Ainge has zero choice but to bring KG and Ray back

[tonyto3690]

This wouldn't be the case if Howard were available (and actually interested in become a Celtic), but as it stands, the free agency pool is just bone dry with no real talent that you can start a rebuild around. 

On top of that, it is apparent, and was even recently stated by Ainge that beyond their play during games, KG, Ray, and PP have a dramatic effect on young players and how they handle their business.  They bring a level of professionalism and effort that is contagious throughout the entire organization.  KG alone holds an accountability to everyone that can't be duplicated.


Bring them and other role players back on one year deals, hope we can stay healthy, and go 10-12 deep ala Spurs (bench: Wilcox, Green, Dooling, Pietrus, JJJ, Greg, Hollins, Daniels) and play the Big 3 on limited minutes and keep everyone healthy for one last run before we go after Josh Smith in free agency in 2013.

[clover]

I don't think so--I'd be shocked to see Ray back here next year.

[mctyson]

You underestimate Danny.  He has plenty of choices.  He could sign-and-trade both KG and Ray, trade Paul Pierce, let all the RFAs go, trade Rondo, and trade both our draft picks.  He can do that.

[Chris]

The problem is, I don't think it is really Danny's "choice".  I agree, all things equal, if you can bring back KG and Ray on reasonable one year deals, then it makes the most sense.  However, these guys are going to have other offers, and if it is going to take a lot of years or money to get them back, then he has no choice but to move on.

[blink]

I disagree.  I don't think it is going to take a lot of years or money to get both back.  I think KG obviously merits some pretty decent cash, but he won't be expecting the 21 mil he made last year.  I am thinking 1/2 that, maybe 10-12 mil?
I guess the question for you is, what is a 'lot of year and money'?

The problem is, I don't think it is really Danny's "choice".  I agree, all things equal, if you can bring back KG and Ray on reasonable one year deals, then it makes the most sense.  However, these guys are going to have other offers, and if it is going to take a lot of years or money to get them back, then he has no choice but to move on.

[pearljammer10]

i wouldnt say he has zero choice. If we couldnt win with this squad this year it certainly isnt going to get any easier to do so next year. Especially with the plan all along being to let KG and Ray expire and to go into 2012 offseason with a bunch of cap space...

With that being said I would love it if we could bring KG back on a one year 8 mil deal, and Ray on a one year 5 mil deal. I know thats completely low balling but I could see both players taking an extreme discount to give us one more year while being able to add pieces this year and also have good cap space in the following offseason.

[clover]

The problem is, I don't think it is really Danny's "choice".  I agree, all things equal, if you can bring back KG and Ray on reasonable one year deals, then it makes the most sense.  However, these guys are going to have other offers, and if it is going to take a lot of years or money to get them back, then he has no choice but to move on.

I'd be surprised if Ray didn't go for the years at this point.

[rondohondo]

oops wrong thread

[WeMadeIt17]

I mean I don't think he has any other choices but I will say its our only chance at probably making any noise what so ever in the playoffs again. But we would have to get them a long with moving up in the draft to either get a pure scorer or monster rebounder. Those were our two biggest sore spots. We would go minutes in a game and not score, and on the flip side of missed shots not being able to get offensive rebounds and then giving them up on the other end. So if we are able to move up and grab an impact player or trade picks and take some salary on then yes bring them back. But I don't put it past Danny to do something nobody is thinking of.

[tgreanier]

Let's not forget Ray loves being in Boston, not just for the Celtics. His boy is getting treatment often in the area and Ray and his wife really like the area for that. I think Ray will stay unless it is just completely financially stupid not to.

[xmuscularghandix]

There's no reason for Ray Allen to come back. He's not the same player, and he's not worth the money you'll have to give him.

I love the Big 3 but he's gone.

[Jon]

Well, I don't think he has zero choice.  Clearly Ainge could decide to go another direction.

However, I am already sick of people saying that we need to rebuild this summer.  That'd be all well and good if this was the summer of Dwight and CP3; however, this is the summer of D-Will and a bunch of mediocre players who are about to be radically overpaid.  

And even if we made a run at D-Will, it doesn't make a ton of sense.  He's not a transcendent superstar like LeBron or Durant, so it's really not worth trying to bring him in and either playing him with Rondo or trading Rondo.  If the former doesn't work, it's a huge loss.  And in the latter case, trying to trade Rondo (or Bradley) would be tough if teams knew we had to make a deal.  

I like the idea of bringing the core back on 1-2 year deals.  Spend the next two years truly running a clinic for the young players we have while giving them playoff experience.  We've heard countless stories about players that have learned from KG's defensive tutoring or Ray's work ethic.  Then when the Big Three contracts are up, the Celtics should either have some nice players, or at the very least some nice assets to trade and a ton of cap space.  

The worst possible thing Ainge could do is pull a Detroit and overpay for the likes of Mayo and Landry (as they did with Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva a couple of years back).  

[Senninsage]

He would be foolish not to bring both back. They were one [dang] game away from the NBA finals. One game. And if the right call is made in game 2 in OT when Rondo is hit in the face, who knows which team is in the finals today.