The real reason why the Celtics need to not sign contracts past 2012. (opinion)

[wdleehi]

My thoughts have been what did the GM and coach of the Hornets say to CP3 to make him back down so fast from trying to leave NO.There has to be something more down the road they saw or planning to do that is bigger than what we see now with their team,could it be D.Howard in the future to NO?Remember CP3 and Howard,Melo were teammates and became good friends that summer when they won gold.

They started out the season winning.  Paul also saw some of the backlash.  Who says he is happy and going to stay?  Heck, with the NBA owning the team, who says it stays in NO?

Maybe Orlando go after CP3 in the long run and dump Nelson?

How?


They are capped out (and then some)


They traded away their best assets. 


Paul was clearly their first option, but it didn't work out.  (or they were to impatient)

[Who]

What team has more to offer than Boston in 2012? ... Nobody

The Celtics are the best positioned team to steal Dwight Howard away in free agency.

[Fafnir]

What team has more to offer than Boston in 2012? ... Nobody

The Celtics are the best positioned team to steal Dwight Howard away in free agency.

If he goes anywhere, though given the long term prognosis of the Magic he'd be crazy not to seriously consider his options.

The potential for the C's to steal Howard away is yet another reason for me to be excited for Orlando's panic trades.

[Chris]

What team has more to offer than Boston in 2012? ... Nobody

The Celtics are the best positioned team to steal Dwight Howard away in free agency.

It's way too early to say, because we have no idea what the CBA has in store, and what moves will be made.

But I would argue a team like OKC with Durant and Westbrook would have a ton to offer.  Or, if he wants to play in the big city, NY will put him next to Amare, which would be an interesting match.  Indiana has Granger and Collison among others.  Golden State has Curry, Ellis, and Lee.  

Also, a team like Washington with John Wall has a good shot as well.

Basically, I think you are greatly overrated Rondo, if you think he alone will attract Howard to Boston.  

[wdleehi]

The real point of this is to expect the moves the Celtics make in the next two season to be centered around having that available money in 2012.  


It's not that the owner doesn't want money.  It's not that Ainge is afraid to make moves.



It is like Ainge always said(not his actual words but a general belief), a GM has to have an eye towards the future as well as the team ages.  

[Who]

What team has more to offer than Boston in 2012? ... Nobody

The Celtics are the best positioned team to steal Dwight Howard away in free agency.

The next three best offers as I see it are ... LA Clippers, Washington and Sacramento.

Golden State could also sneak into the mix.

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All dependent on their ability to get high draft picks and select top tier talent over the next two summers.

All of those teams will be likely lottery teams the season before ... unlike Boston who'll have been playing for an NBA title for the fifth straight years.

[wdleehi]

What team has more to offer than Boston in 2012? ... Nobody

The Celtics are the best positioned team to steal Dwight Howard away in free agency.

It's way too early to say, because we have no idea what the CBA has in store, and what moves will be made.

But I would argue a team like OKC with Durant and Westbrook would have a ton to offer.  Or, if he wants to play in the big city, NY will put him next to Amare, which would be an interesting match.  Indiana has Granger and Collison among others.  Golden State has Curry, Ellis, and Lee.  

Also, a team like Washington with John Wall has a good shot as well.

Basically, I think you are greatly overrated Rondo, if you think he alone will attract Howard to Boston.  

There will always be other teams, but Boston looks to be the only team that has in place the team management with a proven title winning history.  A team where they have brought in all sorts of players and have found a way to incorporate them into a winning situation.    (got to sell on the strong points)

[Fafnir]

I don't think OKC will have cap space at that point. Unless they don't sign Jeff Green or anyone else this coming year. Westbrook will be on his extension at that point as well.

[Who]

I don't think OKC will have cap space at that point. Unless they don't sign Jeff Green or anyone else this coming year. Westbrook will be on his extension at that point as well.

Agreed -- that is why I ruled them out. Ditto for New York and Dallas.

[Chris]

I don't think OKC will have cap space at that point. Unless they don't sign Jeff Green or anyone else this coming year. Westbrook will be on his extension at that point as well.

The point is, there are other teams out there.  If OKC drops out, someone else will make a trade, and jump in the race.

I just can't see how anyone can watch the whole Lebron thing, and how that played out in NY and NJ, and get their hopes up about Howard.  

[wdleehi]

What team has more to offer than Boston in 2012? ... Nobody

The Celtics are the best positioned team to steal Dwight Howard away in free agency.

The next three best offers as I see it are ... LA Clippers, Washington and Sacramento.

Golden State could also sneak into the mix.

------------------------------------------------------

All dependent on their ability to get high draft picks and select top tier talent over the next two summers.

All of those teams will be likely lottery teams the season before ... unlike Boston who'll have been playing for an NBA title for the fifth straight years.

Not to mention what will their cap room look like then?

The Thunder are at 21 million for that season, but that is the year Westbrook would be getting his extension.  (10-12 million range?)

DC is at 30 million


Sac is at 14 million, but does he want to go to that little city?


And what top FA ever decided to go to the Clippers?

[wdleehi]

I don't think OKC will have cap space at that point. Unless they don't sign Jeff Green or anyone else this coming year. Westbrook will be on his extension at that point as well.

The point is, there are other teams out there.  If OKC drops out, someone else will make a trade, and jump in the race.

I just can't see how anyone can watch the whole Lebron thing, and how that played out in NY and NJ, and get their hopes up about Howard.  

It is not about getting the hopes up for Howard.


It is about not removing the team from the opportunity by signing role players into that season, killing the cap space needed to rebuild when this team hits the end of it's run. 

[Who]

What team has more to offer than Boston in 2012? ... Nobody

The Celtics are the best positioned team to steal Dwight Howard away in free agency.

The next three best offers as I see it are ... LA Clippers, Washington and Sacramento.

Golden State could also sneak into the mix.

------------------------------------------------------

All dependent on their ability to get high draft picks and select top tier talent over the next two summers.

All of those teams will be likely lottery teams the season before ... unlike Boston who'll have been playing for an NBA title for the fifth straight years.

Not to mention what will their cap room look like then?

The Thunder are at 21 million for that season, but that is the year Westbrook would be getting his extension.  (10-12 million range?)

DC is at 30 million


Sac is at 14 million, but does he want to go to that little city?


And what top FA ever decided to go to the Clippers?

Exactly -- which is why Boston has the best offer.

The combination of recent history + Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce makes Boston a hugely enticing FA destination for a dominant big man like Dwight Howard.

[Chris]

I don't think OKC will have cap space at that point. Unless they don't sign Jeff Green or anyone else this coming year. Westbrook will be on his extension at that point as well.

The point is, there are other teams out there.  If OKC drops out, someone else will make a trade, and jump in the race.

I just can't see how anyone can watch the whole Lebron thing, and how that played out in NY and NJ, and get their hopes up about Howard.  

It is not about getting the hopes up for Howard.


It is about not removing the team from the opportunity by signing role players into that season, killing the cap space needed to rebuild when this team hits the end of it's run. 

Right, but you don't do that for Howard.  You do that for flexibility in order to get anyone to help this team not be incredibly mediocre at best...which is what they would be if they don't find stars to replace Ray and KG.  

But if I had to wager on how the C's would do it, signing Howard would be well down the list of likelihoods, behind many different trades...or just holding pat for another year or two.

[Who]

I just can't see how anyone can watch the whole Lebron thing, and how that played out in NY and NJ, and get their hopes up about Howard.  

It worked perfectly well for Miami.

It is all about how good a package you can put together and the Celtics can put one heck of an offer on the table with Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and their recent history of competing for NBA Titles.

If the Celtics had a weak offer, it'd be a waste of time ... just like it was a waste of time for New Jersey to be getting their hopes up ... but that isn't the case.

As things currently stand, Boston has the best offer on the market for Dwight Howard. That should be strongly pursued.