Franchise Players?

[winsomme]

I don't think we are truly recognizing how difficult DAs task is here. He certainly is collecting a ton of picks to either use or package for players to build around, but the real question is who could actually be good enough to build around even if we have the assets to get them?

The two names that have come up fairly frequently are KLove and Aldridge, but these are fleeting possibilities. KLove is roundly considered to be on his way to LA when his contract is up and Aldridge is already on a fun, young, talented team that is building around him and has lots of nice assets. So where do we go from there?

The list of franchise players is short. LeBron, Durant, Howard, George, DRose, StephCurry, DMC, Anthony Davis (the last three are reaches) ...Are any of these guys even remotely on their way to Boston? I would say No.

JWall, Kyrie Irving?? You really want to build around these guys? Plus, they also are not even available.

There are two names left that should be on the list: Carmelo and Rondo. The problem is that Carmelo has HUGE questions about actually having what it takes to be a champion and Rondo, while having that championship mind and will, actually could be the reason  DA loses out on one of his most valuable chips: the Cs 2014 first round pick. So, should he trade Rondo to ensure the pick? I would probably argue No because he might be the only worthwhile player in the league to build around that he might be able to get in that he is already here!!!

This is not an easy rebuild. In fact, I don't even see it at this point, and the Rondo quandary is now HERE. What to do? Can Danny really trade a franchise player to get a high draft pick? That seems insane to me. Yet, KLove at least is a player that could be moving from his current location and a top 5 pick in the 2014 draft would be incredibly enticing for Minnesota when packaged with other already developing youngs like KellyO or ABradley.

DA needs to thread the needle. Keeping Rondo AND getting a top 5 pick is what he really needs right now to have enough assets to avoid a lengthy rebuild IMO. But how does he get that pick and keep RR. Plus, even if we do get a coveted pick, who do we even go after? The list is VERY short.

[indeedproceed]

I think a lot of what you said is accurate, excepting Kevin Love. Love's a free agent in 2016, everyone (me included) agrees that the illuminati theory of Love and Westbrook reuniting in LA in 2 years as Kobe exits state left is a great theory, but a LOT can change in 2 years.

I'd ask you to consider Kevin Garnett (or Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James). It was widely assumed Garnett would go to LA during the summer of '07, but Boston weaseled in there with a competitive offer and convinced KG to sign an extension.

Honestly, if Boston acquires Love with time to sell him and armed with full bird rights to offer a 5-yr max deal, I think there's a very possible outcome of Love in Boston.

Also disagree that Davis is 'a stretch'. The man-brow is a revelation, that's what he is.

[TwinTower14]

Rondo is good but he is not a franchise player - If DA gets a good package Rondo will be gone.  I like Rondo as a player but he doesn't belong in the conversation of the NBA's franchise players IMO....

[Monkhouse]

Rondo is good but he is not a franchise player - If DA gets a good package Rondo will be gone.  I like Rondo as a player but he doesn't belong in the conversation of the NBA's franchise players IMO....

Never understood why no one considered Rondo a franchise player...

Cause he doesn't do much except rebound the most for a point guard, lead the league in assists, and constantly break down the defense with an awe dropping Rondo fake, or that beautiful euro step into a floater?

Everyone says that about Rondo, that he can't lead a team, is immature, and will never ever be a franchise player. But he's led the team to the ECF, and don't tell me Pierce/KG could've done it by themselves... Please... Rondo has clearly made everyone in the past 2 years better. As for why Rondo couldn't do better last year, guess what? Terry, Lee, Bass, and every player that we had just wasn't hitting the shots he was giving them, and it happens.

I consider Rondo a franchise player the moment he lit up the playoffs. Yes nothing about his regular season is amazing, and is actually above average. But his playoff stats can only be matched by the greats, Kidd, Stockton, Bird, Magic, etc.

You don't get a player with that much intensity, and will to want to win the game.

[Celtics17]

I have to agree that Rondo is not take seriously enough as a "franchise player". The guy is the best pure point in the league and his value always seems underestimated. He may not be the best scorer but his offense through passing and running the team are top flight and his defense can be extremely good as is his rebounding Any player who drops the games on Miami that Rondo has should get more consideration.

[TwinTower14]

I have to agree that Rondo is not take seriously enough as a "franchise player". The guy is the best pure point in the league and his value always seems underestimated. He may not be the best scorer but his offense through passing and running the team are top flight and his defense can be extremely good as is his rebounding Any player who drops the games on Miami that Rondo has should get more consideration.

he is not the best pure PG in the league, Chris Paul is the best, Paul does just about everything on the floor better than Rondo except for rebound.  Rondo is a very good player but I don't consider him a franchise talent.  I guess we will see if DA thinks he is when his contract is up at the end of next season...

[winsomme]

Rondo is good but he is not a franchise player - If DA gets a good package Rondo will be gone.  I like Rondo as a player but he doesn't belong in the conversation of the NBA's franchise players IMO....

Even if I agree with you that Rondo isn't a franchise player (which I don't), all that does is make my point overall point stronger and Danny's job harder. There just are not many franchise players out there.

So, say Danny agrees with you and trades Rondo...where are we then? Who's our franchise player and how do we get him?

[TwinTower14]

Rondo is good but he is not a franchise player - If DA gets a good package Rondo will be gone.  I like Rondo as a player but he doesn't belong in the conversation of the NBA's franchise players IMO....

Even if I agree with you that Rondo isn't a franchise player (which I don't), all that does is make my point overall point stronger and Danny's job harder. There just are not many franchise players out there.

So, say Danny agrees with you and trades Rondo...where are we then? Who's our franchise player and how do we get him?

I agree man, I was just looking at a list of players and there aren't a lot of them...I could only come up with a handful.  Not sure how DA gets them but I can't put Rondo on that list especially coming off an injury...

[Monkhouse]

I consider Rondo a franchise player, but a unique one.

In this league you need at least two superstars, and Rondo is definitely one of them.

[TwinTower14]

I consider Rondo a franchise player, but a unique one.

In this league you need at least two superstars, and Rondo is definitely one of them.

Yea - I guess it depends what your definition of a franchise player is.  I don't want to be critical but I think he is a very good player but I have a hard time putting him in the class of the Lebron, Durant, George and Paul etc...

[winsomme]

I think a lot of what you said is accurate, excepting Kevin Love. Love's a free agent in 2016, everyone (me included) agrees that the illuminati theory of Love and Westbrook reuniting in LA in 2 years as Kobe exits state left is a great theory, but a LOT can change in 2 years.

I'd ask you to consider Kevin Garnett (or Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James). It was widely assumed Garnett would go to LA during the summer of '07, but Boston weaseled in there with a competitive offer and convinced KG to sign an extension.

Honestly, if Boston acquires Love with time to sell him and armed with full bird rights to offer a 5-yr max deal, I think there's a very possible outcome of Love in Boston.

Also disagree that Davis is 'a stretch'. The man-brow is a revelation, that's what he is.

I really like Love and Davis and concede that they certainly are possibilities, but again they are not LIKELY possibilities.

I also agree that KG was similarly thought to be unlikely but that was actually accurate. I know that Danny won out there, but he threaded the needle there. I mean that move came AFTER we lost out on Durant.

Other than Love, Davis, and Carmelo I'm not even sure who is even on the list....

[apc]

We can always go after three aging allstars.
But seriously,I am not sure Aldridge is available. Maybe we should consider Chris Bosh.

[Monkhouse]

I consider Rondo a franchise player, but a unique one.

In this league you need at least two superstars, and Rondo is definitely one of them.

Yea - I guess it depends what your definition of a franchise player is.  I don't want to be critical but I think he is a very good player but I have a hard time putting him in the class of the Lebron, Durant, George and Paul etc...

But you don't have to.

I say Rondo is an unique franchise player, because he is the only player you must build around. You can build around LBJ/George, but with Rondo you need a good supporting cast, or a Kevin Love type of player next to him.

[Roy H.]

I think a lot of what you said is accurate, excepting Kevin Love. Love's a free agent in 2016, everyone (me included) agrees that the illuminati theory of Love and Westbrook reuniting in LA in 2 years as Kobe exits state left is a great theory, but a LOT can change in 2 years.

I'd ask you to consider Kevin Garnett (or Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James). It was widely assumed Garnett would go to LA during the summer of '07, but Boston weaseled in there with a competitive offer and convinced KG to sign an extension.

Honestly, if Boston acquires Love with time to sell him and armed with full bird rights to offer a 5-yr max deal, I think there's a very possible outcome of Love in Boston.

Also disagree that Davis is 'a stretch'. The man-brow is a revelation, that's what he is.

I really like Love and Davis and concede that they certainly are possibilities, but again they are not LIKELY possibilities.

I also agree that KG was similarly thought to be unlikely but that was actually accurate. I know that Danny won out there, but he threaded the needle there. I mean that move came AFTER we lost out on Durant.

Other than Love, Davis, and Carmelo I'm not even sure who is even on the list....

I think Davis is about as likely to be traded as Durant.  It's not happening.

It's unlikely that we'll be able to trade for a superstar in their prime.  That player is most likely going to have to come through the draft.  I suppose there's a possibility of clearing *all* of our contracts and trying to sign two stars to come play next to Rondo, but that's pretty unlikely, too.

[BballTim]

I have to agree that Rondo is not take seriously enough as a "franchise player". The guy is the best pure point in the league and his value always seems underestimated. He may not be the best scorer but his offense through passing and running the team are top flight and his defense can be extremely good as is his rebounding Any player who drops the games on Miami that Rondo has should get more consideration.

he is not the best pure PG in the league, Chris Paul is the best, Paul does just about everything on the floor better than Rondo except for rebound.  Rondo is a very good player but I don't consider him a franchise talent.  I guess we will see if DA thinks he is when his contract is up at the end of next season...

  I'd say Rondo does just about everything better than Paul other than score or defend (they're fairly equal). Paul's probably the best pg in the league but if he couldn't shoot or hit free throws any better than Rondo he'd be fairly mediocre IMO.