The draft: Celtics only chance at a championship

[gpap]

Well, as a Celtics fan I am disappointed in today's lack of activiity.

Last year, the Celts were the best team in the East and Ainge traded our starting center for a back-up small forward. This year we are an aging team that's a 6 or 7 seed in the East and Danny does nothing. Seems backwards, doesn't it?

As for cap space, please save it! The cap space is meaningless and will not get us anywhere. This summer's free agent class is for the birds and no big names want to come here, anyway.

The Celtics only hope now is the NBA draft. Not sure if there is a franchise player set to be drafted this summer (preferably a center.) If there is, the Celtics need to find a way to get into the conversation, even if it means trading Pierce or Rondo to Charlotte, Washington or New Orleans to get it done.

A Rose or Durant like player in the draft is now our final hope at returning to the NBA finals

Other than that, the Celtis are looking at nothing more than the status quo for the next several seasons. And please, no more KG or Ray after this year. They've been great for us, but we also don't need them around so we can one day celebrate their centennial on the court.

Surprised Danny didn't make any moves today. Can't help but wonder if Doc got into Danny's ear after what happened last year with the Perk trade. If so,that would be disappointning. The GM of the team should answer to no one!! Disappointed

[tyrone biggums]

Well, as a Celtics fan I am disappointed in today's lack of activiity.

Last year, the Celts were the best team in the East and Ainge traded our starting center for a back-up small forward. This year we are an aging team that's a 6 or 7 seed in the East and Danny does nothing. Seems backwards, doesn't it?

As for cap space, please save it! The cap space is meaningless and will not get us anywhere. This summer's free agent class is for the birds and no big names want to come here, anyway.

The Celtics only hope now is the NBA draft. Not sure if there is a franchise player set to be drafted this summer (preferably a center.) If there is, the Celtics need to find a way to get into the conversation, even if it means trading Pierce or Rondo to Charlotte, Washington or New Orleans to get it done.

A Rose or Durant like player in the draft is now our final hope at returning to the NBA finals

Other than that, the Celtis are looking at nothing more than the status quo for the next several seasons. And please, no more KG or Ray after this year. They've been great for us, but we also don't need them around so we can one day celebrate their centennial on the court.

Surprised Danny didn't make any moves today. Can't help but wonder if Doc got into Danny's ear after what happened last year with the Perk trade. If so,that would be disappointning. The GM of the team should answer to no one!! Disappointed

So you would trade our star point guard to the Hornets or Bobcats for a draft pick on the hopes that we end up with a star? That seems kind of backwards doesn't it?

[lightspeed5]

cap space is useless?

trade an all star point guard for a draft pick?

yeah. youre wrong.

[steve]

The only way we get a lottery pick is if we take on someone's bad contract.  And if Danny decided to go that route, then why wouldn't he wait until closer to the draft and take a flyer on making a run this year. 

When KG and Ray expire can we just absorb Okafor and Ariza for a lottery pick? 

[chambers]

Well, as a Celtics fan I am disappointed in today's lack of activiity.

Last year, the Celts were the best team in the East and Ainge traded our starting center for a back-up small forward. This year we are an aging team that's a 6 or 7 seed in the East and Danny does nothing. Seems backwards, doesn't it?

As for cap space, please save it! The cap space is meaningless and will not get us anywhere. This summer's free agent class is for the birds and no big names want to come here, anyway.

The Celtics only hope now is the NBA draft. Not sure if there is a franchise player set to be drafted this summer (preferably a center.) If there is, the Celtics need to find a way to get into the conversation, even if it means trading Pierce or Rondo to Charlotte, Washington or New Orleans to get it done.

A Rose or Durant like player in the draft is now our final hope at returning to the NBA finals

Other than that, the Celtis are looking at nothing more than the status quo for the next several seasons. And please, no more KG or Ray after this year. They've been great for us, but we also don't need them around so we can one day celebrate their centennial on the court.

Surprised Danny didn't make any moves today. Can't help but wonder if Doc got into Danny's ear after what happened last year with the Perk trade. If so,that would be disappointning. The GM of the team should answer to no one!! Disappointed

You're obviously a Danny Ainge hater.
Your logic makes no sense, or you just don't understand basic NBA front office strategy.

You know that cap space isn't just valuable because of the free agents you can sign?
It's valuable because you can take on junk contracts from other teams, combined with draft picks to better place yourself in the draft. Teams give you picks for taking on their terrible contracts. ie: The Chicago Bulls are in win now mode, and thus might want to get rid of Carlos Boozer in order to replace him with a stronger power forward. They also have a lottery pick from the Charlotte Bobcats that will go somewhere between 7-10 in 2014.
If we wanted to take that Boozer contract of Chicagos hands for 2 years, they would give us that draft pick.

You're argument is an oxymoron.
You say you can only win a championship through the draft yet you say cap space is useless.

[gpap]

Well, as a Celtics fan I am disappointed in today's lack of activiity.

Last year, the Celts were the best team in the East and Ainge traded our starting center for a back-up small forward. This year we are an aging team that's a 6 or 7 seed in the East and Danny does nothing. Seems backwards, doesn't it?

As for cap space, please save it! The cap space is meaningless and will not get us anywhere. This summer's free agent class is for the birds and no big names want to come here, anyway.

The Celtics only hope now is the NBA draft. Not sure if there is a franchise player set to be drafted this summer (preferably a center.) If there is, the Celtics need to find a way to get into the conversation, even if it means trading Pierce or Rondo to Charlotte, Washington or New Orleans to get it done.

A Rose or Durant like player in the draft is now our final hope at returning to the NBA finals

Other than that, the Celtis are looking at nothing more than the status quo for the next several seasons. And please, no more KG or Ray after this year. They've been great for us, but we also don't need them around so we can one day celebrate their centennial on the court.

Surprised Danny didn't make any moves today. Can't help but wonder if Doc got into Danny's ear after what happened last year with the Perk trade. If so,that would be disappointning. The GM of the team should answer to no one!! Disappointed

You're obviously a Danny Ainge hater.
Your logic makes no sense, or you just don't understand basic NBA front office strategy.

You know that cap space isn't just valuable because of the free agents you can sign?
It's valuable because you can take on junk contracts from other teams, combined with draft picks to better place yourself in the draft. Teams give you picks for taking on their terrible contracts. ie: The Chicago Bulls are in win now mode, and thus might want to get rid of Carlos Boozer in order to replace him with a stronger power forward. They also have a lottery pick from the Charlotte Bobcats that will go somewhere between 7-10 in 2014.
If we wanted to take that Boozer contract of Chicagos hands for 2 years, they would give us that draft pick.

You're argument is an oxymoron.
You say you can only win a championship through the draft yet you say cap space is useless.

On the contrary, I am actually a big fan of how Danny has run this team so far. If you read my post, you'll see that I am just not a fan of the way he's running the team, right now in lieu of yesterday's lack of a move.

[cman88]

No to mention that say atlanta wants to trade josh smith next year knowijg he is gonna walk...well the celtics wouldnt have to match salaries in a trade...they could absorb his contract

The draft is one part of building a contendor. There's also free agency and trades

[CoachBo]

Given Ainge's drafting record - J.R. Giddens, anyone? - this is a chilling thought.

[2short]

Well, as a Celtics fan I am disappointed in today's lack of activiity.

Last year, the Celts were the best team in the East and Ainge traded our starting center for a back-up small forward. This year we are an aging team that's a 6 or 7 seed in the East and Danny does nothing. Seems backwards, doesn't it?

As for cap space, please save it! The cap space is meaningless and will not get us anywhere. This summer's free agent class is for the birds and no big names want to come here, anyway.

The Celtics only hope now is the NBA draft. Not sure if there is a franchise player set to be drafted this summer (preferably a center.) If there is, the Celtics need to find a way to get into the conversation, even if it means trading Pierce or Rondo to Charlotte, Washington or New Orleans to get it done.

A Rose or Durant like player in the draft is now our final hope at returning to the NBA finals

Other than that, the Celtis are looking at nothing more than the status quo for the next several seasons. And please, no more KG or Ray after this year. They've been great for us, but we also don't need them around so we can one day celebrate their centennial on the court.

Surprised Danny didn't make any moves today. Can't help but wonder if Doc got into Danny's ear after what happened last year with the Perk trade. If so,that would be disappointning. The GM of the team should answer to no one!! Disappointed

Doc wasn't surprised about Danny trading perk.  I remember it was put out there that ainge went to doc and the vets (maybe even rondo can't remember) about the trade and everyone was ok with it.
If Jeff Green didn't have the heart issue it was a major deal.  Danny appears to be set to transition us from the big 3 to a running team with rondo's strengths finally being used.  KG back as a center is great, reduced contract, ray back reduced contract.  Or if kg retires and ray opts to go elsewhere we have $$$$, I believe JO, dooling are expiring as well.  Good draft picks, some young developing talent already.

[tyrone biggums]

Insane statements on this board since December

-Atlanta is a more desirable place to play than Boston
-Tanking this year would be a good option
-New Orleans would trade their pick to be rid of Okafor (despite the fact they can amnesty him)

I'm sure I'm missing more but dealing Rondo on a excellent contract for a lottery pick that could become a star tops all of these. Rondo sells jerseys, he plays well, kids come to see him...hence he is a star player! Why is this so difficult to understand with some people?

I have a Question for the OP, if a guy like Durant or Rose are the only players that can win a title, how come Dirk was holding the trophy last June?

[mikero]

Insane statements on this board since December

-Atlanta is a more desirable place to play than Boston
-Tanking this year would be a good option
-New Orleans would trade their pick to be rid of Okafor (despite the fact they can amnesty him)

I'm sure I'm missing more but dealing Rondo on a excellent contract for a lottery pick that could become a star tops all of these. Rondo sells jerseys, he plays well, kids come to see him...hence he is a star player! Why is this so difficult to understand with some people?

I have a Question for the OP, if a guy like Durant or Rose are the only players that can win a title, how come Dirk was holding the trophy last June?

Hahaha... yeah I read posts about New Orleans wanting to get rid of Okarfor, so to do that they would trade their 1st rounder to us if we take on his contract.  I laughed then.  And wanted to thank you for reminding me and giving me a laugh now.

[edwardjkasche]

KG and Allen should be re-signed for anything under $10 million each.  Even if they're bench players next season, they're superb players who know the system.  Better to re-sign them than waste $6-$8 million on a Jermaine O'Neal or Jason Richardson.  Plus, it keeps Allen from hitting daggers against us in a Miami or Chicago uniform.

Cap space is overrated, and a lot has been written about it recently.  It's very simple: Most of the upcoming A-level free agents have already signed extensions with their current teams.  B-level talent will now be given A-level money.  Why?  Because teams have the money burning a hole in their pocket, and teams have to spend 85% of the salary cap.  B-level talent does not win championships, and can completely destroy a team's ability to build toward a championship by eating up cap space.  

Cap space is only useful in making trades and absorbing contracts, which has been mentioned in this thread.  That necessitates Ainge making a trade, and after this season his only trade pieces are Rondo, Pierce, and Bradley.  He could trade any or all of them, but will he get equal talent in return?  

Let's hope the team has a phenomenal draft.

[gpap]

Insane statements on this board since December

-Atlanta is a more desirable place to play than Boston
-Tanking this year would be a good option
-New Orleans would trade their pick to be rid of Okafor (despite the fact they can amnesty him)

I'm sure I'm missing more but dealing Rondo on a excellent contract for a lottery pick that could become a star tops all of these. Rondo sells jerseys, he plays well, kids come to see him...hence he is a star player! Why is this so difficult to understand with some people?

I have a Question for the OP, if a guy like Durant or Rose are the only players that can win a title, how come Dirk was holding the trophy last June?

You're taking what I am saying out of context. What I am saying is if the Celtics ever want to become a championship team again, they either need a repeat of the KG trade from 2007 (aka a franchise player) or they need a franchise draft pick.

Right now, they are an OKAY team. They're not great and they're also NOT bad. Next year, with Rondo, Pierce, Bradley, Bass, Jajuan Johnson and fill in the blank (KG and Ray resign, return of Jeff Green) once again they're okay, not a good nor a bad team.

If they really want to take a risk to become a good team again, they'll need to either trade or land a big player. Because I don't see that happening, I say the draft is the only option.

As for your question regarding Dirk, I have no clue what you're trying to say. I merely brought up Rose and Durant as examples of the types of players the Celts would need to draft to be a championship team again

[snively]

KG and Allen should be re-signed for anything under $10 million each. 

I think this is is the plan. One year deals; something like the deal Grant Hill got from Phoenix.  Try to get more from our free agent/cap space options than what we got from Jeff Green, JO and Wilcox (that shouldn't be too hard).  Hope that Bradley and JJJ can make significant improvements (Bradley to become an above-average back-up PG, JJJ to become an average back-up PF).

If we're out of the playoff hunt by the deadline, move Ray and KG on their smaller deals for something like the Camby deal Portland got.

[Lucky17]

What I am saying is if the Celtics ever want to become a championship team again, they either need a repeat of the KG trade from 2007 (aka a franchise player) or they need a franchise draft pick.

But a trade is an option. Ainge demonstrated that it's possible to turn young draftees and future picks into the necessary pieces for a championship.

I don't believe drafting a franchise player is the only chance at a championship.