Pierce & KG

[ScoobyDoo]

Are not the problem. They're advanced age and slowly declining skills and ability to "bring it" every night are not the reasons why we've struggled so much this past year.

The reasons are:

1. Injuries to Rondo, Sully and Barbosa
2. Not having quite enough fire power "behind" KG and to go along with KG in the front court is the main issue.

For example, Pierce now has Green - that can extend Pierce for another 1-2 years. KG needs something similar to what Pierce now has with Green behind him, and then we'd need to add another half legit big man.

So for me it's not whether we could field a contending team next year with KG and Pierce, there's no question about that. The question is if Ainge can get the right players behind/with KG in the off season.

So if KG decided to play another year - I say you keep Pierce as well.

Take a good draft pick this year and keep building a solid young core to which you can add significant player to once KG and pierce retire.

KG / Dalembert or similar) / Melo
Bass / Sully / Wilcox
Pierce / Green / player
Bradley / Lee / Draft pick
Rondo / TWilliams / player

That team can definitely compete for a title.

[More Banners]

Are not the problem. They're advanced age and slowly declining skills and ability to "bring it" every night are not the reasons why we've struggled so much this past year.

The reasons are:

1. Injuries to Rondo, Sully and Barbosa
2. Not having quite enough fire power "behind" KG and to go along with KG in the front court is the main issue.

For example, Pierce now has Green - that can extend Pierce for another 1-2 years. KG needs something similar to what Pierce now has with Green behind him, and then we'd need to add another half legit big man.

So for me it's not whether we could field a contending team next year with KG and Pierce, there's no question about that. The question is if Ainge can get the right players behind/with KG in the off season.

So if KG decided to play another year - I say you keep Pierce as well.

Take a good draft pick this year and keep building a solid young core to which you can add significant player to once KG and pierce retire.

KG / Dalembert or similar) / Melo
Bass / Sully / Wilcox
Pierce / Green / player
Bradley / Lee / Draft pick
Rondo / TWilliams / player

That team can definitely compete for a title.

I don't disagree, but don't know how Dalembert (who I like) gets here.

If Pierce can bring in a top-level player that makes us a stronger team at the top, I have to look at it strongly, though.  I won't trade a year with Pierce/KG for a decade of the next #1 option.

[AshyLarry]

Sullinger may or may not fit that. We need a d-minded center next to him, or a bass at center small lineup (yuck), but I have a really good feeling that next year, if the big 2 return, that Garnett will get his backup. I wish we took Ezeli over Melo for the short term, but hey, there's always that slim chance Fabricio steps it up....

But in all seriousness, Danny better focus on that front court this summer. Barring some big trade, we have our backcourt set, and I'm weirdly comfortable with it; although I'm not too fond of Lee.

[KGs Knee]

Win or lose, this series proves to me KG and Pierce will be back next year, and in Celtic green.  Put a healthy Rondo on this roster, and we're a legit threat to the Heat.

Ainge likes to talk a 'good game' but he knows the best move is to just hold on to both.  Why make a move in the off-season that be put off until the trade deadline?

[manl_lui]

Win or lose, this series proves to me KG and Pierce will be back next year, and in Celtic green.  Put a healthy Rondo on this roster, and we're a legit threat to the Heat.

Ainge likes to talk a 'good game' but he knows the best move is to just hold on to both.  Why make a move in the off-season that be put off until the trade deadline?

this is always our reason to keep believing. Sadly, the injury bug has been biting us in the ass since 09. I do hope that we can draft or pick up another player that will actually put a threat to the Heat's title chances.

[ScoobyDoo]

I agree 100% about the injury bug being our biggest problem since '09 and I think, without a doubt that if we hadn't had a major injury to 1-2 players every year since '09, we'd have another 1-2 Banners hanging in the rafters.

Ditto on the back court. I am very comfortable with a point rotation of Rondo and TWill. I'd like to either trade Lee for a pure three point shooter or draft or sign one.

Really wanted Ezeli - thought he was a more athletic Perkins and would have been a great fit with KG. But Melo could still pan out in another 1-2 years, we'll see.

I've also heard that the best free agent class  in the near future is in 2014, not this summer. So if we can extend KG and Pierce one more year, pick up another good, young, draft pick rotation guy in this year's draft and then look to use our cap space in 2014 when KG and Pierce retire or simply come back for one last year at very minimal money.

Lastly, I've heard it's possible we could renegotiate Pierce's contract and as long as it's more than what's currently left we could stretch it out. Instead of next year at $15 mil and the last at $5, we could re-structure to three years at $7 mil... is that possible and if so, after other expiring small contracts, could we scrape anough together, something in the $10 mil range to entice a Josh Smith to Boston? Use the mid level on someone like Dalembert - just another legit 7 footer?

KG / Dally / Melo
Smith / Sully / Bass
Pierce / Green / Player
Bradley / Lee / Draft pick
Rondo / TWill / Player

That team can compete for a title - and it could be absolutely dominant even with the aging Pierce and KG.

When Kg and Pierce go, you've got -

Melo / Wilcox
Smith / Sully / Shavlik
Green / Player
Bradley / Draft pick
Rondo / TWill 

I could be completely off and I dont' know if Josh Smith would be the target, but, can we renegotiate / extend Pierce's contract?

I just don't think we're going to get incredible value for Pierce at this point. I don't think we could trade him for a lottery pick and/or get lottery level talent in return in a trade. Therefore, guive Pierce and KG a little more help and ride them for another year, stay competitive build your young core and then make a free agent splash in 2014.

     

[gpap]

We really need to stop pinning shortcomings on injuries.

Injuries are an excuse, not a reason to underachieve.

Every NBA team (every team in sports actually) encounters injuries.

What separates the good teams from the bad teams is how you deal with that adversity. It's also up to the GM to provide the team with proper depth so injuries won't even really affect you at all.

Simply saying we didn't do that well this year because we lost Rondo, Barbosa and Sully to injuries just doesn't cut it for me.

[gpap]

Win or lose, this series proves to me KG and Pierce will be back next year, and in Celtic green.  Put a healthy Rondo on this roster, and we're a legit threat to the Heat.

Ainge likes to talk a 'good game' but he knows the best move is to just hold on to both.  Why make a move in the off-season that be put off until the trade deadline?

Only way it can work is if we can land another impact player (Al Jefferson, Josh Smith, Dwight Howard, etc.)

I REALLY don't think a trio of Rondo recovering from a torn ACL, a 37 year old KG and a 36 year old Paul Pierce is going to get you anywhere, next year.

Only way we can make it work is if Paul and KG are complimentary pieces to the team, NOT the main pieces.

[ScoobyDoo]

Agreed, I'm not saying injuries are an excuse for us. They are a fact for us and I don't think any other team that has been a serious contender over the last five years has lost a top five or six player and/or a significant impact roster player every single season.

2009: KG
2010: We lose Perkins in "game six" of the finals. When was the last time a starting player has a season ending injury during the finals? I can't recall it.
2011: Rondo / Shaq
2012: Ray, Jeff Green, Wilcox and Avery bradley
2013: Rondo, Sully & Barbosa

It's nto an excuse, our incredibly bad luck with injuries is a fact and it certainly has affected our chances of raising titles to a consistently greater degree than other prime contenders over the last five years.

That being said, this team has shown great heart, character and success despite that unusually bad luck with injuries.
 

[ScoobyDoo]

Only way it can work is if we can land another impact player (Al Jefferson, Josh Smith, Dwight Howard, etc.)

I REALLY don't think a trio of Rondo recovering from a torn ACL, a 37 year old KG and a 36 year old Paul Pierce is going to get you anywhere, next year.

Only way we can make it work is if Paul and KG are complimentary pieces to the team, NOT the main pieces.

100 % agreed.

How is the question...