Give me your best non-tanking rebuilding plan!

[Jailan34]

Somehow we get Jabari Parker through trade.  He is a winner.

Even when Durant was the second place prize I don't think I've hoped a guy would end up in green more than I hope Parker ends up in Boston. Bill Simmons (I think) summed it up well by saying, 'He looks like Carmelo Anthony, if he was fun to play with'.

I just think Parker's game translates perfectly to the nba. He's big enough to get his shot off, has the skills to create his own shot, and is a competent shooter from everywhere on the floor. He battles on the boards as well.

He even showcased his post fade in a game I saw him in recently, the dude just is a scoring machine.

[PhoSita]

I'd prefer Josh Smith to Melo. Younger, cheaper, likely more attainable. I'm just not fully convinced that Dumars won't decide to pull the plug on the experiment in Detroit.

Part of me thinks Ainge should go after Asik, and part of me thinks that a leaner, faster option at center would be preferable.

The problem I have with Smith is the same one I have with Rondo, or Andre Iguodala.

I love Smith as a 2nd or 3rd star on a team where he only needs to score 15-16 points a night and otherwise do some crazy stuff all across the box score and basically be a weird hybrid of two or three different positions.

I'd rather not put all my money on Rondo and Smith, unless the third guy is a scorer like Paul Pierce in his prime.

[Lucky17]

I'd prefer Josh Smith to Melo. Younger, cheaper, likely more attainable. I'm just not fully convinced that Dumars won't decide to pull the plug on the experiment in Detroit.

Part of me thinks Ainge should go after Asik, and part of me thinks that a leaner, faster option at center would be preferable.

The problem I have with Smith is the same one I have with Rondo, or Andre Iguodala.

I love Smith as a 2nd or 3rd star on a team where he only needs to score 15-16 points a night and otherwise do some crazy stuff all across the box score and basically be a weird hybrid of two or three different positions.

I'd rather not put all my money on Rondo and Smith, unless the third guy is a scorer like Paul Pierce in his prime.

Can't say I disagree. In my pipe dream, Ainge would somehow acquire Smith for expirings, draft picks, and either a prospect or additional financial relief. In other words, he'd be able to keep Green, and 2014 1st rounder(s), one of whom would become another scoring threat.

Rondo/Bradley/Green/Smith as the core, plus the 2014 rookie(s). Find a cheap defensive center, maybe one in the raw (Ezeli, Dieng, Udoh).

I just think Melo would break the bank/expend too many assets, and not provide much of a window of opportunity.

[indeedproceed]

Somehow we get Jabari Parker through trade.  He is a winner.

Even when Durant was the second place prize I don't think I've hoped a guy would end up in green more than I hope Parker ends up in Boston. Bill Simmons (I think) summed it up well by saying, 'He looks like Carmelo Anthony, if he was fun to play with'.

I just think Parker's game translates perfectly to the nba. He's big enough to get his shot off, has the skills to create his own shot, and is a competent shooter from everywhere on the floor. He battles on the boards as well.

He even showcased his post fade in a game I saw him in recently, the dude just is a scoring machine.

He also has 'old man game'. Like Pierce, Melo, Brandon Roy...if you look too close, you think , 'he's not that athletic', but if you look closer you realize, he just knows what he's doing with it better than anyone else he's playing against , plus he's way stronger than you thought he was.

[Jailan34]

As much as I love Parker to get this thread back on track since I didn't include my own plan I'll give it here.

Even if the Celtic's don't tank I still feel we need to build through the draft first, and free agency later on. To me this means packaging our players with our many picks to move up significantly in the draft.

The only problem with that is I don't believe a team trades out of the top three for anything less than Rondo plus a pick or two. If we're trading for a pick post lottery, as in we know its top 3 I'd be okay with this. I just feel like our team currently doesn't have that superstar talent/player needed to compete at the highest level in this league. Also Rondo is in his prime and if we're full on rebuilding by the time we're contending he'll be in his thirties.

Once we get the player, assuming he pans out which with this top 3 is a safe bet imo, I'd then move onto free agency and surrounding what is left over (top 3 pick, sully,AB,oylnk) with a veteran free agent who could bring some leadership. I'd like to mirror the signing IND made with West if at all possible.

So that's what i would do, try my best to trade up, pick up one of these studs and as early as next season worry about getting as many wins as possible and developing the young guys.

[More Banners]

The draft is a triple-lottery:  First, getting the pick; second, picking the right guy; and third, hoping he doesn't hurt anything and transitions well.

Those are not good odds.

Unless we deal somebody, we let our expirings expire, or buy out to make a longshot run this year.

Our roster includes top-level players at multiple positions, with some out of role at present.  We need to fix that by adding the right missing pieces:  Rondo, a defensive anchor, and a closer (aka Rondo, Pierce, and KG).

Our assets include a $10M TPE to sign a FE or take in trade.  That's David West/Okafor level money, so one hole can be filled without the need for pixie dust or fairy tale trade scenarios.  We could, perhaps, sign Gortat for that this offseason if we're very, very lucky, or someone on the level of Ty Chandler or Okafor.

If Rondo can have the ball in the closing play, adding the big takes us easily to the Indy level, or close.

Crawford leads a potent bench with Bradley (or Lee), Wallace, Bass, and KO.  That's going to be potent against any opponent (though expensive).

We stil won't be over the tax line in this case in 2014-15.

We just need a scoring guard, even a Joe Johnson.  The other spots are well filled.  We could trade pretty much any bench player plus our plethora of picks.

So that's my plan:  get a veteran big with the TE, and either trade or use picks (preferably trade if not a top-5/10 or is a future pick),  for a scorer, pref a SG. 

Keep Rondo, Green, Sully as starters.  Keep Bradley/Wallace as bench defensive presence to play along present and future younger players, like KO.  Perhaps keep Crawford off the bench behind RR.

Now, if a transcendent all-NBA player becomes available, then all bets are off. 

[PhoSita]

The draft is a triple-lottery:  First, getting the pick; second, picking the right guy; and third, hoping he doesn't hurt anything and transitions well.

Those are not good odds.

It's important to note that two out of the three things you mentioned apply to varying degrees to any other method of acquiring a player.  You have to pick the right guy, and then hope that you get lucky in terms of injuries, fitting with teammates, and the general aging process.

The draft also has a major advantage over free agency and trades in that it does not require negotiation.  The player you target need not be especially enamored of Boston, nor do you need a willing trade partner who is interested in players you have on your roster.

If you pick well in the draft, the players you get will also give you a great deal of value relative to the amount of money you have to pay them.  That's why building your roster through draft picks rather than free agency gives you a lot more cap flexibility.


Building a really good team requires a GM to make use of all three avenues of acquisition -- the draft, trades, and free agency.  Because the latter two require a team to already have some good things to offer in the form of location, a winning environment, and promising young players, it makes more sense to start building a foundation via the draft.

[chambers]

The draft is a triple-lottery:  First, getting the pick; second, picking the right guy; and third, hoping he doesn't hurt anything and transitions well.

Those are not good odds.

Unless we deal somebody, we let our expirings expire, or buy out to make a longshot run this year.

Our roster includes top-level players at multiple positions, with some out of role at present.  We need to fix that by adding the right missing pieces:  Rondo, a defensive anchor, and a closer (aka Rondo, Pierce, and KG).

Our assets include a $10M TPE to sign a FE or take in trade.  That's David West/Okafor level money, so one hole can be filled without the need for pixie dust or fairy tale trade scenarios.  We could, perhaps, sign Gortat for that this offseason if we're very, very lucky, or someone on the level of Ty Chandler or Okafor.

If Rondo can have the ball in the closing play, adding the big takes us easily to the Indy level, or close.

Crawford leads a potent bench with Bradley (or Lee), Wallace, Bass, and KO.  That's going to be potent against any opponent (though expensive).

We stil won't be over the tax line in this case in 2014-15.

We just need a scoring guard, even a Joe Johnson.  The other spots are well filled.  We could trade pretty much any bench player plus our plethora of picks.

So that's my plan:  get a veteran big with the TE, and either trade or use picks (preferably trade if not a top-5/10 or is a future pick),  for a scorer, pref a SG. 

Keep Rondo, Green, Sully as starters.  Keep Bradley/Wallace as bench defensive presence to play along present and future younger players, like KO.  Perhaps keep Crawford off the bench behind RR.

Now, if a transcendent all-NBA player becomes available, then all bets are off.

Who are our top level players at multiple positions?
Rondo is the only guy on our roster in the top 25. I doubt Green is even in the top 50 players in the NBA.

Sorry but that entire post was written by someone with a dis-taste for the lottery. It's cool if you don't like the lottery- but don't make things up to support your argument or it's pointless.

[BleedGreen1989]

Somehow we get Jabari Parker through trade.  He is a winner.

Even when Durant was the second place prize I don't think I've hoped a guy would end up in green more than I hope Parker ends up in Boston. Bill Simmons (I think) summed it up well by saying, 'He looks like Carmelo Anthony, if he was fun to play with'.

I just think Parker's game translates perfectly to the nba. He's big enough to get his shot off, has the skills to create his own shot, and is a competent shooter from everywhere on the floor. He battles on the boards as well.

He even showcased his post fade in a game I saw him in recently, the dude just is a scoring machine.

He also has 'old man game'. Like Pierce, Melo, Brandon Roy...if you look too close, you think , 'he's not that athletic', but if you look closer you realize, he just knows what he's doing with it better than anyone else he's playing against , plus he's way stronger than you thought he was.

Yeah I have wanted Parker over Wiggins since watching them both play opening night.

I also had no idea he was so big. He's listed somewhere around 6'8 240. Just insane with his skill level...

[More Banners]

The draft is a triple-lottery:  First, getting the pick; second, picking the right guy; and third, hoping he doesn't hurt anything and transitions well.

Those are not good odds.

It's important to note that two out of the three things you mentioned apply to varying degrees to any other method of acquiring a player.  You have to pick the right guy, and then hope that you get lucky in terms of injuries, fitting with teammates, and the general aging process.

The draft also has a major advantage over free agency and trades in that it does not require negotiation.  The player you target need not be especially enamored of Boston, nor do you need a willing trade partner who is interested in players you have on your roster.

If you pick well in the draft, the players you get will also give you a great deal of value relative to the amount of money you have to pay them.  That's why building your roster through draft picks rather than free agency gives you a lot more cap flexibility.


Building a really good team requires a GM to make use of all three avenues of acquisition -- the draft, trades, and free agency.  Because the latter two require a team to already have some good things to offer in the form of location, a winning environment, and promising young players, it makes more sense to start building a foundation via the draft.

A quick rebuild assumes we already have assets, and I think we actually have already built that foundation via the draft by drafting Rondo and Sully, and Green (who we sent to our West Conference affiliate to develop for 4 years), and having drafted stud role player Bradley.  We already have another potential young stud still to develop in KO.

We need the closer and veteran defensive anchor.  I don't see us drafting a player that becomes a closer during his rookie deal outside of the top-5, and the odds within the top-5 of a guy who is both a closer and healthy and not someone that turns out to be Vince Carter or Al Jefferson  2.0 is remote enough that I'd rather put my chips on proven NBA guys than draft picks.

That's how most titles are won, so that's what I'm looking for.

Why would I wait for young guys to develop when I could trade or sign for a proven guy, like how we got Ray.  We have that kind of assets right now.  Why wait on draft picks to develop as Plan A?

How many years did Chicago waste in the draft 'rebuilding'?  How many titles did Tyson Chandler win in Chicago, anyway? 

[McHales Pits]

The first decision to make from the premise of the OP is that Rajon Rondo stays as a franchise centerpiece. If the Cs were going to rebuild via bottoming out, Rondo makes a good trade asset. But for this exercise, to stay competitive while re-tooling, Rondo must stay.

He is a free agent after the 2014-15 (next) season. Financially, the Cs must be prepared to offer him a substantial extension for the next five years - likely max.

In general for rebuilding teams, it is crucial to not tie up money in role players. But again, in this exercise, it might be wise to make a run at some young players in free agency to bolster the talent on this season even if it is an overpay. Hayward and Monroe come to mind (my personal favorites). Assets for the Cs include the trade exception, future 1sts, Bass, Bradley, and to a lesser extent Lee and Wallace.

Ideally, the Cs put a lineup of Rondo/Hayward/Green/Sullinger/Veteran Center with Crawford/Lee/Wallace/Bass/KO coming off the bench along with a top-10 draft pick
 
Veteran Centers include Okafor (if healthy), Asik or Sanders (potential trade candidates), Varejao (non-guaranteed contract) etc...

For my hypothetical team, I swapped Bradley for Hayward in a sign and trade - a realistic option. Hayward offers good team defense along with a more diverse offensive skill set. This gives Rondo three shooters to disperse the ball to along with a defensive minded center as starters. Instant offense in Crawford, defensive wings, skilled bigs, and a top draft pick coming off the bench. I think this team - along with added 1st round picks in future years - could be a contender assuming Sullinger's continued growth. Boston will likely never be an ideal FA destination for superstars so building through the draft and shrewd (ie non-superstar) FA moves. Hayward is likely the best player that the Cs have a chance at luring to Boston this offseason solely because of the Stevens-Butler connection. Cs will have to overpay to pry him from Utah, but Bradley and a draft pick could get it done. Hayward isn't the man defender that Bradley is, but he is a terrific team defender and can fill the stat sheet in a variety of ways. I'd rather invest long term money into Hayward - a more complete player - than Bradley, who seems to be a defensive specialist at this point in his career.

[Stizz44]

I see Memphis and Denver blowing it up and rebuilding by summer 2014. If we can get Gasol & Gallinari, while keeping Rondo, Sullinger, and Bradley we could contend in the East.

Maybe trade at deadline:

KO, 1 2014 Draft Pick (Hawks/Nets) Pick, & Humphries for Gasol.

Summer 2014 Trade
Wallace, 2015 Pick, 2016 Pick  for Gallinairi.

Rondo
Bradley
Gallinari
Sullinger
Gasol

Bench
Green
Crawford
Pressy
Our Own 2014 Pick
Other Pieces

Contend without a Tank....

[chambers]

I see Memphis and Denver blowing it up and rebuilding by summer 2014. If we can get Gasol & Gallinari, while keeping Rondo, Sullinger, and Bradley we could contend in the East.

Maybe trade at deadline:

KO, 1 2014 Draft Pick (Hawks/Nets) Pick, & Humphries for Gasol.

Summer 2014 Trade
Wallace, 2015 Pick, 2016 Pick  for Gallinairi.

Rondo
Bradley
Gallinari
Sullinger
Gasol

Bench
Green
Crawford
Pressy
Our Own 2014 Pick
Other Pieces

Contend without a Tank....

I've thought about Gallinari and Gasol joining us at some stage- both excellent players.

I can't see us being a contender with Avery Bradley as our starting 2 guard. Guy just can't shoot- we need people who can spread the floor. I'd rather keep Green as our SG with Gallo as our SF.

Good idea though, and yeah I think that would be a tough team- defensively and rebounding wise- we just need shooters.

[PhoSita]

The draft is a triple-lottery:  First, getting the pick; second, picking the right guy; and third, hoping he doesn't hurt anything and transitions well.

Those are not good odds.

It's important to note that two out of the three things you mentioned apply to varying degrees to any other method of acquiring a player.  You have to pick the right guy, and then hope that you get lucky in terms of injuries, fitting with teammates, and the general aging process.

The draft also has a major advantage over free agency and trades in that it does not require negotiation.  The player you target need not be especially enamored of Boston, nor do you need a willing trade partner who is interested in players you have on your roster.

If you pick well in the draft, the players you get will also give you a great deal of value relative to the amount of money you have to pay them.  That's why building your roster through draft picks rather than free agency gives you a lot more cap flexibility.


Building a really good team requires a GM to make use of all three avenues of acquisition -- the draft, trades, and free agency.  Because the latter two require a team to already have some good things to offer in the form of location, a winning environment, and promising young players, it makes more sense to start building a foundation via the draft.

A quick rebuild assumes we already have assets, and I think we actually have already built that foundation via the draft by drafting Rondo and Sully, and Green (who we sent to our West Conference affiliate to develop for 4 years), and having drafted stud role player Bradley.  We already have another potential young stud still to develop in KO.

We need the closer and veteran defensive anchor. 

. . . .


That's how most titles are won, so that's what I'm looking for.

Why would I wait for young guys to develop when I could trade or sign for a proven guy, like how we got Ray.  We have that kind of assets right now.  Why wait on draft picks to develop as Plan A?

How do you plan on getting that closer / veteran anchor?  Such players typically cost a LOT of money.  There's also no history of players of that caliber coming to Boston via free agency.  So we'd have to make a trade.

We got Ray by trading a #5 draft pick that was the "reward" for an abysmal season.

We don't have assets equal to that #5 pick right now.  In a somewhat weak draft year, Rondo might be equivalent to a #5 pick.  Not so this year, however.


Olynyk looks like he'll probably be a decent role player.  Sullinger might be more than that -- he might turn into a Paul Millsap / Al Jefferson / Carlos Boozer type player.  Or he might be closer to Luis Scola or Carl Landry.  In any case, I like Sullinger, but I'm not expecting him to be a superstar or anything.

Bradley and Green are role players who would probably come off the bench in an ideal situation.

[chambers]

I'd say Danny goes after Melo or Bosh- perhaps both.
Bosh will hit free agency just as Melo will.
We better be prepared to go over the cap.
Hopefully we can get a real lengthy 2 guard to help Melo and Bosh with scoring with our draft pick- someone to carry the torch like Rondo is doing now when our vets retire.

First of a few potential example line ups I'd like....

Rondo
draft pick SG (Selden or James Young?around pick 8-10)
Green(or other draft pick ie Glen Robinson 3 around pick 15)
Melo
Bosh

in a small ball line up. If we'd prefer a real big inside presence we could forget Melo and wait for Marc Gasol/Tyson Chandler.

Green is likely going to be too much to keep on the roster so he probably gets traded for a future first or something.

Bosh was a center in Toronto and averaged 24 and 12 so he'd work well in a small ball line up.( I think anyway).

No top 5 pick?
Well imagine...

Rondo
Wayne Selden
Melo
Sully
Bosh

I still think if we have Melo then he must play the PF.
Hell we could even give the Knicks Sully+a few picks for Carmelo and Chandler if Danny really wants to take advantage of Rondo's prime.

Rondo
Bradley
Green
Melo
Chandler.

Meh.

I'd even love to go after Zac Randolph but someone will overpay most likely.
Zeebo and Bosh playing a double forward line up with Rondo and 2 shooters (Green+40% three point defender).

Rondo
Selden
Green
Randolph
Bosh