Give me your offseason plan...get creative but keep it realistic

[Geo123]

First you build around Green and Rondo (and I like Sullinger). 

Second you look into possibly trading Pierce and Garnett. Some of the possible teams are the Clippers, Bulls, Thunder and maybe the Rockets (I'm sure there are others). They are assets you don't just let them go especially when you're over the cap. 

Third I think you need to get rid of Lee or Jet and maybe Bass, but realistically you aren't getting Gibson for those guys.

You need a big and another shot maker as well as a backup PG.  Bradley is a 3rd guard. I would like to see Kaman or Big Al (which would have to be a sign and trade of some sort probably involving the Clippers and Bledsoe going to the Jazz plus filler)     

[LarBrd33]

It's tough for me, because I am leaning towards Bass, Lee and Terry being untradeable contracts at this point.  All three of them are below-average producers and they are being significantly over paid.

Bass has 2 years left at 6.9 million a season
Terry has 2 years left at 5.5 million a season
Lee has 3 years left at 5.5 million a season

That's a problem if you ask me.  I'd desperately try to dump all 3 of those guys.  You might have to give away 2nd round picks in order to get a team to take on their salary.

I'm also operating under the assumption that Kevin Garnett retires.

So...

#1 - Bass + Lee + Terry (16.8 million) to Brooklyn for Kris Humphries (1 year left on his deal at 12 million)

Explanation: Correctly me if I'm wrong, but a team can take back 150% salary, right?  I'm just looking for a poorly managed team that doesn't mind spending craploads of money.  Brooklyn fits the bill.  Humphries had a terrible year.  In the post-season he averaged 12 minutes.  Perhaps Brooklyn would like some rotation guys (Lee, Bass and Terry) who can solidfy their squad... for Boston it's a pure salary dump.  Humphries expires at the end of next season.  I don't care if he never plays a single game for us...  If we need to give them a 2nd rounder of Fab Melo to make it happen, do it.   Some variation of that.

#2 - Trade Paul Pierce to the Clippers for expiring contracts and a late 1st

Explanation:  This is a tough one.  We have to find a team willing to trade for Pierce (a playoff team who can use him) and apparently the best offers we were getting for Pierce at the deadline was the aforementioned garbage Kris Humphries.  Pierce makes 16.7 million next season... that's a large chunk of coin to match.  I think Caron Butler (8 mil) and Jamal Crawford (5 mil) are both expiring at the end of next season.  That + the Clippers 25th pick in this upcoming horrible draft would ABSOLUTELY be enough to get it done from our perspective....  But that's probably too much for the Clips to give up for a 36 year old Paul Pierce.  Crawford is a rotation guy.  Is it possible to sign-and-trade Lamar Odom for Pierce?  If so, Odom (garbage at this point) + that late 1st rounder for Pierce gets it done.

   
#3 - Rondo (12 mil) to the Bobcats for Ben Gordon (13 mil expiring) and either MKG and/or their lotto pick (projected #2)

Explanation:  Rondo's a top 10 point guard in this league, he's coming off major ACL surgery (he might not even come back next season), he's going to be 28 years old and he's not player you build a title around.  That said, he's a good player in his prime and the Bobcats are a horrendously managed team... perhaps we can sucker them into making the move.   Gordon has a player option... he's just the expiring contract... not the asset.  I'd either want 19 year old Michael Kidd-Gilcrest back as the asset... or their top pick in this draft.  It's projected #2... I'd take Nerlens Noel.  If we could get both MKG AND the pick for Rondo, I do backflips, but it's far more likely that Rondo has no where near the level of value to land EITHER of those guys.   Other issue:  The Bobcats already have a capable young PG in Kemba Walker. 

In fact, this is probably a no-go.  There doesn't seem to be a single team picking in the lotto that would actually want Rajon Rondo... they all have capable point guards already.  I'd work a deal with Orlando to get their pick, but they have Jameer Nelson.  I'd work a deal with the Pistons, but they have Brandon Knight and Calderon.  Suns have Dragic,  Cavs have Irving.  Wash has John Wall.  Ugh.  I'm sure all of those teams wouldn't mind having Rondo, but they aren't desperately seeking him.   Change of plans...

#3  Rondo to Utah for Marvin Williams (7.5 mil expiring) and Derrick Favors (6 mil) ...

Explanation:  I think I'm being way too optimistic here.  No way does Utah give up 21 year old Favors for 28 year old injured Rondo.  Favors is a bluechip prospect.  However, if they did... they could theoretically hang onto Al Jefferson have a core of Rondo, Millisap, Hayward and Big Al... could make a nice playoff run with that.   We might have to settle for Enes Kanter instead of Favors.

#4 - Jeff Green (9 mil) to Golden State for Andris Biedrins (9 mil expiring) and a future top-10 protected 1st rounder

Explanation:  Green's an excellent scorer.  Some playoff team would probably like to have him for depth.  Biedrins averaged 10 minutes this season... he's garbage.  Once again, this is a total salary dump.  Ask for a draft pick in return for Green.  Unfortunately, I don't think Golden State owns picks in the 2013 or 2014 draft... so this might have to be a protected 2015 pick.    Feel free to adjust this one... send Green anywhere where we can get an expiring contract and a 1st rounder (higher the better... most likely will not be a lotto pick, though)


#5 - Tank Tank Tank Tank Tank Tank Tank

Explanation:  We aren't going anywhere.  The above trades should land us a couple young assets and the foundation for a 15 win team.   The 2014 draft is looooaded.  There's a couple future all-stars in there and one bonified phenom (Andrew Wiggins) ... The above trades would also make it so that in the summer of 2014, we'd have basically the following under contract:

Bradley 3.5 mil, Sully 1.4 mil, Melo 1.3 mil, our 15th pick this year

+Whatever one asset we get for Rondo (Favors/Kanter/MKG/lotto pick) would = 5-6 mil

+2014 pick (top 5 if we tank)

+ whatever pick we get for Jeff Green.


Then in the summer of 2014, attack the free agent market with vigor.  RIDICULOUS AMOUNTS OF CAP SPACE in a Free Agent class headlined by LeBron James... we could sign multiple max contracts.  Granted, it's unlikely we would find anyone willing to come to Boston... but that much cap space gives you tons of trade flexibility as well.  Worst-case scenario, you completely strike out and continue to acquire young assets through the draft.  After 3-5 years of Lotto Hell, we'll probably luck into a couple young blue-chippers and develop into a young playoff team.   

That's the classic blueprint for building a dynasty.  Cap space and draft picks.  There might be ways to stick a bandaid on this team and be mediocre/competitive in the short-term (definitely NOT a championship contender), but if you have patience and do things the right way... you could build a team that can sustain success for a decade.  Durant and Bron are still in their 20s... their reign on the league isn't ending anytime soon.   Building around Rondo would be like scrapping together a team built around Rod Strickland in the Jordan era.  What's the point?

Side Note:  If KG insists on returning, I try desperately to move Lee + Bass + Terry + Sully + our 1st rounder (16th pick) (18.1 mil) to the Lakers for Pau Gasol (19.2 mil expiring), bring back everyone else and call it a day.  PG - Rondo, SG - Pierce, SF - Green, PF - KG, C - Pau Gasol ...  One last run.  /Fin

[LarBrd33]

1 .  trade PP for expiring and a pick, if not just buy him out

2. Let KG retire

3 Trade Terry, Lee,Bass for expirings

4 Build around Rondo,Green,Sully, Bradley

if we can do these things , we will have enough cap space to add a max contract in 2014 , and most likely have a high lottery pick in the deepest draft since 2003

I keep seeing this idea but is a team that starts Rondo, Bradley, Green, Sullinger, player x really going to be that bad? There are some awful teams in the NBA lol

Rondo might not return until later in the season... so yeah, that team probably wins 35 wins at most.  I'm more in favor of going a step further and dumping Green and Rondo for expiring contracts and draft picks (the higher the better) ... Frees up another 21 mil in cap space for the summer of 2014 and lets you build a foundation from the ground up... total tank mode.  I want top-5 picks... not late lotto picks.

[KJR]

We need a better starting 2, and an inside scoring and rebounding 5.

Get Al Jefferson and either Tyreke Evans or Eric Bledsoe.

Rondo/T-Will
Evans or Bledsoe/Bradley
Green/Pierce
KG/Sully
Jefferson/Bass

I think Jefferson is a free agent and wants to come to Boston.  If Utah will lose him for nothing, they'll possibly sign and trade him for less than full value.

The starting line-up above is young and athletic (except KG).  Jefferson and Sully solve our rebounding problems.  Jefferson will be a much better defender with KG beside him.  Pierce will be more effective with less minutes and a better defined role off the bench.  Green will be better with another year behind him in his recovery.  T-Will could develop into a great back-up point guard, who plays defense, rebounds and gets to the rim in transition.  Bradley will be much better as a back-up 2 guard.

It's a young team with enough scoring (Green, Jefferson, Bledsoe/Evans - 18/game; Rondo, KG, Pierce, Sully -12/game), enough rebounding and a very good bench.  The question mark would be if the starters can play good enough defense.

Our big problem was consistency due to injuries and age.  With KG and Pierce having more limited minutes (and not being the number 1 and 2 options), and with the same 10 guys in well-defined roles, the team would be much more consistent.  In that system, I think Jefferson, Bradley and T-Will would thrive.

So, the trick is getting a couple players of the caliber of Jefferson and Bledsoe/Evans here.  I don't know all the ins and outs of the salary caps, but I'm assuming there's a way.

If you can get those two players (or reasonable equivalents), then I'd bring back Pierce if he's willing to accept a well-defined role off the bench.  He could possibly still close games.

If you can't get a couple players like that then the team isn't going anywhere next year, and it would probably be better to trade Pierce and Garnett to the Clippers for the best deal you could get.  That way they get to finish their careers together, in LA, for a contending team.  After their disappointing finish, I'm sure the Clips would love to have both those guys to help get Paul and Griffin over the hump.

[BballTim]

  Get a healthy Rondo and Sully, bring back Green and KG. We need to add a center to split time with KG. Beyond that you need to look at whether you can get anything that will contribute in the draft or whether you can consolidate your assets. First decision is PP, either bring him back or trade him for a good player at the 2 or the 4. Also try and trade Bass and one of the sgs, probably for a better big, possibly for a good sg if you think you can flip PP for a 2 or if you want Green to be your backup pf. Green (and Rondo coming back) will lessen the load on PP, a decent big will lessen the load on KG. Our defense is still playing very well, if we'd have had Rondo for the playoffs I don't think the Knicks would have been that difficult to dispatch.

[BleedGreen1989]

We need a better starting 2, and an inside scoring and rebounding 5.

Get Al Jefferson and either Tyreke Evans or Eric Bledsoe.

Rondo/T-Will
Evans or Bledsoe/Bradley
Green/Pierce
KG/Sully
Jefferson/Bass

I think Jefferson is a free agent and wants to come to Boston.  If Utah will lose him for nothing, they'll possibly sign and trade him for less than full value.

The starting line-up above is young and athletic (except KG).  Jefferson and Sully solve our rebounding problems.  Jefferson will be a much better defender with KG beside him.  Pierce will be more effective with less minutes and a better defined role off the bench.  Green will be better with another year behind him in his recovery.  T-Will could develop into a great back-up point guard, who plays defense, rebounds and gets to the rim in transition.  Bradley will be much better as a back-up 2 guard.

It's a young team with enough scoring (Green, Jefferson, Bledsoe/Evans - 18/game; Rondo, KG, Pierce, Sully -12/game), enough rebounding and a very good bench.  The question mark would be if the starters can play good enough defense.

Our big problem was consistency due to injuries and age.  With KG and Pierce having more limited minutes (and not being the number 1 and 2 options), and with the same 10 guys in well-defined roles, the team would be much more consistent.  In that system, I think Jefferson, Bradley and T-Will would thrive.

So, the trick is getting a couple players of the caliber of Jefferson and Bledsoe/Evans here.  I don't know all the ins and outs of the salary caps, but I'm assuming there's a way.

If you can get those two players (or reasonable equivalents), then I'd bring back Pierce if he's willing to accept a well-defined role off the bench.  He could possibly still close games.

If you can't get a couple players like that then the team isn't going anywhere next year, and it would probably be better to trade Pierce and Garnett to the Clippers for the best deal you could get.  That way they get to finish their careers together, in LA, for a contending team.  After their disappointing finish, I'm sure the Clips would love to have both those guys to help get Paul and Griffin over the hump.

That all sounds great but how the hell do we land Bledsoe and/or Evans? Lol

[LarBrd33]

Sounds like Chris Paul might want out...

does anyone want to come up with a plan based around a Chris paul sign-and-trade for Rajon Rondo?

Paul wants to play with KG, right?

[eugen]

does anyone want to come up with a plan based around a Chris paul sign-and-trade for Rajon Rondo?

This is a great trade for Cs

[LarBrd33]

does anyone want to come up with a plan based around a Chris paul sign-and-trade for Rajon Rondo?

This is a great trade for Cs

Of course.  It qualifies under "total pipe dream".

Would be nice if Chris Paul decided he wanted to play in Boston, though...

If we're going that route, we might as well just say a Chris Paul sign-and-trade to Boston for Paul Pierce's expiring, draft picks, Bradley and sully... then move Rondo to the Lakers for a Dwight Howard sign-and-trade... build around CP3 and Dwight.   Kobe gets Rondo.  Pierce gets to play in LA.  Chris and Dwight get to play together (they've been wanting to for years)... Chris gets to play with KG.  Pipe dream complete.

[AB_Celtic]

One plan (of many) that has crossed my mind is to try to get a core three of Rondo, Green, and Jefferson. Here's how I would do it...

1. Bradley*, Bass, Terry, 16th pick for Jefferson (S&T ~12mil)
2. Let KG and Pierce retire.
3. Sign a legitimate backup PG like Jerryd Bayless or Beno Udrih for cheap.
4. Try to get a steal through the MLE (like Carl Landry or Emeka Okafor).
5. Pietrus.

Start the season with:

PG: Rondo / Bayless
SG: Lee / Crawford
SF: Green / Pietrus
PF: Jefferson / Sullinger
C: Okafor / Randolph

We won't be particularly good, but we've held on to our two most important young assets and added a new one in Jefferson. One more through the stacked 2014 draft and we have a young, talented team for the next 5 years.



* Thank goodness he had that dominant 4th quarter last night; I think it showed the kind of player he can be.

[lantinm]

1. Amnesty Pierce, so that his 15.3 million cap # will reduce our cap from 76 million to 61 million.
2. Garnett will most likely retire once that happens, so his 12.4 million cap # will reduce our cap figure to 48 million.
3. Trade the #16 pick and Avery Bradley to a team in the six through nine range (Sac, Det, Wash, Minny) and select Shabazz Muhammed.
4. Trade Courtney Lee and to the Wolves (they were rumored to be interested in him a few times this year) for Luke Ridnour and Dante Cunningham.  Since we'll be under the cap, we can absorb the 1.1 million difference.
5. Trade Jason Terry to OKC for Nick Collison, Thabeet, and Deandre Liggins.
6. Sign Josh Smith with the 12-14 mill in cap space to a five year - 70 mill deal.
7. Trade Jordan Crawford or offer cash for a pick in the 20's and select Tim Hardaway Jr.
8. Trade Fab Melo for a 2nd-round pick and select Myck Kabongo, Isaiah Canaan, or Nate Wolters

Starters -

C - Jared Sullinger
PF - Josh Smith
SF - Jeff Green
SG - Shabazz Muhammed
PG - Rajon Rondo

Bench (6-10)

C - Nick Collison
PF - Brandon Bass
SF - Terrance Williams
SG - Tim Hardwaway Jr.
PG - Luke Ridnour

Bench (11-15)

C - Hasheem Thabeet
PF - Shav Randolph
PF/SF - Dante Cunningham
SG/SF - DeAndre Liggins
PG - Wolters/Kabongo/Canaan

[BleedGreen1989]

1. Amnesty Pierce, so that his 15.3 million cap # will reduce our cap from 76 million to 61 million.
2. Garnett will most likely retire once that happens, so his 12.4 million cap # will reduce our cap figure to 48 million.
3. Trade the #16 pick and Avery Bradley to a team in the six through nine range (Sac, Det, Wash, Minny) and select Shabazz Muhammed.
4. Trade Courtney Lee and to the Wolves (they were rumored to be interested in him a few times this year) for Luke Ridnour and Dante Cunningham.  Since we'll be under the cap, we can absorb the 1.1 million difference.
5. Trade Jason Terry to OKC for Nick Collison, Thabeet, and Deandre Liggins.
6. Sign Josh Smith with the 12-14 mill in cap space to a five year - 70 mill deal.
7. Trade Jordan Crawford or offer cash for a pick in the 20's and select Tim Hardaway Jr.
8. Trade Fab Melo for a 2nd-round pick and select Myck Kabongo, Isaiah Canaan, or Nate Wolters

Starters -

C - Jared Sullinger
PF - Josh Smith
SF - Jeff Green
SG - Shabazz Muhammed
PG - Rajon Rondo

Bench (6-10)

C - Nick Collison
PF - Brandon Bass
SF - Terrance Williams
SG - Tim Hardwaway Jr.
PG - Luke Ridnour

Bench (11-15)

C - Hasheem Thabeet
PF - Shav Randolph
PF/SF - Dante Cunningham
SG/SF - DeAndre Liggins
PG - Wolters/Kabongo/Canaan

I like a few of your ideas but Sullinger would get abused at the 5 every night and we have 3 PF's and no C

[LarBrd33]

1. Amnesty Pierce, so that his 15.3 million cap # will reduce our cap from 76 million to 61 million.
2. Garnett will most likely retire once that happens, so his 12.4 million cap # will reduce our cap figure to 48 million.
3. Trade the #16 pick and Avery Bradley to a team in the six through nine range (Sac, Det, Wash, Minny) and select Shabazz Muhammed.
4. Trade Courtney Lee and to the Wolves (they were rumored to be interested in him a few times this year) for Luke Ridnour and Dante Cunningham.  Since we'll be under the cap, we can absorb the 1.1 million difference.
5. Trade Jason Terry to OKC for Nick Collison, Thabeet, and Deandre Liggins.
6. Sign Josh Smith with the 12-14 mill in cap space to a five year - 70 mill deal.
7. Trade Jordan Crawford or offer cash for a pick in the 20's and select Tim Hardaway Jr.
8. Trade Fab Melo for a 2nd-round pick and select Myck Kabongo, Isaiah Canaan, or Nate Wolters

Starters -

C - Jared Sullinger
PF - Josh Smith
SF - Jeff Green
SG - Shabazz Muhammed
PG - Rajon Rondo

Bench (6-10)

C - Nick Collison
PF - Brandon Bass
SF - Terrance Williams
SG - Tim Hardwaway Jr.
PG - Luke Ridnour

Bench (11-15)

C - Hasheem Thabeet
PF - Shav Randolph
PF/SF - Dante Cunningham
SG/SF - DeAndre Liggins
PG - Wolters/Kabongo/Canaan

Hello Perpetual mediocrity!  That team wins 25-38 games.

[Onslaught]

Whatever they do this place will be full of mad people who think they could do better.

[aporel#18]

First of all, NO to any nuke-like blow it up ideas wanting to trade every good player. No.

Pierce wants to play, we don't know about KG. I guess KG is retiring, and I'd love to see him as a bigmen coach for the Celtics. The only way to get value from KG retiring is trading him for a really bad contract and a pick, then he files retirement papers and saves the other team a ton of money and/or cap space. I've posted this several times, but this thread seems to be the right one. Trade KG to Orlando for Turkoglu+first round pick, or to Detroit for Charlie V.+Kyle Singler+future first round pick/multiple second round picks. Then sign him as a coach, he'll be worth every cent.

Pierce might want to be traded to a contender, or he could rework his contract to a team friendlier cap hit. Pierce + Bass to Chicago for Boozer + Rip Hamilton + the 2014 Bobcats first round pick. Chicago saves a year of Boozer salary, gets Gibson to start, Bass as a backup and Pierce is a huge upgrade over Rip as a 6th man type. The Bulls would get value for the Bobcats pick, which is top 10 protected in 2014, top 8 in 2015 and unprotected in 2016. That pick could be a potential #1 because the Bobcats are going to be so bad in 2014 and 2015 they could keep it due to protection. Then, next summer, with Pierce hitting FA, you sign him for the 2014-2015 season to try to get another ring.

If Pierce wants to rework his contract, he will need to rest a lot to prepare for 2014-2015, his last chance to win it all with the Celtics. Rondo and Sully should be recovering until after the All Star Break, if not more, pulling a David Robinson in 1997 kind of super tank season.

Bass/Lee/Jet contracts are not very movable, but if you get a good trade, you send them where they can help to win. Next season should be about building their value before the trade deadline, and the same goes for Green, Bradley, Melo and any young player we can get through trades/draft. This year's first round pick should be used on a high potential player(like Dario Saric) or a solid starter, preferably a big. The result of next season would be getting a lottery pick, hopefully into the top 5, but top 10 would be more realistic.

The Celtics could have a lot of options come the 2014 Draft, with a lottery pick of their own, maybe an Orlado first rounder, and maybe the Bobcats pick (though it would be better for 2016). Then, if the Chicago trade happened, they could package Boozer with another young player and a draft pick, and get an All Star player.
They could also be lucky and get a future star with their pick, but that's a lot less likely because potential doesn't always translate to stardom. But they'd be in a good position for the 2014-2015 season, in order to avoid becoming the Bobcats or Kings.

Total tank mode has been terrible for us, and next year the Raptors are getting Wiggins, like Cleveland in 2003. Stern/Silver are not that different.