anyone else not worried about the rebuilding phase?

[PosImpos]

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.

I agree that it will be tough, but as long as Danny plays it smart and surrounds himself with intelligent people (stats guys like Daryl Morey, who has been fantastic in Houston), I think the Celtics will make their way through the process in less time than most teams.

Even if everything goes great, though, we're still looking at 4-5 years of essentially being irrelevant.

[celtics2]

Rondo's flaws will surface more now that the team is rusting away.
Unless he can straighten out his handicaps he will not serve the current Celtics well and won't help a struggling team. We saw his best and it was mostly theatrics.

We all know the teams that have improved beyond us. Keeping this core together for another run would be a big mistake. The Big 3 did what was expected of them. Now it's time for DA to do what's expected from him. Put the lot up for sale while it still has worth. I know Ainge will do what's necessary. 

[gar]

Rondo's flaws will surface more now that the team is rusting away.
Unless he can straighten out his handicaps he will not serve the current Celtics well and won't help a struggling team. We saw his best and it was mostly theatrics.

You don't have our whole team shooting at above their career numbers with pure theatrics. You do it with good ball movement and precision passing.

[guava_wrench]

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.

I have to agree with you on this. But I will still find ways to enjoy watching the team. I enjoyed the bad teams before the KG deal.

[angryguy77]

I'm not looking forward to this at all. History can repeat itself in Basketball and I for one do not want to be 53 years old before we get #18.

Let's hope lady luck smiles on us the next few years.

[snively]

If the new CBA comes with a lower hard cap and fewer guaranteed years on contracts, teams will have to take different different paths to contention. 

Hoarding expensive stars certainly won't be as easy. Dallas won't have the luxury of contending with $20+ mil of payroll (Butler and Haywood) sitting on the bench for most of the finals.  Boston would have been forced to let Rondo go after 2009 - or get rid of one of the Big 3 (and forget the Posey, Sheed and Jermaine additions).  LA would have had to say goodbye to Odom and never would have been able to add Artest.  The Heat likely wouldn't have been able to add Bosh.

With rich contenders unable to hit veterans over the head with the wallet (in other words, offering them the chance to get a big paycheck and play with a bunch of stars), as Wyc would say, teams like Milwaukee potential acquisition pool would increase from the likes of Salmons, Maggette and Gooden, to include the likes of Bosh, Odom and Rondo. 

While that would be bad news for our current roster assembly, it's potentially good news for our rebuilding efforts.  If a hard cap breaks up the likes LA, Miami and Dallas, and stymies would-be copycats like NJ and NY, not only does that lower the bar for contention somewhat, it forces more good players into circulation.

The hard cap could have a very rebuilding friendly ripple effect: Superteams (as determined by salary and talent concentration) like Miami, Dallas, LA and Boston would drop down a notch to join the 2nd tier of the Thunder, Chicago and Portland and Atlanta.  Not only does this immediately elevate the 2nd tier to the de facto 1st tier (grown to encompass 8 teams) it also bumps up the third tier (Orlando, NO, Memphis, San Antonio, Denver, NY, Phoenix, Houston) to the 2nd tier, where they are just one move away from contention (think of the impact this would have on hometown hopes of retaining CP3, Howard and, retroactively, Melo).  This in turn would reduce the distance between the lottery teams and ultimate contention.

[wdleehi]

If the new CBA comes with a lower hard cap and fewer guaranteed years on contracts, teams will have to take different different paths to contention. 

Hoarding expensive stars certainly won't be as easy. Dallas won't have the luxury of contending with $20+ mil of payroll (Butler and Haywood) sitting on the bench for most of the finals.  Boston would have been forced to let Rondo go after 2009 - or get rid of one of the Big 3 (and forget the Posey, Sheed and Jermaine additions).  LA would have had to say goodbye to Odom and never would have been able to add Artest.  The Heat likely wouldn't have been able to add Bosh.

With rich contenders unable to hit veterans over the head with the wallet (in other words, offering them the chance to get a big paycheck and play with a bunch of stars), as Wyc would say, teams like Milwaukee potential acquisition pool would increase from the likes of Salmons, Maggette and Gooden, to include the likes of Bosh, Odom and Rondo. 

While that would be bad news for our current roster assembly, it's potentially good news for our rebuilding efforts.  If a hard cap breaks up the likes LA, Miami and Dallas, and stymies would-be copycats like NJ and NY, not only does that lower the bar for contention somewhat, it forces more good players into circulation.

The hard cap could have a very rebuilding friendly ripple effect: Superteams (as determined by salary and talent concentration) like Miami, Dallas, LA and Boston would drop down a notch to join the 2nd tier of the Thunder, Chicago and Portland and Atlanta.  Not only does this immediately elevate the 2nd tier to the de facto 1st tier (grown to encompass 8 teams) it also bumps up the third tier (Orlando, NO, Memphis, San Antonio, Denver, NY, Phoenix, Houston) to the 2nd tier, where they are just one move away from contention (think of the impact this would have on hometown hopes of retaining CP3, Howard and, retroactively, Melo).  This in turn would reduce the distance between the lottery teams and ultimate contention.

The cream of the players will stay with their teams (with franchise player tags being thrown around)


The Celtics will be looking at the B-team of stars to try and build around Rondo.  Those will likely be the guys overpayed since they would be the best FAs on the market.  Chances are, teams will not have the money to sign enough of them to compete against the A team stars. 

[Kane3387]

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.

I agree that it will be tough, but as long as Danny plays it smart and surrounds himself with intelligent people (stats guys like Daryl Morey, who has been fantastic in Houston), I think the Celtics will make their way through the process in less time than most teams.

Even if everything goes great, though, we're still looking at 4-5 years of essentially being irrelevant.

I think Rebuilding is going to Suck too which is why are only hope is to reload. Unless something like the summer of 2007 happens again, and it is a possibility, we will be looking at mediocrity for a while with Green and Rondo as the cornerstones. Unless we hit a home run with this Clippers pick.

It's been rumored that D12 really wants to play with CP3 if both can get their money. If Ainge was able to trade Rondo and parts for Paul then it could be conceivable that D12 would come to Boston to team up with CP3. They could both get Max Contracts and play with Pierce who has three solid years left. Ray and KG at that point might consider playing for close to vet. min. contracts for maybe two years (like Shaq signed with Player Options). Then the next year we have MLE, etc. if they are still in existence.

With the landscape of the league changing to so many teams with two to three all-stars; OKC, Miami, LA, NYC or teams with one superstar and a bunch of talented guys like Chicago, Dallas, and maybe Memphis depending on how you feel about Randolph & Gay; I think it would take something drastic to reload. 2007 was definitely drastic though.

Otherwise you are looking at lottery and draft luck going our way and that only happens for two or three teams every eight years... Those ping-pong balls have never been good to us.

[celtics2]

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.

I would love for Rondo to be a complete PG but can't perform with regularity evidently. The better teams already have his MO now. For that reason he had a poor playoff season. He now knows attacking will cost him physically now. Not to mention being a liability on the foul line. Never thought I would say this but trade him alone or in a package to get us a start. This present team will not produce and some quick adjustments will only put off the inevitable. DA will do what's best for the Team and Celtic Pride, not for player(s).

[Neurotic Guy]

I'm not looking forward to this at all. History can repeat itself in Basketball and I for one do not want to be 53 years old before we get #18.

Let's hope lady luck smiles on us the next few years.

What are you trying to say --  53 is old?

[JSD]

The landscape appears much better under the current ownership group than the previous one. I really believe that with Doc, our good reputation league wide, and our big market will allow us to bring in some good young players via free agency.

[Neurotic Guy]

I am not looking forward to a return to mediocrity.  I'd rather be terrible than mediocre. But, I agree with those who think our window is still open.  After this season we'll have the possibility of a still contributing Pierce. And Ray Allen and KG COULD still be viable role players if willing to re-sign (after we nail a top FA and a 2nd tier FA).   That team could be championship viable for another 2 years.

[nickagneta]

I am not looking forward to a return to mediocrity.  I'd rather be terrible than mediocre. But, I agree with those who think our window is still open.  After this season we'll have the possibility of a still contributing Pierce. And Ray Allen and KG COULD still be viable role players if willing to re-sign (after we nail a top FA and a 2nd tier FA).   That team could be championship viable for another 2 years.

For KG and Ray to be ours after signing a free agent or two with cap space, under the current rules, we would need to renounce their rights, use the cap space to sign said free agent(s), then use any remaining cap space to sign them to ridiculously low salaries or go over the cap and have them sign veteran minimum contracts.

I love KG and Ray. I think the world of both of them as players and people but they are businessmen also. In 2012-13 if they still have something tangible to provide a team I think they would want to be paid what that contribution is worth. My guess is that contribution isn't being adequately compensated at the veteran minimum.

[Kane3387]

I am not looking forward to a return to mediocrity.  I'd rather be terrible than mediocre. But, I agree with those who think our window is still open.  After this season we'll have the possibility of a still contributing Pierce. And Ray Allen and KG COULD still be viable role players if willing to re-sign (after we nail a top FA and a 2nd tier FA).   That team could be championship viable for another 2 years.

For KG and Ray to be ours after signing a free agent or two with cap space, under the current rules, we would need to renounce their rights, use the cap space to sign said free agent(s), then use any remaining cap space to sign them to ridiculously low salaries or go over the cap and have them sign veteran minimum contracts.

I love KG and Ray. I think the world of both of them as players and people but they are businessmen also. In 2012-13 if they still have something tangible to provide a team I think they would want to be paid what that contribution is worth. My guess is that contribution isn't being adequately compensated at the veteran minimum.

I think the landscape of the league will decide this. We will have to renounce their rights only if we decide to sign a top FA, and based on who that is could decide how much money they take. I mean for argument's sake let's say it's Dwight. I think they come back for vet. minimums to try and win with the best big man in the league. Kg would love D12 having his back on D and Ray would love all the open looks he would get from D12's double teams.

Do you really think teams will pay big money for a 37 year old Ray Allen and a 36 year old KG? I don't... So assuming we can contend legitimately then I think they would play for nothing. Much like Shaq I think they are smart with their money and still have a lot (unlike A. Walker) and have other sources of incomes beyond basketball. As you said I think the fact that they are business men is the reason a couple extra million on a 1-2 year contract won't matter that much to them.

I truly think if we traded Rondo for CP3 or maybe D-Will, the other pieces would fall into place and we would contend for the next 6-8 years. Howard knows he needs to team up with a guy of that caliber to contend with these stacked teams that are forming. Kind of sad how top heavy the league is becoming.

[nickagneta]

I am not looking forward to a return to mediocrity.  I'd rather be terrible than mediocre. But, I agree with those who think our window is still open.  After this season we'll have the possibility of a still contributing Pierce. And Ray Allen and KG COULD still be viable role players if willing to re-sign (after we nail a top FA and a 2nd tier FA).   That team could be championship viable for another 2 years.

For KG and Ray to be ours after signing a free agent or two with cap space, under the current rules, we would need to renounce their rights, use the cap space to sign said free agent(s), then use any remaining cap space to sign them to ridiculously low salaries or go over the cap and have them sign veteran minimum contracts.

I love KG and Ray. I think the world of both of them as players and people but they are businessmen also. In 2012-13 if they still have something tangible to provide a team I think they would want to be paid what that contribution is worth. My guess is that contribution isn't being adequately compensated at the veteran minimum.

I think the landscape of the league will decide this. We will have to renounce their rights only if we decide to sign a top FA, and based on who that is could decide how much money they take. I mean for argument's sake let's say it's Dwight. I think they come back for vet. minimums to try and win with the best big man in the league. Kg would love D12 having his back on D and Ray would love all the open looks he would get from D12's double teams.

Do you really think teams will pay big money for a 37 year old Ray Allen and a 36 year old KG? I don't... So assuming we can contend legitimately then I think they would play for nothing. Much like Shaq I think they are smart with their money and still have a lot (unlike A. Walker) and have other sources of incomes beyond basketball. As you said I think the fact that they are business men is the reason a couple extra million on a 1-2 year contract won't matter that much to them.

I truly think if we traded Rondo for CP3 or maybe D-Will, the other pieces would fall into place and we would contend for the next 6-8 years. Howard knows he needs to team up with a guy of that caliber to contend with these stacked teams that are forming. Kind of sad how top heavy the league is becoming.

If KG and Ray have years similar to what they had this year and stay healthy, teams would pay them $5 million a year for two years and consider it a humungous bargain. Both were All-Stars this year. KG a 1st team All-Defense. Ray scored 16.5 PPG while being nearly a 50/40/90 shooter.

You don't find guys like that with championship experience on trees and teams would pay for them. Your best case scenario of Howard coming here(don't see it) and KG and Ray being kind- hearted homers giving up millions and millions to stay here, is not convincing.