Future of the Franchise?

[BostonNative]

Short term future plans, praying KG doesnt retire, Bass opts in and Green comes back healthy. If that happens i'd try to contend as long as we have KG and sign a 6th man who fits Rondo now and in the future.

Next season:

PG: Rajon Rondo / Keyon Dooling / E’Twaun Moore
SG: Avery Bradley / O.J. Mayo / 2nd round pick
SF: Paul Pierce / Jeff Green / Mickael Pietrus
PF: Brandon Bass / JaJuan Johnson / 1st round rookie (#22)
C: Kevin Garnett / Greg Stiemsma / 1st round rookie (#21)

The numbers (estimated salary cap around $58-60 M):

Dooling – 1 year, veteran minimum
Mayo – 4 years, $32-35 M
Green – 1 year, $6-7 M + team option (1 year, $8 M)
Pietrus – 1 year, veteran minimum
Bass – opts in, 1 year, $4.5 M
KG – 1 year, $10 M + player option (1 year, $8 M)

Can we contend with the same core plus some bench quality and some young (hopefully) roleplayers?

2013-2014:

Sing a free agent big man: Josh Smith, Serge Ibaka, David West, Paul Milsap and Al Jefferson

My only gripe is Bass starting here. I'd rather a rook starting than that dude.

[BostonNative]

blah...josh smith is a black hole on offense that can't shoot and play the required defense we need

I have been saying for a while, if josh and dwight were on the same team that team would be a force. You have to think josh and dwight and rondo. Josh can hit a jumper but he takes them we he doesn't need to. His problem was ATL did not have a true point guard and he felt like he had to take over the team.

[drax]

Short term future plans, praying KG doesnt retire, Bass opts in and Green comes back healthy. If that happens i'd try to contend as long as we have KG and sign a 6th man who fits Rondo now and in the future.

Next season:

PG: Rajon Rondo / Keyon Dooling / E’Twaun Moore
SG: Avery Bradley / O.J. Mayo / 2nd round pick
SF: Paul Pierce / Jeff Green / Mickael Pietrus
PF: Brandon Bass / JaJuan Johnson / 1st round rookie (#22)
C: Kevin Garnett / Greg Stiemsma / 1st round rookie (#21)

The numbers (estimated salary cap around $58-60 M):

Dooling – 1 year, veteran minimum
Mayo – 4 years, $32-35 M
Green – 1 year, $6-7 M + team option (1 year, $8 M)
Pietrus – 1 year, veteran minimum
Bass – opts in, 1 year, $4.5 M
KG – 1 year, $10 M + player option (1 year, $8 M)

Can we contend with the same core plus some bench quality and some young (hopefully) roleplayers?

2013-2014:

Sing a free agent big man: Josh Smith, Serge Ibaka, David West, Paul Milsap and Al Jefferson

My only gripe is Bass starting here. I'd rather a rook starting than that dude.

The thing is, if he opts in we can use some money for a decent 6th man. I think Mayo compelments Rondo really well now and future wise.

Also i expect JJJ gains some weight and get more minutes next season. If DA could pull a draft package to get a big man around the 10th pick i'd start this pick.

But i think KG comes only back if he can compete for a championship and therefore we need bench power and more young legs.

Perfect would be Bass about 20-25 minutes and the other minutes to the  rookies (JJJ/draft package).

[BostonNative]

Short term future plans, praying KG doesnt retire, Bass opts in and Green comes back healthy. If that happens i'd try to contend as long as we have KG and sign a 6th man who fits Rondo now and in the future.

Next season:

PG: Rajon Rondo / Keyon Dooling / E’Twaun Moore
SG: Avery Bradley / O.J. Mayo / 2nd round pick
SF: Paul Pierce / Jeff Green / Mickael Pietrus
PF: Brandon Bass / JaJuan Johnson / 1st round rookie (#22)
C: Kevin Garnett / Greg Stiemsma / 1st round rookie (#21)

The numbers (estimated salary cap around $58-60 M):

Dooling – 1 year, veteran minimum
Mayo – 4 years, $32-35 M
Green – 1 year, $6-7 M + team option (1 year, $8 M)
Pietrus – 1 year, veteran minimum
Bass – opts in, 1 year, $4.5 M
KG – 1 year, $10 M + player option (1 year, $8 M)

Can we contend with the same core plus some bench quality and some young (hopefully) roleplayers?

2013-2014:

Sing a free agent big man: Josh Smith, Serge Ibaka, David West, Paul Milsap and Al Jefferson

My only gripe is Bass starting here. I'd rather a rook starting than that dude.

The thing is, if he opts in we can use some money for a decent 6th man. I think Mayo compelments Rondo really well now and future wise.

Also i expect JJJ gains some weight and get more minutes next season. If DA could pull a draft package to get a big man around the 10th pick i'd start this pick.

But i think KG comes only back if he can compete for a championship and therefore we need bench power and more young legs.

Perfect would be Bass about 20-25 minutes and the other minutes to the  rookies (JJJ/draft package).

My dream scenario is we trade the hornets for ariza and the 10th pick.

trade bass + 10th get T Rob or wait and get PJ3

So now we have:
1st rounder (10th 21st 22nd)

--------------------------------------------
package
Next season:

PG: Rajon Rondo / E’Twaun Moore / Keyon Dooling
SG: Avery Bradley / O.J. Mayo / Ariza
SF: Paul Pierce / Ariza / Eric Griffen (2nd round pick)
PF: JaJuan Johnson / T Rob (5th pick) / KG
C: Kevin Garnett / Greg Stiemsma / Fab Melo or Myers Lenord (#22)
-------------------------------
Dooling – 1 year, veteran minimum
Mayo – 4 years, $32-35 M
Ariza – 1 year, $7-8 M ( remainder of contract i believe)
KG – 1 year, $8 M

[Sketch5]

If we were to go after Smith I think it needs to be for next year if KG comes back. You need some one to mentor him to show him how to play his game, I don't think he's had any one do that.

Smith is an amazing player when he plays with in him self, once he start trying to do every thing and shoots 3's, he becomes a very bad player. Rondo will help this, he knows were players are at their best and wouldn't give Smith open 3's, and would chew him out if he started to take them.

I don't like the Bass/Green trade. I'd trade Bass if had to, but I'd like to see were Green is at next year, I think he could be a smarter player than Smith. He can run, a better shooter, he D looked good, he can play 3 and 4(which would have really helped this year) and would be cheaper.

Theres also  a good amount of unrestricted and restricted Free agents out there next year, not impacted players, but some really good player that can help out next season.

  Unrestricted
Kirk Hinrich
Antawn Jamison
Marcus Camby
Gerald Green
DeShawn Stevenson
Grant Hill
Aaron Gray
Elton Brand

Now for the Restricted DA would have to push the envelople on some and see if there respected team will match. I know some people will say they aren't worth as much as they may ask for, but thats part of the game now, paying more than they are worth.

Restricted
J.J. Hickson
Nicolas Batum
Ryan Anderson
Anthony Randolph
Michael Beasley
O.J. Mayo
Roy Hibbert
George Hill
Rudy Fernandez
JaVale McGee
 

[JSD]

There is not much I can say about Josh Smith that has not before been said about Antoine Walker.

[BostonNative]

Nah i got faith in J-smooth. We need those board and blocks, i think he will work the paint with us and calm down on the outside.

J smooth and dwight are the key FA that year for me, should be able to rework PP deal and have enough cap to possible sighn dwight max

[tonyto3690]

blah...josh smith is a black hole on offense that can't shoot and play the required defense we need

LOL really?

Josh Smith is a monster on defense and on the boards.  That is his greatest strength.

They said the same exact thing about Bass.  "No-Pass Bass".  Smith had to take every shot because no one else on the team was doing anything besides differing to him or giving it to Joe Johnson for a horrible iso play.  Even then, he shot at a high percentage.

Josh Smith is not the player now that he was a few years ago.  He is a step away from being a superstar.  He would thrive here with Rondo.  He would be pushing 25-30 PPG with elite defense and elite rebounding.

There is not much I can say about Josh Smith that has not before been said about Antoine Walker.

Except Josh Smith is superior in every possible way?

[Meadowlark_Scal]

I say promote doc to get him away from the bench.....he is a bad coach...he is a "players  coach " a nice way of saying he lets them do anything they want....so 4-19 shooting is okay..? not rebounding is okay.....not boxing out.....well that is just dumb....and all it does is make your job as a player harder.....he turned rebounders into non rebounders by saying to them to not rebound, just get back on D....well, that couldn't be more wrong...you have to do BOTH..and if you can't, then you aren't suited for this game. Leave one guy up top/back for the fast breaks and get the ball..!!!

[dark_lord]

I say promote doc to get him away from the bench.....he is a bad coach.

 

[Smokeeye123]

I say promote doc to get him away from the bench.....he is a bad coach...he is a "players  coach " a nice way of saying he lets them do anything they want....so 4-19 shooting is okay..? not rebounding is okay.....not boxing out.....well that is just dumb....and all it does is make your job as a player harder.....he turned rebounders into non rebounders by saying to them to not rebound, just get back on D....well, that couldn't be more wrong...you have to do BOTH..and if you can't, then you aren't suited for this game. Leave one guy up top/back for the fast breaks and get the ball..!!!

We have no else on the Roster to fix the things you fussed about. Would you rather start Pavlovic over Pierce? Hell to the no. Our team was out of gas and had no bench. It doesn't me Doc Rivers sucks as a coach.

[tonyto3690]

after all the stupid decisions/shots I watched Smith take in the first round, I really want nothing to do with him.

He's a nice player, but I dont think hes a winner at all

Really? He had maybe 2 bad shots a game at most.  That is arguably a little more than Rondo averages.  He was dominant in that series and single handedly carried a completely worthless supporting cast against us.

He is a dominant defensive player, dominant rebounder, and has the athleticism and range to hit open shots from Rondo or throw down a dunk in transition in Rondo.  He is the closet thing to a perfect complimentary piece with Rondo we can hope for beyond drafting a Kevin Garnett or Ray Allen in the next 3 years.

He also would fit very well with Kevin and this offense as a whole.  Like I said, very good defensive player, can switch into the 3 or 4 and even guard the 5.  He gives us that rebounding bigman that we desperately need, and he can hold down the defense when KG is on the bench.  And I'm beating a dead horse, but he is a knock down shooter when left open, and Rondo is a million times better than Hinrich/Teague at setting teammates up.

Most of all, Josh Smith WANTS to be a Celtic.  I saw an interview with him after their season ended against us and he was practically begging Ainge to sign him.

maybe 2 bad shots??  what, were you conveniently in the can taking a dump every time he pulled up for a three?

He shoots like 20% from 3 point land yet he continues to shoot them every game.  I cant tell if hes stupid or if hes trying to build his mother a new house.  To make matters worse, whenever a coach tells him to stop he asks to be traded.

Mark my words, when this guy loses his athleticism, you'll be begging for Antoine to come out of retirement.

He took all of three 3 point shots against the Celtics in the playoffs for 0.8 per game.  During the regular season he took even less, shooting 1.7 per game.  Most of which were desperation heaves at the end of the shot clock due to the iso orientated offense the Hawks run.

By comparison, Rondo took 0.8 3PT FGA per game during the regular season and 1.6 in the playoffs.   Let me guess. You want to trade Rondo because he takes too many threes?

You're just another fan who does not keep up with the times and relies on either old information or ESPN commentary.  You're right, he shouldn't be shooting threes.  But it's not like he's chucking up 3s for fun.  More often than not they are end of shot clock desperation 3s just because the Hawks offense is so freaking putrid.  It's either that or Joe Johnson shoots a 360 back flip contested 3 from half court.

With Rondo he'd be feeding him pick and rolls and pick and pops.  Every shot would be a dunk or a wide open 15 footer.  Josh would score 15 points a game on just easy Rondo feeds and not have to work for any of those 15. 

The kid is great friends with Rondo and already have great chemistry together, and is all of 26 years old.  He will improve, and has never had a coach half as good as Doc, nor a team where he was held accountable like he would be on the Celtics.

[OmarSekou]

It's completely up in the air. It all depends on who wants to stay and for how much.

I'd be willing to roll the dice with the group we've got. If we had Bradley, Green, and a healthy Stiemsma/Wilcox, I think we could've beaten the Heat. Not to mention Ray and Paul playing banged up. Try and sign KG and Ray to 1 year deals and reload next off season.

[KGs Knee]

Rondo is the future of the franchise.

It will all start and end with him.  He'll need help going forward, but I have confidence he can be the leader going forward.  Find him the right complimentary parts, and we'll have a good chance to continue to contend going forward.

I also think with the way he played this playoffs, more big name players are going to want to come here.

[blink]

I don't think I am as convinced as you are about J Smooth, but I could certainly see us improving as a team if we brought him in.  If KG stays around, and we want to compete (top 4 seed in east) What I think we really need is:

1) younger players with the athletic ability to play with the heat and thunder type teams
2) Add at least 1 serious impact player, be it rebounding, def, or scoring - we need to add at least a fringe all-star to our team
3) we need to add players that can finish at the rim and help us not depend on our jump shots so much

I think Smith would at least qualify for need 2 & 3, and maybe 1.  For some reason, I think I like getting JSmith if we still have KG.  If we don't have KG anymore, then we need to look for a bigger fish that J Smith.

A lineup of:

Rondo / Dooling or Moore
Bradley / draft pick (shooter / scorer wing)
PP / Green / draft pick
J Smith / Bass / JJJ
KG / Wilcox / Steamer or draft pick

Would make me pretty happy.  Great Def team, and it would also be a great transition off team.  All of the other four starters will work with Rondo to get the transition buckets.

after all the stupid decisions/shots I watched Smith take in the first round, I really want nothing to do with him.

He's a nice player, but I dont think hes a winner at all

Really? He had maybe 2 bad shots a game at most.  That is arguably a little more than Rondo averages.  He was dominant in that series and single handedly carried a completely worthless supporting cast against us.

He is a dominant defensive player, dominant rebounder, and has the athleticism and range to hit open shots from Rondo or throw down a dunk in transition in Rondo.  He is the closet thing to a perfect complimentary piece with Rondo we can hope for beyond drafting a Kevin Garnett or Ray Allen in the next 3 years.

He also would fit very well with Kevin and this offense as a whole.  Like I said, very good defensive player, can switch into the 3 or 4 and even guard the 5.  He gives us that rebounding bigman that we desperately need, and he can hold down the defense when KG is on the bench.  And I'm beating a dead horse, but he is a knock down shooter when left open, and Rondo is a million times better than Hinrich/Teague at setting teammates up.

Most of all, Josh Smith WANTS to be a Celtic.  I saw an interview with him after their season ended against us and he was practically begging Ainge to sign him.

maybe 2 bad shots??  what, were you conveniently in the can taking a dump every time he pulled up for a three?

He shoots like 20% from 3 point land yet he continues to shoot them every game.  I cant tell if hes stupid or if hes trying to build his mother a new house.  To make matters worse, whenever a coach tells him to stop he asks to be traded.

Mark my words, when this guy loses his athleticism, you'll be begging for Antoine to come out of retirement.

He took all of three 3 point shots against the Celtics in the playoffs for 0.8 per game.  During the regular season he took even less, shooting 1.7 per game.  Most of which were desperation heaves at the end of the shot clock due to the iso orientated offense the Hawks run.

By comparison, Rondo took 0.8 3PT FGA per game during the regular season and 1.6 in the playoffs.   Let me guess. You want to trade Rondo because he takes too many threes?

You're just another fan who does not keep up with the times and relies on either old information or ESPN commentary.  You're right, he shouldn't be shooting threes.  But it's not like he's chucking up 3s for fun.  More often than not they are end of shot clock desperation 3s just because the Hawks offense is so freaking putrid.  It's either that or Joe Johnson shoots a 360 back flip contested 3 from half court.

With Rondo he'd be feeding him pick and rolls and pick and pops.  Every shot would be a dunk or a wide open 15 footer.  Josh would score 15 points a game on just easy Rondo feeds and not have to work for any of those 15. 

The kid is great friends with Rondo and already have great chemistry together, and is all of 26 years old.  He will improve, and has never had a coach half as good as Doc, nor a team where he was held accountable like he would be on the Celtics.