This is not a bad team!!!

[LarBrd33]

4th worst team in the league this year.   Worst team in the league in games Rondo played.

This isn't a bad team... it's horrible.

Our future is theoretically bright, but that's the case for all the other league bottomfeeders as well.  For instance, while we add the #6 pick to our dysfunctional bunch, the equally horrible 76ers will be adding two ROY candidates (Noel and probably a Top 3 talent).  The equally horrible Lakers will be adding Kobe Bryant, an equal lotto talent, and a max contract free agent.   The equally horrible Magic will likely be adding a Top 3 talent... and another Top 12 talent.

Our pick will likely bust as well while we know for sure the Lakers are adding Lebron James and Kevin Love soon after.

I'm not sure why we even bother to root for this team sometimes.

It should be a fun few years watching us try to develop young players and become relevant...

But to call this team anything other than "bad" right now is just denial.  We won like 10% of our games with Rondo running the show.  It's a bad team.  We might be good eventually.  Same is true for all the other "bad" teams right now.

[BleedGreen1989]

This "purgatory" notion is only half-true. Ending up with a 7th/8th seed is perfectly fine when the core of your team are young players on the rise, or just about to enter their primes. It would be reasonable to expect that they'll improve the next year and end up with maybe a 5th/6th seed.

The purgatory thing only comes into play when the guys that got you to the 8th seed have already tapped their potential, or are in their primes. Then the team is likely to remain just as good next year until it progressively becomes worse (barring any major shake ups).

A 7th/8th seed is perfectly fine when you have avenues for improvement.  Having young players on the rise is just one way.  Having cap space (or the ability to create cap space) to acquire significant free agents is another.   Having trade assets (such as a stockpile of extra picks) to add talent is another.

The problem is when you have your cap space tied up for several years in aging players who probably aren't getting better and you've used up too many of your tradeable picks to acquire talent that will get you a second-round playoff exit if you're lucky.

As usual, LC speaks logical, level-headed truth.

This whole idea of "OMG if the trade doesn't make us better than Miami it's pointless!" is just flawed thinking for the reasons LC explained.

It's one of the most annoying things I see constantly regurgitated on this forum.

[BballTim]

4th worst team in the league this year.   Worst team in the league in games Rondo played.

This isn't a bad team... it's horrible.

Our future is theoretically bright, but that's the case for all the other league bottomfeeders as well.  For instance, while we add the #6 pick to our dysfunctional bunch, the equally horrible 76ers will be adding two ROY candidates (Noel and probably a Top 3 talent).  The equally horrible Lakers will be adding Kobe Bryant, an equal lotto talent, and a max contract free agent.   The equally horrible Magic will likely be adding a Top 3 talent... and another Top 12 talent.

  I wouldn't put too much money on Noel being a top 3 talent and both of Philly's picks being ROY candidates. I doubt if even their fans are that optimistic. Not to mention it must not be much of a draft near the top if you're expecting the #10 pick to be a ROY candidate.

[BleedGreen1989]

4th worst team in the league this year.   Worst team in the league in games Rondo played.

This isn't a bad team... it's horrible.

Our future is theoretically bright, but that's the case for all the other league bottomfeeders as well.  For instance, while we add the #6 pick to our dysfunctional bunch, the equally horrible 76ers will be adding two ROY candidates (Noel and probably a Top 3 talent).  The equally horrible Lakers will be adding Kobe Bryant, an equal lotto talent, and a max contract free agent.   The equally horrible Magic will likely be adding a Top 3 talent... and another Top 12 talent.

  I wouldn't put too much money on Noel being a top 3 talent and both of Philly's picks being ROY candidates. I doubt if even their fans are that optimistic. Not to mention it must not be much of a draft near the top if you're expecting the #10 pick to be a ROY candidate.

You know who you're talking to Tim.

You're fighting a losing battle.

[Celtics18]

Some of these responses got me to thinking;  What about Marc Gasol?

There seems to be agreement that the Grizzlies aren't in a great position for rebuilding, yet they aren't really legitimate contenders as constituted.

Why not try to poach Marc Gasol from them, then?

He's in a very similar situation to our own Rondo.  He's an aging, not quite top tier, star who is up for a new contract after next season.  What if the Grizzlies are looking to cash in on him while they have the chance, instead of just losing him for nothing?

Would it be crazy to offer our lottery pick this season for him?

Would something like our 2014 lottery pick, Bass, Anthony, and Sully work?

[Fan from VT]

4th worst team in the league this year.   Worst team in the league in games Rondo played.

This isn't a bad team... it's horrible.

Our future is theoretically bright, but that's the case for all the other league bottomfeeders as well.  For instance, while we add the #6 pick to our dysfunctional bunch, the equally horrible 76ers will be adding two ROY candidates (Noel and probably a Top 3 talent).  The equally horrible Lakers will be adding Kobe Bryant, an equal lotto talent, and a max contract free agent.   The equally horrible Magic will likely be adding a Top 3 talent... and another Top 12 talent.

  I wouldn't put too much money on Noel being a top 3 talent and both of Philly's picks being ROY candidates. I doubt if even their fans are that optimistic. Not to mention it must not be much of a draft near the top if you're expecting the #10 pick to be a ROY candidate.

I think he means the two ROY candidates for philly will be Noel (eligible for ROY) and Philly's top 3 pick.  In addition to those two possible ROY candidates, they have the #10 as well.

[LarBrd33]

4th worst team in the league this year.   Worst team in the league in games Rondo played.

This isn't a bad team... it's horrible.

Our future is theoretically bright, but that's the case for all the other league bottomfeeders as well.  For instance, while we add the #6 pick to our dysfunctional bunch, the equally horrible 76ers will be adding two ROY candidates (Noel and probably a Top 3 talent).  The equally horrible Lakers will be adding Kobe Bryant, an equal lotto talent, and a max contract free agent.   The equally horrible Magic will likely be adding a Top 3 talent... and another Top 12 talent.

  I wouldn't put too much money on Noel being a top 3 talent and both of Philly's picks being ROY candidates. I doubt if even their fans are that optimistic. Not to mention it must not be much of a draft near the top if you're expecting the #10 pick to be a ROY candidate.

You know who you're talking to Tim.

You're fighting a losing battle.

Do you think it's a ridiculous comment?...  Chad Ford said Noel would go Top 5 in this draft.  Is it that unlikely both Philly rookies end up ROY candidates?

Also, I was pretty clear that the two ROY candidates would be Noel and their Top 3 pick.  The fact they are adding another Top 10 pick as well just backs up my point.  Our team is crap.  We have a chance at a bright future... but so do all the other crap teams.

[LilRip]

Some of these responses got me to thinking;  What about Marc Gasol?

There seems to be agreement that the Grizzlies aren't in a great position for rebuilding, yet they aren't really legitimate contenders as constituted.

Why not try to poach Marc Gasol from them, then?

He's in a very similar situation to our own Rondo.  He's an aging, not quite top tier, star who is up for a new contract after next season.  What if the Grizzlies are looking to cash in on him while they have the chance, instead of just losing him for nothing?

Would it be crazy to offer our lottery pick this season for him?

Would something like our 2014 lottery pick, Bass, Anthony, and Sully work?

if the Griz eliminate the Thunder, i doubt Gasol goes anywhere. as a matter of fact, it wouldn't be surprising if the Griz tried to reload (like what we constantly did in the KG era) rather than restart with Sully+rookie.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

4th worst team in the league this year.   Worst team in the league in games Rondo played.

This isn't a bad team... it's horrible.

Our future is theoretically bright, but that's the case for all the other league bottomfeeders as well.  For instance, while we add the #6 pick to our dysfunctional bunch, the equally horrible 76ers will be adding two ROY candidates (Noel and probably a Top 3 talent).  The equally horrible Lakers will be adding Kobe Bryant, an equal lotto talent, and a max contract free agent.   The equally horrible Magic will likely be adding a Top 3 talent... and another Top 12 talent.

heh

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

4th worst team in the league this year.   Worst team in the league in games Rondo played.

This isn't a bad team... it's horrible.

Our future is theoretically bright, but that's the case for all the other league bottomfeeders as well.  For instance, while we add the #6 pick to our dysfunctional bunch, the equally horrible 76ers will be adding two ROY candidates (Noel and probably a Top 3 talent).  The equally horrible Lakers will be adding Kobe Bryant, an equal lotto talent, and a max contract free agent.   The equally horrible Magic will likely be adding a Top 3 talent... and another Top 12 talent.

Our pick will likely bust as well while we know for sure the Lakers are adding Lebron James and Kevin Love soon after.

I'm not sure why we even bother to root for this team sometimes.

oh well, let's just take our toys and go home then!!!!!  LOL