Are We Becoming the Knicks Fans of Yester-Year?

[RJ87]

Waiting on Dwight Howard in 2012 the way the Knicks fans waited on LeBron in 2010?

It seems that a strong number of fans on the blog - myself included - are starting to believe D12 is a strong possibility to sign as a free agent in 2012, but are we getting tunnel vision?

Aside from the fact that we will have capspace that offseason and that D12 would be a solid fit alongside Rondo, there hasn't been any evidence to suggest that Boston's even on Dwight's radar as a possible destination.

So are the fans setting ourselves up for disappointment? And more importantly, are we not looking at other conceivable options to rebuild post-Big 3?

[Donoghus]

Some people are with the Howard pipedream.

However, unlike the Knicks fans of yester-year, Celtics fans have reason to have interest in the present.  They have a championship caliber team right in front of them in the now, unlike those Knicks fans did.  Soak in the present.

[Roy H.]

I think that anybody who has convinced themselves specifically that Dwight Howard is coming here is going to be in for a big letdown.  I don't think he'll sign here.

However, I do think that the Celts are in a lot different situation.  The Knicks essentially wasted two seasons, and gave away multiple draft picks, all in the hopes of landing Lebron.  The Celts, on the other hand, haven't really sacrificed all that much.  I suppose the Perk trade could fall into that category, assuming that Danny did that because he was worried that Perk would walk.  However, even if that's the case, the team we put on the floor every night is a contender, so it's different in kind than the Knicks situation.

Again, though, I don't think Howard is coming here.  That doesn't mean that cap space won't be useful, though; cap space can be utilized to gain draft picks and to accelerate the rebuilding process, even if we don't sign a big-time free agent.

[mgent]

I don't think we're the same because the Knicks were one of the worst teams in the league and we're the best.  They were hoping that LeBron would save them, we're just hoping for someone who will keep us at the top.

[Onslaught]

I'm not one of them. I don't think he'll come here anyway. And while I know it be good to get him, I'm really not all that upset about it. I don't hate the guy but I'm not a big fan and I think he acts like an idiot on the camera. I'd turn red as a Celtics fan if I had to see him in green doing the interviews like he's been doing the last few years.

As long as he's not in LA then I don't care where he plays.

[GreenEnvy]

I think it's a nice thing to look forward to/hope for Howard, but this team is significantly better equipped going forward than the Knicks were. They lucked out on overpaying Amare (and it working out) and 'Melo demanding a trade to them.

If we get Howard, great.

If we don't, Ainge will work on something else.

But I certainly think Ainge's Plan A is to get Howard. As evident by all the signings through next season AND trading Perk. They could have let the season end and then sign Perk, he loved it here and would've probably cost less than it did OKC. Ainge saw a better player at a different position AND has an eye on Howard at C for the C's in a couple seasons.

What plan B is is anyone's guess, but I'm sure all of our eggs aren't in D12. For all we know he will demand a trade (& extension) next season. But Ainge is keeping that door open.

[RJ87]

However, I do think that the Celts are in a lot different situation.  The Knicks essentially wasted two seasons, and gave away multiple draft picks, all in the hopes of landing Lebron.  The Celts, on the other hand, haven't really sacrificed all that much.

I agree.
But this summer, we'll be faced with our first challenge of sacrificing for free agency with Jeff Green. I've seen more than a few posts stating that we shouldn't look to resign him because it'll bite into our 2012 cap. If Danny Ainge takes the same approach this offseason, it'd be rather dangerous.

The more I think about the rebuilding process we will face down the line, the more I think that we should explore trying to bring in young talent now to learn from the Hall of Famers we have on this team instead of putting all our eggs into the free agency basket.

I'm not one of them. I don't think he'll come here anyway. And while I know it be good to get him, I'm really not all that upset about it. I don't hate the guy but I'm not a big fan and I think he acts like an idiot on the camera. I'd turn red as a Celtics fan if I had to see him in green doing the interviews like he's been doing the last few years.

As long as he's not in LA then I don't care where he plays.

I think LA is the biggest possibility, followed by NJ/Brooklyn because of the Deron Williams factor... After that, it's a toss up.

[Roy H.]

However, I do think that the Celts are in a lot different situation.  The Knicks essentially wasted two seasons, and gave away multiple draft picks, all in the hopes of landing Lebron.  The Celts, on the other hand, haven't really sacrificed all that much.

I agree.
But this summer, we'll be faced with our first challenge of sacrificing for free agency with Jeff Green. I've seen more than a few posts stating that we shouldn't look to resign him because it'll bite into our 2012 cap. If Danny Ainge takes the same approach this offseason, it'd be rather dangerous.

Well, he's a restricted free agent, so there's a good chance that he'll decide to play here for the qualifying offer, preserving our space in 2012.  The only way I could see the Celts re-signing him before they had to would be if he backed way down off his demands of 5 years, $50 million.

[fairweatherfan]

But I certainly think Ainge's Plan A is to get Howard. As evident by all the signings through next season AND trading Perk. They could have let the season end and then sign Perk, he loved it here and would've probably cost less than it did OKC. Ainge saw a better player at a different position AND has an eye on Howard at C for the C's in a couple seasons.

I agree - I have no idea whether we'll get Howard or not, but Ainge's moves have made it clear he's eyeing 2012 as the makeover year for the franchise.  With the comments Doc and some of the Cs made about playing with Howard in the All-Star game, and trading Perk, it looks like we're trying to at least put ourselves in position to make a strong offer. 

But it's irrelevant this year, and next year.  Unlike the Knicks of the past few seasons, we have a good team that can contend for a ring this year and (maybe) next.  Gotta just see how it plays out.

[Onslaught]

However, I do think that the Celts are in a lot different situation.  The Knicks essentially wasted two seasons, and gave away multiple draft picks, all in the hopes of landing Lebron.  The Celts, on the other hand, haven't really sacrificed all that much.

I agree.
But this summer, we'll be faced with our first challenge of sacrificing for free agency with Jeff Green. I've seen more than a few posts stating that we shouldn't look to resign him because it'll bite into our 2012 cap. If Danny Ainge takes the same approach this offseason, it'd be rather dangerous.

The more I think about the rebuilding process we will face down the line, the more I think that we should explore trying to bring in young talent now to learn from the Hall of Famers we have on this team instead of putting all our eggs into the free agency basket.

I'm not one of them. I don't think he'll come here anyway. And while I know it be good to get him, I'm really not all that upset about it. I don't hate the guy but I'm not a big fan and I think he acts like an idiot on the camera. I'd turn red as a Celtics fan if I had to see him in green doing the interviews like he's been doing the last few years.

As long as he's not in LA then I don't care where he plays.

I think LA is the biggest possibility, followed by NJ/Brooklyn because of the Deron Williams factor... After that, it's a toss up.

I fear this is true. Man, if I lived in Orlando I'd want LA to slide off into the ocean after taking Shaq and Howard.

[GreenEnvy]

However, I do think that the Celts are in a lot different situation.  The Knicks essentially wasted two seasons, and gave away multiple draft picks, all in the hopes of landing Lebron.  The Celts, on the other hand, haven't really sacrificed all that much.

I agree.
But this summer, we'll be faced with our first challenge of sacrificing for free agency with Jeff Green. I've seen more than a few posts stating that we shouldn't look to resign him because it'll bite into our 2012 cap. If Danny Ainge takes the same approach this offseason, it'd be rather dangerous.

Well, he's a restricted free agent, so there's a good chance that he'll decide to play here for the qualifying offer, preserving our space in 2012.  The only way I could see the Celts re-signing him before they had to would be if he backed way down off his demands of 5 years, $50 million.

Well, we are only on the hook for roughly $30 million (Pierce $17M, Rondo $11M, Bradley $2M) in 2012. Assuming nobody offers Green an huge contract, maybe we should sign him before his value goes up. A full season with training camp in green could raise his value. Like he did with Rondo, if Ainge sees Green fits into this system, he may look to prematurely give him his payday.


And even at that 5yr/$50M number, thats a starting salary of around $8M, and a $9M figure in 2012. That would still have us under $40 million in 2012. Assuming there isn't a gigantic reduction in the salary cap in the new CBA (or a hard cap), that leaves us plenty of room for a max free agent, especially if max contracts are reduced.

Ainge, by design, set us up great for the 2012 free agency class. Last time I checked, the three major FA's are Paul, Williams, and Howard. One is not like the other two.

[Megatron]

Celtics arent going to get Dwight, the more people stop dreaming and start thinking about this year and next year as top contenders, the better this place will be.

Dwight isnt coming to Boston. He's either staying in Orlando or going to the Lakers. End of story. Lets get back to reality guys. We should be favorites to win the title this year if healthy and all anyone is talking about is next year for Dwight.

[mgent]

However, I do think that the Celts are in a lot different situation.  The Knicks essentially wasted two seasons, and gave away multiple draft picks, all in the hopes of landing Lebron.  The Celts, on the other hand, haven't really sacrificed all that much.

I agree.
But this summer, we'll be faced with our first challenge of sacrificing for free agency with Jeff Green. I've seen more than a few posts stating that we shouldn't look to resign him because it'll bite into our 2012 cap. If Danny Ainge takes the same approach this offseason, it'd be rather dangerous.

Well, he's a restricted free agent, so there's a good chance that he'll decide to play here for the qualifying offer, preserving our space in 2012.  The only way I could see the Celts re-signing him before they had to would be if he backed way down off his demands of 5 years, $50 million.

Well, we are only on the hook for roughly $30 million (Pierce $17M, Rondo $11M, Bradley $2M) in 2012. Assuming nobody offers Green an huge contract, maybe we should sign him before his value goes up. A full season with training camp in green could raise his value. Like he did with Rondo, if Ainge sees Green fits into this system, he may look to prematurely give him his payday.


And even at that 5yr/$50M number, thats a starting salary of around $8M, and a $9M figure in 2012. That would still have us under $40 million in 2012. Assuming there isn't a gigantic reduction in the salary cap in the new CBA (or a hard cap), that leaves us plenty of room for a max free agent, especially if max contracts are reduced.

Ainge, by design, set us up great for the 2012 free agency class. Last time I checked, the three major FA's are Paul, Williams, and Howard. One is not like the other two.

You're forgetting cap holds + 2011 1st round pick + 2012 1st round pick + Clippers' 2012 1st round pick.

At some point people need to accept that Green at 10mil a year is probably not gonna happen.

[guava_wrench]

I don't see the comparison at all. It is only a small pocket of fans who are concerning themselves with Howard. Most of us are focusing on winning this year.

Fans of every team likely think about getting guys like that. But the Knicks fans viewed free agency as their only hope because their team was horrible.

[wdleehi]

The difference:


The Knicks were a losing team that banked everything on this season to get a player like Lebron.  In hindsight, it worked.  They added Amare and Melo because of the flexibility they created. 


The Celtics are set up to win this year and next year.   They are set up with cap flexibility the following year.  If they are team coming off a title, they can extend the window a year or two with these guys.  If they are not, they can use the flexibility to go out and rebuild. 

They have the cap room to make a run at a player like Howard, but they are not sacrificing the now to do it.