Pierce deal is done - 4th year is fully guaranteed

[Cman]

Sorry for the rant everyone. I just feel like a huge burden has been lifted.

Agreed, welcome back PP, and Happy Fourth to everyone.

Ray?  Your next, dude!

[Bahku]

For a player of Pierce's caliber, this deal is a steal, regardless of the fourth year.  I just don't get the hand-wringing about delaying rebuilding.  

Do people remember rebuilding?  We did it for about 20 years.  It sucked.  The Bulls have been doing it for 25 years, and still haven't made it back to the ECF.  The Clippers rebuild every year.  The Grizzlies, the Twolves, the Knicks . . .  It's just not a system that works very well.  

This sums up my feelings precisely ... thanks for saving me the typing, Roy. (TP)

[KGs Knee]

I, for one, am very happy the C's got this deal done.

I don't quite understand myself why some people would prefer to see the C's go back to being a losing team.  I personally think watching a winning team is much more enjoyable, hands down.

Now, as far as Ray is concerned, I would rather not see more than a 2 year contract.  Not nessecarily beacuase he won't still be a good player, but becaue the C's do need to keep some sort of payroll flexibility for the future.

People who think this deal for Pierce hinders our flexibility in the future just aren't paying attention.  We will only have 2 players under contract when KG's contract expires.  If DA makes sure to make smart moves with the rest of his signings, we could easily be big FA players in 2012 or 2013.

[xmuscularghandix]

People who think this deal for Pierce hinders our flexibility in the future just aren't paying attention.  We will only have 2 players under contract when KG's contract expires.  If DA makes sure to make smart moves with the rest of his signings, we could easily be big FA players in 2012 or 2013.

I agree. DA had to lock up Pierce  because he literally is the last Celtic Captain in Red’s lifetime. He is an important player in our history.

Danny just has to make sure everything is setup to get in the hunt for a nice FA in 2012, or to acquire a nice player through trading our young assets.

Signing Nate will also be huge because i feel like he’s a player that can be moved and bring nice value back. He’s the type of player that could be a good starter in the right system.

[Jon]

For a player of Pierce's caliber, this deal is a steal, regardless of the fourth year.  I just don't get the hand-wringing about delaying rebuilding.  

Do people remember rebuilding?  We did it for about 20 years.  It sucked.  The Bulls have been doing it for 25 years, and still haven't made it back to the ECF.  The Clippers rebuild every year.  The Grizzlies, the Twolves, the Knicks . . .  It's just not a system that works very well.  

This sums up my feelings precisely ... thanks for saving me the typing, Roy. (TP)

I tend to agree with this (however the Bulls have been doing it for closer to 15 years, not 25).  While I would've been happier letting him play this last year, then reevaluating next year, the expiring CBA wasn't going to let that happen.  

Though I don't think rebuilding should be entirely dismissed, what it comes down to is that you have to be lucky to really succeed in this league.  The Spurs didn't do anything extraordinary to get Duncan, nor did the Cavs anything extraordinary to get LeBron.  Quite the opposite.  Still, you do have to put yourself in position to get lucky.  But even then, as the Magic demonstrated a number of years ago when they cleared room for Duncan and got the soon-to-be-injured T-Mac and Grant Hill or what looks to be the case this year with the Knicks as they miss out on LeBron and Wade, you can get burned.  

At this point, I have to be content.  It seems that management is willing to spend money for one last run.  Bring back Ray (and all of the sudden years aren't as big of a deal), use the MLE, and trade Rasheed's contract.  Couple that with the possibility that Pierce and Garnett could be healthier this year and we have reasons to believe #18 is still possible.  

And if we win #18, I'll take Pierce in decline in year 4.  

[Levis107]

For a player of Pierce's caliber, this deal is a steal, regardless of the fourth year.  I just don't get the hand-wringing about delaying rebuilding. 

Do people remember rebuilding?  We did it for about 20 years.  It sucked.  The Bulls have been doing it for 25 years, and still haven't made it back to the ECF.  The Clippers rebuild every year.  The Grizzlies, the Twolves, the Knicks . . .  It's just not a system that works very well. 

The Bulls most definitely have not been rebuilding for 25 years, so I'm going to assume you made a typo Roy.

The legitimate concern is this:  If what you saw was a team getting older and unable to win a championship, and you have a legitimate young star with a favorable contract, why ruin that potential for a stubborn attempt at "reloading" that is likely to not end up as a success?

"a team getting older and unable to win a championship"?  They were 5 points away in Game 7 from a championship!!  Had a few more calls or bounces gone the Celtics way, we would be raising Banner 18 and we wouldn't be having this conversation.

[makaveli]

Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
that pretty much sums it up for me

[erisred]

I like the deal, especially if it is front loaded. 

[lovely_20]

Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
that pretty much sums it up for me

Me too. 
Now all we need to do is retain Ray-Ray, and I'll be straight. 

[Who]

Do people remember rebuilding?  We did it for about 20 years.  It sucked.  The Bulls have been doing it for 25 years, and still haven't made it back to the ECF.  The Clippers rebuild every year.  The Grizzlies, the Twolves, the Knicks . . .  It's just not a system that works very well. 

Mismanagement

[Jon]

Do people remember rebuilding?  We did it for about 20 years.  It sucked.  The Bulls have been doing it for 25 years, and still haven't made it back to the ECF.  The Clippers rebuild every year.  The Grizzlies, the Twolves, the Knicks . . .  It's just not a system that works very well. 

Mismanagement

To some extent, thought it's not like the Jazz, Sonics, and Suns mismanaged in the '90s or the Kings and Mavs in the new millennium.  They just didn't have Jordan, Duncan, or Shaq. 

So if Danny thinks we have one more shot with this team, delaying rebuilding could very well be worth it. 

[LB3533]

I actually agree with Roy and feel the Bulls are still rebuilding right now.

This past season was their first of the post "Ben Gordon Era".

The Bulls have gone through a ton of high draft picks and got probably their best draft pick in Derek Rose, 2 years ago.

If you're still depending on high lotto picks, you're still rebuilding. Playoffs or no playoffs.

End of story.