Now I understand why no big-name free agent wants to come here.

[cman88]

maybe no superstars have come here, but other than CP3 we really havent pursued any superstars hard

Jason Terry was a big free agent signing this summer, and Courtney Lee was one of the most sought after wings.

[Neurotic Guy]

If there was any evidence that Danny was signing people with the goal in mind to trade them, then I think that would impact a person's decision to sign here.   But he's done nothing to indicate that type of planning.  But every player knows that there is no guarantee that they won't be traded, and there is as much risk here as anywhere (no more).  I do happen to think that one of the more attractive aspects of the Celtics is that there is a GM and ownership willing to make moves to help the team win.  That is actually more of an attraction than it is a detraction.

The attractiveness of NBA destinations is relative.  It may seem to some that Boston isn't a desired diestination, but compared to most teams I'd say Boston has been (at least in the past 5 years) a desired destination.  Probabaly not desired as much as Lakers, Heat and a few others, but we're pretty high up there IMO.

To the poster who cited taxes as a reason that players might not want to come here, I doubt that's a big deal.  Mass income taxes are likley lower than most states for NBA players as many states have a variable tax rate that increases with higher income (like the federal tax rate).  Mass's flat income tax rate 5.3% would be less than most states for NBA players. Also, Mass's sales taxes are right in the ballpark of most states.   

[mctyson]

While it may not be the only only reason, I will say that it does NOT look good that the Celtics seemingly have no loyalty to anyone, not even their franchise player.

Their franchise player is Rajon Rondo, not Paul Pierce, and how many times have they tried to trade him?

[quote}
Everyone likes to feel wanted/needed and no one enjoys having to deal with that uncertainty during every off season and every trade deadline.
[/quote]

That is a good way to build a mediocre NBA franchise - overpay players, never trade them, and make them feel "wanted/needed."  I'll take Danny's method over yours.

[Onslaught]

Other then Howard (who didn't even want to go to Chicago) what start player have we been after in the last 5 years that's turned us down?

[lightspeed5]

Other then Howard (who didn't even want to go to Chicago) what start player have we been after in the last 5 years that's turned us down?

does oj mayo count?

[tenn_smoothie]

First, I usually read these forums and not post but with the heavy trade discussion threads, I wanted to take the time to tell you all something.

Most players don't want to come to Boston. Everyone knows it. Those that do want to come, you can thank Doc Rivers for that. The rest, who don't want to come, choose not to because they fear getting traded. While that may not completely be the reason, it is a major factor. Don't you think all this trade drama surrounding Allen in the past has affected others? No one wants to go through that.

Luckily, we have Doc Rivers, someone almost every player wants to play for. Now that some players are finally letting go of that feeling and deciding to actually join the Celtics, we are once again doing the same thing that they have always feared.

We just signed Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee, and others. These players (including Jeff Green) want to play here, and we want to trade them? Not only that, but for who? Josh Smith. Agreed that he is a good player, but is he someone good enough to risk forming that fear of trade once again in free-agents' minds?

As for why I decided to create this thread now, I have been seeing many threads with fans already ready to trade Courtney Lee and Brandon Bass.

If anything, Courtney Lee is the player that will likely change players' attitudes towards joining Boston, which will only be positive for us. Yet you want to trade him, and do all negative?

Is that really what we are about? Signing and givings hopes to players, and then trading them away in their first or second year without a solid reason?

i keep stating on this board that Ainge has almost a sick compulsion to make trades - he's like an alcoholic who can't stay away from that drink that he obsesses over - in this case, the drink being a trade ...............he has done so much damage to team chemistry and morale that it cancels any good that he manages to do.

this group of Celtics ought to have two banners right now and i do credit Danny for the first, but i also blame him for us not putting #18 in the rafters yet - and i will never forgive him for trading Perk - we've been looking for a center ever since.

[lightspeed5]

we havent been looking for a center, KG was one of the best centers in the game last season whether you want to admit it or not. we are stacked at power forward this year so KG doesnt have to play more than 5 minutes at that position.

overpaying perk for his 3 ppg and moving screens was one of the best moves danny didnt make.

[More Banners]

Other then Howard (who didn't even want to go to Chicago) what start player have we been after in the last 5 years that's turned us down?

does oj mayo count?

David West?

[bucknersrevenge]

Our coach, our well-run organization from top to bottom with ownership that is committed to winning. That is what brought several free agents in this offseason and I don't believe any of them were concerned about Danny's loyalty one bit. These guys get paid several million dollars guaranteed to play basketball. Part of being a GM is looking at opportunities to improve your roster all the time.

Yeah it sucks when you think you have a deal and it falls through and you're left with a tough situation with a player but let's not over-react here and act like somehow that incident is indicative of a larger overall theme in our treatment of players here because that is patently false. Ask Jeff Green and Chris Wilcox about their treatment here.
 
I think the culture of accountability and brotherhood that KG and Paul has fostered draws people in and even when they leave this will be passed on and continued by the younger players that will have learned from them. And as a younger, upcoming team they will draw other younger players to their cause who will want to be a part of that brotherhood, that winning culture and that winning organization.

[82-0]

Paul just got traded to Clippers, and the Clippers will trade him in a minute if it made their team better. The only problem with the Clippers is they would not know better if it dropped and hit them on the head.

Ummm.... what? The only players we could trade CP3 for who could make us better with the remaining roster we have are LeBron and maybe Kevin Durant, and that's obviously not realistic.

[jbaerg]

I think a big reason is the fact that the fan-base expects SO much. Championship or bust.

[Onslaught]

Other then Howard (who didn't even want to go to Chicago) what start player have we been after in the last 5 years that's turned us down?

does oj mayo count?

David West?

Forgot about him.

[esel1000]

Other then Howard (who didn't even want to go to Chicago) what start player have we been after in the last 5 years that's turned us down?

does oj mayo count?

David West?

Forgot about him.

I wouldnt say West turned us down, he chose a team that at the time looked like it was on the rise while the celtics were just an aging core... Indiana also offered him a little more money. I highly doubt he was massively anti celtics and at the time no one would have predicted this team would be 1 game away from the finals... I bet he regretted his decision knowing he'd have gotten us to the finals.

Mayo on the other hand is just a fool...

[saltlover]

Other then Howard (who didn't even want to go to Chicago) what start player have we been after in the last 5 years that's turned us down?

does oj mayo count?

David West?

Forgot about him.

I wouldnt say West turned us down, he chose a team that at the time looked like it was on the rise while the celtics were just an aging core... Indiana also offered him a little more money. I highly doubt he was massively anti celtics and at the time no one would have predicted this team would be 1 game away from the finals... I bet he regretted his decision knowing he'd have gotten us to the finals.

Mayo on the other hand is just a fool...

Furthermore, West was willing to choose us and leave money on the table, but it had to be through a sign-and-trade because we had no cap room.  Unfortunately, we couldn't find a partner to take JO's contract off our hands (shocker there) so he moved onto the Pacers in the very abbreviated off-season.  David West got away, yes, but he was willing to come here.

[crimson_stallion]

Kobe has won 5 rings for the Lakers, there is no one on thr Celtics that comes close to that, and the Lakers will trade Kobe if it makes them better.

This is not accurate.

Kobe won about 2 rings for LA, Shaq won the others.   2 Rings is only one more then what Pierce has, and Kobe's teams haven't had as many roadblocks (especially injuries) along the way.  If Boston had been healthy there is a very good chance Pierce would have 2-3 rings by now.

As for players that are untradable...

Kevin Durant, Lebron James.  I think they are about the only two players in the NBA that absolutely would not get traded, regardless of the offer.

The most untradable players Boston have right now would be Rondo and KG.  Neither is necessarilly off limits, but I don't see either going.

Rondo is just too valuable to the team right now.  He's probably more valuable to Boston then to any other team because they can no longer ride a youngish KG, Pierce and Allen.  Both Pierce and KG have but at couple of years in them, and Boston needs a clear franchise player moving foward - Rondo is that guy.

Likewise KG would be tough to pull away.  With all the young players we have brought in Boston needs a couple of veteran leaders to teach them the ropes, and there is no better man for that job then KG.  Not only is there the value of his 'off court' characterstics, but on the court he is still one of the best 7 footers in the game and he is still the backbone of Boston's defense.

No doubt either of those guys is tradeable for the right price, but what would it take?  Boston would take no less then Chris Paul / Deron Williams / Derek Rose for Rondo (and that latter two are 'maybe') and for KG someone would need to offer them an all-star calibre talent. 

Pierce is the more likely of the three to go, but I still think they'd need a pretty great offer at this point to let him go.  Any less then an 'Iggy' level player and I doubt they'd do it.  Especially with Ray gone, Pierce's scoring and versatility are important to this team and difficult to replace.