I feel like we're quickly headed to two years of mediocrity

[Rondo2287]

well lost Ray brought back Green and Bass on relatively big and relatively long contracts.  Not sure that really improves the situation at all.  In fact that increases my anxiety over this team. 

The contracts are a necessity for the team to maximize its options post-KG/PP.  These are 2 very tradeable contracts (especially in a couple of years) with 2 likely good and relatively young players.  You need contracts with some money in order to get great players via trade.  I think it's likely that DA prefers good trading chips to cap space.   

I think both contracts (Bass + Green) have limited trade value. I wouldn't get too excited about the trade possibilities.

I agree about the limited trade value, though I think having these caliber of players are very important for this season and next.  Green and Bass are both Servicable NBA starters.  If we can find a starting Caliber Center somewhere, Bass and Green will allow us to significantly cut KG and Pierce's minutes so they will hopefully be fresh/healthy for the playoffs. 

If it works out like this I don't think we are looking at mediocrity.  I think we are looking at 2nd to 3rd round playoff runs the next two years.

What is the point in that?

Would you rather us tank another season and wind up with the #5 pick in the draft?  Whats the point in that?

[soap07]

 The team was playing much better with Bradley in the lineup than Ray, both in the regular season and in the playoffs. That's what's important in comparing what difference they would make to the performance of the *team*. Comparing Bradley's and Bosh's individual roles, stats or career accomplishments  to determine how they'd affect the series is being unable to see the forest for the trees.

First off, the team was playing much better in the lineup with Bradley for a variety of reasons - not the least of which was KG's move to Center, Pierce getting in shape, Rondo's marked improvement throughout the year, etc. It wasn't a straight cause of Bradley subbing in for Ray.

Secondly, I'm not sure what the rest of your post means. Sure, the C's were playing better with Bradley in the lineup instead of Ray....and the Heat play levels better when Bosh is on the floor as opposed to Joel Anthony or Udonis Haslem. Their impacts on the floor are not comparable.

And by the way, comparing Bosh/Bradley's individual stats and career accomplishments gives a concrete idea of an individual's impact on a basketball court. One guy is arguably a top-20-30 player in the league. The other only 4 months ago emerged from "not a scrub" status.

Don't get me wrong - I like Bradley a lot. I think he can develop into a Tony Allen type player (maybe smarter?) I don't think that he is the difference against the Heat.

[Donoghus]

They'll be contenders this season if they remain healthy and the play from the vets remains relatively consistent with last season.

Health is my biggest concern.  The roster is pretty solid and I have little doubt that they'll go deep if they remain healthy. 

Mediocrity might come but I doubt it'll be that way in '12-13. 

[BballTim]

 The team was playing much better with Bradley in the lineup than Ray, both in the regular season and in the playoffs. That's what's important in comparing what difference they would make to the performance of the *team*. Comparing Bradley's and Bosh's individual roles, stats or career accomplishments  to determine how they'd affect the series is being unable to see the forest for the trees.

First off, the team was playing much better in the lineup with Bradley for a variety of reasons - not the least of which was KG's move to Center, Pierce getting in shape, Rondo's marked improvement throughout the year, etc. It wasn't a straight cause of Bradley subbing in for Ray.

  None of the reasons you describe happened during the playoffs, and in the playoffs we were much better with Bradley than Ray.

Secondly, I'm not sure what the rest of your post means. Sure, the C's were playing better with Bradley in the lineup instead of Ray....and the Heat play levels better when Bosh is on the floor as opposed to Joel Anthony or Udonis Haslem. Their impacts on the floor are not comparable.

And by the way, comparing Bosh/Bradley's individual stats and career accomplishments gives a concrete idea of an individual's impact on a basketball court. One guy is arguably a top-20-30 player in the league. The other only 4 months ago emerged from "not a scrub" status.

  There's a lot that goes into how well a team fares with and without a player. One thing is how well the backup plays and how well they fit with the team. Another is the lineup aside from that player. Bosh made a huge difference with Toronto, with Miami he makes a smaller difference because the team's less dependent on his play. He carried the Raptors, he doesn't carry the Heat.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

People on this board are using the common refrain that we pushed the champs to 7 games.

We pushed the champs to 7 games in large part because the Heat were missing one of their best players - Chris Bosh. Avery Bradley's role on the C's was in no way, shape or form close to the role Bosh played on the Heat. Bosh is a 7 time All Star averaging a career 20/9. Avery Bradley had one good half of a season - and even then, it was as a role player.

  The team was playing much better with Bradley in the lineup than Ray, both in the regular season and in the playoffs. That's what's important in comparing what difference they would make to the performance of the *team*. Comparing Bradley's and Bosh's individual roles, stats or career accomplishments  to determine how they'd affect the series is being unable to see the forest for the trees.

THANK YOU! Look how many we had playing hurt and look how many were out. Miami was not even close and for anyone to say Bosh it greater tham all blah, blah, blah is ridiculous. Wade and james are ball hogs regardless. Bradley and Green and a healthy Allen and PP would have made all the difference. Bosh sure did not make a difference in the regular season now did he? Kenny Smith even said he feels Green alone would have put the C's over Miami. I'll take Kenny Smith's word over anybody here for obvious reasons.

[Rondo2287]

Also, look at the young talent that we have/are currently developing

Melo
Sullinger
JJJ
Bradley
Rondo
Green
Bass

The last 4 are all starters in this league.  The first 3 are young projects.  Right now we are talking 2nd to 3rd round playoff runs while cultivating some young talent that can either help us continue the run or be moved down the road for proven veterans.

[LooseCannon]

I can't see Boston winning a title for at least 6 years, and that isn't the place I ever want to be in as a sports fan. 

I can see Boston winning a title in the next six years, so I am not worried.  They probably won't be a favorite, but it seems in the realm of possibility.

I would have a harder time seeing the Celtics winning a title in the near-future if they acquired a player like Al Jefferson and tried to make him a central piece.

[Mr October]

If Ray resigns that means we'll have Pierce and Ray for two more years and KG for 2, possibly 3.  We can't expect any of them to do anything but get worse from here on out. 

This year we got by because of KG playing his best ball since 2007 and carrying this team with Rondo.  I really don't see KG being able to duplicate that next year, let alone 2 or 3 years down the road. 

What happened to keeping cap flexibility Ainge?  What happened to not hanging on too long?  Why he is giving Ray a two year deal and KG a 3 year deal (I thought 2 years was pushing it, let alone 3) is just mindboggling.  Pierce is overpaid and got too many years as well.  I'm not saying we need to blow it up, but we shouldn't be preparing ourselves to get stuck in no mans land as a stinker 8 seed.

Cap flexibilty does you no good if the free agents aren't that good. KG is a better player than any of the other players that would have remote interest in the Celtics (ie: D Williams and Tim Duncan). KG is superior to the likes of Hibbert, E Gordon, Nash, McGee, Mayo, Batum, etc.

[Reyquila]

We will have an entertaining team. I have no doubts about it. Its just that there will be a few teams that have better personnel than us. It happens.

[esel1000]

I think we're gonna be deeper than last year and we have kg to mentor the kids. Now the Mavs are a team really headed toward mediocrity

[SHAQATTACK]

I disagree,   we will WAY WAY better than .500 team .   Mediocity speaks of a team stuck in the middle of the league..

No way ...I think the Celtics are in the top 10 teams in the league....that is mediocre....

Yes anything less than 1 st place is second loser,  but the 2 , 3 4, 5 , 6 place teams ARE still EXCELENT teams..

Just becasue you don't win it all, doesn't mean the rest of the NBA is stuck in mediocity.

It is not easy to have the best players all the time, not even LA is going to have that once Kobe and Gasol are gone, they are gonna be looking too...and it an;t goona be easy even for them with the new NBA contracts.

[Mr October]

If the C's can land 1 or 2 more rotation players, this could be one the the deepest teams they have had in years.

As is, the starters are returning: KG, PP, RR, BB, AB.

And then the top 3 bench guys have the potential to be be very very effective: Jason Terry, Jeff Green, Jared Sullinger (i expect him to be a PLAYER in his rookie year, at least as good as Powe or Davis were as 1st/2nd year players.) That is a very solid 8 man rotation.

That 3 some, if healthy will be much better than the injuried Pietrus, Ray, Stiemsma.

Now the C's need more depth to cover inevitable injuries. With 2-3 more players (say Pietrus, Dooling, Kristc), the C's will easily be on target for at least 50 wins, and should be a top 3 team in the East.

[Q_FBE]

They'll be contenders this season if they remain healthy and the play from the vets remains relatively consistent with last season.

Health is my biggest concern.  The roster is pretty solid and I have little doubt that they'll go deep if they remain healthy. 

Mediocrity might come but I doubt it'll be that way in '12-13. 

The Celtics will be a lot better with a full summer league and a training camp to develop the rookies and sophomores. Health is always a concern and that is just the luck factor that everyone has to deal with. Jared Sullenger fell to us in the draft due to health concerns about his back. So he could have an injury plagued career or he can have an outstanding Celtic career with us depending on how well he takes care of himself. He impresses me as a hard worker so my bet is on the latter (That is a good thing).

[Mr October]

I disagree,   we will WAY WAY better than .500 team .   Mediocity speaks of a team stuck in the middle of the league..

No way ...I think the Celtics are in the top 10 teams in the league....that is mediocre....

Yes anything less than 1 st place is second loser,  but the 2 , 3 4, 5 , 6 place teams ARE still EXCELENT teams..

Just becasue you don't win it all, doesn't mean the rest of the NBA is stuck in mediocity.

It is not easy to have the best players all the time, not even LA is going to have that once Kobe and Gasol are gone, they are gonna be looking too...and it an;t goona be easy even for them with the new NBA contracts.

Yup. And if the blow it up people were in charge, the Mavs would have been blown up well before they won the title in 2011. Instead a group of vets got hot and and won. This could happen for Boston.

[Bosstown]

Look guys, I'm glad we got KG back and we are going to be competitive next year but lets think about this. We pushed the Heat to 7 games, they had no Bosh for the first 5 games, We didnt have to deal with Derrick Rose and Chicago. We may be delaying the inevitable, we should of blown it up. The Nets are going to get Dwight, and you can bet that team or Chicago is in the ECF with Miami next year. We should of just sucked it up, gutted the team and rebuilt around Rondo. We want championships and we need good players to get championships, you get good players through the draft. Most Free Agents dont want to come to Boston, due to it's "racist" reputation.

Anyway I think Danny is driving us to mediocrity.