOF players... two guys in the Big Ticket and Jesus Shuttlesworth that before 2007 I could only envision pairing with the Truth in my WILDEST DREAMS. I get to watch the newest all-star, my boy Rondo, and "Mr. Scowl" Perkins. And when all else fails, you never know what kind of antics Sheed or Robinson might bring to the table.

When we're "on" (and yes we we've most certainly been "off" the last few games) and when we're healthy, we can be competitive against any other team. Going to the Playoffs every season that we've got the big three together is DEFINITELY NOT a stretch. I'll take that over six consecutive seasons without a playoff berth any day.

Sometimes I wonder who these posters are? Those that are "omg we're going to get bounced in the first round Better trade Paul Pierce for Ty Thomas and Kirk Hinrich fire Danny and start the rebuilding process so i can watch more games like the loss to the nets yesterday i loooove that!" I think that the born on date for these celtic fans must have be early summer 2007, because those who have watched the c's for the last couple decades should have developed a significantly thicker skin against losing, and much more appreciation for quality players (even if some are in the twilight of their career) and a 36-21 record.

That's what rebuilding is: Miserable Losing and Prolonged Periods of Mediocrity. Ya'll have the right to your own opinions but I for one want none of it.

Rant over/

I've been watching the Celtics since I was a baby, and took it a notch higher when my hardcore celtics fan father passed away when I was 6 years old. All I did was make a suggestion in a forum, don't flame me, I made my point and it had nothing to do with the Nets game.

[Jon]

We must see this team in this playoff before there is real information on the best course of action.


Be it re-build
Re-tool
Celebrate.

.

Exactly.  As disappointing as things have been lately, it's quite possible that when healthy and when inspired to play, the C's may very well kick some butt in the playoffs.

It's also quite possible they get their butt kicked too. 

However, I still don't understand why anyone wants to make any sweeping proclamations about this team in any direction on the first day of March. 

[Chris]

I agree that they need to rebuild.  But that is easier said than done.  Danny can't just say "here are my old guys, give me your young guys". 

Rebuilding in a process, and a delicate one at that.  You need to be smart with every move.  Every move needs to be examined from every angle, to determine the impact of players they are giving up, impact of players they are bringing back, and the financial and cap implications as well.

Right now, I think Danny's biggest goal should be to try to rebuild some assets.  Currently they have very few valuable assets for rebuilding, and he needs to get creative to change that, while not putting their future cap situation at risk (especially given the uncertainty of the new CBA).

He needs to keep his eyes open for opportunities to grab a young star, but I think his more likely approach will be to try to keep the team competing for the next two years, without taking on any long-term contracts, and trying to gain some extra assets (young guys on rookie deals, or draft picks).  Then trying to really rebuild as Pierce and Garnett come off the books, and he has a better idea of what the next CBA is going to look like. 

[arctic 3.0]

Well, we'll rebuild, in due time. I just don't see the need for wholesale changes, though.

I think the biggest difference from our team now vs the team of the late 80's is that we have Rondo and Perk. Back then, our entire starting 5 was starting to age...we didn't have young stars at the 5 or 1.

Rondo is among the top 5 PGs (maybe the best?) in the game right now and will only get better.

Perk is a top Defensive center, and he will only get better.

I just don't see The Boston Celtics hitting rock bottom even as the current Big Three continue to age. Center and PG are two of the toughest positions to fill and we are fortunate to have Two Winners at those spots.

Rondo needs to take the keys to the car, though...PGs lead the team.

Drive the car, man....Now.

Sure - lately times have been tough, but this team won't go silently into the night..this year or even over the next few years.

Danny - Resign Perkins...I'd say 7-9 mil a year. Lock Perk up for a few years, and we're good.

sorry to rain on our young talent but devin haris and brook lopez are as good a combo as rondo and perk (rondo < haris but lopez<< than perk).
the nets are at rock bottom. no reason to expect that rondo/perk can guide us through the rebuilding any more smoothly than the nets are experiencing.

I think (and i am a fan of both) that rondo and perk have the highest trade value of any one on the team. if the opportunity came up to significantly improve the talent of the club by dealing either or both i'd do it.

[PLamb]

You rebuild though the draft and trades

So try to make the most of this year's very deep draft and draft intelligently

The Celtics with their struggles might pick as high as 20th or as low as 27th

For the sake of rebuilding lets hope they can be closer to 20 and yet still have a long playoff run this year

I would also do whatever it takes to try to trade for a mid 1st round pick any way you can this year

With 2 first round picks to develop in this very deep draft if the Celtics pick intelligently and score in a Big Al/Delonte West type manner in this draft or better, by 2012 things will look brighter with a pair of young players to add to a 2011 and a 2012 draft pick and Rondo and Perk and a bunch of salary cap space

The anything is possible

But this year's draft is hugely important to rebuilding