KG and PP trying to put the idea of joining the C's in Dwight Howard's mind!?

[action781]

I think it would be awesome to get dwight, but i don't know if it's realistic. Who knows what the cba will say in terms of cap and franchise tags. But more importantly, i'm not sure he'd want to come to boston. First, he'd have to be sure that the C's could fill in gaps around him, Rondo, and Pierce to make a contender (it would help if both Ray and KG wanted to stick around for bench roles at the vet min!) that is better than Orlando's chances, and second, it would have to be the best free agent option available. That is easier said than done considering that NYK wants to have max room available to go after Chris Paul (say Paul spurns them so they offer the max to Dwight, and field Melo-Howard-Amare with a d-league backcourt!), the Nets might roll over their capspace and be in Brooklyn, and who knows what the Lakers/Clippers will do. Point is, it not only has to be a great basketball situation, it has to be a situation that outweighs his offcourt activities too. Howard has clearly demonstrated he wants to be a bigger-than-basketball personality, being in movies, etc., and given equivalent-ish situations in LA/NY/Brooklyn I don't see him picking the C's.

Here's a scenario:

Miami Heat sign an impact PG or C with the MLE this off-season (maybe Perk), they build more on their chemistry, and absolutely ROLL through the next season.  They win 70+ games, they beat Orlando 4-1 or 4-0 in the conference semi's, then they beat Boston 4-2 in the conference finals and win the NBA Finals in 5 games.  NYK is middling because 'Melo either stayed in Denver or went to the Nets.

Howard can resign in Orlando, sign for max money in NYK with same pieces they have now, or sign for close to max money in Boston who lost to Miami 4-2 in the East Finals and has an exciting young pg who complements his game very nicely.

[Fan from VT]

I think it would be awesome to get dwight, but i don't know if it's realistic. Who knows what the cba will say in terms of cap and franchise tags. But more importantly, i'm not sure he'd want to come to boston. First, he'd have to be sure that the C's could fill in gaps around him, Rondo, and Pierce to make a contender (it would help if both Ray and KG wanted to stick around for bench roles at the vet min!) that is better than Orlando's chances, and second, it would have to be the best free agent option available. That is easier said than done considering that NYK wants to have max room available to go after Chris Paul (say Paul spurns them so they offer the max to Dwight, and field Melo-Howard-Amare with a d-league backcourt!), the Nets might roll over their capspace and be in Brooklyn, and who knows what the Lakers/Clippers will do. Point is, it not only has to be a great basketball situation, it has to be a situation that outweighs his offcourt activities too. Howard has clearly demonstrated he wants to be a bigger-than-basketball personality, being in movies, etc., and given equivalent-ish situations in LA/NY/Brooklyn I don't see him picking the C's.

Here's a scenario:

Miami Heat sign an impact PG or C with the MLE this off-season (maybe Perk), they build more on their chemistry, and absolutely ROLL through the next season.  They win 70+ games, they beat Orlando 4-1 or 4-0 in the conference semi's, then they beat Boston 4-2 in the conference finals and win the NBA Finals in 5 games.  NYK is middling because 'Melo either stayed in Denver or went to the Nets.

Howard can resign in Orlando, sign for max money in NYK with same pieces they have now, or sign for close to max money in Boston who lost to Miami 4-2 in the East Finals and has an exciting young pg who complements his game very nicely.

My point is, though, that we have extremely green glasses when it comes to free agents.
"who wouldn't want to play with rondo!"
"The History!"

But Dwight is a guy who can go anywhere, did not grow up in new england, did not really idolize any Celtics (his major idol is "Lakers Center"), and really wants to be in a media market by all accounts; a place that has easy access to film and TV production. I just don't think Boston inherently has a leg up with Rondo, Pierce, and nothing else.

[Celtics4ever]

I agree its extremely unlikely that he comes here.  You listen to the rival players and they talk how they want to beat us.  They hate us, folks, we are the bully on the block that blocks their aspirations.  I doubt he wants to come here at all.   People just don't come across to a hated rival until its their last shot like Shaq.  Wake up, peeps, yeah it would be awesome but there is as much chance of it happening as one of you winning big in the lotto...

[wiley]

In two years, if the Celtics start Rondo and Howard, with Allen Pierce and Garnett starting alongside, they can win a title.  They'll have a good enough bench by then to keep the elder statesmen rested, and to play well in their own right too......

[Donoghus]

In two years, if the Celtics start Rondo and Howard, with Allen Pierce and Garnett starting alongside, they can win a title.  They'll have a good enough bench by then to keep the elder statesmen rested, and to play well in their own right too......

Who would be on that bench, though?  We have no idea.  You'd be hard pressed to assemble a better bench (when healthy) than this current group. 

Two years from now, the bench will look a lot different.  Probably weaker, IMO.

[manl_lui]

Howard and Rondo on the same team would be almost unfair.  I think Dwight would average about 10 dunks a game - and Rondo about 18 assists....

that my friend, would be very epic...

im loving this idea already, imagine Howard do come here, and learn how to do REAL post moves from KG and Shaq...omg

[snively]

It would certainly extend the window a bit. 

Extend the window?  Heck, it'd be a ****' crystal palace!

Here's how I see it.  This team is certainly a contender this year and should be a contender again next year depending on health/fatigue and what happens with the Perk/BBD situations.

Say that Howard did arrive here for 2012-2013, who are you surrounding him with?  Rondo and an older and declining Pierce, right?  Maybe you get KG to come back at a reasonable salary and who knows about Ray.  That's an old team.

Is it enough to contend in the Eastern Conference in 2013?  I'm not so sure.  It rides on what they would do to build around Rondo & Howard because that core needs more to be a true title contender, IMO.  I'm not sure Pierce & KG with 2 addtional years of wear & tear is gonna put them past Chicago, Miami, (possibly New York) and whoever else may have emerged on the Eastern Conference landscape in that time. 

It may add a year to the current window but I'm not sure how much more they'd be getting there unless there getting some good talent around Rondo/Howard. 

Come 2014, Rondo/Howard + whatever doesn't equal automatic title contender, IMO.

Rondo + Howard + whatever does = title contender, IMHO.  Top 5 pg + the best finisher/defensive big in the game? That's an incredibly potent combo.  Howard's offensive game would go supernova with a great pass-first PG.  It's criminal that he's had to play with the rich man's Derrick Fisher in Jameer Nelson for so long.

[rondohondo]

It would certainly extend the window a bit. 

Extend the window?  Heck, it'd be a ****' crystal palace!

Here's how I see it.  This team is certainly a contender this year and should be a contender again next year depending on health/fatigue and what happens with the Perk/BBD situations.

Say that Howard did arrive here for 2012-2013, who are you surrounding him with?  Rondo and an older and declining Pierce, right?  Maybe you get KG to come back at a reasonable salary and who knows about Ray.  That's an old team.

Is it enough to contend in the Eastern Conference in 2013?  I'm not so sure.  It rides on what they would do to build around Rondo & Howard because that core needs more to be a true title contender, IMO.  I'm not sure Pierce & KG with 2 addtional years of wear & tear is gonna put them past Chicago, Miami, (possibly New York) and whoever else may have emerged on the Eastern Conference landscape in that time. 

It may add a year to the current window but I'm not sure how much more they'd be getting there unless there getting some good talent around Rondo/Howard. 

Come 2014, Rondo/Howard + whatever doesn't equal automatic title contender, IMO.

Rondo + Howard + whatever does = title contender, IMHO.  Top 5 pg + the best finisher/defensive big in the game? That's an incredibly potent combo.  Howard's offensive game would go supernova with a great pass-first PG.  It's criminal that he's had to play with the rich man's Derrick Fisher in Jameer Nelson for so long.

I agree a dominate Defensive center and a top 5 PG are much harder to find than wing players . It would be like the Miami situation though where the C's would have to acquire some wing scorers/ defenders with the MLE and through the draft.

Of course if Ray and KG would resign for the vet min and were still 80% the players they are right now in 2012 then the C's would still be title contenders til about 2014 before having to replace Ray and KG.

Ray will be turning 38 in 2014 . He keeps himself in awesome shape though so I could easily see him giving the C's 15 PPG and great outside shooting until then. KG will be about 37 I am not so sure about how his health will be because of all the mins he has played, but then again if he was next to Howard he wouldn't have to do much as he would have Howard to help on D and on offense he can just spot up from 18 ft and work the pick and role.

[CelticG1]

In two years, if the Celtics start Rondo and Howard, with Allen Pierce and Garnett starting alongside, they can win a title.  They'll have a good enough bench by then to keep the elder statesmen rested, and to play well in their own right too......

Who would be on that bench, though?  We have no idea.  You'd be hard pressed to assemble a better bench (when healthy) than this current group. 

Two years from now, the bench will look a lot different.  Probably weaker, IMO.

It's so hard to tell at this point what our bench would be. This year we got JO and Shaq because we are contenders. Probably why we pursued and part of the reason why we got Delonte. It's why Quis signed with us. Baby was drafted.

It basically rides on our performances in the next couple years along with our drafting. In a few years who knows, maybe Luke will fill Baby's role. It's not that far fetched.

[RJ87]

I think it would be awesome to get dwight, but i don't know if it's realistic. Who knows what the cba will say in terms of cap and franchise tags. But more importantly, i'm not sure he'd want to come to boston. First, he'd have to be sure that the C's could fill in gaps around him, Rondo, and Pierce to make a contender (it would help if both Ray and KG wanted to stick around for bench roles at the vet min!) that is better than Orlando's chances, and second, it would have to be the best free agent option available. That is easier said than done considering that NYK wants to have max room available to go after Chris Paul (say Paul spurns them so they offer the max to Dwight, and field Melo-Howard-Amare with a d-league backcourt!), the Nets might roll over their capspace and be in Brooklyn, and who knows what the Lakers/Clippers will do. Point is, it not only has to be a great basketball situation, it has to be a situation that outweighs his offcourt activities too. Howard has clearly demonstrated he wants to be a bigger-than-basketball personality, being in movies, etc., and given equivalent-ish situations in LA/NY/Brooklyn I don't see him picking the C's.

Here's a scenario:

Miami Heat sign an impact PG or C with the MLE this off-season (maybe Perk), they build more on their chemistry, and absolutely ROLL through the next season.  They win 70+ games, they beat Orlando 4-1 or 4-0 in the conference semi's, then they beat Boston 4-2 in the conference finals and win the NBA Finals in 5 games.  NYK is middling because 'Melo either stayed in Denver or went to the Nets.

Howard can resign in Orlando, sign for max money in NYK with same pieces they have now, or sign for close to max money in Boston who lost to Miami 4-2 in the East Finals and has an exciting young pg who complements his game very nicely.

Where is NYK getting all this max money from???
They're signing CP3, Melo, AND D12 to put with Amar'e... Wow, can we get whatever cap situation they have?

[Rondo_is_better]

He seriously should come to Boston... we can pay him, he'd have a great point guard, and be in an awesome basketball city. I hope he doesn't hate us too much for all the heckling we've done.

[bruinsandceltics]

I think it would be awesome to get dwight, but i don't know if it's realistic. Who knows what the cba will say in terms of cap and franchise tags. But more importantly, i'm not sure he'd want to come to boston. First, he'd have to be sure that the C's could fill in gaps around him, Rondo, and Pierce to make a contender (it would help if both Ray and KG wanted to stick around for bench roles at the vet min!) that is better than Orlando's chances, and second, it would have to be the best free agent option available. That is easier said than done considering that NYK wants to have max room available to go after Chris Paul (say Paul spurns them so they offer the max to Dwight, and field Melo-Howard-Amare with a d-league backcourt!), the Nets might roll over their capspace and be in Brooklyn, and who knows what the Lakers/Clippers will do. Point is, it not only has to be a great basketball situation, it has to be a situation that outweighs his offcourt activities too. Howard has clearly demonstrated he wants to be a bigger-than-basketball personality, being in movies, etc., and given equivalent-ish situations in LA/NY/Brooklyn I don't see him picking the C's.

Here's a scenario:

Miami Heat sign an impact PG or C with the MLE this off-season (maybe Perk), they build more on their chemistry, and absolutely ROLL through the next season.  They win 70+ games, they beat Orlando 4-1 or 4-0 in the conference semi's, then they beat Boston 4-2 in the conference finals and win the NBA Finals in 5 games.  NYK is middling because 'Melo either stayed in Denver or went to the Nets.

Howard can resign in Orlando, sign for max money in NYK with same pieces they have now, or sign for close to max money in Boston who lost to Miami 4-2 in the East Finals and has an exciting young pg who complements his game very nicely.

Where is NYK getting all this max money from???
They're signing CP3, Melo, AND D12 to put with Amar'e... Wow, can we get whatever cap situation they have?

Especially with the rumors of a hard cap.

[makaveli]

Can we order an inception
Anybody that gets Howard earns GM of the year easy, that's how big of a signing he would be anywhere. Boston has slim chances IMO.

[KobeShesNotConsenting!]

im shaking my head at people saying the c's in 2 years wouldn't be enough to surround howard. Are you kidding me? Just Rondo alone with 2 more years polishing on his game is better than ANYTHING orlando has right now outside of howard. Now add the rest of our starters just 2 years older? People really dont think that would be enough? You're seriously underrating Howard (+his expanding game) AND our guys if you dont think thats enough to AT LEAST contend.

[steve]

You need a legit clutch scorer to go with Dwight or else his team will never win the title.  It could be Pierce for a couple of years but when that's over we'll be the Orlando Magic circa right now.

Although with the NBA stacking it's stars... maybe you just do it anyway and make a trade later for some disgruntled allstar.