I Think The C's Will Stand Pat This Season, And I'm OK With It

[RJ87]

At one point during the earlier part of the season, I was all for a trade to shake things up. But as things have progressed (or failed to progress, I should say), the idea of a major trade just doesn't seem plausible. This team is what it is: a fringe playoff team, but not a legitimate contender. I think we're far beyond the point of being one or two peices away from getting back to the Finals and it's highly unlikely that we can swing a trade for a superstar to be a cornerstone for the next 5 or 6 years. Attempting to do so may cause more harm in the locker room than good (not just referring to Rondo, but to Pierce as well), and we don't have the assets to realistically pursue younger, non-superstar talent.

On the brightside, we will have cap space this offseason to work with. There may not be any unrestricted FAs to look at - the only one I'd consider would be Spencer Hawes - but we can take a swing at some restricted guys (OJ Mayo will be the most available if he's not traded before the deadline and he'd be a great fit with Rondo, IMO) and see if we can come up with anything. Cap room also opens up more trade scenarios in which we can take back more salary (Josh Smith? ), and a combo of FA signings +  smart trades may be the best way for us to stay relevant in the immediate future.

Not the most spectacular rebuilding plan, but perhaps the most logical.

[cman88]

danny set up all our contracts with his eyes set on this being the final year of the big 3....if he doesnt get any offers that he feels can improve this team for the future without hindering our future capspace..he'll likely stay pat and ride it out with this current group...

but who knows, none of us saw the Perkins-Green trade coming. who knows what danny's got up his sleeve

[birdbrady]

At one point during the earlier part of the season, I was all for a trade to shake things up. But as things have progressed (or failed to progress, I should say), the idea of a major trade just doesn't seem plausible. This team is what it is: a fringe playoff team, but not a legitimate contender. I think we're far beyond the point of being one or two peices away from getting back to the Finals and it's highly unlikely that we can swing a trade for a superstar to be a cornerstone for the next 5 or 6 years. Attempting to do so may cause more harm in the locker room than good (not just referring to Rondo, but to Pierce as well), and we don't have the assets to realistically pursue younger, non-superstar talent.

On the brightside, we will have cap space this offseason to work with. There may not be any unrestricted FAs to look at - the only one I'd consider would be Spencer Hawes - but we can take a swing at some restricted guys (OJ Mayo will be the most available if he's not traded before the deadline and he'd be a great fit with Rondo, IMO) and see if we can come up with anything. Cap room also opens up more trade scenarios in which we can take back more salary (Josh Smith? ), and a combo of FA signings +  smart trades may be the best way for us to stay relevant in the immediate future.

Not the most spectacular rebuilding plan, but perhaps the most logical.

Good post.  I agree, I think standing pat is what will happen.  What we could get for Ray just isn't significant enough, so there's just no sense in trading him.  If we continue to struggle, and a team offers a #1 fine.  But I'm not handing Ray to the Bulls for some roster clutter and a 2nd round pick.  KG is untradeable unless you want to take back salary for next season (no thank you), and Pierce just won't be moved unless we get back a LEGITIMATE major chip for years to come (I suggested stealing New Jersey's lottery pick and sending Pierce to Orlando where they want to compete. Something that has like a 0.1% of happening.)  Let these guys get a curtain call this season.

Also regarding the future cap space, we don't have to blow it all on free agents (unless of course they are Dwight and Deron.)  The cap space gives Danny flexibility to get creative down the road, like taking back some salary + an enticing draft pick from a team that needs to shed money to balance their books.  Hawes is having a nice year but look at his career stats.  This very well could be a contract run, more than a breakout year.  Not willing to risk that.  Dumars crippled the Pistons by giving out the whole cap to Charlie V, Gordon, and Stuckey.  They haven't paid Monroe yet, and if Knight gets good - they gotta pay him too.  Let's not go there.

This was a bridge year.  Anything we get out of it was a bonus.  It's actually one of the reasons why I was hoping the lockout would last the whole season to be honest.

[RJ87]

Hawes is having a nice year but look at his career stats.  This very well could be a contract run, more than a breakout year.  Not willing to risk that. 

I wasn't suggesting we actually go after Hawes, just mentioning that he's legit the only unrestricted FA worth taking a look at(it's a slim market this yr).

[Celtics4ever]

I will be ok if they stand pat and if they make a deal.  I am a bigger fan of the names on the front than on the back of the jersey.

[southshorematt]

I wouldn't be mad if we don't make any moves

[greenlion]

i'll be very happy if they stick with this team, i have never been a fan of midseason movements, aside from possibly breaking the chemistry, i despise the thought of acquiring a bust that won't be helping us at all anyway..look at the bother of acquiring murphy last season...

[hwangjini_1]

good post. as noted, standing pat is not exciting, but it is logical. in essense, ainge has already blown up the team by having all those contracts end this season. one of the points of a trade at this point is to get cap space, and he already has that set up.

the only way ainge makes a big trade, i believe, is to get a young star or two or get draft picks. both without giving up cap space.

the first one isnt likely to happen. as far as i can see, anyone willing to take on ray, KG, or pierce is ready to win it all and therefore wont have much in terms of young talent.

draft picks? possibly, but again, only a team ready to win it all would make that trade and usually those draft picks are not going to be lottery picks.

so, ainge will probably ride out this season and hope the celtics players either discover the fountain of youth, or, the top 3-4 player on other teams all get injuries. 

[pearljammer10]

I like the idea but Im not so sure we would be able to get the free agents were looking for by standing pat. It would pretty much be full on rebuilding mode only having Rondo and Pierce as significant players on our roster when this season ends.

[clover]

Danny may end up not making any deals, but that's not because he hasn't got the 'for sale' sign out and the store open for business.

[toine83]

The ideal would be to get better players for the bench without moving any of the starters (maybe JO, but who wants him?)
Ideas:
- Hinrich (expiring contract)
- Nick Collison (good role player, will help in this team)
- Ridnour (with Ricky and Barea Wolves could trade him to get salary space)
- G.Henderson (with Reggie Williams and C's offering a 2012 draft pick...)
- Ryan Anderson (expiring, possible if Gasol is traded to Orlando)
- Kaman (If released)
- A. Randolph (expiring and good ofensive player coming off the bench)
- OJ Mayo (FA in the summer, don't think Memphis can offer a good contract)

Except the Big 4 and the rookies, the rest could be traded.

[Celts Fan 92]

I'm not ok wit it I wanna see days of our team scoring over 100 points again

[TheBigTicket23]

Tommy point for this one. No changes are okay, just hope Ainge makes 1 big move this summer!

[PosImpos]

I'm not ok wit it I wanna see days of our team scoring over 100 points again

I'm with you on that one.  I have a feeling in the coming seasons we'll miss the days when this team could consistently hold opponents under 90, though.

While it's been painful watching this team on offense the last few years, I know it can be just as frustrating watching a team that has a lot of trouble ever getting a stop.

[toine83]

You should move to the west coast to watch high scoring teams