My thoughts on Ainge's next move

[rondoallaturca]

We already have Rondo and Green. Team-friendly contracts of this caliber simply just don't grow on trees. If we trade one or both of them, there's no way we get even value in return. Even if we land an elite level player in next year's draft, that player still needs to at the very least get pro level experience. It'd take us around 3-5 years at the very least to get competitive again, and that's just playoff competitive, not championship competitive. Retooling with Rondo and Green would get us to that same place in just 2-3 years.

So, what am I saying? Ainge is smart. He takes risks, but smart, calculated risks. I'm fairly sure he knows this dilemma with Rondo and Green right now, and that's why I think he makes the smart decision and keeps them. Olynyk was our draft pick this year, and he's one of the most NBA-ready players among the rookies this year. If Ainge were truly looking to the future, wouldn't he have gotten a much higher upside player who we'd be fine with developing the next few tank years? Shabazz, Giannis, Schroeder, Gobert... all of them were on the board and they unquestionably have far higher ceilings than Olynyk, but we stuck with him.

All the assets we're collecting, it's not so Ainge will put together the next Oklahoma City Thunder. He's looking to make the next Allen/KG trade splash, and it's happening soon. Maybe not necessarily this offseason, but the next. We already know LMA is disgruntled. Minnesota is not going anywhere and Love's already asked to get out once. I don't know who we're getting or when we're getting them, but Ainge is too smart to risk throwing away everything we have right now, especially when the reward doesn't justify the risk. Hopefully, the Olynyk pick demonstrates this.

EDIT: What about Wallace? He has a stretch provision that allows us to waive him and pay him over 7 years. For the duration of the contract, we save about $6M cap space, and for the years after the contract, he'd take about a $4M cap hold each year until the 7 years are up. It's worth it if the assets we netted acquire us a dominant player or two.

[LGC88]

It looks like it to me. Same pattern before bringing 2 big names. He has some picks and assets to do that in 2014-15.
Rondo has to be the captain, I hope he gets it and will take responsibility as a celtic to make history.

[paidthecost2betheboss]

We already have Rondo and Green. Team-friendly contracts of this caliber simply just don't grow on trees.

Agreed.

I'd like to note however, if you had described Greens contract like that last March it mighta been legal to burn you at the stakes and dance around you..... according to CB rules.

Time....changes everything.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I would like to remind you to not blink, because you might miss Ainge trading Rondo.

And if that happens, I will be absolutely disgusted.

[tarheelsxxiii]

I would like to remind you to not blink, because you might miss Ainge trading Rondo.

And if that happens, I will be absolutely disgusted.

No wonder you have so many TPs

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I would like to remind you to not blink, because you might miss Ainge trading Rondo.

And if that happens, I will be absolutely disgusted.

No wonder you have so many TPs

Ha ha. I got the TP's from the CB Draft, most of it came from there.

But going back, I would be really disgusted if Danny unloads Rondo just to get a top 5 pick in this coming draft.

I understand that there is superstar potential in there, heck, I'm in love with Julius Randle's game already, but the last thing Danny should do is get this superstar by using most of the assets we have and in turn may not have anymore to give this Superstar any help.

I already said this, assuming that we have atleast a pick at around 8-12, I for one would rather have Rondo, Green, Mitch McGary (who I believe is not a superstar but will be an excellent NBA player) and use whatever assets we have left in providing this core with more help (another near all star talent and a very good bench) instead of using most if not all our assets to acquire a top three pick who will be a Superstar but will not have any supporting cast in the next few years.

Everyone can make the case that we have so many assets that we can surround this superstar with a supporting cast, I can also make a case that we have a very good core already use those assets to acquire more than one non superstars but very good talent and a very solid bench. We'll have a much better team.

[rondoallaturca]

We already have Rondo and Green. Team-friendly contracts of this caliber simply just don't grow on trees.

Agreed.

I'd like to note however, if you had described Greens contract like that last March it mighta been legal to burn you at the stakes and dance around you..... according to CB rules.

Time....changes everything.

Lol, so very true. The thing is, even after regaining his confidence in the second half of the season, he still did so many things that absolutely p---ed me off. He'd only drive right. He'd drive with his head down. Most importantly, HE JUMPS FOR EVERY Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.N PUMP FAKE. It could be Shaq pump faking from the halfcourt line and he'd still bite. However, the potential he demonstrated is enormous, and in today's quick, hyperathletic NBA, $9M/yr for him is pretty solid.

[cman88]

what danny needs to do is just develop the assets that we DO have into something of value and trade that asset for a disgruntled superstar who wants out of town...say Kevin Love wants out in a year..

just tanking and hoping you land the next Duncan isnt the best route necessarily to go. Danny knows that considering how we missed out on the Durant AND duncan sweepstakes.

not to mention how many times you see teams who bottom out, FIND their superstar but then their star leaves just a few years later because the team around them is sooo bad due to the fact that they were horrible for so long to get that superstar

[blink]

what danny needs to do is just develop the assets that we DO have into something of value and trade that asset for a disgruntled superstar who wants out of town...say Kevin Love wants out in a year..

just tanking and hoping you land the next Duncan isnt the best route necessarily to go. Danny knows that considering how we missed out on the Durant AND duncan sweepstakes.

not to mention how many times you see teams who bottom out, FIND their superstar but then their star leaves just a few years later because the team around them is sooo bad due to the fact that they were horrible for so long to get that superstar

This is absolutely how I feel.  The last paragraph especially. TP!

[Celtics4ever]

Bass, is the guy I see us moving.    DA did not mention him in our plans, in the interview.  So I think he could be moved.  I AB will be used to sweeten any deal for Bass but we will see maybe some of those picks could be used as well.   I think Pressey is a better backup PG than Bradley and I think Bradley is not a pure PG.   He is a great defender though and maybe we keep him.

I think he would like to build off Green and Rondo, you add a lottery pick to that and you have start.   Bradley is a flawed but nice player.   Sully is a nice guy to have on your team.   

Will we trade for Smith?  Stay tuned.

[rondoallaturca]

Bass is the guy I see us moving.    DA did not mention him in our plans, in the interview.  So I think he could be moved.

I think he would like to build off Green and Rondo, you add a lottery pick to that and you have start.   Bradley is a flawed but nice player.   Sully is a nice guy to have on your team.   

Will we trade for Smith?  Stay tuned.

+1. Great post.

There is no place for Bass to be on a rebuilding team. He doesn't have any untapped potential, and the player he is now is the best he's going to get. He's an excellent piece for a contending team given his mid-range talents and his consistency, but it just doesn't make sense to keep him around in Boston.

Keeping around Green, Rondo, Bradley, and Sullinger is exactly the right move we should make. I don't think we should be trading for Smith, but we should absolutely be looking to make a splash via trade or free agency. The draft is a great way to acquire cheap talent, but it's not what our main focus should be right now.

[ChefEricT]

I 100% agree.  There is more to come.  I feel like Danny is going to pull something out of his rear end that we weren't expecting. 

How about sending Bradley, Kris Humphries exp contract and a future pick or 2 to Portland for Aldridge.
Then send Marshon Brooks, Sullinger, Lee, Bass and picks to New Orleans for Eric Gordon.

Quick "rebuild" around a new Big 4 of Rondo, Green, Gordon and Aldridge.  Green and Aldridge's versatility allows lots of possibilities for the 5th person on the court.

[LooseCannon]

what danny needs to do is just develop the assets that we DO have into something of value and trade that asset for a disgruntled superstar who wants out of town...say Kevin Love wants out in a year..

A top 5 draft pick in 2014 could be used for that purpose.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I'd be tempted by getting my hands on J. J. Redick (full MLE or sign-and-trade should do it no?) somehow and I'd entertain the thought of acquiring Josh Smith.

Then it's a matter of cleaning up our surplus and solidifying our center position with someone cheap, and I wouldn't be opposed to the idea of bringing back Chris Wilcox for another year, though his injury proneness is a big concern. But I'm not too worried about another option at this juncture.

Rondo
Redick - Bradley - Lee (may be moved)
Green - Wallace
Smith - Sully
Wilcox? - Olynyk

I'm kinda intrigued by a roster with something akin to the above make-up.

[BASS_THUMPER]

i wanna see ainge top me seeing the front page of The New York Post with Paul and Kevin in Brooklyn jerseys

that was tuff for me.
seeing that made me wanna
*sip*