Time to re-build

[sk7326]

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.

Rebuilding the way the Knicks are trying is a bad idea.  You don't want to be known as a loser.  Indeed, cap space alone guarantees nothing.  The Celtics MUST continue to try to field a credible winner even IF they want to keep the contract deck cleared for life after Garnett.  Massachusetts is cold, and has a crappy state tax rate ... players will not go there just for fun ... so the Celtics must remain viable winners.  I think the cap space will be attractive when a player knows the organization wants to make them successful and not run things on the cheap. 

The marginal difference between the 15th and 25th pick is basically zero ... you are either going to get a highly probably role player (basically Tony Allen - a guy who will be a contributor but a flawed one and one with a limited ceiling) or a high ceiling high risk guy (Gerald Green - an otherworldly talent who has a 90% chance of flaming out).  In Danny's position, one wants to balance draft priorities between the two ... they need to get some depth out of the draft, but if a Devin Ebanks-Dexter Pittman level ubertalent is there - it is worth placing an upside bet. 

[minijericho29]

Rebuilding now is a good idea.....NOT!

The trading deadline is OVER!  Let's win one now and then think about rebuilding during the off-season.

[Brickowski]

Well yes.  There's no rebuilding to be done until draft night in June. They could have jump started the process by trading Ray but they elected not to do so.

As Chris said, rebuilding is a delicate process.  But it also has to be a completely unsentimental process and there is no room for procrastination.

[Chris]

Well yes.  There's no rebuilding to be done until draft night in June. They could have jump started the process by trading Ray but they elected not to do so.

As Chris said, rebuilding is a delicate process.  But it also has to be a completely unsentimental process and there is no room for procrastination.

I agree with all of this.  And I personally believe that the lack of a Ray trade had nothing to do with sentimentality.  I just do not think there was a deal out there that made sense for the team in both the long and short-term, that also fit into the finances.

I think Danny worked hard to try to turn Ray into a younger building block.  However, I just am not sure they had the assets to combine with Ray to make it happen.

Patience has proven a virtue to Ainge in the past, and I think this will be another case.  I think he is willing to use Pierce or Garnett's contract in the next two seasons, if the right trade presents itself.  I just think he is waiting for the right deal...but he needs to add a few more assets to be able to make that happen.

[Brickowski]

They might be able to sign and trade Ray to a contender this Summer for a younger building block, someone like Mickael Pietrus or (ironically) Delonte West.

[Chris]

They might be able to sign and trade Ray to a contender this Summer for a younger building block, someone like Mickael Pietrus or (ironically) Delonte West.

I agree.  I also think they could try to combine him with Perk for a bigger fish.

Basically, I just don't think trading Ray at the deadline was a huge miss that is going to set back the rebuilding.  I think there was as much of a chance he could have set the team back even farther by making the right Ray trade, as he could have jumpstarted the rebuilding process with the right trade.  There are still a lot of things they can do over the next 2-3 years, and even though it doesn't help with the instant gratification we all crave, being patient is not a bad thing.

[Brickowski]

Yes, it's very possible that the right deal for Ray was simply not there at the deadline.

I would offer Ray and Perk to Miami for Michael Beasley and a resigned Udonis Haslem.

[Chris]

Yes, it's very possible that the right deal for Ray was simply not there at the deadline.

I would offer Ray and Perk to Miami for Michael Beasley and a resigned Udonis Haslem.

Yup, I actually threw out the idea of Perk straight up for Beasley last week (might have been on another site though).

I think Beasley has more value for Perk, and could blossom into a real building-block, if he can grow up a bit.

And for Miami, if they go out and resign Wade, and then sign someone like Bosh or Amare, Perkins could make a lot more sense for them than Beasley, and that deal could make sense.

Then the C's could move KG to Center (where he probably should play anyways, given his loss of mobility), and they would have a new, young weapon to build with in Beasley at the PF spot.

[PLamb]

If rebuilding comes down to having to trade Kendrick Perkins, this is probably going to have to be the off season to do it

But perusing through the teams around the league that are going to need a big man next year, there are very few that have anything the Celtics could want

Cleveland - will be losing Shaq and Z and if they re-sign LeBron will be desperately looking for a center, but they have nothing we want

Detroit - would kill for a center like Perk but would they trade their first round lottery pick for him

Charlotte - would love to add Perk but it would mean having to take give up someone important because they have no great young talent or first round pick

Miami - has Beasley and two first round picks now if they re-sign Wade and get Amare or Bosh or LeBron to Miami they could be very interested in Perk and maybe Danny swindles Pat Riley. I wouldn't count on it though

New York - would love to have Perk if LeBron signs there but all they have to offer would be Wilson Chandler and a far off in the distance first rounder

Oklahoma City - this team with Perkins at center could be a contender next year and would seem a perfect trading partner. Lots of young players and two picks this year

Washington - has been known to be stupid enough to trade away top 5 picks in the very recent past. If they don't land in the top three would they trade that pick for Perk

[Brickowski]

Cleveland has quite a few players that I would want, starting with Delonte West and JJ Hickson.

[Chris]

Cleveland has quite a few players that I would want, starting with Delonte West and JJ Hickson.

Not enough for Perk though.  Both of those guys are projected as role players...and not as good as Perk.  If the C's are going to trade Perk, it is going to be for a player that has potential to be a real star.

[PLamb]

Cleveland has quite a few players that I would want, starting with Delonte West and JJ Hickson.

Not enough for Perk though.  Both of those guys are projected as role players...and not as good as Perk.  If the C's are going to trade Perk, it is going to be for a player that has potential to be a real star.

Exactly

Which is why a first rounder this year would be important

I could see a future All-Star quality player dropping as low as 20 this year and maybe as low as 25

But in the top 15 there I think is some excellent talent

Sefolosha and a pick
Beasley and a second rounder
Daye and a pick
Nick Young and a pick

All stuff I would look at depending on where the picks land

[Mr October]

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.

I agree 100%. There is nothing that can be done to this team until after the playoffs are over anyway.

Lets sit back, catch a few regular season games, and then see what these guys truly have in them at playoff time.

[ManchesterCelticsFan]

I say rebuild or at worst, retool this summer even if this group somehow wins the 2010 championship based on the way they played this season up to this point. It's probably over. I thought Rondo's projected improvement and signing Sheed would extend our championship window 1-2 years (this year and next) and offset the aging of the Big 3. It ain't looking good right now...

With Perkins recent "bored" comments, now I see why Ainge tried to trade him for Memphis's pick last summer despite potentially screwing up this seasons "Championship Potential"

[RJ87]

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.

We have no $$ to land a max contract this summer. Sorry to burst your bubble. The only possible way is a sign and trade of some sort, but we honestly just don't have tradeable assets right now. Ray was our chance, but DA passed it up.

Our best chance at rebuilding won't be until KG is expiring. And that's 2 seasons away.