Like it or not, Ainge in driver's seat for Love

[BballTim]

At this point, there is no indication that Rondo (or Love, if acquired) will forgo free agency to sign a long-term contract with us.

  There's plenty to indicate that Rondo would sign a long term contract with the team.

Please enlighten me, then...

  He's pretty much said so.

He's also said that he wants to explore free agency too, hasn't he? Something like, 'I'm looking forward to it, I've never been in that situation before'?

  Which is basically identical to what PP said when he was entering free agency in 2010 or so. For reference, compare that quote to what players like Melo, CP and Howard said when they were nearing the end of their contracts. What Rondo said is hardly the smoking gun people think it is.

[bucknersrevenge]

At this point, there is no indication that Rondo (or Love, if acquired) will forgo free agency to sign a long-term contract with us.

  There's plenty to indicate that Rondo would sign a long term contract with the team.

Please enlighten me, then...

  He's pretty much said so.

Which means that you've pretty much said that he's pretty much said so.  Thanks for the clarification and also for not burdening me with an actual quote from Rondo...

  Sorry, when you said "there is no indication that Rondo would sign a contract with us" I didn't realize that you meant "I have no idea whether or not there's any indication that Rondo would sign a long term contract with us". Start with this, but I'm sure you'd be able to find more "indications" if you look hard enough.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/9796290/rajon-rondo-not-looking-leave-boston-celtics-rebuilding-period

Don't worry Tim. Stand by for "You're a boor, and not a particularly clever one" in 3...2...1...

[Sixth Man]

At this point, there is no indication that Rondo (or Love, if acquired) will forgo free agency to sign a long-term contract with us.

No, but there is an indication that Rondo will sign a long-term contract with us once reaching free agency.  Don't confuse wanting to reach free agency to sign a contract with being unwilling to stay in Boston.

Will Love stay in Boston if he's traded here?  I don't think anyone knows, including Love.  He might like it here, he might not.  But I would certainly bet on Love staying if the trade were made.  We can offer him more years, more money per year, and an environment where championships are the goal, and not merely making the post-season.  There's certainly a risk, and that should lower the price paid, but the risk is less than some posters would have you believe.  All we know is he's from California and he's tired of losing.  If we win with him, especially with a roster that's built for sustained success, I think the winning will trump California pretty quickly.  Besides, it's not like the Lakers are making the playoffs next year,  and if they do, they probably won't have room for Love in 2015.

TP.

For some reason people keep conveniently leaving this point out of their argument about "no certainty he will sign an extension". Not sure if it's convenience or ignorance. The same reason Love won't sign an extension right away is the same reason why Rondo won't sign an extension right away. It doesn't make sense financially for them to do so ahead of Free Agency where they have the chance to maybe earn more. It doesn't make sense for even Danny to offer one anyway and ruin his cap flexibility before he even has to which is why he'd be fine with making the RIGHT trade to bring Love in even without an extension.

You have completely missed my point, and based on that misinterpretation, rather insultingly made the highlighted comment.  Of course RR and KL are interested in seeing what the free agent market might offer - they'd be fools not to.  My point, however, is that giving up a big package of assets for KL might not result in his ultimately signing a long-term deal with the Celts.  If you surrender Sully and three 1sts, as mooted here, and then KL bolts, you've blown the entire rebuild and set the franchise back 3-4 years.

No.

I did not miss your point. I get it. There is inherent risk in making a trade for a player that by rule does have the option of leaving you high and dry when he becomes a free agent. I understand that point completely. I just happen to think(and many others do as well) that depending on exactly what it would cost that Love is worth the risk. The upside in having him on our team is a calculated risk. And if Love is truly serious about simply wanting to win, he'd be a bonafide idiot not to see the absolute chasm that is the Eastern Conference. Him coming to Boston along with a couple of other shrewd moves could easily make us a Finals contender in the East where there is Miami and then everyone else. Even Indiana could fall back to the pack next year.

The point is, Given what we have to offer: stable ownership committed to winning(vs the nightmarish turnstile of GMs and coaches he has in Minny), an All-Star PG that can get him the ball, a young but competent coach already earning praise in coaching circles, a fan base that remains ravenous about the team even in a down year, a GM with a plan to make the team winners who has already done it before starting from a worse position last time, and a fraqnchise in a Conference with a ton of parity, I'd say Danny has a better shot to keep him here than other teams have to steal him away after he gets here.

I will say one thing about the "setting the franchise back 3-4 years" point. Obviously it's not our goal to do that. And the good thing here I think is that Danny probably already knows what he's willing to give up for Love. The only reason this deal doesn't go through is if Danny decides that Flip Saunders is asking for too much. If Danny walks away from the deal and decides to just make his 6 and 17 picks at the Draft I would be absolutely fine with that. I won't speak for anyone else but I certainly don't think it's Love or bust. It's Love for the right deal and in that matter I trust Danny's judgment.

'Not sure if it's convenience or ignorance' you wrote.  Yeah, you missed my point.  And phrased it as an insult, to boot. 

If nothing else, I admire your versatility...!

Really dude? THAT'S what you took away from my last post.  My God, I'll get you a Band-Aid. I just explained that I understand your concerns about trading for Love and that it's a calculated risk. But it's one that is worth taking to get a player of Love's caliber.  And I trust that Danny will make the best deal or not at all.  What's hard to understand?  If you would quit crying when I didn't even call you out by name, you'd see that I got your point.  I just disagree with it.   How about we put on our big boy pants for a second?

You're a boor, and a not particularly clever one at that...

I know you are but what am I?

As I noted - 'not particularly clever...'  Trust me, that was being generous to you.

[Sixth Man]

At this point, there is no indication that Rondo (or Love, if acquired) will forgo free agency to sign a long-term contract with us.

  There's plenty to indicate that Rondo would sign a long term contract with the team.

Please enlighten me, then...

  He's pretty much said so.

Which means that you've pretty much said that he's pretty much said so.  Thanks for the clarification and also for not burdening me with an actual quote from Rondo...

  Sorry, when you said "there is no indication that Rondo would sign a contract with us" I didn't realize that you meant "I have no idea whether or not there's any indication that Rondo would sign a long term contract with us". Start with this, but I'm sure you'd be able to find more "indications" if you look hard enough.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/9796290/rajon-rondo-not-looking-leave-boston-celtics-rebuilding-period

Don't worry Tim. Stand by for "You're a boor, and not a particularly clever one" in 3...2...1...

Tim seems to be an intelligent fellow, disagree or not with him.  You, on the other hand...

[BballTim]

At this point, there is no indication that Rondo (or Love, if acquired) will forgo free agency to sign a long-term contract with us.

  There's plenty to indicate that Rondo would sign a long term contract with the team.

Please enlighten me, then...

  He's pretty much said so.

Which means that you've pretty much said that he's pretty much said so.  Thanks for the clarification and also for not burdening me with an actual quote from Rondo...

  Sorry, when you said "there is no indication that Rondo would sign a contract with us" I didn't realize that you meant "I have no idea whether or not there's any indication that Rondo would sign a long term contract with us". Start with this, but I'm sure you'd be able to find more "indications" if you look hard enough.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/9796290/rajon-rondo-not-looking-leave-boston-celtics-rebuilding-period

Don't worry Tim. Stand by for "You're a boor, and not a particularly clever one" in 3...2...1...

Tim seems to be an intelligent fellow, disagree or not with him.  You, on the other hand...

  Not to be rude, but where are you from? You sound like you might be far enough removed from Boston that I shouldn't chide you about not keeping up with the local media...

[kozlodoev]

It's worth mentioning that the interview is from October 2013. Things can change.

[bucknersrevenge]

At this point, there is no indication that Rondo (or Love, if acquired) will forgo free agency to sign a long-term contract with us.

  There's plenty to indicate that Rondo would sign a long term contract with the team.

Please enlighten me, then...

  He's pretty much said so.

Which means that you've pretty much said that he's pretty much said so.  Thanks for the clarification and also for not burdening me with an actual quote from Rondo...

  Sorry, when you said "there is no indication that Rondo would sign a contract with us" I didn't realize that you meant "I have no idea whether or not there's any indication that Rondo would sign a long term contract with us". Start with this, but I'm sure you'd be able to find more "indications" if you look hard enough.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/9796290/rajon-rondo-not-looking-leave-boston-celtics-rebuilding-period

Don't worry Tim. Stand by for "You're a boor, and not a particularly clever one" in 3...2...1...

Tim seems to be an intelligent fellow, disagree or not with him.  You, on the other hand...

Whatever you say champ. Wasn't even talking to you but you started down this line not me. "Not particularly clever....and I'm being generous".

[BballTim]

It's worth mentioning that the interview is from October 2013. Things can change.

  Of course things could change. Rondo could request a trade, talk about not wanting to go through a rebuild, talk about joining a contender, claim to be unhappy with the direction of the team or do other such things. I don't think I've seen any of that, have you?

[Sixth Man]

At this point, there is no indication that Rondo (or Love, if acquired) will forgo free agency to sign a long-term contract with us.

  There's plenty to indicate that Rondo would sign a long term contract with the team.

Please enlighten me, then...

  He's pretty much said so.

Which means that you've pretty much said that he's pretty much said so.  Thanks for the clarification and also for not burdening me with an actual quote from Rondo...

  Sorry, when you said "there is no indication that Rondo would sign a contract with us" I didn't realize that you meant "I have no idea whether or not there's any indication that Rondo would sign a long term contract with us". Start with this, but I'm sure you'd be able to find more "indications" if you look hard enough.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/9796290/rajon-rondo-not-looking-leave-boston-celtics-rebuilding-period

Don't worry Tim. Stand by for "You're a boor, and not a particularly clever one" in 3...2...1...

Tim seems to be an intelligent fellow, disagree or not with him.  You, on the other hand...

  Not to be rude, but where are you from? You sound like you might be far enough removed from Boston that I shouldn't chide you about not keeping up with the local media...

Thanks for the link you provided earlier, Tim.  I do now remember that article. 

For the record, I reside in the Sacramento, CA area (eastern foothills) but spent most of my
adult life in San Francisco and the East Bay. 

As a Celts diehard since 1974 (Paul Silas was my favorite player back then), I suppose there is no excuse for 'not keeping up with the local media' so feel free to chide away.  However, I do believe that more recent quotes from RR indicate that he intends to test free agency, which is surely the intelligent thing for him to do.  After all, he can always re-sign with the Celts anyway...

[Sixth Man]

It's worth mentioning that the interview is from October 2013. Things can change.

  Of course things could change. Rondo could request a trade, talk about not wanting to go through a rebuild, talk about joining a contender, claim to be unhappy with the direction of the team or do other such things. I don't think I've seen any of that, have you?

What may be even more determinative of Rondo's future in Boston is what Danny believes Rondo's intentions are with respect to free agency.