Secret Rondo Trade Conspiracy Thread...

[wdleehi]

Probably fair to say, but I'd still give up Rondo for Paul even without the guarantee he would be back because frankly, I think the team needs to go all in next year.  Also, I don't believe Rondo and an old Pierce are going to draw free agents in 2012 and with both of them on the team, I don't think we would be bad enough to really get the high level lottery pick in 2012-2013 that could net us a franchise player (without getting really lucky in the lottery), so I'd rather just start over (if Paul leaves, I think Pierce may just retire, leaving the team a lot of space and it will be awful leading to the high picks you need to really build a contending team).

I think I agree with this.  It's a gamble, but a calculated one.   The good that could come out of getting CP3 (another championship, a legitimate shot at Dwight Howard) is worth the risk of losing Rondo for nothing.

I think Rondo is to good of a player and a draw for other players to trade him for someone that could easily become a rental.  

Yeah, I hear you, but at the end of the day what are Paul's options going to be?  There don't seem to be a lot of contending teams that will have cap space to sign him; the Knicks don't look like as much of an option any more.  If we've got CP3, are coming off a deep playoff run, and have a legit shot at Howard, I think Paul would come back. 

Most likely.

[Roy H.]

Probably fair to say, but I'd still give up Rondo for Paul even without the guarantee he would be back because frankly, I think the team needs to go all in next year.  Also, I don't believe Rondo and an old Pierce are going to draw free agents in 2012 and with both of them on the team, I don't think we would be bad enough to really get the high level lottery pick in 2012-2013 that could net us a franchise player (without getting really lucky in the lottery), so I'd rather just start over (if Paul leaves, I think Pierce may just retire, leaving the team a lot of space and it will be awful leading to the high picks you need to really build a contending team).

I think I agree with this.  It's a gamble, but a calculated one.   The good that could come out of getting CP3 (another championship, a legitimate shot at Dwight Howard) is worth the risk of losing Rondo for nothing.

Where's the risk of of losing Rondo for nothing?  Do you mean in 2015?

I meant if we trade Rondo for Chris Paul.  If Paul then decides to walk, we've essentially lost Rondo for a one year rental.

[Celtics18]

Rondo's the one of the best values in the league at $11.5 mil. per year over the next four years.  Paul is making $16.3 for the upcoming season followed by a year where he has a player option worth $17.8 Mil.  He'll probably turn that option down to negotiate for more wherever he ends up.  

Rondo's going to need good players around him to build a contender, but so is Chris Paul.  We've seen recently that superstars don't win titles by themselves anymore in this league.

Rondo's playmaking skills are unparalleled.  I have no doubt that he's going to be a guy who makes those around him better for years to come.  Having the extra $6 to 8 million to spend to build around him that we wouldn't have if we traded him for Chris Paul is going to help us build another contender.

Trading Rondo would be folly.

The extra money is worth it in terms of Paul superior ability and superior draw (in terms of other stars)

The extra money is more of a draw than the chance to play with Chris Paul vs. Rajon Rondo.  It means we might actually be able to sign some high level players and pay them.

[Celtics18]

Probably fair to say, but I'd still give up Rondo for Paul even without the guarantee he would be back because frankly, I think the team needs to go all in next year.  Also, I don't believe Rondo and an old Pierce are going to draw free agents in 2012 and with both of them on the team, I don't think we would be bad enough to really get the high level lottery pick in 2012-2013 that could net us a franchise player (without getting really lucky in the lottery), so I'd rather just start over (if Paul leaves, I think Pierce may just retire, leaving the team a lot of space and it will be awful leading to the high picks you need to really build a contending team).

I think I agree with this.  It's a gamble, but a calculated one.   The good that could come out of getting CP3 (another championship, a legitimate shot at Dwight Howard) is worth the risk of losing Rondo for nothing.

Where's the risk of of losing Rondo for nothing?  Do you mean in 2015?

I meant if we trade Rondo for Chris Paul.  If Paul then decides to walk, we've essentially lost Rondo for a one year rental.

Exactly.  But, we already have Rondo locked up for four years at 11.5 per.  Even if we were to trade Rondo for Paul and he decided to re-up with us, Chris Paul would come at a significantly heftier price tag than Rondo.  This would actually limit our ability to build around him and attract other quality players as opposed to the other way around.

[BballTim]

Rondo's the one of the best values in the league at $11.5 mil. per year over the next four years.  Paul is making $16.3 for the upcoming season followed by a year where he has a player option worth $17.8 Mil.  He'll probably turn that option down to negotiate for more wherever he ends up.  

Rondo's going to need good players around him to build a contender, but so is Chris Paul.  We've seen recently that superstars don't win titles by themselves anymore in this league.

Rondo's playmaking skills are unparalleled.  I have no doubt that he's going to be a guy who makes those around him better for years to come.  Having the extra $6 to 8 million to spend to build around him that we wouldn't have if we traded him for Chris Paul is going to help us build another contender.

Trading Rondo would be folly.

The extra money is worth it in terms of Paul superior ability and superior draw (in terms of other stars)

  Does anyone have any evidence that Paul is a superior draw in terms of other stars? Have any big name free agents gone to N.O.? Does N.O. generally end up in the list of preferable trade destinations for star players?

[Roy H.]

Probably fair to say, but I'd still give up Rondo for Paul even without the guarantee he would be back because frankly, I think the team needs to go all in next year.  Also, I don't believe Rondo and an old Pierce are going to draw free agents in 2012 and with both of them on the team, I don't think we would be bad enough to really get the high level lottery pick in 2012-2013 that could net us a franchise player (without getting really lucky in the lottery), so I'd rather just start over (if Paul leaves, I think Pierce may just retire, leaving the team a lot of space and it will be awful leading to the high picks you need to really build a contending team).

I think I agree with this.  It's a gamble, but a calculated one.   The good that could come out of getting CP3 (another championship, a legitimate shot at Dwight Howard) is worth the risk of losing Rondo for nothing.

Where's the risk of of losing Rondo for nothing?  Do you mean in 2015?

I meant if we trade Rondo for Chris Paul.  If Paul then decides to walk, we've essentially lost Rondo for a one year rental.

Exactly.  But, we already have Rondo locked up for four years at 11.5 per.  Even if we were to trade Rondo for Paul and he decided to re-up with us, Chris Paul would come at a significantly heftier price tag than Rondo.  This would actually limit our ability to build around him and attract other quality players as opposed to the other way around.

I don't think that extra $6 million or so is going to be that much of a factor.  Right now, with Rondo or CP3, we have enough room to sign one max free agent in 2012, but not two of them.  That being the case, I'd rather have the player who is more likely to get a superstar (Howard) to sign here.  That's Chris Paul.

[Bankshot]

If you move Rondo, you will all know hard what his true value is to this team. Similar to what happened with Posey, Perkins, Tony Allen.

Trading Rondo will be the end of the Boston Celtics.

Not if we get Chris Paul, who is better than Rondo.

[RyNye]

I was typing up a response to this thread back when it was on page 2 or 3. It ended up getting out of hand, because I didn't really know what I was trying to prove. In any case, concerning Rondo's performance this year, I wrote this rather in-depth article:

http://www.celticsblog.com/2011/5/13/2169412/did-rondo-cost-us-number-18

[Celtics18]

Probably fair to say, but I'd still give up Rondo for Paul even without the guarantee he would be back because frankly, I think the team needs to go all in next year.  Also, I don't believe Rondo and an old Pierce are going to draw free agents in 2012 and with both of them on the team, I don't think we would be bad enough to really get the high level lottery pick in 2012-2013 that could net us a franchise player (without getting really lucky in the lottery), so I'd rather just start over (if Paul leaves, I think Pierce may just retire, leaving the team a lot of space and it will be awful leading to the high picks you need to really build a contending team).

I think I agree with this.  It's a gamble, but a calculated one.   The good that could come out of getting CP3 (another championship, a legitimate shot at Dwight Howard) is worth the risk of losing Rondo for nothing.

Where's the risk of of losing Rondo for nothing?  Do you mean in 2015?

I meant if we trade Rondo for Chris Paul.  If Paul then decides to walk, we've essentially lost Rondo for a one year rental.

Exactly.  But, we already have Rondo locked up for four years at 11.5 per.  Even if we were to trade Rondo for Paul and he decided to re-up with us, Chris Paul would come at a significantly heftier price tag than Rondo.  This would actually limit our ability to build around him and attract other quality players as opposed to the other way around.

I don't think that extra $6 million or so is going to be that much of a factor.  Right now, with Rondo or CP3, we have enough room to sign one max free agent in 2012, but not two of them.  That being the case, I'd rather have the player who is more likely to get a superstar (Howard) to sign here.  That's Chris Paul.

See BBallTim's question above. 

[rickyfan3.0...]

I think in today's NBA, the best way to build is to take advantage of trade opportunities by using these young reasonably priced stars, and expiring contracts. This might be the last time  we have this chance... I say jump on it. Go for CP3.

[Roy H.]

Probably fair to say, but I'd still give up Rondo for Paul even without the guarantee he would be back because frankly, I think the team needs to go all in next year.  Also, I don't believe Rondo and an old Pierce are going to draw free agents in 2012 and with both of them on the team, I don't think we would be bad enough to really get the high level lottery pick in 2012-2013 that could net us a franchise player (without getting really lucky in the lottery), so I'd rather just start over (if Paul leaves, I think Pierce may just retire, leaving the team a lot of space and it will be awful leading to the high picks you need to really build a contending team).

I think I agree with this.  It's a gamble, but a calculated one.   The good that could come out of getting CP3 (another championship, a legitimate shot at Dwight Howard) is worth the risk of losing Rondo for nothing.

Where's the risk of of losing Rondo for nothing?  Do you mean in 2015?

I meant if we trade Rondo for Chris Paul.  If Paul then decides to walk, we've essentially lost Rondo for a one year rental.

Exactly.  But, we already have Rondo locked up for four years at 11.5 per.  Even if we were to trade Rondo for Paul and he decided to re-up with us, Chris Paul would come at a significantly heftier price tag than Rondo.  This would actually limit our ability to build around him and attract other quality players as opposed to the other way around.

I don't think that extra $6 million or so is going to be that much of a factor.  Right now, with Rondo or CP3, we have enough room to sign one max free agent in 2012, but not two of them.  That being the case, I'd rather have the player who is more likely to get a superstar (Howard) to sign here.  That's Chris Paul.

See BBallTim's question above. 

At least two players -- Amare and Carmelo -- have apparently indicated a desire to play with CP3.  He's friends with a lot of these guys from Team USA. 

And yes, Howard has talked specifically about wanting to play with Chris Paul:

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/06/30/dwight-howard-wants-to-play-with-chris-paul-jameer-who/

[IrishGreen]

With Doc signing a new deal, the core four are going nowhere.

I will bet any money on that. Rondo is here for at least 2 more years.

[mostofusrsad]

Rondo is not going anywhere...he is the type of player that can lead a team to a championship...the big 3 are close to washed up, but rondo...he has to stay and lead the next generation of celtics.

[Vermont Green]

Rondo's going to need good players around him to build a contender, but so is Chris Paul.  We've seen recently that superstars don't win titles by themselves anymore in this league.

No single player can win without support, not LeBron or even Bill Russel but take a look at what Chicago is doing with Rose and not a whole lot else (no one I would call elite).

I think Chris Paul is better than Rose or at worst equal.  So if you put Chris Paul on the Celtics, his supporting cast would be plenty.

[PosImpos]

Are we really having an argument about whether Chris Paul is better than Rondo?

Really?

"Regressed" Chris Paul was still one of the league leaders in PER, TS%, Win Shares, and EWA while also being top 5 in assists and steals.  He also rebounds almost as well as Rondo does.

Chris Paul can do EVERYTHING, and he does everything at least quite well if not really well.  Rondo do a few things REALLY well and a bunch of things just okay or badly.

Saying that Chris Paul "regressed" the last two years is like saying that Rondo "regressed" in the second half of this year.  In truth, both players were dealing with injures.

Guess what?  Even with injures, Chris Paul was a much better player than Rondo.