So what could we get for Ray, KG, and (gulp) PP?

[kozlodoev]

With all this in mind, whether they admit it or not, the Celtics are putting all their chips on Dwight Howard. He's the highest-profile FA next summer, addresses a position of need, and will make a make for a great core with Rondo, Green, and an aging Paul Pierce.

Brook Lopez would be a pretty decent backup plan.

Kevin Love and Eric Gordon are other (sort of) high profile free agents that summer. Although it sounds like K-Love is going to sign a large extension before then.

No. Love, Gordon, and Lopez are all decent players. But Howard (much as I dislike him) is an _impact_ player. His presence changes the game. What makes a winning team is having 2 guys like Dwight Howard, not 5 guys like Brook Lopez.

That's why getting Howard should be priority 1, 1a and 2b for the Boston Celtics.

[Who]

With all this in mind, whether they admit it or not, the Celtics are putting all their chips on Dwight Howard. He's the highest-profile FA next summer, addresses a position of need, and will make a make for a great core with Rondo, Green, and an aging Paul Pierce.

Brook Lopez would be a pretty decent backup plan.

Kevin Love and Eric Gordon are other (sort of) high profile free agents that summer. Although it sounds like K-Love is going to sign a large extension before then.

No. Love, Gordon, and Lopez are all decent players. But Howard (much as I dislike him) is an _impact_ player. His presence changes the game. What makes a winning team is having 2 guys like Dwight Howard, not 5 guys like Brook Lopez.

That's why getting Howard should be priority 1, 1a and 2b for the Boston Celtics.

Dwight Howard is certainly the first option. Far and away the best option.

But I'd be pretty interested in seeing a team of 5 Brook Lopez level players. A very talented and balanced starting five. Especially with a PG like Rondo running the show. As a fall-back option, I'd be happy to pursue that.

[Who]

Memphis Grizzlies -- OJ Mayo and cap filler

This interests me a lot. Memphis's biggest flaw right now is the lack of perimeter shooting in their lineup. They're also good enough to win the whole thing next year with a guy like Ray. Ray's old but I can see him playing at a high level for at least 2-3 more years. And with Mayo we get a promising young guy... I love Ray, but if this trade comes up, we should pull the trigger

I don't have much interest in OJ Mayo. He can't defend or rebound his position at the two spot. Frequently gives up more (defense/rebounding) than he creates (offensively).

I still like him as a big PG in an offense where the PG has very little responsibility as a playmaker ... but with Rondo here, that isn't a possibility. 

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

OJ Mayo would be an interesting PG for the Lakers in that Triangle offense.

Give their offense a boost. Add some youth and athleticism to the team.

[KCattheStripe]

With all this in mind, whether they admit it or not, the Celtics are putting all their chips on Dwight Howard. He's the highest-profile FA next summer, addresses a position of need, and will make a make for a great core with Rondo, Green, and an aging Paul Pierce.

Brook Lopez would be a pretty decent backup plan.

Kevin Love and Eric Gordon are other (sort of) high profile free agents that summer. Although it sounds like K-Love is going to sign a large extension before then.

No. Love, Gordon, and Lopez are all decent players. But Howard (much as I dislike him) is an _impact_ player. His presence changes the game. What makes a winning team is having 2 guys like Dwight Howard, not 5 guys like Brook Lopez.

That's why getting Howard should be priority 1, 1a and 2b for the Boston Celtics.

Dwight Howard is certainly the first option. Far and away the best option.

But I'd be pretty interested in seeing a team of 5 Brook Lopez level players. A very talented and balanced starting five. Especially with a PG like Rondo running the show. As a fall-back option, I'd be happy to pursue that.

An up-tempo 2004 Pistons?

[Who]

With all this in mind, whether they admit it or not, the Celtics are putting all their chips on Dwight Howard. He's the highest-profile FA next summer, addresses a position of need, and will make a make for a great core with Rondo, Green, and an aging Paul Pierce.

Brook Lopez would be a pretty decent backup plan.

Kevin Love and Eric Gordon are other (sort of) high profile free agents that summer. Although it sounds like K-Love is going to sign a large extension before then.

No. Love, Gordon, and Lopez are all decent players. But Howard (much as I dislike him) is an _impact_ player. His presence changes the game. What makes a winning team is having 2 guys like Dwight Howard, not 5 guys like Brook Lopez.

That's why getting Howard should be priority 1, 1a and 2b for the Boston Celtics.

Dwight Howard is certainly the first option. Far and away the best option.

But I'd be pretty interested in seeing a team of 5 Brook Lopez level players. A very talented and balanced starting five. Especially with a PG like Rondo running the show. As a fall-back option, I'd be happy to pursue that.

An up-tempo 2004 Pistons?

Sounds good to me

[mc34]

Memphis Grizzlies -- OJ Mayo and cap filler

This interests me a lot. Memphis's biggest flaw right now is the lack of perimeter shooting in their lineup. They're also good enough to win the whole thing next year with a guy like Ray. Ray's old but I can see him playing at a high level for at least 2-3 more years. And with Mayo we get a promising young guy... I love Ray, but if this trade comes up, we should pull the trigger

I don't have much interest in OJ Mayo. He can't defend or rebound his position at the two spot. Frequently gives up more (defense/rebounding) than he creates (offensively).

I still like him as a big PG in an offense where the PG has very little responsibility as a playmaker ... but with Rondo here, that isn't a possibility. 

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

OJ Mayo would be an interesting PG for the Lakers in that Triangle offense.

Give their offense a boost. Add some youth and athleticism to the team.

He hasn't had the greatest year but he was excellent as a rookie and second year player. His problems seemed to start off the court, with being benched, the fight with TA, and the constant trade rumors. He seems to be much more comfortable as a starter/playing starter minutes, which he would get if we sent out Ray for him. Mayo's a pretty average defender but some time in our system could transform him into a plus defender (exhibit A: Ray Allen). He's also athletic, has a lot of upside, and has a really sweet shot. As I said, love Ray, but if the rebuilding is going to start soon, he shouldn't be a part of it, and getting Mayo for him would be a pretty solid return.

[kozlodoev]

But I'd be pretty interested in seeing a team of 5 Brook Lopez level players. A very talented and balanced starting five. Especially with a PG like Rondo running the show. As a fall-back option, I'd be happy to pursue that.

You're going to get something like the Denver Nuggets post the Carmelo trade. I don't particularly like the idea, since I don't think it's a good formula for success.

Sure, you're probably better served by having equal, if lesser, talent for your your 3rd-to-8th man, as opposed to a third star. But at the same time you're also probably a quite superior team if you have 2 superstars rather than 5 very good starters.

[the_Bird]

OJ Mayo would be an interesting PG for the Lakers in that Triangle offense.

Give their offense a boost. Add some youth and athleticism to the team.

Lakers going to keep running the Triangle without Phil?  

I wouldn't be surprised to see them make a pitch for Chris Paul and go to a more-traditional offense.  

[KCattheStripe]

With all this in mind, whether they admit it or not, the Celtics are putting all their chips on Dwight Howard. He's the highest-profile FA next summer, addresses a position of need, and will make a make for a great core with Rondo, Green, and an aging Paul Pierce.

Brook Lopez would be a pretty decent backup plan.

Kevin Love and Eric Gordon are other (sort of) high profile free agents that summer. Although it sounds like K-Love is going to sign a large extension before then.

No. Love, Gordon, and Lopez are all decent players. But Howard (much as I dislike him) is an _impact_ player. His presence changes the game. What makes a winning team is having 2 guys like Dwight Howard, not 5 guys like Brook Lopez.

That's why getting Howard should be priority 1, 1a and 2b for the Boston Celtics.

Dwight Howard is certainly the first option. Far and away the best option.

But I'd be pretty interested in seeing a team of 5 Brook Lopez level players. A very talented and balanced starting five. Especially with a PG like Rondo running the show. As a fall-back option, I'd be happy to pursue that.

An up-tempo 2004 Pistons?

Sounds good to me

Rondo/ Wesley Matthews/ Wilson Chandler/Darrel Arthur/ Brook Lopez?

[kozlodoev]

But I'd be pretty interested in seeing a team of 5 Brook Lopez level players. A very talented and balanced starting five. Especially with a PG like Rondo running the show. As a fall-back option, I'd be happy to pursue that.

An up-tempo 2004 Pistons?

Sounds good to me
[/quote]
Billups, Hamilton and Ben Wallace deserve more credit. Their 2004 versions were much better than the 2011 version of Brook Lopez will be.

[hpantazo]

Paul Pierce will not be traded, period.

[Who]

With all this in mind, whether they admit it or not, the Celtics are putting all their chips on Dwight Howard. He's the highest-profile FA next summer, addresses a position of need, and will make a make for a great core with Rondo, Green, and an aging Paul Pierce.

Brook Lopez would be a pretty decent backup plan.

Kevin Love and Eric Gordon are other (sort of) high profile free agents that summer. Although it sounds like K-Love is going to sign a large extension before then.

No. Love, Gordon, and Lopez are all decent players. But Howard (much as I dislike him) is an _impact_ player. His presence changes the game. What makes a winning team is having 2 guys like Dwight Howard, not 5 guys like Brook Lopez.

That's why getting Howard should be priority 1, 1a and 2b for the Boston Celtics.

Dwight Howard is certainly the first option. Far and away the best option.

But I'd be pretty interested in seeing a team of 5 Brook Lopez level players. A very talented and balanced starting five. Especially with a PG like Rondo running the show. As a fall-back option, I'd be happy to pursue that.

An up-tempo 2004 Pistons?

Sounds good to me

Rondo/ Wesley Matthews/ Wilson Chandler/Darrel Arthur/ Brook Lopez?

Need more talent two through four ...

I am thinking two guys who are top ten players at their respective positions + a multi-dimensional (defense/offense/rebounding) glue guy.

[kozlodoev]

I am thinking two guys who are top ten players at their respective positions + a multi-dimensional (defense/offense/rebounding) glue guy.

Rondo, Howard, and Paul Pierce? With Jeff Green thrown in for a good measure?

[Who]

OJ Mayo would be an interesting PG for the Lakers in that Triangle offense.

Give their offense a boost. Add some youth and athleticism to the team.

Lakers going to keep running the Triangle without Phil?  

I wouldn't be surprised to see them make a pitch for Chris Paul and go to a more-traditional offense.  

They won't if the land Chris Paul

However, if they decide to hire Brian Shaw as their new head coach, they are expected to keep the Triangle offense.

[Vermont Green]

How about Rondo, Green, and the Clippers pick for Chris Paul?

Paul
Allen
Pierce
KG
JO

Not a bad start to stretch the window another year or two.  Our bench could be Krstic, Davis, West Bradley, Wafer.....