Glad Rondo is still here

[PhoSita]

Having him here helps us in the long run

I think Rondo and Sully are nice pieces.  Those two are a nice start.

They're nice pieces, as a start.

I think you need two more pieces, on the level of Rondo and Sully or better, to really have something.  If the Celtics don't get one in the top 10 of the draft after spending all season sucking, that would be a blow.

Regardless of what happens over the remaining part of the season and regardless of where our draft pick lands, we should be a significantly improved team next year.

Significantly improved, sure.  Healthy Rondo, re-sign Bradley (or draft a decent SG), trade some of our future picks and salary filler to get a legit center (e.g. Asik) and you'd have a decent 40-something win team, probably.  My expectations for next year are fairly low, though.

  Rondo, Sully and 2 players better than Rondo put you around the level of the Heat. It would be nice but you can't really count on that.

WOAH THERE.

On the level of the Heat?

Neither Rondo nor Sully is on the level of LeBron or Wade.  At his best, Rondo approaches Wade's level.  At his best, Sullinger approaches Bosh's level.

When I say "two guys on that level or better" two examples would be, like, Joakim Noah and Kawhi Leonard.  That would be a great group, but not in the same conversation as the Miami Thrice.

[Donoghus]

Having him here helps us in the long run

I think Rondo and Sully are nice pieces.  Those two are a nice start.

They're nice pieces, as a start.

I think you need two more pieces, on the level of Rondo and Sully or better, to really have something.  If the Celtics don't get one in the top 10 of the draft after spending all season sucking, that would be a blow.

Regardless of what happens over the remaining part of the season and regardless of where our draft pick lands, we should be a significantly improved team next year.

Significantly improved, sure.  Healthy Rondo, re-sign Bradley (or draft a decent SG), trade some of our future picks and salary filler to get a legit center (e.g. Asik) and you'd have a decent 40-something win team, probably.  My expectations for next year are fairly low, though.

  Rondo, Sully and 2 players better than Rondo put you around the level of the Heat. It would be nice but you can't really count on that.

WOAH THERE.

On the level of the Heat?

Neither Rondo nor Sully is on the level of LeBron or Wade.  At his best, Rondo approaches Wade's level.  At his best, Sullinger approaches Bosh's level.

When I say "two guys on that level or better" two examples would be, like, Joakim Noah and Kawhi Leonard.  That would be a great group, but not in the same conversation as the Miami Thrice.

Here's how I see it (ideal scenario here);  Keeping Rondo and securing a top 3 pick all of a sudden sets you up with 2/3rds of a very attractive core a couple of years down the road.  With that in mind, you now take some of that "salary filler" and first round draft picks and you cash in and pull the trigger on a top 20 player.   All of a sudden, there's your core.  Rondo/'14 Top 3 draft guy/Top 20 NBA guy.  Maybe you still have a Bradley or Sullinger on the team or you had to move one of them in the Top 20 NBA guy move.   

Fast forward to 2016 or so, Miami has declined.  Indy is still very much a power.  Who else is a power in the East at this point?  Chicago? Cleveland? The Wizards?

I think with the core I mentioned above, along with a servicable rotation (which still might include Bradley or Sullinger), is just as likely to be a contender in the East than anyone.

Alright, dream over...for now.

[LooseCannon]

Fast forward to 2016 or so, Miami has declined.  Indy is still very much a power.  Who else is a power in the East at this point?  Chicago? Cleveland? The Wizards?

Based on the way people talk, the Bucks, Magic, and 76ers will be powers in the East because they are likely to have drafted guaranteed future Hall of Famers this summer who will carry all of them to NBA titles.

[Donoghus]

Fast forward to 2016 or so, Miami has declined.  Indy is still very much a power.  Who else is a power in the East at this point?  Chicago? Cleveland? The Wizards?

Based on the way people talk, the Bucks, Magic, and 76ers will be powers in the East because they are likely to have drafted guaranteed future Hall of Famers this summer who will carry all of them to NBA titles.

Ha....yes, I seemed to have neglected that.  Silly me!

[PhoSita]

Here's how I see it (ideal scenario here);  Keeping Rondo and securing a top 3 pick all of a sudden sets you up with 2/3rds of a very attractive core a couple of years down the road.  With that in mind, you now take some of that "salary filler" and first round draft picks and you cash in and pull the trigger on a top 20 player.   All of a sudden, there's your core.  Rondo/'14 Top 3 draft guy/Top 20 NBA guy.  Maybe you still have a Bradley or Sullinger on the team or you had to move one of them in the Top 20 NBA guy move.   

Fast forward to 2016 or so, Miami has declined.  Indy is still very much a power.  Who else is a power in the East at this point?  Chicago? Cleveland? The Wizards?

I think with the core I mentioned above, along with a servicable rotation (which still might include Bradley or Sullinger), is just as likely to be a contender in the East than anyone.

Alright, dream over...for now.

I think that's the best-case "Keep Rondo" scenario.  The only Top 20 guy I think would really be available to target would be Kevin Love.


As always in these discussions, I think it's important to point out that the vast majority of rebuilds don't have such a quick turnaround.  So expecting Danny to get this team back to the top by 2016 is maybe a little bit unreasonable.

But if we do get a top 3 pick this year and that guy -- i.e. Embiid, Wiggins, Parker -- comes in and within the first year or two turns plays at an All-Star level, it's not implausible.

I guess we just have to wait and see.

[Donoghus]

Here's how I see it (ideal scenario here);  Keeping Rondo and securing a top 3 pick all of a sudden sets you up with 2/3rds of a very attractive core a couple of years down the road.  With that in mind, you now take some of that "salary filler" and first round draft picks and you cash in and pull the trigger on a top 20 player.   All of a sudden, there's your core.  Rondo/'14 Top 3 draft guy/Top 20 NBA guy.  Maybe you still have a Bradley or Sullinger on the team or you had to move one of them in the Top 20 NBA guy move.   

Fast forward to 2016 or so, Miami has declined.  Indy is still very much a power.  Who else is a power in the East at this point?  Chicago? Cleveland? The Wizards?

I think with the core I mentioned above, along with a servicable rotation (which still might include Bradley or Sullinger), is just as likely to be a contender in the East than anyone.

Alright, dream over...for now.

I think that's the best-case "Keep Rondo" scenario.  The only Top 20 guy I think would really be available to target would be Kevin Love.


As always in these discussions, I think it's important to point out that the vast majority of rebuilds don't have such a quick turnaround.  So expecting Danny to get this team back to the top by 2016 is maybe a little bit unreasonable.

But if we do get a top 3 pick this year and that guy -- i.e. Embiid, Wiggins, Parker -- comes in and within the first year or two turns plays at an All-Star level, it's not implausible.

I guess we just have to wait and see.

Yeah, I don't necessearily think we're bonafide title contender in 2016-2017 under that scenario but I think the C's are, at least, a top 3 Eastern Conference team on the up.