Post Big Three Era

[Assassin70]

Something I haven't seen mentioned yet is that Danny and the rest are really creating a culture of Boston as a free agent destination.  We might not be able to compete with LA or Miami for younger guys, but the parade of HOFers the last few seasons should help our image with future free agents.

Yes but only when the team is still in contention and winning.  When we go back to the 20-35W a year Celtics of a few years ago...free agents wont be walking through that door unless they are old and gray.

[Roy H.]

I'm not expecting much once we start to rebuild, which is why I agree with the current approach of doing everything possible to extend the current window of title contention.  Once the "big three" moves on, things are going to be ugly, I think.

[aporel#18]

Neurotic Guy and Assassin70 are right (TPs) you can't sign good FAs when you are winning 24 games. Remember KG didn't want to come here until Ray was signed?

The Celtics need to think alternative ways... I'm sure they are one of the teams that are making offers for Xavier Henry, link

And after December 15th there could be some trades. Depending on how the team plays, some players can be redundant or won't have the minutes they could get in another team. Danny never stops trying to improve the team.

my roster prediction (october 2012)

Rondo/Bradley
Austin Rivers/Ray
Francisco Garcia/Pierce
Jaxon Thompson/KG
Perk/Semih

 

[GreenEnvy]

I continue to think everyone is overreacting to the "post Big Three era."

The only reason we turned into a terrible team is because Danny Ainge inherited a truly woeful team. Believe it or not, it takes time to rebuild, and that's exactly what Ainge had to do. He could have pulled the trigger on guys like Baron Davis, but he held his trade chips until he thought he could obtain all the pieces.

The rebuilding stage would have continued into 2007-08 had we landed Oden or Durant obviously, but Ainge pushed all in once we crapped out in the lottery.

Who would have thought we would go from a 24-win team to 66-win champions overnight?

I trust Ainge. I think he will continue to draft young guys with high upside with an eye on the future - as opposed to drafting lower potential, help-now guys. He is not afraid to trade any player IMO (traded 'Toine within months of being hired), so using expiring contracts (except perhaps Pierce) to land younger players is something he will explore if this team isn't at an elite level.

Will they be contenders for the next 12 seasons? I doubt it, but what team will be? But I do expect them to be a playoff team for the next 6-8 because of Ainge and Rondo alone. Add in the MLE/LLE signings, smart drafting, good role players, and veteran leadership, and this team won't be a "20-35 win" team for the foreseeable future.

Believing things will get "ugly" once the Big Three retire is just being pessimistic. There is a BIG difference between rebuilding a Pitino-assembled team who peaked at an ECF appearance and rebuilding a championship team that got old.

I'm not gonna fret over the future when the here and now looks bright.

[fairweatherfan]

Something I haven't seen mentioned yet is that Danny and the rest are really creating a culture of Boston as a free agent destination.  We might not be able to compete with LA or Miami for younger guys, but the parade of HOFers the last few seasons should help our image with future free agents.

Boston as an FA destination is entirely dependent upon Boston being a contender.  The great playoff run last year is the primary reason guys re-upped (Ray; Paul) or signed here (Shaq; JO). Had the C's bowed out early, we'd be an undesirable destination and we'd be talking about rebuilding now. All this is, of course, an opinion -- but, Boston is cold and snowy in the winter and less appealing to FAs no matter how persuasive Danny is.  Good FAs come here for a chance to win, or not at all.

Sure, but being able to get good FAs will help prevent us from going back to those bad years.  And don't underestimate future players remembering us as a good franchise again - we had a whole generation of guys who'd never seen us be contenders.  The team has more cachet with players than it's had in quite awhile.

I'm just saying it helps to be more appealing to future FAs, not that this is a guarantee of continued success.  It's just better than our old reputation.

[slamtheking]

I think it depends on the next CBA and how the C's do the next 2 seasons.  

If they go in the tank sometime before the end of 2012 and there's no lockout, I think Danny will unload as many expiring deals as possible to contenders looking for that last piece of the puzzle.  No one will other than Rondo, PP and possibly Perk (depending on contract status after this coming year), I think everyone who's contract is up in 2012 can be had for the right price.  If this scenario comes to pass, I figure Danny will stock up on good young players and future draft picks.  C's will probably be done for a couple of years before getting better.

If C's contend through 2012 (assuming no lockout), I see Danny using the cap room (depending on CBA, that flexibility will vary) to be the third team in deals where he can pick up some decent high-priced talent and acquire picks as a courtesy for helping to facilitate some deals.  

I'm looking forward to that time to see what Danny manages to pull off.  Not looking forward to a potential lockout however.

[Spilling Green Dye]

The thought of the end of the era is rather depressing, but I don't think this team will turn into a 20-win team at all (esp not with Rondo).  The style of the team will definitely change, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it become much more uptempo.

I really hope Davis is not our starting PF in the post big 3 era.  I'm fine with him on the team then, just think that if he's our starter then it's a good indicator that the team is not very good (or deep).

[Roy H.]

. . . I don't think this team will turn into a 20-win team at all (esp not with Rondo). . . .

People cite Rondo a lot as the reason we won't have a long period of rebuilding, or one where we bottom out.  Is Rondo so much better than Paul Pierce, though?  Paul played on some absolutely terrible teams, mostly due to lack of help.  Can Rondo succeed where Pierce failed?

If we're able to land stars in free agency or through trade, I've got no doubt that the Rondo Era can continue on without a hitch.  However, if we have to build through the draft and by adding role players, I think it's going to be ugly.

[Spilling Green Dye]

. . . I don't think this team will turn into a 20-win team at all (esp not with Rondo). . . .

People cite Rondo a lot as the reason we won't have a long period of rebuilding, or one where we bottom out.  Is Rondo so much better than Paul Pierce, though?  Paul played on some absolutely terrible teams, mostly due to lack of help.  Can Rondo succeed where Pierce failed?

If we're able to land stars in free agency or through trade, I've got no doubt that the Rondo Era can continue on without a hitch.  However, if we have to build through the draft and by adding role players, I think it's going to be ugly.

Let me rephrase that then.. I don't think this will ever be a 20-win team again w/ Rondo & Ainge still in the organization.  Yes, Ainge started out with a bad record, but b/c he took over with near nothing in value and it was part of his plan.  They have enough momentum and time to assure that doesn't happen.

[Fan from VT]

. . . I don't think this team will turn into a 20-win team at all (esp not with Rondo). . . .

People cite Rondo a lot as the reason we won't have a long period of rebuilding, or one where we bottom out.  Is Rondo so much better than Paul Pierce, though?  Paul played on some absolutely terrible teams, mostly due to lack of help.  Can Rondo succeed where Pierce failed?

If we're able to land stars in free agency or through trade, I've got no doubt that the Rondo Era can continue on without a hitch.  However, if we have to build through the draft and by adding role players, I think it's going to be ugly.

Let me rephrase that then.. I don't think this will ever be a 20-win team again w/ Rondo & Ainge still in the organization.  Yes, Ainge started out with a bad record, but b/c he took over with near nothing in value and it was part of his plan.  They have enough momentum and time to assure that doesn't happen.

Interesting thought. But I'm not so sure...if anything, Ainge has proven he will throw away a season if he thinks it's worse long-term to be mediocre. So I could certainly see, either in PP's last year or the year after, a very bad season filled with short term guys and Rondo resting nursing some injuries while the C's gun for a top pick to pair with Rondo.