Which players are good enough to shift the Celtics from rebuilding to reloading?

[LooseCannon]

This is not a question about whether or not any such players might actually become available.

The question is, what players on their current contracts, are good enough that if they should magically become available for trade, the Celtics should try to acquire them and shift from rebuilding mode to reloading?

Let's say the package you would have to give up is Kris Humphries (if his salary is need to match), either Jared Sullinger or Avery Bradley (but not both), one of MarShon Brooks or Jordan Crawford (both if necessary), and multiple first round picks.  And pretty much anyone other than Rondo is negotiable.

For example, if John Hollinger convinced the Grizzlies ownership that Zach Randolph should be traded because he is about to turn 32, would you be willing to trade Humphries, Sullinger, Brooks, and multiple first-round picks for Z-Bo if you also had a shot at trading Bass and a pick for a center like Marcin Gortat or Omer Asik?  That could result in a starting lineup of Rondo/Bradley/Green/Randolph/Gortat with a bench that includes Lee, Wallace, and Olynyk.

If you don't understand, this is my roundabout way of asking how many current players are "franchise" guys that you could pair with Rondo, because that's how I roll, but don't be surprised if some of the names that people come up with become available for a trade between now and next summer.

[Eja117]

To me they have to be young, on a fair contract, and very good. There aren't many of those and just about zero are available for trade.  Guys like Blake Griffin, maybe Kyrie Irving, Durant.

The only other guys are guys that make you an instant contender and past Bron I can't think of almost any.  CP3 maybe.  Maaayyybbee D Howard. Maybe.

But I just think one player paired with Rondo would be tough to suddenly be a contender.

That's why I'd rather focus on younger guys. I'd be ecstatic for some sort of Jonas V trade. Won't happen

[Boris Badenov]

I think it's a very good question.

If we are keeping Rondo in this scenario, obviously other PGs are out.

I'm also assuming that this would switch us into full "win now" mode, so getting a star at the tail end of his career would be OK.

My list would be:
Lebron
Durant
Harden
Carmelo
Steph Curry
Nowitzki
Marc Gasol
Kevin Love
Kobe (maybe)

The only unproven guys I would consider putting on the list are Anthony Davis, Drummond and Favors.

That's a pretty short list, particularly once you think about how many of those guys are available in reality.

But I think if you're adding one other major player to Rondo, it needs to be someone that good to move us into instant "filling out the roster and contending" mode.

While they are good players I don't think the Aldridges, Horfords, and Paul Georges of the world are quite good enough - unless you get two guys on that level.

This is why I think we have a fairly long road ahead of us - one that might include moving Rondo at some point.

[chambers]

I'd take Zeebo but We'd need a serious defensive center.
I'd move Avery+picks for him but we'd need Sully as his backup and a serious defensive center. Gortat is a good choice.
Tough to get Zeebo unless we gave them Humphries+2 first round picks.
Gortat could be had for Brooks+Bass I think.

Gortat
Zeebo
Green
Rondo

Need a pretty special shooting guard in there too. Not sure who we could get that would be good enough to make us a true contender.

[JBcat]

Sullinger, multiple 1st round picks, expiring a for a 32 year Z-Bo that still won't make us good enough to contend.  No thanks.  We would be stuck in mediocre land if we did that.

[LooseCannon]

Sullinger, multiple 1st round picks, expiring a for a 32 year Z-Bo that still won't make us good enough to contend.  No thanks.  We would be stuck in mediocre land if we did that.

Then my question is: who is good enough to turn the Celtics into a contender?

[Moranis]

I don't think it is possible without trading Rondo because he is the one player that has enough value to get the return required.  Now maybe at the trade deadline some teams will lower the value of their players enough where a trade or two are possible, but I can't see it happening before then without also moving Rondo (which then defeats the purpose of the trade).

[EDWARDO]

That ZBo cocktail your cooking up is going to make everyone sick. Especially Celtics fans. Disastrous trade. He's got MAYBE 2-3 good years left and you've made us the 5th best team in the 2nd best conference with 0.0000% chance of winning anything. Terrible idea.

[EDWARDO]

Answer to the question in the subject line is SSSOOO OBVIOUS:

Wiggins, Parker, Randle...

[JBcat]

Sullinger, multiple 1st round picks, expiring a for a 32 year Z-Bo that still won't make us good enough to contend.  No thanks.  We would be stuck in mediocre land if we did that.

Then my question is: who is good enough to turn the Celtics into a contender?

I really don't think we have enough assets just yet/combined with available franchise players to go that route.  Sully might just be as good as Randolph in a year or 2 as Randolph approaches 35, and Sully approaches 25.   I think Ainge needs to be patient, consider this a lost year, see what transpires next year in the draft, and go from there.  Plus I wouldn't want to give up any of our future firsts unless if its a slam dunk especially not really knowing just how valuable the Nets picks and our own will be. 

[LooseCannon]

Sullinger, multiple 1st round picks, expiring a for a 32 year Z-Bo that still won't make us good enough to contend.  No thanks.  We would be stuck in mediocre land if we did that.

Then my question is: who is good enough to turn the Celtics into a contender?

I really don't think we have enough assets just yet/combined with available franchise players to go that route.  Sully might just be as good as Randolph in a year or 2 as Randolph approaches 35, and Sully approaches 25.   I think Ainge needs to be patient, consider this a lost year, see what transpires next year in the draft, and go from there.  Plus I wouldn't want to give up any of our future firsts unless if its a slam dunk especially not really knowing just how valuable the Nets picks and our own will be.

My question isn't who can the Celtics realistically acquire, it is who would be good enough to justify reloading rather than rebuilding if the Celtics could make a magical, unrealistic trade to acquire him?

[BleedGreen1989]

Sullinger, multiple 1st round picks, expiring a for a 32 year Z-Bo that still won't make us good enough to contend.  No thanks.  We would be stuck in mediocre land if we did that.

Then my question is: who is good enough to turn the Celtics into a contender?

Wouldn't turn us into a contender but I would absolutely love to see Klay Thompsan play next to Rajon Rondo.

[KGs Knee]

I wonder if Melo could be tempted to come to Boston, or if Boston fans would even want him?

[RLewis35]

Removing guys that just won't happen for one reason or another (Durant, LBJ, Harden, Howard, CP3, etc.):

I think we'd need 2 of these guys...unless 2 of Jeff Green, KO, or Sullinger becomes a borderline allstar (and is not included in a deal)

Need 1 of:

LaMarcus Aldridge
Kevin Love
Al Horford
Marc Gasol
Marcin Gortat
DeMarcus Cousins

Need 1 of:

Luol Deng
Danilo Gallinari
Kobe
Rudy
Nic Batum
Wiggins
Parker
Randle

So I forsee a contending team as one that is something like Rondo, Bradley, Green, Gallinari, Aldridge...and even then it may be enough to win a title.  Just hard to see where we could get a top 10 player from on top of Rondo like we did with Garnett...unless LBJ is willing to sign with us in the offseason for some crazy reason.  Or the Lakers do something monumentally stupid to offend Kobe next year and he wants to get them back by getting the Celtics their 18th title (it is more likely you will see Ray, KG, Pierce AND Doc all back on our team next year than Kobe, IMO, but thats how crazy we're talking...

[RLewis35]

I wonder if Melo could be tempted to come to Boston, or if Boston fans would even want him?

No thanks.  Pass (something Melo never does).