Danny Ainge - Perfect Balance

[ScoobyDoo]

1.
What a great job by Danny Ainge and the Celtics management. We are going to see some very, very good basketball over the next two years. And I think it will only be for two more years - the three Amigos will all retire at the end of Pierce's contract - that's why Danny is offering Ray two years - he probably knows KG won't play after Pierce's contract runs out.

2. WE are one of the youngest teams in the league:

Melo / Steamer
Sullinger / JJJ
Jeff Green / Kris Joseph
Bradley / Moore
Rondo

The "majority" of our team is actually quite young.

"IF" all these guys pan out like they appear they can, Ainge will be building a very nice young core of talented players & potential trade assets. I think most of them will in fact pan out to be "solid" NBA players.

3. Yes - KG, Pierce, Terry and hopefully Ray are all long in the tooth. However, as they all proved they can still play some really, really good basketball when it matters most - if when all banged up.

Expect Paul, KG, Ray and Terry to get "a lot" of back up and rest this season from our bench. If they are banged up they should be able to take nights off, no problem. If this team goes into the playoffs healthy, look out.

4. Our core vets ( Rondo, Terry, Ray, Pierce & KG are locked in for two years together ) great for continuity.

They also get to mentor our young core of guys for the next two years and show them how to be pros - those young guys will then carry that forward.

Given some half decent luck with injuries - this team could very well throw another banner up this year or next. if not we have to be considered in contention - top five teams.

When Pierce, Ray, KG and Terry come off in two years - we will have some cap space to add some major free agents to this young group, or, as mentioned before, we should have some very nice assets to trade for some key players.

Great balance of youth and veterans - and a powerhouse of a team already by just adding Terry, Green and Bradley back.

I think Ainge is not done either. It's a great time to be a Celtic fan. We're going to win now and we've got a lot of quality youth in the wings. Excellent.         

[Celtics Fan]

Hey brother Ray is visiting the cHeat tomorrow. We made him a offer and he hasn't said nothing. I hope we get him back.

[jv2764]

The future is Rondo, Bradley, Green, and Josh Smith

[Celtics Fan]

Smith? Huh? He not here man.

[IrishGold18]

lol i thought the future would need at least five players too

[mcshane41]

We will need a lot to go right to be a top 5 team but you can bet the C's will be in the playoffs and always a dark horse no matter our seed. I'd always rather have a chance then a ping pong ball.

I am very hopeful that Kris Joseph could be another find for Danny. He was Cuse leading scorer, that was a team with Dion Waiters on it mind you.. I like that pick.

As for the future, we don't know what it is, and Josh Smith is looking more and more like part of the future in Atlanta and isn't clamoring for a trade right now, that speaks volumes considering the house cleaning going on down there.

[bfrombleacher]

He was Cuse leading scorer, that was a team with Dion Waiters on it mind you.. I like that pick.

Nice factoid piece of trivia (had a feeling I misused the word).

[dreamgreen]

The future is Rondo, Bradley, Green, and Josh Smith

I'd like that, hopefully Sully/Melo will be out center combo.

[Lord of Mikawa]

The future is Rondo, Bradley, Green, and Josh Smith

Smith isn't here and Green hasn't signed with us. I hope Bradley can compete at a high level whenever he is back.

[guava_wrench]

Joseph and Moore are pretty irrelevant. Green has yet to sign.

The ages that matter are the ages of the guys that actually contribute.

[bfrombleacher]

I think Ainge is not done either.         

Going to keep this thread alive!

I'm on your side. Very excited to see what the youth infusion brings and very optimistic about it.

[manl_lui]

I trust Danny fully. He is trying very hard to fill these rosters spots and trying to spend wisely. However, I do want to see what Danny is really doing...

still hoping he signs Ray Allen, Bass, Pietrus and Green back

[ScoobyDoo]

Yes, great veteran leadership and a nice core of young prospects - some of whom have already proven they can play - namely Rondo, Bradley, Green and Steamer.

If JJJ can make a break through this year, can you imagine a team of Rondo, Bradley, Green, JJJ and KG getting up and down the floor together?

If Sully and Melo pan out we've got an even stronger young core of players.

I'm optimistic and pumped and if we resign Bass and/or sign and trade him for a player, we get even stronger.

I know Ray isn't here yet, but hope he comes back. 

 
   

[ScoobyDoo]

If that happens, we are stacked.

[mctyson]

We will need a lot to go right to be a top 5 team

But we had a lot go wrong for us this past season and we were still a Top 5 team.  The only thing that went "right" for us was Derrick Rose blowing out his knee.  We still would have given Chicago a run for their money, as we did to the Heat.