So, for me, a team of Rondo/Green/David Lee/Smith is every bit the team and even better than the one we had last year.
G - Rondo, (backup PG)
G - Bradley, Lee
F - J.Green, G.Wallace
F - Josh Smith, G.Wallace
C - David Lee, (defensive big)
I guess Sully would the main piece of the package going to GSW. With Bass and Bogans as cap makeweights. And a first round pick which I think would be necessary with Bass' non-expiring contract. Then Humphries + 1/2 firsts for Josh Smith in a sign and trade.
That would be a pretty interesting team. David Lee would be very vulnerable defensively at the five spot but the combined defensive strength one through four is very impressive. Maybe strong enough to live with Lee's defensive flaws??
The offense would be wide open with David Lee's high post play at the five spot. His long range shooting, high post passing and dribble drive threat would provide great floor spacing for everyone else. An even greater threat than KG has been these last few years. It would be very difficult to contain Rondo's playmaking.
Bring in a strong defensive big to play behind Lee. Someone good enough to play longer minutes where necessary. If they can't find a suitable trade, Kwame Brown looks the strongest cheap FA option.
A JJ Barea or Will Bynum as backup PG. Maybe split the MLE between W.Bynum and Kwame.
Is that a title contender? Does it have the upside to become a title contender down the road?
First reaction is no. Second reaction is that the team would be better than I had first given it credit for being. Still it is probably more of a strong regular season team (55 win team?) than a team built for playoff success.
I don't see a lot of upside to it.
** I guess whatever upside (internal development) is there will come from A.Bradley and J.Green.
** Neither Josh Smith or David Lee are / will be particularly attractive trade assets.
** They will have had to auction off one of their best prospects (Sully) and 3-4 first round picks to bring J.Smith + D.Lee here so that takes quite a few assets off the table.
** Boston would be too good a team to earn high draft picks themselves so large upgrades unlikely to come from there.
** Gerald Wallace and David Lee both already 30. Looks like G-Wallace has already started to have significant decline.
** Limited cap flexibility.
** Possibly just restarting where they are now 2-3 years down the road when G-Wallace's and D-Lee's contracts come off the books only now Rondo is 30 years old and there is an even shorter window to build a title contender around him.
If you are high enough on Avery and J.Green, maybe it is a worthwhile risk. I am not though. Still in a wait and see mode with Avery. Not a believer in Jeff.
I wouldn't do it. Those trades to acquire D.Lee + J.Smith.
If it happened though, I think I would really enjoy watching that group of players play together. Looks like a fun team to follow.