2013-2014 options - 1. Contend 2. Mild rebuild 3. Fully rebuild

[BballTim]

Option #1 would not be a true contender.  I think at best we'd hope that they could compete for a top 4 seed in the East, but more likely they'd be what Atlanta, Brooklyn, or Chicago were this season.

  Rondo and Sully come back healthy, make your FA a decent big, possibly trade Bass and Lee or Bradley for something of an upgrade to Bass and you're probably fringe contenders. Not as exciting as being "true contenders" but IMO preferable to a headlong rush to the bottom of the pile.

[Tr1boy]

Option #1 would not be a true contender.  I think at best we'd hope that they could compete for a top 4 seed in the East, but more likely they'd be what Atlanta, Brooklyn, or Chicago were this season.

Option #2 would be a waste.  Josh Smith is going to get max money in free agency.  He's not worth max money unless you're putting him next to a franchise superstar.  The Celtics don't have that kind of player.  Rondo and Smith do not a contender make.

Option #3 is the necessary evil here.  Let Pierce and KG go, do whatever it takes to get rid of Terry, shop Bass, and start acquiring and developing young assets beginning with the draft next year.

I don't mind any of the three options. I think Smith will compensate somewhat for both the loss of Pierce and KG. Plus i think Smith and Rondo have a special dynamic relationship on the court, going back to their hs days.

With option 1, you at least get your "what if" thinking resolved once and for all. With everyone back and KG/PP being less taxed on the court, how far we can go. Bc if we had everyone healthy, no way it would be 3-0 knicks now. We could be 3-0 instead

With option 3, its sad to have your main guys go. But also its exciting , that a new team will take on the torch and help the celts get back to success. For example , if we get Larkin i'll be ecstatic. Only 5'11 but the kid can flat out play. Plumlee would be a very very good pickup. Without him a few games this year or even when he sat on the bench, Duke looked like a completely different team. Helpless on the defensive end and on the offense just playing hot potatoe on top of the key. These two guys for example would be a solid start for our rebuild if it were to happen

[PhoSita]

Option #1 would not be a true contender.  I think at best we'd hope that they could compete for a top 4 seed in the East, but more likely they'd be what Atlanta, Brooklyn, or Chicago were this season.

  Rondo and Sully come back healthy, make your FA a decent big, possibly trade Bass and Lee or Bradley for something of an upgrade to Bass and you're probably fringe contenders. Not as exciting as being "true contenders" but IMO preferable to a headlong rush to the bottom of the pile.

I see teams like the Nuggets, Warriors, Clippers, Grizzlies, Knicks, Pacers as fringe contenders.  That's kind of just the state of the league with the Heat and Thunder being so loaded with talent.

I think absolutely everything would have to go right for the Celtics to improve enough and be healthy enough to be included in the above group this time next season.

[Tr1boy]

I am beginning to think the only real viable option is for us to totally rebuild and tank next year.

Seriously, it's our only shot at EVER getting good again. Fortunately, as others have said, the 2014 draft should be a good one.

So, what I am saying is goodbye to Pierce and KG, deal Rondo and try to possibly acquire another 2014 draft pick.

Also, don't forget the free agent class of 2014 is a good one! So not only tank, but also start freeing up cap space by dumping Terry, Lee and Bass so we can go into 2014 with a lottery pick, another first round pick and a ton of cap space. I figure if we do this, then by 2016 we could be sitting pretty again.

Sickening to think it could be 3 years til we are good again, but that's how it goes in the NBA unf. You have to get really bad to get really good again (see 2006 and then 2007.)

very interesting forsight. And evil also haha

Its the type of thinking the NBA plain out doesn't want teams to think like

However remember even if we tank all the way to the bottom, there is little guarantee you will even get a top 3 pick next year due to the new lotto rules where even the #14 team has a chance to grab #1

But man, imagine if we got super lucky and got a chance at Wiggins?? I'd think we be set for a long time

[bobbyv]

I am beginning to think the only real viable option is for us to totally rebuild and tank next year.

Seriously, it's our only shot at EVER getting good again. Fortunately, as others have said, the 2014 draft should be a good one.

So, what I am saying is goodbye to Pierce and KG, deal Rondo and try to possibly acquire another 2014 draft pick.

Also, don't forget the free agent class of 2014 is a good one! So not only tank, but also start freeing up cap space by dumping Terry, Lee and Bass so we can go into 2014 with a lottery pick, another first round pick and a ton of cap space. I figure if we do this, then by 2016 we could be sitting pretty again.

Sickening to think it could be 3 years til we are good again, but that's how it goes in the NBA unf. You have to get really bad to get really good again (see 2006 and then 2007.)

The only problem is who would want Terry and Bass now? Their contracts are terrible for the way they played this season.

[BballTim]

Option #1 would not be a true contender.  I think at best we'd hope that they could compete for a top 4 seed in the East, but more likely they'd be what Atlanta, Brooklyn, or Chicago were this season.

  Rondo and Sully come back healthy, make your FA a decent big, possibly trade Bass and Lee or Bradley for something of an upgrade to Bass and you're probably fringe contenders. Not as exciting as being "true contenders" but IMO preferable to a headlong rush to the bottom of the pile.

I see teams like the Nuggets, Warriors, Clippers, Grizzlies, Knicks, Pacers as fringe contenders.  That's kind of just the state of the league with the Heat and Thunder being so loaded with talent.

I think absolutely everything would have to go right for the Celtics to improve enough and be healthy enough to be included in the above group this time next season.

  Ok, realistic contenders but not favorites then. I'm talking about "if we play our best and the ball bounces our way we can win", IMO you're saying "if we play our best and multiple teams are struck with injuries we can win".

[Tr1boy]

Because my topic has too much going on already i forgot to mention.

With option #1 and likely #2, Doc stays

But if we went with option #3 , does Doc stay or even want to stay?

[KGs Knee]

Do everything possible to avoid having to tank and spend the next 20 years in lottery hell, waiting for that minuscule chance you get a once in a generation talent.

Tanking is the worst move you can make.

[Who]

In order to be a Title Contender next season, I think Boston needs to be able to acquire a star player to go alongside Garnett, Pierce and Rondo. Someone like Josh Smith.

Likely with Jeff Green being the main piece of a trade package used to land such a player.

[Tr1boy]

Do everything possible to avoid having to tank and spend the next 20 years in lottery hell, waiting for that minuscule chance you get a once in a generation talent.

Tanking is the worst move you can make.

If we took on #3, tanking on purpose or not, we will be likely a bad team. Like some have said, its not a bad idea bc you stockload from 2013 nba draft talent, plus have a chance at a top 10 pick from a strong 2014 nba draft.

If your going to "tank" , but hopefully rebuild as fast as a team can, doing it starting next season is a strategically sound move. 

[Tr1boy]

any feedbacks if #3 (tanking, rebuild mode) is the option for next season, will Doc be back for that either involunatrily or voluntarily?

[KGs Knee]

Do everything possible to avoid having to tank and spend the next 20 years in lottery hell, waiting for that minuscule chance you get a once in a generation talent.

Tanking is the worst move you can make.

If we took on #3, tanking on purpose or not, we will be likely a bad team. Like some have said, its not a bad idea bc you stockload from 2013 nba draft talent, plus have a chance at a top 10 pick from a strong 2014 nba draft.

If your going to "tank" , but hopefully rebuild as fast as a team can, doing it starting next season is a strategically sound move.

Not in my book it isn't.  Especially when you already have one star player, and potentially have the ability to add to that star by trade or FA.

Tanking next year would be foolish, unless KG/Pierce retire.  Then the 'tank' is already built-in.

[PaulPierce34G]

Whatever allows us to return to legitimate contenders, just do what you've got to do.  As of right now, there's no chance they contend next season, even if everyone comes back and stays healthy..It'll be another year of making the playoffs and getting knocked out in the 2nd round...maaaaaaybe the ECF is everything fell into place, but that would really be lucky and I'm probably really stretching it there.  As another poster pointed out, if they were contenders then the options of mild rebuild and an all out rebuild would be unnecessary. 

We just need to accept that there's a decent chance that this is it for this era in Celtics history..Last year should have really been the end...Making it all the way to ECF was cool, but I think it ended up hurting us for this season...Had they lost in the 1st of 2nd round of last year, the rebuild would have started then I believe.  I hope Pierce retires because I surely don't want to see him in another uniform from being trades, amnestied, bought out or whatever.

It was a good 6 years and at least we got to see banner 17, and realistically should have seen 18 and probably 19...but at least they got 1.  Obviously, we don't know what will happen...Pierce and KG could say "F*** it" and decide to come back for one more season, but I don't think that is the best thing for the team in regards to trying to bring this organization back to the level of being a true, legit contender.

[arctic 3.0]

any feedbacks if #3 (tanking, rebuild mode) is the option for next season, will Doc be back for that either involunatrily or voluntarily?

doc signed a long term deal (5 years?) a few years back. he had to know that our run as contenders wasn't going to extend for 5 years, so he likely signed knowing he would be coaching a rebuilding team eventually. i think he stays.

[Tr1boy]

any feedbacks if #3 (tanking, rebuild mode) is the option for next season, will Doc be back for that either involunatrily or voluntarily?

doc signed a long term deal (5 years?) a few years back. he had to know that our run as contenders wasn't going to extend for 5 years, so he likely signed knowing he would be coaching a rebuilding team eventually. i think he stays.

your points are logical but i'm not sure if every player/coach/gm, thinks like this when they sign a contract.

Most over sign deals. Its just human nature bc you get more in return plus security

Also if i remember Doc was contemplating before to leave coaching to be with his family/see his sons play, no?