Better Players to Waste Money On than Rondo + Green.

[LarBrd33]

Still see some folks who are down on the recent moves.  Here's something a lot of fans don't necessarily realize.

We'll have at least 30 mil in cap space this summer.   What were Rondo + Green realistically going to fetch from us?  It couldn't have been much more than 30 mil combined, right?  If it was more than that, I would have let them walk.

We're talking about two slightly above average players at their position. I  continue to adamantly reject the idea that Rondo is a superstar.  I don't even expect to see him play in another all-star game.  Both of these guys are slightly above average players in their late 20s who were going to command big bucks. 

Here's the thing, if you want to waste a ton of money on those guys, you'll still have that opportunity this summer when they are unrestricted free agents.  So trading them now for valuable draft picks was a no-brainer.  If we had any shot of convincing those guys to sign long-term in Boston before the deal, I fail to see why we don't have a shot of convincing them to sign long-term in Boston after the deal. 

BUt frankly, we probably have better options than those guys.  Look at a list of free agents: http://hoopshype.com/free_agency_2015.htm

Granted, a lot of those guys aren't realistic targets, but there's plenty who are.

Personally, I'm in favor of just building through youth and utilizing our cap space in more clever ways, but if you really really want to waste money on above-average talent, why can't we blow a buttload of money on talent equal talent like Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight?  Seems like we'll have that opportunity if we want to take it.   We could have given Jeff Green 15 mil a year, but why not just trade him for picks and then offer 15 mil a year to someone like Omer Asik or DeAndre Jordan this summer?  If you're going to overpay a starter this summer, at least get something of value for Green before doing so.

Would you rather dramatically overpay Rondo at 20 mil a year... or get several picks for him and then dramatically overpay Goran Dragic at 20 mil a year?  Seems we'll have an opportunity to do that if we want it.

Trading these guys on a contract year was a no-brainer.  We have cap space to replace them with equally mediocre (and younger) "fringe stars" if we want to.  Factor that in when you consider these trades. 

I love what Danny is doing right now.  Had to trade those guys.  It just makes sense.

[LarBrd33]

It's for that same reason that I'd jump at an opportunity to trade Avery Bradley (he can't be traded until Jan 15th) for an expiring contract and maybe a pick if we can get it.

There's better players to waste 8 mil a year on than Avery Bradley.

As-is, we have a ton of cap space.  Green and Rondo were going to cost us a ton of money.  Even if we strike out on some of the guys mentioned like Monroe, Knight, etc... who cares?  We can probably find better deals out there.   If Ainge is smart, he can probably add 3-4 quality players with the cap space (especially if we dump Bradley).  Guys like Afflalo, Wes Matthews and Gerald Green, for instance.   Gotta see how the market shakes out, but there's a lot of free agents here... Wouldn't be shocked to see us pick up a few guys making Bradley-esque 8-10 mil... which will end up being a far better use of our money than overpaying Green and Rondo (especially considering the fact we got several picks out of those guys).

Or we can just keep absorbing bad contracts and using picks.

This is uncharted territory for the Celtics.  Has there ever been a time when this team has even had cap space to add a max contract player?  I've been waiting for this for the majority of my Celtic fandom.  I'm pumped.

[Chris22]

The Bradley signing was a big mistake.

I think we are stuck with him.

[JBcat]

I wonder if Ainge would just punt on major free agents this offseason, absorbing contracts for even more picks like you said, and just set themselves up for the 2016 offseason when Wallace's contract is off the books and we would have even more cap space. 

[GreenFaith1819]

They're gone, LarBrd33.

How much longer are you going to trash them?

[dreamgreen]

I wonder if Ainge would just punt on major free agents this offseason, absorbing contracts for even more picks like you said, and just set themselves up for the 2016 offseason when Wallace's contract is off the books and we would have even more cap space.

He will try to get a good young player when ever and however he can.

[primetime]

I wonder if Ainge would just punt on major free agents this offseason, absorbing contracts for even more picks like you said, and just set themselves up for the 2016 offseason when Wallace's contract is off the books and we would have even more cap space.

I think this is the play. Given our cap hold situation (read Chris Forsberg's article on ESPN yesterday), we can absorb salary and use our TPE's and essentially get assets (picks, or players like Zeller) for absolutely NOTHING. Then the money comes off the books in 2016 anyways.

Great win tonight, they're finally playing like a team!

[Granath]

They're gone, LarBrd33.

How much longer are you going to trash them?

Saying that you don't want to pay a player x dollars isn't trashing them.

[cltc5]

I'm enjoying the youth movement.  Ainge kept options open and this is what we;re going with.  I think young and building will pay off nicely in the future.

[BleedGreen1989]

They're gone, LarBrd33.

How much longer are you going to trash them?

Saying that you don't want to pay a player x dollars isn't trashing them.

It's the whole tone of the thread, really. Or seems to be.

[Eja117]

I'll believe we get a top free agent to come here when I see it. The Rondo critics want you to believe there was no way on Earth Rondo was coming back but that other guys will come here for no apparent reason. Sure they will.
I'm supposed to get excited because we get Dragic and a pick in like 2016 or something? That's supposed to be the path to glory? Wow. Yeah. Ok

[GreenFaith1819]

They're gone, LarBrd33.

How much longer are you going to trash them?

Saying that you don't want to pay a player x dollars isn't trashing them.

But TBH - the title of this thread just seems classless.

And this comes from the same poster whom I remember has called Rondo - "A Terrific Player".

For all their faults/whatever - they've both exhibited Celtic Pride.

Jeff Green's life was threatened with his heart condition...he's played out of position in OKC, came to BOS for a very popular player (Perk), endured the KG/PP trades, seemed to flourish under Rondo, then had Rondo traded, lol smh...

Rondo's played with a broken arm, etc, etc, etc..

Granted - I've accepted the direction that the team is going in, but I'm not going to trash two players whom at one time figured large in BOS's future.

Danny's changed direction. I accept that.

But as long as there are threads like this, there will be dissenters.

[SHAQATTACK]

Rondo attitude and not trying was so lame .

[fantankerous]

I'd sign Rondo to a max deal and trade Smart this summer in a nanosecond.  Smart is the most overrated Celtic in a decade.

[ssspence]

Generally, I think most folks grossly underestimate Ainge. I get that fans don't like seeing veterans traded for young guys and picks. But in terms of rebuilding the club into a consistent winner, Ainge is making smart business decisions for the Celtics.