anyone else not worried about the rebuilding phase?

[cman88]

I think alot of fans have nightmares of this celtics squad which was in shambles for 20years before the big 3 era and becoming a champion contendor again..

But I think danny has set up this club great to have it be more of a transition phase, or "Reloading" instead off "rebuilding." he's certainly set us up better than most other aging contendors...

in 2012, you have a signed core of an allstar young PG in Rondo whom players like OJ mayo have said theyd love to play with, an aging but still effective Pierce, Green(hopefully) and Bradley, a WELL respected coach by players throughout the league in Doc rivers with a championship system and ALOT of cap space so sign FA's...

maybe im optimistic, but if we can lure some quality FA's to sign with us and a Big FA, maybe Ray resigns for small $(very possible)...we're back to being a pretty competitive squad fairly quickly...

[Roy H.]

I think rebuilding is going to suck.  The vast majority of teams that rebuild never make it as far as the Conference Finals, so I'm hoping we can stay in contention for at least another season or two before we blow it up.

I don't think Rondo + Green + Bradley + good-but-not-elite free agent is enough to become a contender, meaning that getting back to contention is likely going to take multiple 30-or-less win seasons and hitting on draft picks.  Having lived through that already, I'm not excited for the prospect.

[cman88]

I just think the difference between now and say...in the 00's is that we have alot of Cap space to work with and someone(Doc) whom can pull big Free agents to boston....we are certainly a more attractive spot for Free agents than other clubs...say our roster in 2012 looks like

Rajon rondo
OJ mayo
Paul Pierce
Free agent PF
Tyson Chandler

thats certainly better than a 30win team....I dont think the plan is for us to fall back into obscurity...we may not contend right away...but we're not in the worst position possible

were in a much better place than a team saddled with big/bad contracts whom wont have cap space for years and can only gain quality players through collecting young talent in the draft and looking to trade them

[diconzo]

I'm not worried at all. Rondo is signed to a contract that he is well worth, even worth more. Plus he is one of the most desirable players to play with in the league because he wont care if he averages 5 PPG and will set you up so you can average 20 PPG easy. Ray and KG seem like they would be fine with playing for the minimum so no worries with being stuck with old players on big contracts. Pierce can still average 16-18 PPG and plays good defense. I think it will transition seamlessly and we won't have a down year except maybe this next season (2011-12).

[Mike-Dub]

I'm not worried.

[j804]

I just think the difference between now and say...in the 00's is that we have alot of Cap space to work with and someone(Doc) whom can pull big Free agents to boston....we are certainly a more attractive spot for Free agents than other clubs...say our roster in 2012 looks like

Rajon rondo
OJ mayo
Paul Pierce
Free agent PF
Tyson Chandler

thats certainly better than a 30win team....I dont think the plan is for us to fall back into obscurity...we may not contend right away...but we're not in the worst position possible

Why do people constantly mention Chandler? with his impact on Dallas a huge part of why they are this far and one win from a championship he will be locked up he's not going anywhere

[nickagneta]

I'm really not crazy about a Rondo-Bradley-Green core to rebuild around. Any number of teams have three players better than that trio.

You have to start the rebuilding around obtaining a superstar and Rondo is not one. So either use him to attract one or trade him for the opportunity to draft one or trade him for one. Rebuilding requires a core superstar and the Celtics will need one. Whether that is signing Dwight Howard or Andrew Bynum to pair along with Rondo or trading Rondo for a number 2 type guy and signing Chris Paul or Deron Williams, that's the way to start.

If those things don't happen, get as bad as possible for 3-4 years and hope a superstar comes out that you can get at the top of the draft(Nerlens Noel 2014  )

[greg_kite]

The rebuilding won't start until they get someone in the draft again.  So until they have a terrible season or get extremely lucky in the draft the rebuilding process won't even start for two years from now, when the C's would likely be in the lottery, assuming Ray and KG move on or get traded.  If the Big 3 stick around and just age like Larry, Robert and Kevin did then they will be stuck in mediocrity for a few extra years and rebuilding won't start for years.

The good news is that Danny, Doc and the ownership group are all above average and I have as much faith in them as any other Celtic front office since Red was in charge.

[CeltsAcumen]

Of course you should be worried.  This is why the 2011 season was of monumental importance.  Once the Celts start to rebuild, its over for a long, long time.  Most likely 5-10 years.  They just dont have the talent after the retirements.

Rondo is great, but the rest of the young players are all just add-ons, not stars, not even true starters.

Hell, Jeff Green had the balls to come out and say that he should of been "more aggressive" this season.  This is the guy the Celts are going to rebuild with?  Lol, ok sure.

The fantasy was not that the Celtics could win multiple championships, no it was that they will do it with Rondo and Jeff Green as their main stars.  Especially with the Heat and Bulls who are better and younger.

Just crazy talk.

[mgent]

I think once the Big 3 are gone we're gonna see a slightly different Rondo.  He's easily capable of being at least a 20ppg scorer.

[Jon]

I agree with Roy.  Most rebuilding efforts are failures.  The chances that ours will work is quite low as well. 

If rebuilding was easy, it'd would've worked out a lot better for other teams. 

[Marcus13]

Im worried because we're a cold climate team.  Think what you will, but that's a big deal to NBA players.

Boston isn't a hot free agent destination unless we already have a contendor built.

[cman88]

dont you guys think its possible that we could attract a big Free agent though?? Thats more what my post is about...

you have a star point-guard who has yet to hit his prime, alot of cap space and a Coach whom is well respected throughout the league...and youll still have pierce...We have alot better chance of reloading through Free agency than waiting for the draft if Doc can convince players that we want to "win now"

I just feel its a different situation than say a New York where they were saddled by bad contracts and bad management. But even they were able to attract Stoudemire when they had enough cap space...surely we have more to offer to respective Free agents

[nickagneta]

dont you guys think its possible that we could attract a big Free agent though?? Thats more what my post is about...

you have a star point-guard who has yet to hit his prime, alot of cap space and a Coach whom is well respected throughout the league...and youll still have pierce...We have alot better chance of reloading through Free agency than waiting for the draft if Doc can convince players that we want to "win now"

I just feel its a different situation than say a New York where they were saddled by bad contracts and bad management. But even they were able to attract Stoudemire when they had enough cap space...surely we have more to offer to respective Free agents

I'm Dwight Howard and it's the summer of 2012.

My choices are:

1. Sign and trade myself to where ever I want to be. Such locations include:

-Miami with Lebron and Wade(Miami sends back Bosh and others and picks)

-Chicago with Rose and Boozer(Chicago sends back deng, Noah and picks)

-Lakers with Kobe and Gasol(LA sends back Bynum and parts and picks)

-Other tax friendly and/or warm weather climates

2. Sign with a team that will have cap room and little else(sorry Boston is one of those places)

3. Re-sign with Orlando, a place I love in warm weather and a tax friendly environment.

The reason I state this is because I just don't see Rondo, Doc, and a winning tradition luring Howard. he seems full of himself and more interested in the peripherals of fame and fortune than he does about anything else. he won't come to Boston to be "the man" and win a ring as the man because they have a coach and PG in place to maximize his potential and cement his place in history. He's more interested in being famous, living "the life" and if he can tag along with a couple of other superstars and win some rings while staying famous and rich, he will be happy with that.

Just one man's opinion.

[wdleehi]

I have no clue right now. 



The rules could be so different that no impact FA ever hits the market.  (there are very few true impact players in the NBA)



I am preparing for every and all Celtics to be traded (or at least in a lot of trade rumors) 


Not because I think they are not good enough, but because I think there are players on the Celtics Ainge thinks he can sell high (Rondo, Ray)