Why not trade for some guys now and then use Bird Rights

[Celticjay]

Seems if we try to have cap space our payroll will be at the cap.  In the past few years we've been way over.  Why not trade pieces now for other contracts so we end the year over the cap.  

Say for example we trade Pierce for Josh Smith.  We trade Ray Allen for and parts or a pick for Al Jefferson.

This kills our cap space.  We can then use Bird Rights to sign Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, Mickael Pietrus and KG.  We are well over the cap but we have more talent which we could package for someone else.

How about this roster

Big Al
Josh Smith
Jeff Green
Pietrus
Rondo.

this team would be crazy athletic and fun to watch if Doc let them run.

You'd have a bench
KG, Bass, AB, E Moore, JJ, Daniels etc..

Key here is to get over the cap!!

[Celticjay]

Then the icing on the cake get Ray for the Mid level exception!!

[Celticjay]

wow not one comment..

[Chris]

While I think this scenario you laid out would lead to a horrible team in significantly worse position than if they just stayed pat, I do agree that trying to get guys now, using expiring contracts would be better capwise than trying to do it this summer.

The problem is, I don't have much confidence that we can get worthwhile players right now.

I don't think building around Al Jefferson and Josh Smith is a smart move...at least not together.  If you can get one of them without giving up too much, then it would be intriguing, but together, that is a lot of well paid mediocrity.

But, this is why I think you do everything you can to try and trade for a real star (not a mediocre one like those guys) this year, so it will be easier to surround them with the veterans you have already accumulated.

[PosImpos]

None of the moves you proposed are plausible, to be perfectly honest.

[Celticjay]

None of the moves you proposed are plausible, to be perfectly honest.

Have to disagree..

[Roy H.]

This was the strategy the Knicks tried for years and years.  They never wanted to let a contract expire, because they could use Bird Rights to stay tens of millions of dollars above the cap.

I don't think that's a great way to rebuild.  Basically, the team is settling for sub-par pieces to stay competitive in the short term.  I think it's very hard to add a legit championship piece employing that strategy.

[BudweiserCeltic]

It's really my believe that this is not the right moment to rebuild. We're simply better off keeping our team and keep competing now and for a few more years if possible. Just don't envision a good scenario in which we get good trade value to help us build toward the future, particularly considering the weak crop of free-agents coming up.

[Moranis]

This was the strategy the Knicks tried for years and years.  They never wanted to let a contract expire, because they could use Bird Rights to stay tens of millions of dollars above the cap.

I don't think that's a great way to rebuild.  Basically, the team is settling for sub-par pieces to stay competitive in the short term.  I think it's very hard to add a legit championship piece employing that strategy.

Yeah but the Knicks weren't exactly run by a brain trust.  I think the strategy would work fine if you weren't trading for players like Stephon Marbury.

[Chris]

This was the strategy the Knicks tried for years and years.  They never wanted to let a contract expire, because they could use Bird Rights to stay tens of millions of dollars above the cap.

I don't think that's a great way to rebuild.  Basically, the team is settling for sub-par pieces to stay competitive in the short term.  I think it's very hard to add a legit championship piece employing that strategy.

Yeah but the Knicks weren't exactly run by a brain trust.  I think the strategy would work fine if you weren't trading for players like Stephon Marbury.

Sure.  But you also need the other teams to play along.  And when you don't have a lot of assets to offer, then you can't expect much.

[PosImpos]

This was the strategy the Knicks tried for years and years.  They never wanted to let a contract expire, because they could use Bird Rights to stay tens of millions of dollars above the cap.

I don't think that's a great way to rebuild.  Basically, the team is settling for sub-par pieces to stay competitive in the short term.  I think it's very hard to add a legit championship piece employing that strategy.

Yeah but the Knicks weren't exactly run by a brain trust.  I think the strategy would work fine if you weren't trading for players like Stephon Marbury.

Even if you don't make dumb moves, you still need a true franchise superstar to build around if you want to really contend.

Unless you have that in place already, spending lots of money on free agents is just shuffling deck chairs.

The only realistic way for the C's to get such a player, in my opinion, is to get high draft picks, acquire good young talent, and develop that talent.  Whether one of those drafted players turns into a superstar, or you move your assets for such a star, you need to do some tanking and drafting high to get there.

[Celtics4ever]

Trouble is who would want our guys.  I just don't see the interest there.

[PosImpos]

Trouble is who would want our guys.  I just don't see the interest there.

Yeah, that's what I meant when I said that none of the moves mentioned in the original post seem plausible to me.

[BudweiserCeltic]

This was the strategy the Knicks tried for years and years.  They never wanted to let a contract expire, because they could use Bird Rights to stay tens of millions of dollars above the cap.

I don't think that's a great way to rebuild.  Basically, the team is settling for sub-par pieces to stay competitive in the short term.  I think it's very hard to add a legit championship piece employing that strategy.

Yeah but the Knicks weren't exactly run by a brain trust.  I think the strategy would work fine if you weren't trading for players like Stephon Marbury.

Even if you don't make dumb moves, you still need a true franchise superstar to build around if you want to really contend.

Unless you have that in place already, spending lots of money on free agents is just shuffling deck chairs.

The only realistic way for the C's to get such a player, in my opinion, is to get high draft picks, acquire good young talent, and develop that talent.  Whether one of those drafted players turns into a superstar, or you move your assets for such a star, you need to do some tanking and drafting high to get there.

Or, you can go with my plan and keep this team going for a few more years, short contracts and keep building up our youth until then, gathering assets.

Two things might happen, a year were we have an opportunity to acquire someone during free-agency or we find ourselves in a good opportunity to make a trade and acquire the players/assets we need to rebuild. During that span you're also drafting players.

So maybe we don't go all the way, but at least we'd still be competing, and with these players you never know if they might just pull one miracle, there's always a small hope. Even so, you gave yourself a chance of competing while delaying the tank machine, and if all goes as planned, you might never reach the point of having to tank to rebuild.

The key at the moment is to not give any player more than a 2 year contract. You might get away with a couple of 10 million dollar type of players for long contracts to pair up with Rondo, but no more than that. That way you keep some talent to attract players, but at the same time have the cap space necessary to acquire someone when the opportunity presents itself.

[Celticjay]

I think the real challenge is getting the superstar.  There really is only Dwight this offseason.  To count on that would be ludicrous. 

Using the bird rights is away to retain assets and get new ones.  The ones I discussed all only have 2 years left after this year, so they could easily be moved. 

I for one will be sad to see Jeff Green, Bass, Kg and Ray likely go if we go the free agency route.   

Easy to pan a plan but better to give a decent alternative.