To Blow up or Not

[djbilly33]

Its quite simple, if we think we are going to contend for a title this year, then we need a trade because this team will not get by Chi or Mia in a 7 game series.  If we want to rebuild then we need to start seriously consider trading everyone not named Rondo, Pierce, JJJ, Bass or Pietrus.  If the team stays as it is currently constructed then we should see a first round playoff exit. If we the fans are happy with that then so be it.  I would hope no one in Celtics managements thinks we can win it this year, if they do they're idiots. I think we should go for it this year and do what we need to do to be serious contenders, keep the core 4 and trade for an average center who is young and can rebound. A few extra rebounds for this team can be the difference between a win and loss. Thoughts?

[bbd24]

My thoughts are that Ainge has setup this team perfectly.  You are rebuilding and competing at the same time, IMO.  You can say they'll have a first round exit constructed as is, but I think you're wrong.  This team can beat anybody...anytime... anywhere, as constructed.

The bench is far better than it's ever been (that's even without Green, imagine him in there)....& the core 4 is still around, producing when healthy.  If the core 4 play their games, nobody is exiting stage left...They're bringing home another banner instead.

No way you blow up this team.  You add to it or make a trade if somebody is giving you the farm (i.e. Kings give you Cousins & a 2012 first round pick for Rondo).

[Celtics18]

My thoughts are that Ainge has setup this team perfectly.  You are rebuilding and competing at the same time, IMO.  You can say they'll have a first round exit constructed as is, but I think you're wrong.  This team can beat anybody...anytime... anywhere, as constructed.

The bench is far better than it's ever been (that's even without Green, imagine him in there)....& the core 4 is still around, producing when healthy.  If the core 4 play their games, nobody is exiting stage left...They're bringing home another banner instead.

No way you blow up this team.  You add to it or make a trade if somebody is giving you the farm (i.e. Kings give you Cousins & a 2012 first round pick for Rondo).

Exactly!!  "Rebuilding and competing at the same time." 

There's the theory floating around that we have to blow the whole thing up to acquire assets which ignores the fact that we have quite a few assets in place already. 

[Chris]

This is not a question for Ainge, this is a question for other teams.  Because they are the ones who will make this decision for him.  He is not going to "blow it up" for any other reason than some other team offered him a good deal that put the team in a significantly better position than they would be in, had they just held onto the expiring contracts.

[LooseCannon]

If we want to rebuild then we need to start seriously consider trading everyone not named Rondo, Pierce, JJJ, Bass or Pietrus.

If I wanted to go for a full rebuilding project, Bass and Pietrus are probably the first players I look to trade.

[snively]

I'm hoping that some combination of the following disposable assets - Keyon Dooling's expiring contract & 3rd string PG skill set, JO's expiring contract & defensive skill set, Bass' probably expiring contract & two-way skill set, Chris Wilcox's expiring contract and offensive skill set, Avery Bradley's high-quality defense on a rookie contract, the rookies and our two likely 20ish picks - can be used to address the team's glaring weaknesses - i.e., the lack of a starting caliber big man other than KG, with rebounding the most notably absent skill set in our big man platoon, and the lack of a scorer who can get his own shot off the bench.

Until I'm convinced that those assets are insufficient to address those weaknesses, I won't want to blow it up.

[bbd24]

This is not a question for Ainge, this is a question for other teams.  Because they are the ones who will make this decision for him.  He is not going to "blow it up" for any other reason than some other team offered him a good deal that put the team in a significantly better position than they would be in, had they just held onto the expiring contracts.

Good point.  Ainge really has setup this team perfectly for this season and beyond. Doesn't have to do anything.  He can wait it out for the loaded draft and next years free agent crop if the package he's offered isn't right. Ton of options for him & he's in full control.