enough with the trade threads....rondos our best player

[BballTim]

"Good" is just not good enough to win in the NBA.

The one thing we really need to contend, this year, in ten years, or in any given year, is a true top player, one of the league´s elite. That´s neither Rondo, nor anyone we could realistically get through free agency to pair him up with. It will be even harder if we´re not willing to trade one or all of the big three soon.

  It's worth pointing out that we haven't had anything close to a "true top player" the last few years yet we've been top contenders during that time.

[Casperian]

"Good" is just not good enough to win in the NBA.

The one thing we really need to contend, this year, in ten years, or in any given year, is a true top player, one of the league´s elite. That´s neither Rondo, nor anyone we could realistically get through free agency to pair him up with. It will be even harder if we´re not willing to trade one or all of the big three soon.

  It's worth pointing out that we haven't had anything close to a "true top player" the last few years yet we've been top contenders during that time.

I disagree. KG certainly qualifies as NBA elite during that time, in my opinion.

[BballTim]

"Good" is just not good enough to win in the NBA.

The one thing we really need to contend, this year, in ten years, or in any given year, is a true top player, one of the league´s elite. That´s neither Rondo, nor anyone we could realistically get through free agency to pair him up with. It will be even harder if we´re not willing to trade one or all of the big three soon.

  It's worth pointing out that we haven't had anything close to a "true top player" the last few years yet we've been top contenders during that time.

I disagree. KG certainly qualifies as NBA elite during that time, in my opinion.

  An nba elite that didn't come particularly close to even making 3rd team all nba or garner as much as a single 5th place MVP vote in the last two years. How many other of your true top players can say that?

 

[jdpapa3]

  An nba elite that didn't come particularly close to even making 3rd team all nba or garner as much as a single 5th place MVP vote in the last two years. How many other of your true top players can say that?

 

KG's been one of the top 3 NBA team defenders for the past 2 years and has been a solid plus on offense. Not many in the league can say that.

[Casperian]

"Good" is just not good enough to win in the NBA.

The one thing we really need to contend, this year, in ten years, or in any given year, is a true top player, one of the league´s elite. That´s neither Rondo, nor anyone we could realistically get through free agency to pair him up with. It will be even harder if we´re not willing to trade one or all of the big three soon.

  It's worth pointing out that we haven't had anything close to a "true top player" the last few years yet we've been top contenders during that time.

I disagree. KG certainly qualifies as NBA elite during that time, in my opinion.

  An nba elite that didn't come particularly close to even making 3rd team all nba or garner as much as a single 5th place MVP vote in the last two years. How many other of your true top players can say that?  

C´mon, Tim, now you´re grasping at straws.
You know how good and important KG was to us. To bring MVP votings in the discussion when we all know what it means when we talk about the "sacrifices" the big three made (in other words: less stellar stats) is pointless, in my opinion.

Besides, there are only 10 MVP´s in a decade, KG won one of them, which is more than we can say about Rondo.

[BballTim]

  An nba elite that didn't come particularly close to even making 3rd team all nba or garner as much as a single 5th place MVP vote in the last two years. How many other of your true top players can say that?

 

KG's been one of the top 3 NBA team defenders for the past 2 years and has been a solid plus on offense. Not many in the league can say that.

  Look. I'm a big KG fan. My point wasn't that he's a crappy player. My point was that you can contend for a title without a true dominant superstar and that we have, in fact, done so over the last few years. It's important to note that our players defend well and fit together well. But our overall center play has been fairly mediocre, our bench play has been fairly poor, Ray is a great shooter but a fringe all-star, and Paul and KG are top 4-5 at their positions. Again, you need the defense, but that's what you need to surround Rondo with to contend for a title, you don't need to have a couple of superstars, you don't need a top 3 player in his prime.

[BballTim]

"Good" is just not good enough to win in the NBA.

The one thing we really need to contend, this year, in ten years, or in any given year, is a true top player, one of the league´s elite. That´s neither Rondo, nor anyone we could realistically get through free agency to pair him up with. It will be even harder if we´re not willing to trade one or all of the big three soon.

  It's worth pointing out that we haven't had anything close to a "true top player" the last few years yet we've been top contenders during that time.

I disagree. KG certainly qualifies as NBA elite during that time, in my opinion.

  An nba elite that didn't come particularly close to even making 3rd team all nba or garner as much as a single 5th place MVP vote in the last two years. How many other of your true top players can say that?  

C´mon, Tim, now you´re grasping at straws.
You know how good and important KG was to us. To bring MVP votings in the discussion when we all know what it means when we talk about the "sacrifices" the big three made (in other words: less stellar stats) is pointless, in my opinion.

  It's pretty ridiculous to claim that I'm grasping at straws. Don't you notice any difference between the player KG was in 07-08 and the player he is now? Did you watch the playoffs and think that KG was having the same impact on the game as LeBron when we played the Heat? He's a valuable player, no doubt. But claiming that he's a "true top player" is fairly silly. He can dominate in stretches, but we all saw the toll it takes on him when he does.

[PosImpos]

"Good" is just not good enough to win in the NBA.

The one thing we really need to contend, this year, in ten years, or in any given year, is a true top player, one of the league´s elite. That´s neither Rondo, nor anyone we could realistically get through free agency to pair him up with. It will be even harder if we´re not willing to trade one or all of the big three soon.

  It's worth pointing out that we haven't had anything close to a "true top player" the last few years yet we've been top contenders during that time.

That's only because we have 4 very good players.  That will not be the case after the Big 3 are gone.  We'll have 1 or 2.

We won't be contending with Rondo as our best player unless we have at least 2 or 3 other players of his caliber. 

Even so, it's much more a sure thing to have one superstar and a supporting cast of good players rather than a group of very good players.  If trading Rondo could give as a chance at a real superstar, we have to take it.

[KGHurtYourFeelings]

Interesting trying to pick a "best" player on a TEAM like the Celtics...

The Celtics are the consummate example of the whole being much greater than the sum of its parts.

One could say that KG is our best player because he is the best defender on a defense-first team.  He changed the entire culture of the Celtics locker room...

Pierce is clearly our most versatile offensive threat and possesses the greatest ability to create his own shot.

Ray is the best shooter...

Rondo makes it all go...




I don't even know what my answer would be.

However, I would agree that rondo is the most important player on the team.

I wouldn't want to trade him because I love him more than anybody in the world and want to bear his children blah blah blah...BUT for the sake of intelligent conversation, from a strictly basketball standpoint, if you can upgrade your best, most important player for a better, more important player, then if you're a GM, it is your OBLIGATION to do so.

I am a HUGE homer and a Rondo fan.  I didn't even vote in the poll because I couldn't bring myself to hypothetically send Rondo packing.

But Paul, if healthy, is better at basketball.

And I can, and have, made biased, emotional arguments about Rondo being better than EVERY other PG in the league.

But CP3 is the one I can't even justify.

And I LIKE rondo better.  I am a UK guy and I've always been a huge fan.

I'm glad I'm not a GM, bc I don't know if I could trade the guy.  

BUt on paper, you would absolutely have to.

[EJPLAYA]

I wonder who the Charlotte Bobcats bloggers get upset about people mentioning in trade scenarios as THEIR best player…

"Enough with the Boris Diaw trade threads!!!” 

[KGHurtYourFeelings]

Interesting trying to pick a "best" player on a TEAM like the Celtics...

The Celtics are the consummate example of the whole being much greater than the sum of its parts.

One could say that KG is our best player because he is the best defender on a defense-first team.  He changed the entire culture of the Celtics locker room...

Pierce is clearly our most versatile offensive threat and possesses the greatest ability to create his own shot.

Ray is the best shooter...

Rondo makes it all go...




I don't even know what my answer would be.

However, I would agree that rondo is the most important player on the team.

I wouldn't want to trade him because I love him more than anybody in the world and want to bear his children blah blah blah...BUT for the sake of intelligent conversation, from a strictly basketball standpoint, if you can upgrade your best, most important player for a better, more important player, then if you're a GM, it is your OBLIGATION to do so.

I am a HUGE homer and a Rondo fan.  I didn't even vote in the poll because I couldn't bring myself to hypothetically send Rondo packing.

But Paul, if healthy, is better at basketball.

And I can, and have, made biased, emotional arguments about Rondo being better than EVERY other PG in the league.

But CP3 is the one I can't even justify.

And I LIKE rondo better.  I am a UK guy and I've always been a huge fan.

I'm glad I'm not a GM, bc I don't know if I could trade the guy.  

BUt on paper, you would absolutely have to.

All that crap I said aside, I'd quit watching basketball if Kobe ever played for the Celtics

[OsirusCeltics]

"Good" is just not good enough to win in the NBA.

The one thing we really need to contend, this year, in ten years, or in any given year, is a true top player, one of the league´s elite. That´s neither Rondo, nor anyone we could realistically get through free agency to pair him up with. It will be even harder if we´re not willing to trade one or all of the big three soon.

  It's worth pointing out that we haven't had anything close to a "true top player" the last few years yet we've been top contenders during that time.

I disagree. KG certainly qualifies as NBA elite during that time, in my opinion.

  An nba elite that didn't come particularly close to even making 3rd team all nba or garner as much as a single 5th place MVP vote in the last two years. How many other of your true top players can say that?  

C´mon, Tim, now you´re grasping at straws.
You know how good and important KG was to us. To bring MVP votings in the discussion when we all know what it means when we talk about the "sacrifices" the big three made (in other words: less stellar stats) is pointless, in my opinion.

  It's pretty ridiculous to claim that I'm grasping at straws. Don't you notice any difference between the player KG was in 07-08 and the player he is now? Did you watch the playoffs and think that KG was having the same impact on the game as LeBron when we played the Heat? He's a valuable player, no doubt. But claiming that he's a "true top player" is fairly silly. He can dominate in stretches, but we all saw the toll it takes on him when he does.

Totally agree. The Miami Big 3 sacrificed their games but were still able to put up MVP numbers. Its because they were in their primes and the Celtics weren't/arent't

[GreenEnvy]

I think it's debatable whether Rondo is our best player.

Regardless, he isn't the best player in the league. If we can improve our team, we should. He's also our absolute best asset. Perennial All-Star, in his prime, and signed to a multi-year, cap-friendly salary.

The only player who should get some sort of pass is Pierce because of what he means to the franchise. Does that mean passing on any and all trades for him? No. But lateral shifts and marginal upgrades aren't worth it.

[energyking1]

players WANT to play with Rondo. I dont understand the "trade rondo" crap either.

[energyking1]

I agree completely with the OP.  People forget the recent dark days when the Cs would go looking for a PG every single offseason.  Boston used to run out dregs like Bassy Telfair, Kenny Anderson, Milt Palacio, Jiri Welsch, JR Bremer, and Dan Dickau.

The Cs already proven you can win a championship with Rondo as your starting PG.  Plus he's only getting better.

Here's a crazy idea....Instead of thinking of ways to trade away a 25 year old top five PG in the NBA who is a gifted passer and defender, why not keep him and surround him with other good young players?

I will certainly never forget the "dark days", as it was all I had for over 15 years, and it´s exactly why I want Ainge to look into trade options. The C`s weren´t looking for good PG´s during those years, they were looking for good players in general.

And yes, I think it´s a crazy idea because if you don´t trade Rondo, you´ll have to trade one or all of the big three for this young talent you want to put around Rondo, sooner or later (and sooner is certainly more realistic, considering the age of our big three). They won´t sign with us in free agency if all we have to offer is Rondo and Doc.

"Good" is just not good enough to win in the NBA.

The one thing we really need to contend, this year, in ten years, or in any given year, is a true top player, one of the league´s elite. That´s neither Rondo, nor anyone we could realistically get through free agency to pair him up with. It will be even harder if we´re not willing to trade one or all of the big three soon.

On the other hand, I don´t think a package with Rondo as the centerpiece will be enough to trade for any of the top players on non-contenders left. While Rondo is an excellent young PG, a great playmaker with lightning speed, who also has the pedigree with an NBA championship and first-team all defense nominations, he is too unique and special (and with a big, glaring hole in his skill-set) to "sell him above value" to a team looking to get compensation for the loss of their star player.

That´s why I would go even a step further and be willing to trade him not only for a player a la Chris Paul, who could make us instantly better, but simply for "value" and flexibility (Picks), so that when the time comes, and one of the remaining top stars in the league is on the block, we are in the pole position (Draft Picks, expiring contracts of the big three) to get him.

Rondo is not just good, he is ELITE. top 2 point guard in the league.