Kevin Love (or Carmello) Makes No Sense

[gpap]

No. Not cower and lie down. We are at a crossroads here.  Just saying that it makes no sense to sacrifice our future for the present at this time.  I want to be the next Heat team.  That happens by drafting well at 6, getting a little lucky in next year's draft or getting lucky with the Nets picks, and developing young players.  It does not happen by trading for Kevin Love.

You're also not guaranteed a dynasty by being really bad for a few years, assembling draft picks and hoping you become the next OKC or Indiana after all your draft picks "develop."

[gpap]

Personally, I couldn't disagree more strongly with the sentiments expressed in the OP.  I want to see the Celtics put out a team that is as competitive as possible as soon as possible.  Titles aren't guaranteed, no matter how strong a team you put together. 

To me, the fact that Lebron James is out there dominating is all the more reason to try to put together a team that might have a shot (however long that shot is) of dethroning his Heat. 

I mean how pathetic would be it be if every team in the league just gave up because they didn't think they could beat the mighty King James?

My answer is:  Very pathetic.

Yeah I totally echo your sentiments.

I guess in a way I understand the resignation by some that Miami is going to continue to dominate the league for years to come. I mean they're on the verge of their 4th consectutive trip to the finals and their 3rd consecutive championship.

Not to mention, it just seems like Lebron and the Heat are getting stronger and stronger every year.

But having said that, as a Celtics fan, I just refuse to sit and watch our team essentially quit on the next 3-5 seasons in hopes of being good after Lebron retires.

Count me in as one of those fans that would rather watch my team make the playoffs and possibly get eliminated in the 2nd or 3rd round rather than watch them play for ping pong balls every year.

Counterintutive? Maybe, that's just how I feel.

[Celtics18]

Personally, I couldn't disagree more strongly with the sentiments expressed in the OP.  I want to see the Celtics put out a team that is as competitive as possible as soon as possible.  Titles aren't guaranteed, no matter how strong a team you put together. 

To me, the fact that Lebron James is out there dominating is all the more reason to try to put together a team that might have a shot (however long that shot is) of dethroning his Heat. 

I mean how pathetic would be it be if every team in the league just gave up because they didn't think they could beat the mighty King James?

My answer is:  Very pathetic.

Yeah I totally echo your sentiments.

I guess in a way I understand the resignation by some that Miami is going to continue to dominate the league for years to come. I mean they're on the verge of their 4th consectutive trip to the finals and their 3rd consecutive championship.

Not to mention, it just seems like Lebron and the Heat are getting stronger and stronger every year.

But having said that, as a Celtics fan, I just refuse to sit and watch our team essentially quit on the next 3-5 seasons in hopes of being good after Lebron retires.

Count me in as one of those fans that would rather watch my team make the playoffs and possibly get eliminated in the 2nd or 3rd round rather than watch them play for ping pong balls every year.

Counterintutive? Maybe, that's just how I feel.

I don't think it's counterintuitive at all.  I think it's the other way around.  The "tank" mentality that has taken over the NBA goes against what the spirit and ethics of sport are all about, in my opinion. 

Frankly, I think it's kind of gross. 

[Nef-Oracle]

Lebron isn't unbeatable. There's still some players who can help us to beat the heat. Melo & KD. Hopefully Danny Ainge make a move for Melo cause KD is untradable. He should trade Green, Bass, Anthony, Humph, 2015, 2016 pics for him.

[celtsfanforlife]

Well, this was my thread and no-one agrees with me and I understand that.  I am conflicted and I understand.  I am just saying that by acquiring Love we are setting ourselves up for a 5-8 years of 1st and 2nd round exits.  That's fine for the Bobcats, for example, but I want titles.

Just my opinion.

[Monkhouse]

Well, this was my thread and no-one agrees with me and I understand that.  I am conflicted and I understand.  I am just saying that by acquiring Love we are setting ourselves up for a 5-8 years of 1st and 2nd round exits.  That's fine for the Bobcats, for example, but I want titles.

Just my opinion.

I don't get why people KEEP THINKING that the moment we acquire Love, we're going to become a first/second playoff exit..

Jesus. We have 9 picks, Rajon Rondo, one of the best GM, and a young budding coach who has a will/desire to learn and love this game...

Our fans are one of the best...

Are you guys seriously telling me a team of Rondo/Love, picks, etc won't attract Allstars?

Do you seriously think Allstars want to keep seeing LBJ win every year? Eventually animosity will creep in, and guess what? The next KG/Pierce will come knocking on our door.

[Lucky17]

Well, this was my thread and no-one agrees with me and I understand that.  I am conflicted and I understand.  I am just saying that by acquiring Love we are setting ourselves up for a 5-8 years of 1st and 2nd round exits.  That's fine for the Bobcats, for example, but I want titles.

Just my opinion.

I'm not sure why you think that. It's not like Ainge has to spend all his assets to land Love. He'll still have multiple draft picks, rights to Bradley and Humphries, Jeff Green, a huge trade exception, expiring contracts, and the MLE.

And that's just heading into next season. In time, Olynyk might turn into a desirable asset (if he's not a piece to build around), Gerald Wallace's contract will expire, and there will be young players selected via draft picks that Ainge hasn't traded away that could serve as grist for Ainge's trade mill.

If the Celtics acquire Love, that's not the end. It's the beginning.

[Quetzalcoatl]

No. Not cower and lie down. We are at a crossroads here.  Just saying that it makes no sense to sacrifice our future for the present at this time.  I want to be the next Heat team.  That happens by drafting well at 6, getting a little lucky in next year's draft or getting lucky with the Nets picks, and developing young players.  It does not happen by trading for Kevin Love.

You're also not guaranteed a dynasty by being really bad for a few years, assembling draft picks and hoping you become the next OKC or Indiana after all your draft picks "develop."

Everyone throws that "you're not going to be OKC" line back at anybody who tries to be patient, but what you are arguing for is essentially being the Nets.  No assets, no future, won't get passed the second round, no soul to your team.  Our cap space in 2015 is going to be amazing, there is no reason to blow up the whole team this year.   The FA class in 2015 will be better too, as will next year's draft.  If we really wanted to be good, we'd wait to make big moves until next season. 

[Lucky17]

No. Not cower and lie down. We are at a crossroads here.  Just saying that it makes no sense to sacrifice our future for the present at this time.  I want to be the next Heat team.  That happens by drafting well at 6, getting a little lucky in next year's draft or getting lucky with the Nets picks, and developing young players.  It does not happen by trading for Kevin Love.

You're also not guaranteed a dynasty by being really bad for a few years, assembling draft picks and hoping you become the next OKC or Indiana after all your draft picks "develop."

Everyone throws that "you're not going to be OKC" line back at anybody who tries to be patient, but what you are arguing for is essentially being the Nets.  No assets, no future, won't get passed the second round, no soul to your team.  Our cap space in 2015 is going to be amazing, there is no reason to blow up the whole team this year.   The FA class in 2015 will be better too, as will next year's draft.  If we really wanted to be good, we'd wait to make big moves until next season.

Why would a superstar free agent sign with the Celtics in 2015 if the only players under contract are Gerald Wallace and a bunch of youngsters on rookie-scale contracts?

[fairweatherfan]

I want to be the next dynasty, not play second (or third or fourth) fiddle to the current dynasty.

Understandable. Not sure if anyone will agree with this statement, but I think it's safe to say Lebron, Bosh and Wade teaming up has been the worse thing that could've ever happened to the NBA.

It's shrunk down the competition from other teams, led the league to favor and feed the Heat monster because it's making the league so much money and thus has other fan bases feeling resigned to "we're not going to compete for the next 3-5 years anyway."

I mean in the 80s, imagine if Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan all decided to play on the same team. How do you think the rest of the league would've felt about that?

Do you remember how many Hall of Famers were on those Celtics and Lakers teams?  They were even more stacked than the Heat are, they just got there mostly via draft and trade, not free agency.   And I'd pit the Bird/McHale/Parish and Magic/Kareem/Worthy groups against LeBron/Wade/Bosh any day, even without the superior supporting casts.

[Celtics4ever]

Their defense is subpar.   Defense wins championships.   Both are good players but not transcend the game types.

why people KEEP THINKING that the moment we acquire Love, we're going to become a first/second playoff exit..

We don't know how Love will do in the playoffs because he has never been in them!  Not once in six years.   We may not even make them with him given his track record.

[Monkhouse]

Their defense is subpar.   Defense wins championships.   Both are good players but not transcend the game types.

why people KEEP THINKING that the moment we acquire Love, we're going to become a first/second playoff exit..

We don't know how Love will do in the playoffs because he has never been in them!  Not once in six years.   We may not even make them with him given his track record.

I think a team of Rondo/Love/Asik can easily make it to the 2nd round.. Just me.

Also, I don't think you got my point. Its not about the fact whether or not we're going to get knocked out, but getting the right pieces or another Allstar will help bringing the 3rd one..

[Celtics18]

Their defense is subpar.   Defense wins championships.   Both are good players but not transcend the game types.

why people KEEP THINKING that the moment we acquire Love, we're going to become a first/second playoff exit..

We don't know how Love will do in the playoffs because he has never been in them!  Not once in six years.   We may not even make them with him given his track record.

I agree with the bolded part, but there are only two "transcendent the game type" players in the world right now who aren't past their primes (possibly a couple more out there somewhere still in their teens or very early twenties). 

If the strategy is to not make any moves towards improvement until we land that next "transcendent player" in the draft, it could be an incredibly long rebuild. 

[LooseCannon]

Such a defeatist attitude.

It's the Boston Celtics, not the Paris Celtics.  Surrender is not an option.

[Sketch5]

It makes absolute sense.

We have 9 draft picks in the next 4 years. We can't sign all of those guys. Heck thats almost a complete team.

I think the only picks not to move is the 2016 Nets, and the Swap in 2017. Just because 2016 could be a bad year for the Nets, 2018 could be as well, but thats still 3 years to work it out. And it's always nice to be able to swap with an other team even if its down 5 spots.

That being said, we want to be competitive, and Lebron doesn't scare me, people forget how bad the East is. If they were in the West they'd have more of a fight. And Indy is just bad right now, they lost what they had in the beginning of the season, and are having a hard time getting it back.

Our semi geriatric team a couple years ago took the 7 games. But now Wade is starting to look old, Lebron hasn't proven he can't lead a team with out All-Star support. Allen kept them in games, and he may only have a season left. The rest of the team is okay. They just look better because of what team they play on. And I think with in a season or two Stevens will be a better coach then Spoelstra.

You'll have Love entering his prim, Rondo in his prime, and Melo bitter about not winning and seeing the guys he came in with winning multiple rings.

Plus as long as we don't sell the farm to get these guys, we still couple have a couple Nets picks that could land us a couple young bucks to learn under some pretty good vets. And still be competitive.