Why do elite players NOT want to play for the Celtics?

[Tgro]

I'm a bit miffed at how elite players have gone on record as either not wanting to play for us or have not included us on their small list of teams that they would be willing to play for?

It's understood that our own elite is considered long in the tooth and ready to be put out to pasture, but its still conceivable that with an elite addition this year, we could still seriously contend for another title quite easily. Wouldn't these guys want to be the one missing piece to put us over the top and win a title themselves?

And if it's concern for the aging core having to be replaced, don't they realize that although Ainge's hands are relatively tied for this season, he has given himself plenty of options for next season and beyond? That if an elite free agent came here and we managed to maintain Rondo in the process, that with enough room to still be aggressive next year and beyond, we could easily continue building a powerhouse well into the future. One would think the Celtics would be on their short list of teams to consider.

So what's keeping the elite from wanting to come and play with the Celtics?

I don't get it. It seems like the word is out amongst the players that Boston is not a place to go. It almost feels like Boston is not hip and they see themselves being more adored, better surrounded and perhaps higher paid elsewhere. Are the Celtics really that close to being a team no one wants to play with? Do the players not see the present or future potential with Boston or do they feel they will be low-balled with us? What's the real reason these guys have been OPENLY snubbing the Celtics???

I would have thought Boston would be a desirable place to play and instead it seems like going forward, these guys want no part of us. What's the real reason???  

[Who]

Team is too old.

[Who]

And if it's concern for the aging core having to be replaced, don't they realize that although Ainge's hands are relatively tied for this season, he has given himself plenty of options for next season and beyond? That if an elite free agent came here and we managed to maintain Rondo in the process, that with enough room to still be aggressive next year and beyond, we could easily continue building a powerhouse well into the future. One would think the Celtics would be on their short list of teams to consider.

Why take a leap of faith in Ainge's ability to rebuild the team when you can just go and join a team that already has it's core in place? Is either ready or right on the verge of competing for a Championship?

Trusting Ainge is the lesser option.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

And if it's concern for the aging core having to be replaced, don't they realize that although Ainge's hands are relatively tied for this season, he has given himself plenty of options for next season and beyond? That if an elite free agent came here and we managed to maintain Rondo in the process, that with enough room to still be aggressive next year and beyond, we could easily continue building a powerhouse well into the future. One would think the Celtics would be on their short list of teams to consider.

Why take a leap of faith in Ainge's ability to rebuild the team when you can just go and join a team that already has it's core in place? Is either ready or right on the verge of competing for a Championship?

Trusting Ainge is the lesser option.

Why? Did he not RECENTLY build a championship team? How about getting players that turned out to be very nice from the draft? What else could he show? Out of all the teams with those elite stars, how many have won a championship recently? Again, Ainge (Celtics overall) have a proven track record of building a championship team, how many teams can say that (not even the Bulls because that's Jordan)... less than a handful? I think it has little to do with whether they can build those teams... it's more of these stars wanting to gang up RIGHT NOW, instead of build a championship team... nothing but a buddy-buddy game now!

[Liam W]

Like somone said, This team is old. Too old if you ask me.

This has to be the last year of the "Big 3". I dont want a 37yr old + a 36yr old player on this team next season.

Let them go, and lets rebuild the team. If KG + Allen are both on this team next season then smh Its not gona help anyone out in the long run

And as for players not wanting to come here, maybe its because Boston is an NFL town? or Baseball? hell they have hockey too.

Too many retired numbers? To much history to live up to?

IDK man. Just gut the roster of the old guys and lets move on with Doc Rondo + Green going foward

[bfrombleacher]

I think its because we simply don't have the cash. Wait till next year. We'd have Ray (and possibly KG) coming off the bench cheap, a bunch of cash (thanks to Rondo's contract), an ever improving top 5 point guard, the most championships in the league, one of the most historically significant places to play for, a GM who makes smart moves (you've got to admit, the smart outweighs the dumb), a brotherhood in the best franchise.

Its understandable, given the recent shenanigans with contract talks, that they want financial security but in the end these guys play to win and until it isn't so, we're a winning franchise.

[guava_wrench]

And if it's concern for the aging core having to be replaced, don't they realize that although Ainge's hands are relatively tied for this season, he has given himself plenty of options for next season and beyond? That if an elite free agent came here and we managed to maintain Rondo in the process, that with enough room to still be aggressive next year and beyond, we could easily continue building a powerhouse well into the future. One would think the Celtics would be on their short list of teams to consider.

Why take a leap of faith in Ainge's ability to rebuild the team when you can just go and join a team that already has it's core in place? Is either ready or right on the verge of competing for a Championship?

Trusting Ainge is the lesser option.

Why? Did he not RECENTLY build a championship team? How about getting players that turned out to be very nice from the draft? What else could he show? Out of all the teams with those elite stars, how many have won a championship recently? Again, Ainge (Celtics overall) have a proven track record of building a championship team, how many teams can say that (not even the Bulls because that's Jordan)... less than a handful? I think it has little to do with whether they can build those teams... it's more of these stars wanting to gang up RIGHT NOW, instead of build a championship team... nothing but a buddy-buddy game now!

It took Ainge quite a few years to build a championship team and there is no guarantee it would happen again. Building a team is a bit of a crapshoot.

Soon we will be left with only Rondo. Pierce was a better starting point.

[ianboyextreme]

Theres a little thing I like to call "the Lebron clique". That being lebron, chris paul, dwyne wade, dwight howard (to an extent), etc... These guys want to play in a flashy city where they will be able to hang out with Jay Z and their rapper buddies. Boston just isn't one of those cities and is not percieved as particularly cool.
To be honest with you I feel like if you told most people, they would be suprised that Boston has any residents that aern't irish  or italian. Boston just isn't considered cool by alot of folks.

[BigGovy]

There are a ton of factors most of which have been mentioned here. Team a little long in the tooth. The Weather not the greatest, No owner with more money than god,  maybe some latent residual effect of a racist history. But one thing i don't see mentioned which plays a great part in it is in Boston they aren't the SHOW. You go to Los Angels and there is no NFL and no Tom Brady to compete with nor is the religion of the city Dodger baseball. When the local market place lets you compete with all  4 teams for the Duncan Donuts commercial it isn't that inviting or cool. Now if you are a little longer in the tooth and have kids and are thinking about their upbringing and Public schools over private maybe you consider Boston first. But most of these guys don't think that way or have more kids than the Osmonds. Don't take it too personally I have now lived in L.A for the past twenty years and if they don't want to play for Boston then you don't want them anywhere near a green uniform they don't have the heart to begin with.

[PosImpos]

Team is too old.

this, and I think that also some players don't like the idea of playing with the Big 3 because they wouldn't get to be the unchallenged "face" of the team.

there are all kinds of naysayers for what rondo does, saying he's just a product of the players that are around him.  im sure a lot of star guys in the league are put off by the possibility the same sort of comments might be made about them.

[Yogi]

   There are players out there that want to be a Celtic.  They're not the players most fans fantasize about, but good players who play with heart and respect history.  Players that keep their head down, and work hard, and put the team above themselves.  We are lucky to have four all stars like that.  We got a few role players like that this year.  Hopefully we will get another star or two next year.  There won't be Dwight Howard or Chris Paul coming here, and I for one prefer it that way.  

[PosImpos]

  There are players out there that want to be a Celtic.  They're not the players most fans fantasize about, but good players who play with heart and respect history.  Players that keep their head down, and work hard, and put the team above themselves.  We are lucky to have four all stars like that.  We got a few role players like that this year.  Hopefully we will get another star or two next year.  There won't be Dwight Howard or Chris Paul coming here, and I for one prefer it that way.  

players like that are nice, but unfortunately in order to win championships you really need to get superstars, not just humble hard workers who fit well into a team concept.

[EJPLAYA]

ive always felt there were two reasons. One is that the weather is absolutely miserable through the year and so many elite players who can choose their place are wanting better weather. Second, is that most NBA players grew up during the 80's and early 90's when to a large degree the Celtics were the team whote kids liked. The Lakers and Bulls weren't that way. Since the majority of the NBA is black, they grew up more likely hating the Celtics and liking the other squads. now that it is them in the NBA, Boston with its bitter weather just isn't the place they grew up dreaming of playing. I don't really think its that much of a racist thing, rather who their family and friends were supporting.

[Yogi]

  There are players out there that want to be a Celtic.  They're not the players most fans fantasize about, but good players who play with heart and respect history.  Players that keep their head down, and work hard, and put the team above themselves.  We are lucky to have four all stars like that.  We got a few role players like that this year.  Hopefully we will get another star or two next year.  There won't be Dwight Howard or Chris Paul coming here, and I for one prefer it that way.  

players like that are nice, but unfortunately in order to win championships you really need to get superstars, not just humble hard workers who fit well into a team concept.

   That is nothing more than an assumption.  I am a strong believer that playing well makes you a star.  Being a star doesn't make you play well.  When we beat the other teams, our players will become super stars.  

[chambers]

It will come and go in waves for us.
Boston appeals to a certain type of player.

The current crop of superstars all want to be - as someone pointed out earlier in this thread- the king of a big flashy city.

They want to be like Jay Z and consider themselves almost movie stars and A list celebrities on a Tom Cruise/Justin Beiber level.
It's why Shaq left for LA- he couldn't take his eyes of the bright lights and the TV potential. I mean look at him now.
I think we will get a certain crop of players and I don't like how all these guys are dictating where they want to go but if they don't wanna be here then I frankly don't want them.
I would like to hear it from their mouths personally though.
Rumour and speculation are thrown around during trade time and I  don't think that Chris Paul would really be opposed to playing with the big 3 for at least one year. I mean how many championship caliber teams can he join this year? The Lakers and Celtics are pretty much the only two.

Our time will come. Danny and Doc have a very good reputation in the league and that will be crucial for us in the next 3 years as we re-tool/re build.