The Argument for trading Rondo for Chris Paul (with or without a Paul extension)

[chambers]

Everyone who is opposed to Rondo being traded for Paul (with or without an extension) needs to consider the reality of the situation our organisation is facing.
This year we are a fringe chance to make the Eastern Conference Finals, and that's if everything goes PERFECT for us.
Making this gamble is something that a GM with balls- someone like Danny Ainge, can potentially make to change the next 6-7 years of our franchise in a positive way.

We are facing a situation where KG, Ray and Paul are on a steady decline. The Miami Heat and Bulls are going to be a force for the next 6-7 years at least, and once our Fab Four have been dismantled we are looking at a gloomy period for all Celtics fans- within 2 seasons we could potentially be struggling to make the playoffs and a starting five that features Rondo, Jeff Green and Paul Pierce at age 36.
The time for action is NOW.

Gaining Chris Paul in exchange for Rondo gives us a much better shot at gaining Dwight Howard- it also improves our chances at success  even without gaining Dwight. If Paul comes to the Boston Celtics for one year, the veterans, management, coaching staff and fans will have a full season to convince him to sign on.
Chris Paul wants to win- if you've heard this guy talk or seen him train you know he is similar to Ray Allen with his work ethic. He respects hard work and coming to a 'winning' organisation will have a serious impact on his decision on whether or not to extend with the Celtics.
He'll also see the problems that the Knicks are having over time and see that they are not the franchise of the future.
Having two top 20 players that require the ball as much as those two goons is a recipe for disaster. Completely different to the Miami duo because their completion and conversion rates are much lower than Lebron, Wade and Chris Pauls.

The most important thing to me is this:
Danny and Doc and Wyc understand something that Chris Paul and Dwight Howard can't foresee right now. That being that wearing the green uniform, being surrounded by All Stars, Celtics legends, Doc Rivers and the insatiable Boston crowd during the playoffs will be something that Paul will NEED after one season with us.
Having Paul is the ultimate trade bait for Howard, Danny and Doc will be communicating the need for Howard with Paul and the other high profile Celtics players and this will create an initiative that will ensure the best possible chance of landing the big man.

Now if we trade Rondo for Paul and the gamble doesn't pay off, then we are stuck at square one. Complete rebuilding mode and probably not making the playoffs in 2 years from now. The good thing is we will have more money to spend than anyone in the NBA and we can build a playoff contender from scratch.

I am in favour of gambling on this trade. I just feel that once Chris Paul plays in the Garden for one season and knows that he is the man for the greatest franchise in the NBA, saying no to an extension will be very difficult. He is only human.

I've come back to this post to add this part because I had to rush out earlier when I first wrote it.
Something to me as a Celtics fan is extremely important.
If we don't make this trade and go for Chris Paul, I really don't like our chances at an NBA title in the next 6-7 years.
What's more, I feel that the Lakers will reap the rewards of either Howard or Chris Paul and they will probably overtake the Celtics in the number of NBA championships they have.

So, do we put our eggs in one basket and roll the dice, trying to create another super team to compete with this trending fashion? (that we almost started in 2008).

Or do we play it safe, hold on to our All Star point guard and make a run at Dwight Howard, eventually adding some younger stars like Rudy Gay and Al Horford in 2-3 years time?
If we miss out on Paul and Howard, as fans, are we happy watching Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce lead this team through five years of second round playoff disappointment?
Are we happy letting Danny weave his magic in the NBA draft while we fight against the Bobcats and Cavaliers for the number one pick for multiple years?

PLEASE, DON'T LET THE LAKERS GET MORE BANNERS THAN US!

[TaxiDriver2500]

tough sell. now remove the emotion from it.

Superstars today have been shown the way. LeBron and Melo both did. they will wind up exactly where they want simply by threateining to play out their current deals and walking. Yes, this is a move that leaves money on the table for them but they then have the choice of where to play.

I really dont forsee a situation where the C's have enough trade chips to land Paul and Howard via the trade. So your'e asking the Celts to deal for one of these guys, on the premonition that they actually would commit to playing on the same team together. The risk is you trade a valueable asset like Rondo for a guy on a one year deal. He walks and your left with a boatload of salary cap room on a team with no identity or pieces to build around.

extremely risky way to start the rebuild if ya ask me.


**edit- That all being said i think slowly building back up the troops around Rondo and Jeff Green probably isnt the anwser either....

[bfrombleacher]

I like the idea of bringing Al Jefferson in, which seems to be getting a lot of buzz here. You could probably guess that I don't like seeing Rondo go for a rental.

What can we do though? Ainge will do what he does, like when he traded Perk. For better or worse, I'll be rooting for the Celtics for life.

But I won't forget Rondo and what he did. In my books, this man is a true Celtic and will take a part of this great franchise with him wherever he goes.

[j804]

He's let it be known he wouldn't sign an extension with us, but yet if dealt to the Lakers he would sign one with them. He doesn't want to come here.

[LarBrd33]

Chris Paul is a legitimate superstar. You need a superstar to win a title unless you're the 04 Pistons.

Chris Paul is essentially the second-coming of Isiah Thomas.

I get a little worried about his injury history... last year he didn't seem like himself, but come playoff time he sure seemed to have it against the Lakers.   

Flash back the season before he was injured and take a look at his stats:

78 games - 22.8 points, 11 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 50% shooting, 36% from three, 87% from the line.  He also managed to lead his team into the playoffs with 49 wins.  That might be (statistically) better than any season Isiah Thomas ever put up. 

I haven't researched his health situation much.  Last year I vaguely seem to remember hearing, "Chris Paul might never be the same"...   But assuming we're getting 08-09 Chris Paul (he's only 26 years old) ... You go all-in for a player like that.  Rondo will NEVER have a season like that.  In fact, find me a season from ANY point guard (not named Magic Johnson) that statistically compares to that.

No doubt he's the best point guard in the NBA.  Slightly underrated, because he plays in a city nobody gives a crap about.  I'll be the first one here to admit the embarrassing fact that this year vs the Lakers might have been the first time I've watched a full Chris Paul game (when he wasn't playing the Celtics).  I imagine most of you are in the same boat.  Superstars don't grow on trees.  We either go for this one now and take our chances at signing him... or play the lottery game and wait out the LeBron James/Kevin Durant years.

What's the alternative?... best case you get a guy like Rudy Gay or Josh Smith.  In the post big-3 era... Rondo + Rudy Gay isn't going to take down the mighty Heat... Dwight Howard's Lakers... Durant's Thunder... or Chris Paul's Knicks.  So take your chances now. 

It's a shame Chris and Dwight are probably both going to the Lakers, though.

   

[chambers]

He's let it be known he wouldn't sign an extension with us, but yet if dealt to the Lakers he would sign one with them. He doesn't want to come here.

I'm pretty sure everyone thought 'there is no way Deron Williams will resign with the Nets'. Now he's saying he's a 90% chance to resign.

I feel that coming from an organisation like the Hornets, to the Celtics, is something that we can't really judge until he arrives. Surely once he plays in the Garden and experiences the Celtic culture and the championship aura and attitude, he has a large chance of falling in love with the place. I know it's cheesey, but it really does exist with clubs like the Celtics and Lakers and Chicago Bulls.

What's more, in the off chance that we got to the finals this year with him and our older core, he'd almost certainly give us a shot, considering he can make even more money here.

It's about instilling a Celtic mentality into this guy.
Not all players have the attitude and work ethic to buy into Celtic Pride, but once he sees why KG, Ray, Pierce, Doc and Danny are so proud to be a part of it, he *hopefully* won't want to leave.

[chambers]

What's the alternative?... best case you get a guy like Rudy Gay or Josh Smith.  In the post big-3 era... Rondo + Rudy Gay isn't going to take down the mighty Heat... Dwight Howard's Lakers... Durant's Thunder... or Chris Paul's Knicks.  So take your chances now. 

It's a shame Chris and Dwight are probably both going to the Lakers, though.

   

Exactly, it's either gamble now, hope that his added scoring can help alleviate the chemistry issues of losing Rondo, thus helping us get a title this year, whilst instilling in him the winning mentality that the Celtics are famous for and resigning and luring other big names to keep the Celtics legacy steaming ahead.

No one is gonna remember if we keep Rondo, KG and Ray retire and we all talk about how great 2008 and 2010 were in 3 years time as we dread playing the Knicks and Bulls and Heat just to make the Eastern Conference finals.

No guts, no glory.

[Employee8]

One little ankle sprain in April and we're done.  West/PP/Ray/KG/Insert your favorite B-list center vs. Miami.

It's definitely not worth the risk.  Don't do it Danny!

[Spilling Green Dye]

I think trading for Chris Paul without an extension is the only way we can get him, and I think it'd be a genius move.

Chris Paul is better, and will be better for the Celtics, next year than Rajon Rondo.  After the year, one of two things will happen:

1)  Chris Paul signs an extension with the Celtics.
2)  Chris Paul Sign & Trades from the Celtics (in order to maximize his earnings), and the Celtics get great draft picks, etc back in return.

I'm fine with #2 if it comes down to that because the alternative would have been Rondo + no good draft picks + some cap room.  I like #2 better than the alternative.

[SHAQATTACK]

I 'd trade Rhondo for CP3 in a NY Knick second.  For "ONE" season, he'd show you what he can do with the Celtic front line.

You'd forget Rhondo ever played for the Celtics.

[feckless]

Chris Paul v Rajon Rondo = a much weaker defender, similar play making abilities, a better shooter but only a little better scorer--& has never won a thing--I am not sure a trade for Rondo is even a good deal in fantasy land--you guys are following celebrity--I would rather have Rondo  seeing him as more intense, more competitive, and more creative at both ends of the floor.

[pearljammer10]

I cant wait until Rondo has his best season this year and everyone that is saying we should trade him for Paul jumps back on the other side of the spectrum.

[SHAQATTACK]

CP3 would be an "INSTANT" energy and big hit with the Boston fans and players and would be Doc's new son..  Rhondo is a bit too "MOODY" for my tastes. One play he looks better than CP3 , then the next three plays he looks like he is on vacation handling the ball lost in never never land.

CP3 NEVER quits .........he is the ENERGIZER BUNNY of the NBA.

[BballTim]

Chris Paul is a legitimate superstar. You need a superstar to win a title unless you're the 04 Pistons.

Chris Paul is essentially the second-coming of Isiah Thomas.

I get a little worried about his injury history... last year he didn't seem like himself, but come playoff time he sure seemed to have it against the Lakers.   

Flash back the season before he was injured and take a look at his stats:

78 games - 22.8 points, 11 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 50% shooting, 36% from three, 87% from the line.  He also managed to lead his team into the playoffs with 49 wins.  That might be (statistically) better than any season Isiah Thomas ever put up. 

I haven't researched his health situation much.  Last year I vaguely seem to remember hearing, "Chris Paul might never be the same"...   But assuming we're getting 08-09 Chris Paul (he's only 26 years old) ... You go all-in for a player like that.

  I think most everybody would be in favor of trading for Chris Paul is we knew that all of the reports about his knee were wrong and we'd be getting the 2008 version of him. I don't think that all of the proponents are considering the likelihood that he won't return to that form, in fact I don't think that everyone really knows that he isn't at that level now. For all the talk about Paul being a dominant scorer/superstar/franchise player, last year he scored a whopping 2 points a game more than Rondo did the year before.

[SHAQATTACK]

Everyone who is opposed to Rondo being traded for Paul (with or without an extension) needs to consider the reality of the situation our organisation is facing.
This year we are a fringe chance to make the Eastern Conference Finals, and that's if everything goes PERFECT for us.
Making this gamble is something that a GM with balls- someone like Danny Ainge, can potentially make to change the next 6-7 years of our franchise in a positive way.

We are facing a situation where KG, Ray and Paul are on a steady decline. The Miami Heat and Bulls are going to be a force for the next 6-7 years at least, and once our Fab Four have been dismantled we are looking at a gloomy period for all Celtics fans- within 2 seasons we could potentially be struggling to make the playoffs and a starting five that features Rondo, Jeff Green and Paul Pierce at age 36.
The time for action is NOW.

Gaining Chris Paul in exchange for Rondo gives us a much better shot at gaining Dwight Howard- it also improves our chances at success  even without gaining Dwight. If Paul comes to the Boston Celtics for one year, the veterans, management, coaching staff and fans will have a full season to convince him to sign on.
Chris Paul wants to win- if you've heard this guy talk or seen him train you know he is similar to Ray Allen with his work ethic. He respects hard work and coming to a 'winning' organisation will have a serious impact on his decision on whether or not to extend with the Celtics.
He'll also see the problems that the Knicks are having over time and see that they are not the franchise of the future.
Having two top 20 players that require the ball as much as those two goons is a recipe for disaster. Completely different to the Miami duo because their completion and conversion rates are much lower than Lebron, Wade and Chris Pauls.

The most important thing to me is this:
Danny and Doc and Wyc understand something that Chris Paul and Dwight Howard can't foresee right now. That being that wearing the green uniform, being surrounded by All Stars, Celtics legends, Doc Rivers and the insatiable Boston crowd during the playoffs will be something that Paul will NEED after one season with us.
Having Paul is the ultimate trade bait for Howard, Danny and Doc will be communicating the need for Howard with Paul and the other high profile Celtics players and this will create an initiative that will ensure the best possible chance of landing the big man.

Now if we trade Rondo for Paul and the gamble doesn't pay off, then we are stuck at square one. Complete rebuilding mode and probably not making the playoffs in 2 years from now. The good thing is we will have more money to spend than anyone in the NBA and we can build a playoff contender from scratch.

I am in favour of gambling on this trade. I just feel that once Chris Paul plays in the Garden for one season and knows that he is the man for the greatest franchise in the NBA, saying no to an extension will be very difficult. He is only human.

I've come back to this post to add this part because I had to rush out earlier when I first wrote it.
Something to me as a Celtics fan is extremely important.
If we don't make this trade and go for Chris Paul, I really don't like our chances at an NBA title in the next 6-7 years.
What's more, I feel that the Lakers will reap the rewards of either Howard or Chris Paul and they will probably overtake the Celtics in the number of NBA championships they have.

So, do we put our eggs in one basket and roll the dice, trying to create another super team to compete with this trending fashion? (that we almost started in 2008).

Or do we play it safe, hold on to our All Star point guard and make a run at Dwight Howard, eventually adding some younger stars like Rudy Gay and Al Horford in 2-3 years time?
If we miss out on Paul and Howard, as fans, are we happy watching Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce lead this team through five years of second round playoff disappointment?
Are we happy letting Danny weave his magic in the NBA draft while we fight against the Bobcats and Cavaliers for the number one pick for multiple years?

PLEASE, DON'T LET THE LAKERS GET MORE BANNERS THAN US!


All I can say is about you comments ..is a I love you...Thanks !