Greater chance: We trade for Love or trade away Rondo?

[Donoghus]

Greater chance is trading for Love.

I don't think either is extremely likely of happening, though.

[csfansince60s]

I think the question posed by the OP is a good one.

I would substitute " game changing star" (e.g. Melo, Love) for Love, though.

I think that Melo, especially with Phil Jackson at the helm (and assuming Dolan lets him do his thing, which I know is a big assumption, knowing Dolan) might be available, as opposed to being untouchable prior to Jackson.

[LilRip]

objectively speaking, i think we should try and trade for Love first. It's so hard to get star players in this league, let alone 2. It's not an overnight contender ala 07, but it's one huge step closer.

If we cannot get Love (or any other star for that matter), then there's a good chance that rondo is gone. I think we should try to get our darndest to get into the top 3 this year, but even if we couldn't, i still think we should trade him because i have a hard time imagining rondo sticking around in the offseason. While he does seem to hate change, he seems to love winning more, and i can see how other teams would be able to woo him away with the allure of a strong vet coach, a strong culture, and star players to play with while also allowing him to rack up his assist totals.

[CoachBo]

no way Rondo stays beyond next season if we stack the roster with 18 - 20 year olds. I don't believe it's his dream to mentor a bunch of young kids.

If no Love, nor someone comparable, then Rondo is traded to prevent him from walking away for no return.

Take it to the bank

CB

Agreed. Don't think Ainge, or Rondo, wants any part of pairing him with a kiddie corps that's going to lose heavily during Rondo's prime.

The people who loathe Love and love Rondo are in a little bit of a bind here - don't think they can have their cake and eat it, too.

How do the folks who love Love and loathe Rondo feel? 

Because, let's be honest, you seem to fit that category.

We're having a basketball discussion here. I don't have time for the Rondophiles who want to get personal - against board rules.

[CoachBo]

The tricky part is these two are connected.  If we do not get Love, I think Danny will be forced to trade Rondo and get what he can.  Both know that keeping Rondo around for a rebuild is not good for either side.  Rondo would be 30 plus by the time things turned around.

If we get Love, then the odds of Danny keeping Rondo around through this free agency goes way up.  Now depending on how they mesh, will dictate weather we keep Rondo.

Honestly, I think Danny is going to move on from Rondo.  He and Wyc really went out of their way the past couple of weeks to speak about how great he looks.  Now, they could be doing this because they want to sell Love on coming to Boston, but I think they are pumping his value up for eventual trade.

I love Rondo, but I think he is maxed out on potential, and I think Danny might feel the same way.  Think of all the PGs in the league who at one time, people on this very board said they would not trade Rondo for and now have passed him up.   Curry, Wall, Westbrook are the big ones that come to mind.  I can see the potential in Kyrie (he may be closer to the already passed Rondo group), Bledsoe, Lowry, Conley, Holiday, Teague all exceeding Rondo's ceiling which I think he has hit.

It's a tough place for Danny to be in, but how many young PGs need to come into the league and eventually pass Rondo up before we've held on too long?

If the Love trade passes, I suspect you're right.

The conundrum Danny faces is the return on any Rondo deal - which won't be anything near what people on this board think Employee #9 is worth.

NO question that Ainge and Wyc want to avoid assembling a loss-heavy kiddie corps with Rondo in tow - they've already seen how badly that story ends with Sebastian Telfair, let alone Rondo. They get it that you can't do a draft-centric rebuild.

So they're going to make a run at Love and try to team him with Rondo first - as they should.

[Celtics18]

no way Rondo stays beyond next season if we stack the roster with 18 - 20 year olds. I don't believe it's his dream to mentor a bunch of young kids.

If no Love, nor someone comparable, then Rondo is traded to prevent him from walking away for no return.

Take it to the bank

CB

Agreed. Don't think Ainge, or Rondo, wants any part of pairing him with a kiddie corps that's going to lose heavily during Rondo's prime.

The people who loathe Love and love Rondo are in a little bit of a bind here - don't think they can have their cake and eat it, too.

How do the folks who love Love and loathe Rondo feel? 

Because, let's be honest, you seem to fit that category.

We're having a basketball discussion here. I don't have time for the Rondophiles who want to get personal - against board rules.

It was just an observation.  Did you really find that offensive?

[boscel33]

Could be equal.  Danny puts a package together for Love, then turns around and acquires Asik/Lin/Other pieces from Houston for Rondo.  He drafts a PG at 17 and the starting five looks eerily like this:

Asik, Love, Green, Bradley, Lin or Pressey

Looks ugly right now, but still have a bunch of picks coming.....

 

[D.o.s.]

The tricky part is these two are connected.  If we do not get Love, I think Danny will be forced to trade Rondo and get what he can.  Both know that keeping Rondo around for a rebuild is not good for either side.  Rondo would be 30 plus by the time things turned around.

If we get Love, then the odds of Danny keeping Rondo around through this free agency goes way up.  Now depending on how they mesh, will dictate weather we keep Rondo.

Honestly, I think Danny is going to move on from Rondo.  He and Wyc really went out of their way the past couple of weeks to speak about how great he looks.  Now, they could be doing this because they want to sell Love on coming to Boston, but I think they are pumping his value up for eventual trade.

I love Rondo, but I think he is maxed out on potential, and I think Danny might feel the same way.  Think of all the PGs in the league who at one time, people on this very board said they would not trade Rondo for and now have passed him up.   Curry, Wall, Westbrook are the big ones that come to mind.  I can see the potential in Kyrie (he may be closer to the already passed Rondo group), Bledsoe, Lowry, Conley, Holiday, Teague all exceeding Rondo's ceiling which I think he has hit.

It's a tough place for Danny to be in, but how many young PGs need to come into the league and eventually pass Rondo up before we've held on too long?

If the Love trade passes, I suspect you're right.

The conundrum Danny faces is the return on any Rondo deal - which won't be anything near what people on this board think Employee #9 is worth.

NO question that Ainge and Wyc want to avoid assembling a loss-heavy kiddie corps with Rondo in tow - they've already seen how badly that story ends with Sebastian Telfair, let alone Rondo. They get it that you can't do a draft-centric rebuild.

So they're going to make a run at Love and try to team him with Rondo first - as they should.

Not that I disagree with you, but "no question" is a bit strong, considering that this is all speculative.

For all we know, Ainge has already been given the go-ahead to go full Presti, after not being allowed to trade Rondo until this season by the ownership.

[Celtics18]

I believe it's far from a given that Rondo gets traded away if we don't land Love.  There will be other avenues available, albeit much less splashy ones, that could be used to improve the roster enough to convince Rondo to stay. 

And part of that might involve seeing how the young player on the roster and our draft picks pan out in the next year. 

[cometboy]

Could be equal.  Danny puts a package together for Love, then turns around and acquires Asik/Lin/Other pieces from Houston for Rondo.  He drafts a PG at 17 and the starting five looks eerily like this:

Asik, Love, Green, Bradley, Lin or Pressey

Looks ugly right now, but still have a bunch of picks coming.....

 

I think we will have a very difficult time signing Love long-term if that's our team next year, in which case, why break the bank getting him in the first place? No Rondo, Love walks, and then it will be a long rebuild. BTW, when I say no Rondo, I don't mean to imply it's Love's dream to play with Rondo. If we have a suitable replacement at the point, Love might stay. It all depends on what he sees as the time horizon for being seriously competitive.

CB

[knuckleballer]

Could be equal.  Danny puts a package together for Love, then turns around and acquires Asik/Lin/Other pieces from Houston for Rondo.  He drafts a PG at 17 and the starting five looks eerily like this:

Asik, Love, Green, Bradley, Lin or Pressey

Looks ugly right now, but still have a bunch of picks coming.....

 

Love would throw a hissy fit if he got traded to play in that lineup.

[LarBrd33]

More likely we trade rondo.  It's an easier thing to accomplish.  Rondo doesn't really fit with the youth movement. We are still a few years away from being competitive and we are likely taking a 19 year old in the draft.  I could see boston trading rondo for more youth. Too much competition for Kevin love and we aren't in control of that situation.

I doubt either happens, though.

[LarBrd33]

More likely we trade rondo.  It's an easier thing to accomplish.  Rondo doesn't really fit with the youth movement. We are still a few years away from being competitive and we are likely taking a 19 year old in the draft.  I could see boston trading rondo for more youth. Too much competition for Kevin love and we aren't in control of that situation.

I doubt either happens though

40% chance we trade Rondo
10% chance we trade for Love

I mean, the timberwolves could just hang onto love for another year and there are several teams that could outbid us.  People here talk like its in the bag already.

[BballTim]

no way Rondo stays beyond next season if we stack the roster with 18 - 20 year olds. I don't believe it's his dream to mentor a bunch of young kids.

If no Love, nor someone comparable, then Rondo is traded to prevent him from walking away for no return.

Take it to the bank

CB

Agreed. Don't think Ainge, or Rondo, wants any part of pairing him with a kiddie corps that's going to lose heavily during Rondo's prime.

The people who loathe Love and love Rondo are in a little bit of a bind here - don't think they can have their cake and eat it, too.

How do the folks who love Love and loathe Rondo feel? 

Because, let's be honest, you seem to fit that category.

We're having a basketball discussion here. I don't have time for the Rondophiles who want to get personal - against board rules.

  So when someone makes the exact same comment you do with the names reversed you think it's suddenly personal? You then call him a Rondophile in the same sentence where you hide behind the "don't get personal, it's against board rules" statement? Do you even read what you're writing?

[BballTim]

More likely we trade rondo.  It's an easier thing to accomplish.  Rondo doesn't really fit with the youth movement. We are still a few years away from being competitive and we are likely taking a 19 year old in the draft.  I could see boston trading rondo for more youth. Too much competition for Kevin love and we aren't in control of that situation.

I doubt either happens though

40% chance we trade Rondo
10% chance we trade for Love

I mean, the timberwolves could just hang onto love for another year and there are several teams that could outbid us.  People here talk like its in the bag already.

  That's nothing, some people here have been talking like trading Rondo's in the bag for a number of years.