If the Knicks close out Boston in 4 or 5 does that change your outlook...

[Moranis]

I know a lot on this board weren't ready to go into rebuilding, but if the Knicks do close the Celtics out in 4 or 5 games, does that change anything for those of you that have been against rebuilding this summer?

[Q_FBE]

I know a lot on this board weren't ready to go into rebuilding, but if the Knicks do close the Celtics out in 4 or 5 games, does that change anything for those of you that have been against rebuilding this summer?

Yes I think the Celtics do need to rebuild. Danny Ainge will follow through this time.

[Chief]

I think we need a rebuilding coach.

[southshorematt]

Should've traded KG when we had the chance...
Should've trade Pierce when we had the chance...

but you all wanted to hold on for sentiment. Well guess what sentiment gets you.. 10+ years of getting your butt whooped in the first round by teams like the Knicks.

ENJOY! 

Would much rather have a starting 5 of Bledsoe, Bradley, Barnes, Green, and Jordan right now and going forward

[Chris]

My outlook is the same as it always was...make the prudent move at the time. 

Every move needs to be looked at in its own merit.  The idea of "blow it up" or not, just is way too broad. 

No matter what, they need to try to get better.  Whether that is better immediately, or in a more longterm view, depends on the deals that are available. 

But the thing is, getting better could still mean staying the course.  If you can get Sully and Rondo back healthy, and shuffle some minor cards, then you could be right back in the thick of it next year, providing you do a better job of meshing everyone together.  But it all depends on what options present themselves.

[KGs Knee]

I know a lot on this board weren't ready to go into rebuilding, but if the Knicks do close the Celtics out in 4 or 5 games, does that change anything for those of you that have been against rebuilding this summer?

No, not really.  We never had a chance once Rondo went down.

I don't think KG/Pierce will be substantially less next year then they were this year, so if Rondo can come back healthy we should have a chance next year.

That said, I have no idea what is going through KG's mind right now.  Maybe he will step back at the end of the season and decide 'enough is enough'.  As much as I'd be ok with keeping Pierce around without KG, I don't see us being able to replace KG and still compete.  Basically, the direction the teams goes next year is up to KG.  I know that won't make many here happy, but I think he's earned it.

[Chris]

Should've traded KG when we had the chance...
Should've trade Pierce when we had the chance...

but you all wanted to hold on for sentiment. Well guess what sentiment gets you.. 10+ years of getting your butt whooped in the first round by teams like the Knicks.

ENJOY! 

Would much rather have a starting 5 of Bledsoe, Bradley, Barnes, Green, and Jordan right now and going forward

The problem is, we DIDN'T have the chance.  KG (reportedly) vetoed the trade to the Clippers, and GS (reportedly) turned down the offer of Pierce for Barnes and filler. 

[southshorematt]

Should've traded KG when we had the chance...
Should've trade Pierce when we had the chance...

but you all wanted to hold on for sentiment. Well guess what sentiment gets you.. 10+ years of getting your butt whooped in the first round by teams like the Knicks.

ENJOY! 

Would much rather have a starting 5 of Bledsoe, Bradley, Barnes, Green, and Jordan right now and going forward

The problem is, we DIDN'T have the chance.  KG (reportedly) vetoed the trade to the Clippers, and GS (reportedly) turned down the offer of Pierce for Barnes and filler.

There are always ways to make deals work. Move Pierce first so KG wants to leave. Trade players like Lee, Sullinger, Melo etc for picks to throw in such deals for Pierce and KG. It could've been done.

[Lucky17]

I know a lot on this board weren't ready to go into rebuilding, but if the Knicks do close the Celtics out in 4 or 5 games, does that change anything for those of you that have been against rebuilding this summer?

No, not really.  We never had a chance once Rondo went down.

I don't think KG/Pierce will be substantially less next year then they were this year, so if Rondo can come back healthy we should have a chance next year.

That said, I have no idea what is going through KG's mind right now.  Maybe he will step back at the end of the season and decide 'enough is enough'.  As much as I'd be ok with keeping Pierce around without KG, I don't see us being able to replace KG and still compete.  Basically, the direction the teams goes next year is up to KG.  I know that won't make many here happy, but I think he's earned it.

My sentiments exactly.

I've gone back and forth on whether KG's return or Rondo's return plays the larger role in the direction of the club next year, but ultimately, I think KG is the fulcrum.

[KGs Knee]

The only exception to my belief that what KG decides, decides the direction of the team, is if KG were to agree to help the team by being traded and summarily retire.  He'd then become an immediately expiring contract, and could allow us to make a trade for his replacement.

I just view this possibility as 'slim to none'.

[Chris]

Should've traded KG when we had the chance...
Should've trade Pierce when we had the chance...

but you all wanted to hold on for sentiment. Well guess what sentiment gets you.. 10+ years of getting your butt whooped in the first round by teams like the Knicks.

ENJOY! 

Would much rather have a starting 5 of Bledsoe, Bradley, Barnes, Green, and Jordan right now and going forward

The problem is, we DIDN'T have the chance.  KG (reportedly) vetoed the trade to the Clippers, and GS (reportedly) turned down the offer of Pierce for Barnes and filler.

There are always ways to make deals work. Move Pierce first so KG wants to leave. Trade players like Lee, Sullinger, Melo etc for picks to throw in such deals for Pierce and KG. It could've been done.

Sure.  There are ways to make it work.  But then you are not getting the value you wanted.

I was skeptical about those deals in the first place.  If the C's were giving up even more assets, then that wouldn't make sense to me.

Pierce and KG can still be traded in the offseason, if that is the way they want to go.  But they also still present significant value to this team, both on the floor and in the lockerroom.  You need to get real value back to make that worthwhile. 

[Boris Badenov]

It seems like every year there is a big "Yeah, but..." in the thought process.

Last year it looked like we were toast. Then we played well in the playoffs, and everyone got excited about the elusive "one more run."

This year it's looking grim, but not having Rondo is such a big factor that I don't think anyone can know how we would be faring right now if we had him. So, one can argue that next year with him and Sully back we could be right back in the thick of things.

At this point I am along for the ride either way, I guess. It's really up to KG. If he comes back, we are in it to win it next year. If he retires, then other dominoes may start to fall.

[Vermont Green]

Should've traded KG when we had the chance...
Should've trade Pierce when we had the chance...

but you all wanted to hold on for sentiment. Well guess what sentiment gets you.. 10+ years of getting your butt whooped in the first round by teams like the Knicks.

ENJOY! 

Would much rather have a starting 5 of Bledsoe, Bradley, Barnes, Green, and Jordan right now and going forward

The problem is, we DIDN'T have the chance.  KG (reportedly) vetoed the trade to the Clippers, and GS (reportedly) turned down the offer of Pierce for Barnes and filler.

There are always ways to make deals work. Move Pierce first so KG wants to leave. Trade players like Lee, Sullinger, Melo etc for picks to throw in such deals for Pierce and KG. It could've been done.

I agree with Chris on this one.  There is no way to know that there was a trade that we could have done that would have saved us from a visit to the perverbial basement once KG and PP either retire or just plain wear out.  In fact, I fear that KG may have already reached the threshold of worn out and PP is not far behind.

I would rather go all the way down and rebuild then to make a not so great trade and still go most of the way down.  Now if we can pull off a great trade, great but I don't think anyone is going to give us a future star for either KG or PP.

[kgainez]

Should've traded KG when we had the chance...
Should've trade Pierce when we had the chance...

but you all wanted to hold on for sentiment. Well guess what sentiment gets you.. 10+ years of getting your butt whooped in the first round by teams like the Knicks.

ENJOY! 

Would much rather have a starting 5 of Bledsoe, Bradley, Barnes, Green, and Jordan right now and going forward

smh. TPs for u.
if KG leaves, PP should follow.
This vet driven thing isn't working.

[Drucci]

I think it would be better for the franchise that we lose in 4 or 5 games against the Knicks since such a scenario would kind of give DA the green light to get into major moves. Whereas winning the series (which is still possible, if the team suddenly starts to play for 48 minutes, even if it seems unlikely).

I don't like the idea of blowing it up just for the sake of it : reshuffling the roster with a few interesting tweaks would be great but we would have to be very lucky to follow that course. And I think it would be a trap to use KG and Pierce as centerpieces again. In order to improve, the team simply has to let these two go.

Now I don't mean they necessarily have to get traded or to retire but if they stay on the team they can't be considered our key players once again. Rondo has to be THE key, and then, in order, it has to be Green, Sullinger and Bradley.

Also, from an emotional standpoint, I would prefer that KG retires instead of watching him play like a ghost as he currently does.