Woj on 'EEI: If Cs trade, Pierce most likely one to go:Rondo only for star

[Tai]

I take nothing said about Rondo on the internet - and certainly not on RealGM - seriously. No one in the front office is going to admit they're trying to move Rondo again.

Any Pierce trade is nonsense. It's selling for pennies on the dollar.

Ainge needs to be on the phone to NJ, offering Rondo and Jermaine for DWill.

Agreed on Rondo. I don't buy that the C's are keeping Rondo off the trading block. He's definitely our best trading asset, the question is who the C's would want to trade more: between him and Pierce.

I'm willing to listen to any trades involving Pierce for the right price, but where does that exist? The scenarios are definitely fewer and further between than people think.

[LooseCannon]

I wouldn't say Ainge wouldn't look for a deal involving Rondo, but I absolutely agree with him if he would refuse to trade Rondo unless he gets an All-Star caliber player in return.

[csfansince60s]

Trade both Pierce and Rondo to Jazz for AlJeff, Devin Harris,  Hayward and Jazz's two 1st rounders this year.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=8x2xepb

Utah becomes instant contenders with their combination of youth, frontcourt strength and veteran leadership.

Boston gets a center who can score, a point guard who can shoot and they both expire next year. Plus they get a young 2/3 in Hayward who is verstile and can shoot and the obvious benefit of another two 1sts in a loaded draft.

I think that we can contend this year with:

Harris,Moore, Bradley, Dooling
Ray, Bradley, Pietrus
Hayward, Pietrus, Pavlovic, Daniels
KG, Bass, JJJ
AlJeff,JO Wilcox

KG,Ray and JO expire this year and Jefferson and Harris next to give us lots of room to maneuver.

[EvilEmpire]

Media gurus have been saying for years now that the C's have to get something for the Big Three before they walk.  However, what they've failed to do are the following things:

1) Actually propose realistic trades

2) Take into account that cap space is also something that the Big Three can provide value to this team with. 

The problem with all members of the Big Three is that they don't appeal to any team that's not a contender, or close to it.  So at least 20 teams have no interest in them. 

That leaves MAYBE 10 teams.  And the problem is, most of those teams have the following problems:

1) They don't have much in the way of young talent.

2) They won't part with any of their core for our Big Three.

3) Both of the above. 

Pierce is the one who might actually nab us something of value because he likely has a few good years left and has seen his game drop off the least of the Big Three.  I really think that most of the teams out there really view Ray and KG as guys they can really only rely on for this season. 

Overall, I wouldn't be surprised if nothing happened.  While it'd be nice to see the C's get the next piece of the puzzle, I really think there's a good chance that teams are only going to offer us role players and late first round picks.  And if that's the case, we're better off just holding onto these guys.  Because remember, unless our trade partner is substantially under the cap, we're going to have to take back as much salary as we give up.  And the last thing we need to do in a rebuilding era is have 10, 16, or 23 million dollars tied up in role players who likely won't be around when the next banner is raised. 

How is that maybe 10 teams when 16 make the playoffs and the western conference has 10 teams in the hunt for the 8 playoff spots. C'mon dude, I know your trying to make a point but there are more than 10 teams that are contenders. Any of the teams out west w/ the addition of PP could win the west.

[goCeltics]

Trade both Pierce and Rondo to Jazz for AlJeff, Devin Harris,  Hayward and Jazz's two 1st rounders this year.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=8x2xepb

Utah becomes instant contenders with their combination of youth, frontcourt strength and veteran leadership.

Boston gets a center who can score, a point guard who can shoot and they both expire next year. Plus they get a young 2/3 in Hayward who is verstile and can shoot and the obvious benefit of another two 1sts in a loaded draft.

I think that we can contend this year with:

Harris,Moore, Bradley, Dooling
Ray, Bradley, Pietrus
Hayward, Pietrus, Pavlovic, Daniels
KG, Bass, JJJ
AlJeff,JO Wilcox

KG,Ray and JO expire this year and Jefferson and Harris next to give us lots of room to maneuver.

al for rondo is bad, let alone al and harris for rondo and paul

[green7]

if danny some how found a way to trade pierce + 2 first rounders to Indiana for roy hibbert and paul george,would you all be super mad or would you reason with it and realize it would help the team in the long run?

[theswitch]

if danny some how found a way to trade pierce + 2 first rounders to Indiana for roy hibbert and paul george,would you all be super mad?

Definitely wouldn't be mad, but I doubt the Pacers go anywhere near that deal.

[green7]

if danny some how found a way to trade pierce + 2 first rounders to Indiana for roy hibbert and paul george,would you all be super mad?

Definitely wouldn't be mad, but I doubt the Pacers go anywhere near that deal.

yeah i know lol

[Kuberski1]

I love Pierce as much as anyone, but to paraphrase Bill Walsh of SF 49er fame, "Let your star player have his last good year somewhere else".

Really depends on what we could get...but the bottom-line is if we got a good deal, and Pierce agreed to the trade, I say do it.  We are not going to win another title with this team as currently constructed....we are not a Chris Kaman away, as much as it pains me to say it. 

[gpap]

Trade both Pierce and Rondo to Jazz for AlJeff, Devin Harris,  Hayward and Jazz's two 1st rounders this year.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=8x2xepb

Utah becomes instant contenders with their combination of youth, frontcourt strength and veteran leadership.

Boston gets a center who can score, a point guard who can shoot and they both expire next year. Plus they get a young 2/3 in Hayward who is verstile and can shoot and the obvious benefit of another two 1sts in a loaded draft.

I think that we can contend this year with:

Harris,Moore, Bradley, Dooling
Ray, Bradley, Pietrus
Hayward, Pietrus, Pavlovic, Daniels
KG, Bass, JJJ
AlJeff,JO Wilcox

KG,Ray and JO expire this year and Jefferson and Harris next to give us lots of room to maneuver.

I actually REALLY like this idea. Furthermore, I think Utah actually does this and you're right, this deal helps the Celtics THIS season and next season. Good idea! Get Danny on the phone!

[gpap]

Trade both Pierce and Rondo to Jazz for AlJeff, Devin Harris,  Hayward and Jazz's two 1st rounders this year.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=8x2xepb

Utah becomes instant contenders with their combination of youth, frontcourt strength and veteran leadership.

Boston gets a center who can score, a point guard who can shoot and they both expire next year. Plus they get a young 2/3 in Hayward who is verstile and can shoot and the obvious benefit of another two 1sts in a loaded draft.

I think that we can contend this year with:

Harris,Moore, Bradley, Dooling
Ray, Bradley, Pietrus
Hayward, Pietrus, Pavlovic, Daniels
KG, Bass, JJJ
AlJeff,JO Wilcox

KG,Ray and JO expire this year and Jefferson and Harris next to give us lots of room to maneuver.

al for rondo is bad, let alone al and harris for rondo and paul

Totally disagree. I think this probably the one trade that makes the most sense for BOTH teams. Its normal for Celtics fans to want to make trades that clearly benefit the Celtics more than the other team. But it doesn't work that way. Devin Harris is a better player than people think. Al Jeff is a very good offensive center and will REALLY strengthen our front-court.

[kozlodoev]

You're free to disagree, but Jefferson for Rondo is a bad trade. It would have been nothing but a lateral move if we were talking Al Jefferson before the injury, and it's clearly a step back now. Dude is clearly not the same player after he blew out his knee.

[Employee8]

Even though the thought of Pierce winning a title with the Lakers makes me puke
He was loyal to the Celtics, so I'll be loyal to him

There's been a new misconception about Pierce's loyalty to the Celtics that has evolved over a certain period of time.  I don't know why this happens, but there's a lot of stuff like this that happens.  The past just gets clouded over time when people start saying things.  I don't know how to put it.  Kinda like for example, when Russell retired and the immediate years after it - there was absolutely no doubt who was the better player (between him and Wilt.)  Russell was better and in 1980 was voted the greatest player of all time.  Then all of a sudden overtime, people's memories started getting meshy, and then there were analysts and fans that never saw those two play.  All of a sudden, people started going - "Russell played with stacks of HOFrs, of course Wilt was better!"

What I'm trying to get at is - I think we tend to forget certain things.  With the array of these new players seemingly forcing their way off of teams after 10 minutes in the league, we look favorable at Pierce.  And because Pierce remained on bad teams for a while, we give him this benefit of being loyal to the team.

Hate to say it, but while I appreciate Pierce for never coming out and publicly demanding trades like todays clowns do - this guy would have gladly accepted a change of scenery from the years 2004-2007.  One of the reason he was never dealt is because Danny thought he needed to have at least one star in place to build a team.  And all those Pierce rumors back then had us getting back the Corey Maggettes and Stromile Swifts of the world.  Do you not remember Pierce, who mailed in a 2004 playoff series against Indiana? Or when he disgraced himself with that ridiculous episode in Game 6 v Indiana the following year? That episode alone has always stained his legacy.  The casual Boston fans still has that in the back of their minds, and Pierce was reviled by especially the fan that looks at the NBA and the NBA players with a dirty eye.  That's why Pierce, despite bringing a long awaited championship back to Boston, and spending by far more time than any Boston sports star (or even semi-star) in this city than all of them, isn't even close to being one of the most beloved current athletes in this town.  After he re-upped in 2001, had a nice run in 2002 and did ok in 2003 - 2004-2007 was bad.  He was all but ready to demand a trade in 2007 after Garnett (and many other stars - Marion, Jermaine O'Neal) refused to play here.  He admitted as much  on a Dale-Holley interview back in 2008-2009ish.  It was even reported back late June by Adrian Woj here: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-pierce062507

Let's not overstate Pierce's loyalty to Boston.  This is getting out there because I feel Pierce wants to finish his career here and play on one team his whole career and make a run at the all-time Celtics scoring record.  But there was a time when Pierce wasn't nearly giving 100% (for playoff teams, not just 30 win lottery teams) and would've gleefully accepted the next plane ticket out of Boston

He's not perfect.  Every player goes through a time period where he feels he's not a fit on the team anymore and explores the opportunity for a trade elsewhere.  But like you said, he has never publicly demanded a trade.  One story I will always remember how he gleefully hugged Danny and Doc after the KG trade went down saying "Thank you, thank you" with tears in his eyes.  He knew right then that his legacy with the Celtics was secure.  He's a NBA history buff.  If you ask anyone, it's him who cares about his legacy the most.  He cares about the franchise because it is that special to be a part of it.  He understands that.

I don't see the Indiana episode as an example of his disloyalty to us.  That was the lowest of the lows for him, including the stabbing.  That hurt his image more than anything but when you've got a special player like him, you're bound to have a lot of crazy stories about him.  This would be the "dark times" of his years.  The bottom line is, he's still here.  He's still with us and he still gushes about being a part of the family.  To me, that's what loyalty is about.  Back in the days, it was easy to be loyal.  It took a HUGE toll on your family to be traded to another team so players usually stayed with one team.  Nowadays, it's rare and you have to appreciate it when one player is with a franchise for more than 10 years.  It's a two way street.  We sacrificed for him, and he sacrificed for us.  Right now, it's our turn to sacrifice the immediate future for him.

We have such fond memories of Bird because of how he stayed with us right to the bitter end.  I want to continue that with Pierce.  The whole "signing a contract for 1 day and then retiring" trend is a nice gesture albeit hollow.  Pierce is bigger than that.

[BballTim]

Trade both Pierce and Rondo to Jazz for AlJeff, Devin Harris,  Hayward and Jazz's two 1st rounders this year.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=8x2xepb

Utah becomes instant contenders with their combination of youth, frontcourt strength and veteran leadership.

Boston gets a center who can score, a point guard who can shoot and they both expire next year. Plus they get a young 2/3 in Hayward who is verstile and can shoot and the obvious benefit of another two 1sts in a loaded draft.

I think that we can contend this year with:

Harris,Moore, Bradley, Dooling
Ray, Bradley, Pietrus
Hayward, Pietrus, Pavlovic, Daniels
KG, Bass, JJJ
AlJeff,JO Wilcox

KG,Ray and JO expire this year and Jefferson and Harris next to give us lots of room to maneuver.

al for rondo is bad, let alone al and harris for rondo and paul

Totally disagree. I think this probably the one trade that makes the most sense for BOTH teams. Its normal for Celtics fans to want to make trades that clearly benefit the Celtics more than the other team. But it doesn't work that way. Devin Harris is a better player than people think. Al Jeff is a very good offensive center and will REALLY strengthen our front-court.

  Devin Harris isn't a better player than people think. He also isn't much of a shooter.

[CelticsFanNC]

  Personally I think Pierce would rather finish his career competing for titles rather then staying in Boston and rebuilding.

  Those who are so set against him being dealt to a contender just know one thing.  You are feeling that way for you, not for Paul Pierce.