Do not sign Pierce; Blow it up!

[Junkyard Dawg]

Pierce is way down in terms of effectiveness

18 pts and 6 boards for the season and in the playoffs, on defensive-minded team.  Believe that's about what it was 2 years ago.  41% from 3, highest mark of his career.  Suffocating defense on 2-time MVP lebron james.  

Yeah, jeez the man belongs in a nursing home.

[LB3533]

It's not just Pierce though.

If you look at all of our starters, their efficiency numbers are staggering!!!!

And this is from 4 out of the starting 5 dealing with injuries/trade rumors.

If we remain healthy next season and not have to deal with trade rumors, we will know at the very least 4 of the 5 (not Perk) will be extremely efficient on offense.

I think that's generally a key point for a defensive team. *High offensive efficiency.

Volume scoring has its place for run and gun teams who don't play consistent top level defense...and we know where these teams end up in the playoffs.....out.

[celtics2]

And while everyone is saying we were 6 minutes away from a Title, let's really look at the facts: This team had broken down in the 4th qtr for most of the season.

I'd like to see that stat if anyone can find it.  If there was one quarter that killed us throughout the regular season, it was the 3rd quarter.  Most people would agree that indicates a lack of focus, not "broken down" players.

..

Nah, problem, age, rigor mortis sets in sitting around the locker room for 20 minutes at half time. This team has shot it's wad. Time to put the hanky's away and make moves to the future. It's a business. Look to LA for constructing teams.

[Bankshot]

First of all, why are we trying to sign Pierce? He is a fringe all-star in decline. Iguodala is probably available for a future second, ditto Deng. Salmons offers similar output at 1/3 the price.

Our next moves, in order, should be:
1) Move Garnett
2) Grab a fringe all-star wing with our cap room
3) Backfill low risk / high reward guys

Ideally, we could swap Garnett for Ellis & Biedrins. Does it take a future first? Baby? Not a big deal.

That would leave us about $15 million in cap room after roster holds to fill out the starting frontcourt.

Iggy or Deng would cost us $10 million, while Salmons would cost us around $6.5 - this move depends on what you think we need at power forward. If you think we can grab Beasley in a salary dump, you go with Iggy or Deng. If you do not, you have to take Salmons (The #2 option on a surging playoff team last season) and go after David Lee at arond $9m to start.

Where does that leave us?

Rondo
Ellis
Igguodala
Beasley
Biedrins

Bradley
Davis
Perkins

Probably a first round playoff team in 2010-11. That starting unit has the potential to dominate on defense, and with Rondo leading a unit that fast, you can expect a lot of fast break basketball.

Suround them with solid Mid-level and Bi-annual exception guys in 2011-12 and this team could make a lot of noise.

Blow it up. LOL