How comfortable are you building around Rajon Rondo?

[D.o.s.]

Question--Out of the current crop of possibly available NBA talent, how would you build the Celtics with Rondo?

Assuming that, like in 2008, you can get away with a pair of relatively unproven starters (Rondo + Perk in '08).

[CelticG1]

I've always said Rondo CANNOT be the best player on a Championship team.  That's just not possible because for as good as he is, he's also inconsistent and a bit of an enigma. 

  He came within a few minutes of doing it in 2010. I don't see how people can think it's impossible for a playerto  lead a team to a title when he's already gotten a team to game 7 of the finals. I don't even think it would be reasonable to say a player who can lead a team to game 7 of the conference finals could never lead a team to the finals.

This is true.  Although there are plenty of people who will argue (and can have a strong argument) that, despite the gaudy numbers for Rondo, Pierce or KG were more valuable to that team. 

Now, I think the strongest argument is that Rondo was the best player on the team, but the fact that you can make arguments for KG and Pierce gets to the bigger point.  Rondo CAN be the best player on a championship team.  But, he probably needs another 2 or 3 guys who are really close to as good as he is around him.

This is different than the handful of truly elite players, who I think can win a championship being head and shoulders above all of their teammates, as long as they have a balanced team behind them.

But it comes back to the same thing.  You can build around Rondo...but it's not easy.

I just don't really get it. Cant you say the same think about Pierce and Garnett. They needed each other and a 10 time all star ray allen among other bench players.

Is the question really is rondo a top 3 super star in the league?

Everyone needs a bunch of help. Its why Chris Paul hasn't done anything. Derrick Rose hasnt done much either. Russel Westbrook made it to the finals with a supposed person that can carry a team on his back and they got spanked.

Is the question "is rondo lebron james?" Cause if it is than its a no.

The question really is can Danny amd our team acquire players via trade or free agency and start to build a team with Rondo as a part of it. I mean, its gonna be hard for Danny to build a championship team no matter what with the lack of interst players habe in Boston anyway. I don't. See how subtracting Rondo that you would some how be able to acquire another superstar better than Rondo in the near or late future

[Chris]

I've always said Rondo CANNOT be the best player on a Championship team.  That's just not possible because for as good as he is, he's also inconsistent and a bit of an enigma. 

  He came within a few minutes of doing it in 2010. I don't see how people can think it's impossible for a playerto  lead a team to a title when he's already gotten a team to game 7 of the finals. I don't even think it would be reasonable to say a player who can lead a team to game 7 of the conference finals could never lead a team to the finals.

This is true.  Although there are plenty of people who will argue (and can have a strong argument) that, despite the gaudy numbers for Rondo, Pierce or KG were more valuable to that team. 

Now, I think the strongest argument is that Rondo was the best player on the team, but the fact that you can make arguments for KG and Pierce gets to the bigger point.  Rondo CAN be the best player on a championship team.  But, he probably needs another 2 or 3 guys who are really close to as good as he is around him.

This is different than the handful of truly elite players, who I think can win a championship being head and shoulders above all of their teammates, as long as they have a balanced team behind them.

But it comes back to the same thing.  You can build around Rondo...but it's not easy.

  No, it's not easy, but I've yet to hear of an easier plan that's likely to happen. You're more comfortable building around a top 5 player, but we've had one on our roster for about 1 year in the last 20+. In any case, if you look at the 2010 team KG (coming off of knee surgery) was probably a worse player than he was last year, Ray was a fringe all-star and PP was a little better. You need players like that if you're building around elite players, in fact LeBron needs to be playing with Wade and Bosh to get a team that far.

  If you look at the 2008 team Rondo struggled on offense and KG/PP/RA were able to carry us past top teams in spite of that. When Rondo's play dipped late in the 2010 playoffs those three guys just couldn't get it done. Getting the 2008 versions of those guys would be very hard, getting the 2010 versions (like a KG that gets you 14/7 and doesn't contend for any all-defense or all-nba teams) is quite a bit easier.

We are pretty much in agreement.  There is unlikely to be a better option. 

As for that 2010 team, I think its more complicated than that.  You are looking at the averages, but in reality, what they had were 4 elite players who could all be the best player on the floor any given night...but the three older ones could do it less frequently than they used to.

The incredible thing about that team is the way they managed to have someone step up nearly every game, and dominate.  Rondo was relatively steady, but then each game one of the Big 3 would step up to compliment him, in a manner that belied their age. 

While it is not that hard to find guys who can average what Pierce, KG, and Ray did in that playoff run, it is a little harder to find guys who can dominate games the way each of them did at times in that playoff run. 

[Chris]

See how subtracting Rondo that you would some how be able to acquire another superstar better than Rondo in the near or late future

This is the only question that is really relevant.  It is not whether you can build around Rondo or not.  It is whether you can trade Rondo for someone who would be better to build around.

And I have my doubts about that. 

[Moranis]

Very comfortable.

Why wouldn't I want to build around an All Star? Rondo just needs three things IMO to have a perfect team.

1.) A big (PF or C) who can hit midrange jumpers to play pick and pop with.

2.) A scoring wing. A guy who can create his own shots once the offense breaks down and who can shoot jumpers at a decent rate.

3.) A shooting wing who can park outside and hit threes consistently and if we're lucky, efficiently.

Give Rondo an open court to work with and a guy who can carry the offensive load with him, you have a great team that jells well. Of course it helps more if those three can do more things, such as defend, rebound at a high rate and stuff, but I think that's how you rebuild around a PG who can easily get to the basket and find open looks for his teammates. And I think with the assets that we have, we can find those players.

Yeah, I agree with you Yoki. I think it can be done but its eerily similar how the players you said compare to this eras "big 3"

1) Outside PF/C who can hit mid-range jumpers: Kevin Garnett

2) A scoring wing: Paul Pierce

3) A shooting wing who can park outside: Ray Allen

Is this what we're use to seeing? Or what Rondo really needs to be effective?

Those 3 things are basically what every title team of the last 25 or so years has (not a Rondo type player for the record).

  I'd say that title teams with wing players like PP and Ray are more the exception than the rule. If you can't name a decent amount of title teams that don't fit that mold you're not trying very hard.

Miami - James or Wade (wing scorer), Bosh the big, Miller/Chalmers/Allen the shooters. 

Dallas - Dirk the big, Marion/Terry the wing scorer, Terry/Kidd the shooters

LA - Gasol/Bynum the big, Kobe the wing, Fisher/Farmar the shooters

Boston - KG the big, PP the wing, Allen the shooter

San An - Duncan the big, Ginobli the wing (Parker helped here as well), Parker/Finley/Bowen the shooters

Miami - Shaq the big, Wade the wing, Posey the shooter

San An - Duncan/Ginobli/Horry

Detroit - Wallace"s"/Hamilton/Billups

San An - Duncan/Ginobli/Jackson

LA - Shaq/Kobe/Horry, Fisher, Fox (and Richmond for the first one)

San An - Robinson or Duncan/Elliot/Elie and Jackson

Chicago - Kukoc/Jordan or Pippen/Kerr and Harper

Houston - Dream/Drexler/Horry, Cassel, Smith, and Elie (maxwell instead of Drexler for the first one)

Chicago - Grant/Jordan or Pippen/Armstrong and Paxson


Do I need to keep going?  Now sure all of these don't need to be HOFer's especially the shooters but you do really need the big man.

[guava_wrench]

I am comfortable having Rondo on the team as we try to acquire more talent. The whole 'building around' idea is overblown. Al that matters is that Rondo can integrate effectively with superstars. He won't sink your team like Carmelo Anthony does to his teams.

With or without Rondo, we have to acquire serious talent to compete. Ditch Rondo and you are making it less likely to get multiple all stars (since you give away a sure all-star already in hand), but it could make it more likely that you get a superstar through the draft.

Either way, there are no guarantees.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Very comfortable.

Why wouldn't I want to build around an All Star? Rondo just needs three things IMO to have a perfect team.

1.) A big (PF or C) who can hit midrange jumpers to play pick and pop with.

2.) A scoring wing. A guy who can create his own shots once the offense breaks down and who can shoot jumpers at a decent rate.

3.) A shooting wing who can park outside and hit threes consistently and if we're lucky, efficiently.

Give Rondo an open court to work with and a guy who can carry the offensive load with him, you have a great team that jells well. Of course it helps more if those three can do more things, such as defend, rebound at a high rate and stuff, but I think that's how you rebuild around a PG who can easily get to the basket and find open looks for his teammates. And I think with the assets that we have, we can find those players.

Yeah, I agree with you Yoki. I think it can be done but its eerily similar how the players you said compare to this eras "big 3"

1) Outside PF/C who can hit mid-range jumpers: Kevin Garnett

2) A scoring wing: Paul Pierce

3) A shooting wing who can park outside: Ray Allen

Is this what we're use to seeing? Or what Rondo really needs to be effective?

Those 3 things are basically what every title team of the last 25 or so years has (not a Rondo type player for the record).

The question I have for Yoki and others like him and that is how do you go about acquiring those players with Rondo on the team?  That is why I am fully in the move Rondo camp, as I just don't see it as being possible in the next couple of seasons (which is when you have Rondo on the right side of 30 or at all since he can leave as a free agent in 2 seasons).

Don't we have about 4 first round picks in the next two years? A big expiring contract in Kris Humphries?

We have assets to land one or two of those guys. We also have young players who can very well develop into those players. Why do we have to move Rondo, who's an elite PG that not a lot of teams have. A player who showed he can take over games. We need to give him help, and we have assets to get him help (picks, expirings, Gerald Wallace, Jeff Green, young players with potential). It just makes it better if the players we acquire fits the style of helps Rondo maximize his skills.

If you think it can't be done in two seasons, then I disagree and think you're selling Danny Ainge GM abilities short. He turned the Celtics into champions in 2008 in one fell swoop with assets like what we have. I don't see why he cant do it again.

[Moranis]

Very comfortable.

Why wouldn't I want to build around an All Star? Rondo just needs three things IMO to have a perfect team.

1.) A big (PF or C) who can hit midrange jumpers to play pick and pop with.

2.) A scoring wing. A guy who can create his own shots once the offense breaks down and who can shoot jumpers at a decent rate.

3.) A shooting wing who can park outside and hit threes consistently and if we're lucky, efficiently.

Give Rondo an open court to work with and a guy who can carry the offensive load with him, you have a great team that jells well. Of course it helps more if those three can do more things, such as defend, rebound at a high rate and stuff, but I think that's how you rebuild around a PG who can easily get to the basket and find open looks for his teammates. And I think with the assets that we have, we can find those players.

Yeah, I agree with you Yoki. I think it can be done but its eerily similar how the players you said compare to this eras "big 3"

1) Outside PF/C who can hit mid-range jumpers: Kevin Garnett

2) A scoring wing: Paul Pierce

3) A shooting wing who can park outside: Ray Allen

Is this what we're use to seeing? Or what Rondo really needs to be effective?

Those 3 things are basically what every title team of the last 25 or so years has (not a Rondo type player for the record).

The question I have for Yoki and others like him and that is how do you go about acquiring those players with Rondo on the team?  That is why I am fully in the move Rondo camp, as I just don't see it as being possible in the next couple of seasons (which is when you have Rondo on the right side of 30 or at all since he can leave as a free agent in 2 seasons).

Don't we have about 4 first round picks in the next two years? A big expiring contract in Kris Humphries?

We have assets to land one or two of those guys. We also have young players who can very well develop into those players. Why do we have to move Rondo, who's an elite PG that not a lot of teams have. A player who showed he can take over games. We need to give him help, and we have assets to get him help (picks, expirings, Gerald Wallace, Jeff Green, young players with potential). It just makes it better if the players we acquire fits the style of helps Rondo maximize his skills.

If you think it can't be done in two seasons, then I disagree and think you're selling Danny Ainge GM abilities short. He turned the Celtics into champions in 2008 in one fell swoop with assets like what we have. I don't see why he cant do it again.

We had significantly better assets in 2007 and we also had a significantly better building block in Pierce. 

[LarBrd33]

Very comfortable.

Why wouldn't I want to build around an All Star? Rondo just needs three things IMO to have a perfect team.

1.) A big (PF or C) who can hit midrange jumpers to play pick and pop with.

2.) A scoring wing. A guy who can create his own shots once the offense breaks down and who can shoot jumpers at a decent rate.

3.) A shooting wing who can park outside and hit threes consistently and if we're lucky, efficiently.

Give Rondo an open court to work with and a guy who can carry the offensive load with him, you have a great team that jells well. Of course it helps more if those three can do more things, such as defend, rebound at a high rate and stuff, but I think that's how you rebuild around a PG who can easily get to the basket and find open looks for his teammates. And I think with the assets that we have, we can find those players.

Yeah, I agree with you Yoki. I think it can be done but its eerily similar how the players you said compare to this eras "big 3"

1) Outside PF/C who can hit mid-range jumpers: Kevin Garnett

2) A scoring wing: Paul Pierce

3) A shooting wing who can park outside: Ray Allen

Is this what we're use to seeing? Or what Rondo really needs to be effective?

Those 3 things are basically what every title team of the last 25 or so years has (not a Rondo type player for the record).

The question I have for Yoki and others like him and that is how do you go about acquiring those players with Rondo on the team?  That is why I am fully in the move Rondo camp, as I just don't see it as being possible in the next couple of seasons (which is when you have Rondo on the right side of 30 or at all since he can leave as a free agent in 2 seasons).

Don't we have about 4 first round picks in the next two years? A big expiring contract in Kris Humphries?

We have assets to land one or two of those guys. We also have young players who can very well develop into those players. Why do we have to move Rondo, who's an elite PG that not a lot of teams have. A player who showed he can take over games. We need to give him help, and we have assets to get him help (picks, expirings, Gerald Wallace, Jeff Green, young players with potential). It just makes it better if the players we acquire fits the style of helps Rondo maximize his skills.

If you think it can't be done in two seasons, then I disagree and think you're selling Danny Ainge GM abilities short. He turned the Celtics into champions in 2008 in one fell swoop with assets like what we have. I don't see why he cant do it again.

We had significantly better assets in 2007 and we also had a significantly better building block in Pierce.

I agree with this. And also... we're basically at the ground level of a rebuild.  We aren't comparing 2007 to 2013.  If anything we're comparing 2003 to 2013.   In 2003 when Ainge took over, he dumped Walker and started collecting assets.  Pierce was only 25.   Over the course of the next 5 years, Ainge collected assets and built around his young star... eventually pushing all of his chips in on KG and Ray. 

We just started the asset collecting phase again.  Rondo is going to be 28 this year.  In 5 years he'll be well past his prime.  Building around Rondo doesn't make a ton of sense.  This process is going to take a ton of time.  I think Rondo is going to be too old when this team is finally ready for action again.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Very comfortable.

Why wouldn't I want to build around an All Star? Rondo just needs three things IMO to have a perfect team.

1.) A big (PF or C) who can hit midrange jumpers to play pick and pop with.

2.) A scoring wing. A guy who can create his own shots once the offense breaks down and who can shoot jumpers at a decent rate.

3.) A shooting wing who can park outside and hit threes consistently and if we're lucky, efficiently.

Give Rondo an open court to work with and a guy who can carry the offensive load with him, you have a great team that jells well. Of course it helps more if those three can do more things, such as defend, rebound at a high rate and stuff, but I think that's how you rebuild around a PG who can easily get to the basket and find open looks for his teammates. And I think with the assets that we have, we can find those players.

Yeah, I agree with you Yoki. I think it can be done but its eerily similar how the players you said compare to this eras "big 3"

1) Outside PF/C who can hit mid-range jumpers: Kevin Garnett

2) A scoring wing: Paul Pierce

3) A shooting wing who can park outside: Ray Allen

Is this what we're use to seeing? Or what Rondo really needs to be effective?

Those 3 things are basically what every title team of the last 25 or so years has (not a Rondo type player for the record).

The question I have for Yoki and others like him and that is how do you go about acquiring those players with Rondo on the team?  That is why I am fully in the move Rondo camp, as I just don't see it as being possible in the next couple of seasons (which is when you have Rondo on the right side of 30 or at all since he can leave as a free agent in 2 seasons).

Don't we have about 4 first round picks in the next two years? A big expiring contract in Kris Humphries?

We have assets to land one or two of those guys. We also have young players who can very well develop into those players. Why do we have to move Rondo, who's an elite PG that not a lot of teams have. A player who showed he can take over games. We need to give him help, and we have assets to get him help (picks, expirings, Gerald Wallace, Jeff Green, young players with potential). It just makes it better if the players we acquire fits the style of helps Rondo maximize his skills.

If you think it can't be done in two seasons, then I disagree and think you're selling Danny Ainge GM abilities short. He turned the Celtics into champions in 2008 in one fell swoop with assets like what we have. I don't see why he cant do it again.

We had significantly better assets in 2007 and we also had a significantly better building block in Pierce.

I disagree.

Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Delonte West, Wally Szcerbiak, Theo Ratliff, Gerald Green (spelled that right?) the 5th pick.

Those are the guys we gave up to acquire Judas and KG.

These are the guys we have now.

Kris Humphries (expiring)
Gerald Wallace
Avery Bradley 
Jeff Green
Jared Sullinger
Brandon Bass
Jordan Crafword (technically an expiring)

we also have much more picks that are not 3 years ahead BTW than we had in 2007.

I can give Paul Pierce as a much better building block, but we have better assets. Assets has not only potential but has already shown they belong in an NBA court. We have picks, we are also lucky enough that the draft next year is deep, putting more value in the picks.

And It may be blasphemous to say, but I think Rondo is a as good a building block as Pierce. Rondo doesn't score 25 a game, but he could averages around 5 rebounds and 11 assists along with 13 points (shooting less shots). He does a lot of things like Pierce does, and makes his teammates better, if not then at least productive.

[KGs Knee]

Very comfortable.

Why wouldn't I want to build around an All Star? Rondo just needs three things IMO to have a perfect team.

1.) A big (PF or C) who can hit midrange jumpers to play pick and pop with.

2.) A scoring wing. A guy who can create his own shots once the offense breaks down and who can shoot jumpers at a decent rate.

3.) A shooting wing who can park outside and hit threes consistently and if we're lucky, efficiently.

Give Rondo an open court to work with and a guy who can carry the offensive load with him, you have a great team that jells well. Of course it helps more if those three can do more things, such as defend, rebound at a high rate and stuff, but I think that's how you rebuild around a PG who can easily get to the basket and find open looks for his teammates. And I think with the assets that we have, we can find those players.

Yeah, I agree with you Yoki. I think it can be done but its eerily similar how the players you said compare to this eras "big 3"

1) Outside PF/C who can hit mid-range jumpers: Kevin Garnett

2) A scoring wing: Paul Pierce

3) A shooting wing who can park outside: Ray Allen

Is this what we're use to seeing? Or what Rondo really needs to be effective?

Those 3 things are basically what every title team of the last 25 or so years has (not a Rondo type player for the record).

The question I have for Yoki and others like him and that is how do you go about acquiring those players with Rondo on the team?  That is why I am fully in the move Rondo camp, as I just don't see it as being possible in the next couple of seasons (which is when you have Rondo on the right side of 30 or at all since he can leave as a free agent in 2 seasons).

Don't we have about 4 first round picks in the next two years? A big expiring contract in Kris Humphries?

We have assets to land one or two of those guys. We also have young players who can very well develop into those players. Why do we have to move Rondo, who's an elite PG that not a lot of teams have. A player who showed he can take over games. We need to give him help, and we have assets to get him help (picks, expirings, Gerald Wallace, Jeff Green, young players with potential). It just makes it better if the players we acquire fits the style of helps Rondo maximize his skills.

If you think it can't be done in two seasons, then I disagree and think you're selling Danny Ainge GM abilities short. He turned the Celtics into champions in 2008 in one fell swoop with assets like what we have. I don't see why he cant do it again.

We had significantly better assets in 2007 and we also had a significantly better building block in Pierce.

I disagree.

Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Delonte West, Wally Szcerbiak, Theo Ratliff, Gerald Green (spelled that right?) the 5th pick.

Those are the guys we gave up to acquire Judas and KG.

These are the guys we have now.

Kris Humphries (expiring)
Gerald Wallace
Avery Bradley 
Jeff Green
Jared Sullinger
Brandon Bass
Jordan Crafword (technically an expiring)

we also have much more picks that are not 3 years ahead BTW than we had in 2007.

I can give Paul Pierce as a much better building block, but we have better assets. Assets has not only potential but has already shown they belong in an NBA court. We have picks, we are also lucky enough that the draft next year is deep, putting more value in the picks.

And It may be blasphemous to say, but I think Rondo is a as good a building block as Pierce. Rondo doesn't score 25 a game, but he could averages around 5 rebounds and 11 assists along with 13 points (shooting less shots). He does a lot of things like Pierce does, and makes his teammates better, if not then at least productive.

None of the asses we currently have are on the level of Al Jefferson (as he was in 2007).  Without an asset on that level it's hard to imagine pulling off a trade for a player like KG. 

[Celtics18]

Very comfortable.

Why wouldn't I want to build around an All Star? Rondo just needs three things IMO to have a perfect team.

1.) A big (PF or C) who can hit midrange jumpers to play pick and pop with.

2.) A scoring wing. A guy who can create his own shots once the offense breaks down and who can shoot jumpers at a decent rate.

3.) A shooting wing who can park outside and hit threes consistently and if we're lucky, efficiently.

Give Rondo an open court to work with and a guy who can carry the offensive load with him, you have a great team that jells well. Of course it helps more if those three can do more things, such as defend, rebound at a high rate and stuff, but I think that's how you rebuild around a PG who can easily get to the basket and find open looks for his teammates. And I think with the assets that we have, we can find those players.

Yeah, I agree with you Yoki. I think it can be done but its eerily similar how the players you said compare to this eras "big 3"

1) Outside PF/C who can hit mid-range jumpers: Kevin Garnett

2) A scoring wing: Paul Pierce

3) A shooting wing who can park outside: Ray Allen

Is this what we're use to seeing? Or what Rondo really needs to be effective?

Those 3 things are basically what every title team of the last 25 or so years has (not a Rondo type player for the record).

The question I have for Yoki and others like him and that is how do you go about acquiring those players with Rondo on the team?  That is why I am fully in the move Rondo camp, as I just don't see it as being possible in the next couple of seasons (which is when you have Rondo on the right side of 30 or at all since he can leave as a free agent in 2 seasons).

Don't we have about 4 first round picks in the next two years? A big expiring contract in Kris Humphries?

We have assets to land one or two of those guys. We also have young players who can very well develop into those players. Why do we have to move Rondo, who's an elite PG that not a lot of teams have. A player who showed he can take over games. We need to give him help, and we have assets to get him help (picks, expirings, Gerald Wallace, Jeff Green, young players with potential). It just makes it better if the players we acquire fits the style of helps Rondo maximize his skills.

If you think it can't be done in two seasons, then I disagree and think you're selling Danny Ainge GM abilities short. He turned the Celtics into champions in 2008 in one fell swoop with assets like what we have. I don't see why he cant do it again.

We had significantly better assets in 2007 and we also had a significantly better building block in Pierce.

I disagree.

Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Delonte West, Wally Szcerbiak, Theo Ratliff, Gerald Green (spelled that right?) the 5th pick.

Those are the guys we gave up to acquire Judas and KG.

These are the guys we have now.

Kris Humphries (expiring)
Gerald Wallace
Avery Bradley 
Jeff Green
Jared Sullinger
Brandon Bass
Jordan Crafword (technically an expiring)

we also have much more picks that are not 3 years ahead BTW than we had in 2007.

I can give Paul Pierce as a much better building block, but we have better assets. Assets has not only potential but has already shown they belong in an NBA court. We have picks, we are also lucky enough that the draft next year is deep, putting more value in the picks.

And It may be blasphemous to say, but I think Rondo is a as good a building block as Pierce. Rondo doesn't score 25 a game, but he could averages around 5 rebounds and 11 assists along with 13 points (shooting less shots). He does a lot of things like Pierce does, and makes his teammates better, if not then at least productive.

None of the asses we currently have are on the level of Al Jefferson (as he was in 2007).  Without an asset on that level it's hard to imagine pulling off a trade for a player like KG.

For the 2006 season, Al Jefferson averaged 7.9 PPG and 5.1 RPG in 18 minutes per game.  It was far from a given that he would become as valuable a player as he started to become during the 2006-2007 season. 

Let's see how Bradley, Sully, and Olynyk (and even El Hombre) do this year before we definitively decide we don't have any assets on the level of 2007 Al Jefferson. 

By the way, I love your typo in the first sentences.  Or, was that a typo?

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Very comfortable.

Why wouldn't I want to build around an All Star? Rondo just needs three things IMO to have a perfect team.

1.) A big (PF or C) who can hit midrange jumpers to play pick and pop with.

2.) A scoring wing. A guy who can create his own shots once the offense breaks down and who can shoot jumpers at a decent rate.

3.) A shooting wing who can park outside and hit threes consistently and if we're lucky, efficiently.

Give Rondo an open court to work with and a guy who can carry the offensive load with him, you have a great team that jells well. Of course it helps more if those three can do more things, such as defend, rebound at a high rate and stuff, but I think that's how you rebuild around a PG who can easily get to the basket and find open looks for his teammates. And I think with the assets that we have, we can find those players.

Yeah, I agree with you Yoki. I think it can be done but its eerily similar how the players you said compare to this eras "big 3"

1) Outside PF/C who can hit mid-range jumpers: Kevin Garnett

2) A scoring wing: Paul Pierce

3) A shooting wing who can park outside: Ray Allen

Is this what we're use to seeing? Or what Rondo really needs to be effective?

Those 3 things are basically what every title team of the last 25 or so years has (not a Rondo type player for the record).

The question I have for Yoki and others like him and that is how do you go about acquiring those players with Rondo on the team?  That is why I am fully in the move Rondo camp, as I just don't see it as being possible in the next couple of seasons (which is when you have Rondo on the right side of 30 or at all since he can leave as a free agent in 2 seasons).

Don't we have about 4 first round picks in the next two years? A big expiring contract in Kris Humphries?

We have assets to land one or two of those guys. We also have young players who can very well develop into those players. Why do we have to move Rondo, who's an elite PG that not a lot of teams have. A player who showed he can take over games. We need to give him help, and we have assets to get him help (picks, expirings, Gerald Wallace, Jeff Green, young players with potential). It just makes it better if the players we acquire fits the style of helps Rondo maximize his skills.

If you think it can't be done in two seasons, then I disagree and think you're selling Danny Ainge GM abilities short. He turned the Celtics into champions in 2008 in one fell swoop with assets like what we have. I don't see why he cant do it again.

We had significantly better assets in 2007 and we also had a significantly better building block in Pierce.

I disagree.

Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Delonte West, Wally Szcerbiak, Theo Ratliff, Gerald Green (spelled that right?) the 5th pick.

Those are the guys we gave up to acquire Judas and KG.

These are the guys we have now.

Kris Humphries (expiring)
Gerald Wallace
Avery Bradley 
Jeff Green
Jared Sullinger
Brandon Bass
Jordan Crafword (technically an expiring)

we also have much more picks that are not 3 years ahead BTW than we had in 2007.

I can give Paul Pierce as a much better building block, but we have better assets. Assets has not only potential but has already shown they belong in an NBA court. We have picks, we are also lucky enough that the draft next year is deep, putting more value in the picks.

And It may be blasphemous to say, but I think Rondo is a as good a building block as Pierce. Rondo doesn't score 25 a game, but he could averages around 5 rebounds and 11 assists along with 13 points (shooting less shots). He does a lot of things like Pierce does, and makes his teammates better, if not then at least productive.

None of the asses we currently have are on the level of Al Jefferson (as he was in 2007).  Without an asset on that level it's hard to imagine pulling off a trade for a player like KG.

The season hasnt started yet. We have the entire season to develop our players and get them better and raise their value better.

All I'm saying is outside of Jefferson, we have better assets, better draft pick value right now in 2007 so I don't see why can't we acquire top tier talents with what we have without giving up Rondo.

If Jeff Green turns into an 18 ppg scorer (which he can), Sullinger plays in a level that he did his rookie year (which he can also play better) and stays healhty, Bradley becomes an even better defender, and if Kelly Olynyk shows flashes of some potential (he also can), along with our picks that's already a plethora of young talent and potential to flip into an all star caliber player. That's just the four of them. We have a big expiring contract, veterans who are rotation guys that can help any team.

Isn't that what we did in 07? Showcase the talents that we have and flip it for established stars but leave the lone star (Pierce in that case, Rondo right now) that we have. I dont see why we can't do the same, especially now that we have better talent than before. Then it will be sweeter if the all star talent meshes well with Rondo's style of play.

And that TYPO (if it is) gets a TP from me as well.

[BleedGreen1989]

Yeah, I agree with Yoki.

Danny is in a much better spot now then he was last time. With 5 first round draft picks and the players he has drafted certainly trump West, Gomes, Jefferson, and #5.

I'm certainly not saying we MUST build around Rondo and I would certainly move him in the right deal, but when people say we absolutely can't, I just don't buy it.

[Rondohara]

100% comfortable. Rondo can't win a championship alone, but who can? And a team can't get that far with just Rondo as a star, but that doesn't mean you should just give your star away for the possibility of getting a star in the draft. Also, the Celtics don't have "just" Rondo now on the team, we have assets ( I also agree that they're better than 2007s) that could be used to acquire another very good player to place here.
We won't be getting a player better to build around then Rondo if not by the means of the draft, which will require luck (and I'm not talking about "luck" in the rigged lottery, I am talking about how the number 1 pick can end up being worse than the 2-5 or how a player picked in the 20s can be the best of a draft class). I wouldn't trade Rondo for that odd chance and suffer the risk of ending up stuck for 10 or 15 years straight(it's not like we can't get a future superstar level player in the draft and keep Rondo).