Marion…make that 3 way happen.

PHO is a natural destination for KG.

Thank god….enough of Garnett.

thank god

no JRich, the last thing this team needs is another injured swing man. for 5 years of max money, no less…

YES!!!!! Thank god Big Al isn’t leaving. I would have given up anyone other than Al for Garnett, and I’m glad we didn’t have to.

No, if we don’t get KG we must keep the pick, Marion is worthless!!

I actually thought this deal might get done and was ambivalent about it but I think this firmly closes the door. It is kind of depressing that Boston is such an unattractive destination for nba players. It should also be noted that Andy Miller is also Telfair’s agent so he may have beef with ownership over the whole gun possession issue this spring.

Maybe now Pierce will ask for a trade, given that a big name player has spurned the idea of playing with him in Boston.

its 2 am where I am currently. Greatest news I have ever gotten at 2 am.

I think this whole KG situation leads to him ending up in LA with Kobe, it seems to make the most sense.

This sucks! Got my hopes up again.

welcome home again al jefferson. just like when iverson was the rumor. I am glad you never left.

This is a huge success.

Now if only we can trade PP for the right package of young players, picks, and cap room… oh, wait. That’s what McHale was trying to do with us!

la could offer an enticing package of odem, brown and bynum, doubt they would want to give up that much though.

Hopefully that ends that. I have really become a big fan of the IDEA of what this team may become. Especially if we get lucky with the #5. I may be crazy but I’ve spent so much time watching this team develop that I want to see what they can become. KG, as good as he is was kind of a buzz kill for me. I’ve put in this much time. I’m willing to wait longer. As long as the direction of everything seems right. Which to me it does. Lets keep Al Rajon Gerald and the #5 whoever that will be. Let them play with Pierce for the next 4 years and hopefully by then with a few playoff runs under their belt they’ll be ready to do it on their own.

Anyway I’m relieved to hear that Al is staying put!

If Garnett made this statement yesterday, how come we’re only hearing about it now? I think Jeff’s behind this.

My guess is that either Kobe or KG will end up in Chicago.

PLEASE DONT GET MARION. PLEEEEEEEEAAAASSSSSEEEEE!!!!

Pheewwwww!!!! Now please just keep Al and GMoney and Draft a big man

All right Brick, according to you the deal was going to be made even if Garnett didn’t agree to an extension because the evil owners just wanted to drive up the value for a year so they could sell the team. Can you please take back all of that nonsense?

I like the three way deal for Marion a lot better than this one anyway. Further, screw Pheonix make them cough up the 14 to make it happen. Why give up the five at all? If the Celtics could pull the three way and keep the five or get Minny’s seven, that would be a great trade.

Thank you Mr Garnett that made my day!!!!!!!

I expect big pre-season predictions about a Celtic comeback from all the people who hated on this deal. If Al Jefferson has more upside than Garnett does, then the team ought to be really good next year. What does Pierce have to complain about since Al Jefferson is going to go for 22 and 11 next season? Right?

you guys we wont be good next year or the next 5. We ll bea first round and out team at the most. It will be even worse if we trade paul.

So when are the Jermaine O’Neal/Pau Gasol rumors going to start? There nothing I love more than marshmallow big men who are allergic to the paint.

Can’t we start some Kirilenko rumors? Shane Battier rumors? Gerald Wallace rumors? Why don’t the rumors ever relate to players the Celtics ought to be targeting?

JohnCK said:

“All right Brick, according to you the deal was going to be made even if Garnett didn’t agree to an extension because the evil owners just wanted to drive up the value for a year so they could sell the team. Can you please take back all of that nonsense?”

I said repeatedly that the only one who could torpedo the deal was KG, and I was right. The owners would have been happy to have him opt out, but not if he threatened to do so publicly.
 

No matter what else happens this upcoming year, KG just won the Celtic’s MVP by refusing that trade. Hopefully Marion saves Ainge from himself as well. I still have a bad feeling Ainge will sell long term talent for a short term fix to save his own job, however.

In other news, has anyone seen Jeff lately? We may want to check the local bridges for jumpers since the object of his man-crush has openly spurned him…

Wait, if even Marion won’t play in boston maybe it’s time we trade PP…

So consider this: Kevin Garnett said he’d rather WALK AWAY from $24 million dollars than play for the Celtics. I can’t think of a more DAMNING indictment of the Ainge/Grousbeck/Rivers era.

$5 says they blame it on the weather.

It is funny how everyone talks about Marion wanting to “be the man” but when push comes to shove he doesn’t want to go to be Boston or Minny where he will be more prominently featured.

First rumor that makes sense. KG learned in Minny that he can’t do it alone. If he wants out to go to a winner but he takes a $21 mil salary with him its a very rare team that can take him and hold onto enough other talent (high priced) to win anywhere inside the cap. LA’s Buss or the nutcase Dolan in New York could go Steinbrenner perhaps. KG could win in Phoenix if he saaid “Look, bring me in and I’ll re-write my contract to hold onto the guys we need” Tom Brady was that smart. Is KG? I actually think he is.

I think the Bulls and C’s are on the right track. Draft-Develop-Hold. No whiffs on draft day. Here’s a lesson – the Bulls would be better if they held onto Tyson Chandler than Ben Wallace. Let’s not do that with Al or Gerald.

I’m just a fan with a 20,000 foot view. Fronm there I like Noah or Brewer. I think we have enough scoring power. But hopefully the guys with the 20 foot view are working their asses off to get us impact talent. I do trust Danny’s drafting, not his trading.

i’d like to propose a trade:

i’ll trade all the people who would rather have al than kg for 3 people who know anything about basketball… mm probably can’t get 3… how about 2 people who know something about basketball and 1 baseball expert

wheeeewww … losing Big AL would of been a long-term blow

thank god is right.. the price was too high.

“Hey Paul Pierce F You!” --Kevin Garnett

yes!!!!! i am so frickin relieved. anyone else here feel like because of all this you’ve realized we have a much better future than ya previously thought? i feel that way

Wildblue,

KG couldn’t rewrite his contract and give back money if he wanted to. It is agaisnt the CBA. I guess he could opt out and then resign with Pheonix for less money, but the idea an NBA player, no matter how rich, leaving money on the table to win is so mind boggling I can’t even think about it. I doubt it would ever happen.

Brick,

You never said any such thing. You kept saying all day that this would happen because the owners needed to drive up the value of the franchise to sell it. “Never said do publicly”? Give me a break. What do you think their plan was to hope that no one ever asked Garnett if he was planning to opt out? Get Garnett to lie for them? There is no way they could have made the deal secretly planning for Garnett to opt out. That is just crazy and that is not what you said. All I am asking is that you at least tone down on the conspiracy theories. I don’t blame you for hating on the ownership but the conspiracy theories are a bit much.

Boston will continue to languish in mediocrity. Keep Al. Lottery again next year and the year after…. KG will stay in Minn or move to Phoenix. They’ll say we were never shopping him.

Great now we can suck for 20 more years but dont worry we will still have al jefferson because hes just so dominate. I mean we’ve had this core of guys for 2-3 years now and we got nowhere, but dont worry we get to keep al jefferson because he averaged 18/11 while Pierce was out with an injury. Dont worry we still have the immortal al jefferson who is going to get a vastly overpaid extenstion when he is due. This was the chance to make some noise and frankly no celtics fans wanted it to happen because we are all so blinded to the celtics brain washing of al jefferson. In order to get anywhere you need a force down low on offense and defense, al jefferson is not a defensive force. I think most of you are going to be in for a surprise when jefferson has a bad year because hes not going to be the focal point with Pierce out on the floor, and nor should he be.

 i’m looking for big al to freak out this year!!!

Pho could easily make a deal for KG by sending Marion out with a pick or two from this year,and Atlanta’s unprotected next year. They could maybe do a three way involving Washington too, since they have Jamison who is expiring. Personally, I’d like to see him go to Pho, cuz I love Nash and the style of ball they play.

BTW, I’m relieved that we are not dealing the #5 & Big Al.

JohnCK, quoting myself from an earlier tpost today:

"They are desperate and they are going to do it. The owners and business people are driving it. My guess is that they are shopping the franchise (having lost their shirts, equity-wise, over the last 4 years) and they believe that Garnett will enhance value. He won’t, but they aren’t smart enough to realize that. Certainly none of the rumored deals makes basketball sense.

And of course Jefferson would be included. That way, they do not have to worry about his extension. It’s a financial move, and I expect that the Celtics’ bean counters would not do the deal if Jefferson were staying.

The only one who can stop it is Garnett himself by refusing to come to Boston."

I bet the next rumor from those geniuses Grousbeck and Ainge will be Ratliff, Jefferson, Szxzcerbiak and #5 for Camby and Iverson.

Yeah, I guess the mystique of Doc Rivers just wasn’t enough.

I’m sure KG got an earful on Rivers from Davis, Blount, Banks and Reed.

In the glory days, nobody from any other NBA team wanted to “offically” play for the Celtics. They were too hated. That’s part of what made it so much fun.

I think this whole KG situation leads to him ending up in LA with Kobe, it seems to make the most sense.[/i]

 who said these comments? you cant be serious can you?

Lakers have nothing to offer the Timberwolves..
 and If kobe gets traded. He gets traded to the east.
If boston is lucky, Kobe lands with the Knicks..
 and playoffs? Playoffs?
your kidding me …. i hope…

Why do big name free agents not want to play in boston? Yeah, it’s cold in the winter, but Chicago is cold, New York is cold and Boston has more history and banners then both those cities. I mean it’s not like these big name free agents kinda don’t want to come to boston, they are totally against it. It’s like Boston is a leper colony or something

Vegas, I could explain it to you, but it’d take too long if I had to be PC in doing so.

Maybe I’m an idiot but Im not totally convinced this still can’t/wont happen. There are several back avenues the C’s can try to make KG more willing to come to boston. I heard Marc Murphy on espnews and he still thinks the c’s will try to trade for him. Remember money talks, B.S. walks.

Best news I’ve heard since the Iverson trade died.

Cheers

Aussie

Back to the drawing board…unless Ainge thinks that once KG gets here, he’ll feel the “mystique” of playing under the banners.
If he doesn’t, then we get $22 million in cap relief. Who knows. KG doesn’t have to like the trade, he just has to show up.

So KG and Marion say No to Boston….So no #2 pick this year, no-one wants to come here, an 18 game losing streak, what a sad state we are in….NO WONNNNDER everybody overrates our players…could it be because we are forced to accept what we have???

I’m Boston born and raised, and I’ve been to Chicago a couple times over the last few years. Let me tell you, I’m 32, and if I were 20-40 years old, and making millions as an NBA player, Boston would be Fairbanks Alaska compared to Chicago. Chicago is an awesome, awesome place. It’s got 7 million people, the hottest chics imaginable, and a party scene to envy. If you’re single, go to Chicago and enjoy. ;D

Oh, and Chicago has a sizable African American community, which appeals to African Americans obviously. It’s somewhat like what Yi wants. A city that has a fair amount of Chinese Americans.

 Roy Hobbs said:
  Keep Al, get Gasol.

Agree….

maybe it is for the best that kg isn’t coming here, but it still kinda sucks when a player says he doesn’t want anything to do with your franchise lol. sigh

I don’t understand this sense of urgency that the Celts seem to have with regard to a trade. With a surplus of young players plus the Theo chip, the Celts will attract a lot of attention from a number of teams.

It would be wise for the Celts to be patient and explore opportunities in February. Typically in February you’re more apt to secure a better deal either from a contending team or a team that is hopelessly out of the playoff race and looking to unload salaries.

Unfortunately I’m not too familiar with the city of boston. I’ve been there twice. Was able to hit Red Sox games both times, but it’s sad to say that as many celtic games as I’ve watched and as many tears that I have shed for this team over the last 25 years, I never had the chance to go to the Garden or even the Fleet Center for that matter, er I mean TD Banknorth.

If Vegas ever got a franchise, I’d be front and center for the Celtics, I know that much. I got Summer League to look forward to. That’s about it

Time to look back at previous trade speculations for #5. Primary on my list (if we go the draft route) would be to trade #5 with Charlotte for their #8 and 22.

At 22 we could be looking at defensive standouts (Herbert Hill, Stephane Lasme, Sean Williams). I’d be very happy to get Green or Brewer at #8. What we’d get at #32 (unless that pick goes to Charlotte) would be the best available athlete…perhaps foreign etc.

KG doesn’t want to play for Doc?

Glad we are keeping Al but we will still suck next year. I rea;ly hope Ainge can net us Johnson/Marion or Lewis in a trade that revolves around Gerald and/or the 5 pick.

scndtony said:

“KG doesn’t want to play for Doc?”

Apparently Marion doesn’t want to play for Doc either— or with Pierce.

i just dont understand people saying we have a bright future. Al is our only bright spot. Green and Rondo could be stars but we dont know. Pierce will be gone soon so hes not part of our “Bright” future. I wish people would explain this to me

Trade PP for atlanta’s # 3 and # 11 … tank AGAIN next year and go for OJ Mayo.

Re West Side; If Paul Pierce was traded for Atlanta’s #3 (Horford?) and #11….who would we want at #11?

Does Marion have an opt out clause? If he doesn’t, I frankly could care less what he wants. He is under contract and can show up. If he doesn’t like his boss, I guess he can just, I don’t know, live like the rest of us and go to work anyway. That is unless there is another line of work for him that will pay him an 8 figure salary. I don’t see how what Marion wants is really very relevent.

It is looking to be a buyers market for players this off season. I still think Kobe is gone in LA. O’Neil is gone in Indiana. Rashard Lewis needs a home. Minnisota is looking to trade KG. Vince Carter or Jason Kidd or both could be traded from New Jersey. Memphis may move Gasol. Atlanta may be looking to move Joe Johnson. That is a lot of top flight players who need homes. The Celtics need to sit tight. A good player will be available at a decent price. A price that will not include trading the future away by getting rid of Jefferson.

Marion has two years left on his present contract making a trade too costly for a 2 year “rental”.

I can almost forgive Ainge on Iverson as AL was still unknown as was the #1 pick,if it was included but this FIASCO is a joke…let’s hope we use our mulligan effectively….#5&PP used or traded with AL can bring a winner

no kidding said:
  “In the glory days, nobody from any other NBA team wanted to "offically” play for the Celtics. They were too hated. That’s part of what made it so much fun."

I don’t know how old you are, but you’re obviously not old enough to know how wrong you are. There was a time when vets clamored to get traded to or signed by the Cs. Most of them never got the opportunity until the end of their careers, but many great players retired as Celtics by design.

Want some examples? Pete Maravich, Bill Walton, Tiny Archibald, Otis Birdsong, Ray Williams, Artis Gilmore, Xavier McDaniel, Wayne Embry, Jim Paxson, Dominique Wilkins, Scott Wedman, ML Carr, DJ, Paul Silas—all were quality players who were happy to eventually play for the Celtics, either signing as free agents or happily accepting trades.

hey Master Po!!!!!

moskqq – at # 11, perhaps Jeff Green, Julian Wright, Spencer Hawes, Conley, Acie Earl would all be available

let’s see…so far we give up the stable for KG…#5 for Marion or maybe keep AL,PP&#5 and get Lewis…option 3 is BY FAR the best…so why is it option3????

AL,PP &#5

Like I said, KG’s not coming here. Kobe’s not coming here. This is a good thing. The bad thing is that nobody wants to play in Boston, including the team captain.

Most of the numbers in the rafters were guys drafted by the Celtics. San Antonio’s big three were all drafted by San Antonio. There’s something to be said for building through the draft.

Calm down Cousin. First off, I was using hyperbole. Secondly, I’m old enough to have watched the Celtics from the Russell era. And thirdly, most of those guys who joined the Celtics were really happy to do so, but not all of them were too big on making public pronouncements about it prior to coming our way.

Everyone against these trades keeps saying “why would you trade the future for a one year rental?”

I dont think that anyone who supports either deal (kg or marion) backs a one year rental. I would say even danny isn’t THAT stupid to trade al or 5 for a player without assurance they’re going to be around several more years so stop calling anything a one year rental

sounds like this deal was basically done and then Garnett backed out in the end. I’m happy we get to keep AL, but I don’t like 2 players today openly saying they don’t want to come to Boston (Garnett, Marion) I know the Celtics didn’t do well last year. Garnett I’m sure wants to play with a contender, and Marion doesn’t want to go from the Suns high speed offense and getting far in the playoffs to Boston, even though they would do much better with him. I would assume Pierce is out here lobbying for some veterans also. I just hope that we get someone, and Pierce doesn’t ask to be traded. I have a feeling if this deal was going to be made, Danny had a second deal possibly lined up, not sure we will ever know though

reggie35 said:
  “The bad thing is that nobody wants to play in Boston, including the team captain.”

Um, really? So, did Pierce tell you this while you were painting each other’s toe nails?

Offering opinions about trades is a great way to kill time. Pretending to know the internal thought processes of the players is a waste of time.
 

Just draft and develop…
…and and then trade Paul Pierce. ;D

exactly…if trading him is needed…Theo’s deal will bring us a player before feb,Wally ‘s next yr =another player…we’re ok if we remain patient

This is really depressing news. At this rate, we will be mired in lottery h*ll for years. :(

But on the bright side, think of all the cap room we’ll eventually have to land a top tier free agent. Oh yeah, no great players want to come here. Never mind. ;)

Well im going to enoy the C’s going 72-10 this year because from what im reading here is that there is no NBA player in the league that is better than what we got and worth trading for. I guess we hang #17 this year yippee.

Al Jefferson’s stock has automatically climbed up just from this rumor alone.

it started with Pitino when he did not get Duncan it went downhill from there he became the worst coach in Celtic history followed by Rivers think of a lineup of Billups,Joe Johnson in it. Ainge is rapidly approaching Pitino so keep the 5 pick and Al use the mle for a sign trade for lewis and just play hard

BTW, neither Marion or Lewis would help this team much. We needed Oden, Durant or Garnett. My guess is we’ll take either Yi or Brewer with the # 5 pick. Yi won’t contribute for a few years and Brewer would probably get no PT playing for Doc given the surplus of swing players we already have (Pierce, Wally, West, Allen, Gomes, Green) and Doc’s penchant for sitting young guys a lot (see Gomes, Rondo, Green). I’d rather see us draft Noah at # 5 if he’s still there. We need a low post guy who can play defense and block shots.

Garnett just killed his trade value. The teams that can offer the best package were Boston and Chicago. If Minn still wants to trade him, with Chicago really being the only place that meets KG’s standards can put together a solid offer and Chicago knowing that there is no competition for his services can low ball.

I say the Celtics should;

1. make the trade, with a much lower offer, no #5 for sure. Because MN is not going to get a better offer elsewhere.

2. Fire Doc and get a real Coach.

3. The owners should now realize how little value the franchise has – no one wants to play here. No fans will pay to see the team.
3A. Sign another good player Rashard Lewis, Salary tax be damned…you need to spend money to make money. They will make all the money back with a deep playoff run.

4. If the above is done the Celtics will get some respect and KG might even re-up instead of opting out.

hooray!

Brickowski said:
  THANK YOU KG!!!!!

AND HIS AGENT. We owe them a Garnett/Miller nite at the garden. Thanks for putting us, who didn’t want this deal, out of our misery.

Maybe we’ll finally go about rebuilding properly – move Pierce for prospects and picks and be patient with the kids we’re already developing.

We found a diamond in Al Jefferson, perhaps another one in Rondo, and perhaps a third in Gerald Green.

Danny should stick with what he does best – find talent through the draft.

This trade would have been horrible for us – we should not even consider trading Al Jefferson… it’s just absurd. You don’t trade away a gifted big like that who has his whole career ahead of him, a player like him is incredibly hard to find.

Build around Big Al and get rid of Pierce.

This reminds me of the Mets situation, a few years ago until they grossly overpaid for Pedro.
They could never get the #1 option to play for them. They had to always throw a ton of money at the #3 option. Finally, they went for broke and paid Pedro in money and years, look now he is hurt, not such a great deal right? Maybe not after signing Pedro, Beltran signed with them and Delgado agreed to be traded to them.

Bottom line a team needs to show that it is committed to winning, not rebuilding. The are times you need to make a statement. KG is that statement. Even if you will only have him for 2 years. Those 2 years will allow the Celtics to get other good players. Right now no one is coming here except draft picks.

Yawnnn….and back to 10 projects on a single team again, learning how to get their butts kicked hopefully a little less this year..At least Rashard is willing to come here??? If Al is going to be “the man” downlow for our future, Lewis is a good option for 3. Rashard would also play better being in the East.

Don’t get Marion???

What is wrong with you people?

What do we lack? Defense? Injury? Insane athleticism?

The year before last MARION WAS THE MVP of the Suns not Nash. Look at his stats…please!

The 5 pick and our trade last year on draft day can net us THE MATRIX, to play next to Pierce and Jefferson. STOP undervalueing this guy. Look at how many games he’s missed in his career…the guy has Iverson energy and wants to prove he can play without Nash…let him prove it!

Ainge is going to say we tried for Garnett, couldn’t make it happen but we got Marion without losing Al or Green. LIKE IT! We could win 50 in the East.

To be clear regarding Minnesota’s 1st round pick.

We get their 1st round pick THE YEAR AFTER the Clippers get their 1st round pick and the Clippers don’t get the pick until Minnesota makes the playoffs…then the next time they make the playoffs. If by 2012 they don’t make the playoffs twice we LOSE THE PICK.

Next year’s Portland’s 2nd round pick is more valueable in this pick, stop using it like a chip cause it isn’t.

I feel like we dodged a bullett, and were rebuked at the same time. Who can blame anyone who doesn’t wan to come to Boston. Cold climate, old city with racist rep, and a team thats been a loser the whole life of all these guys. Improving thru the draft may be our best shot at building a contender. If these kids come and develop some comraderie, they’ll want to stay.

This draft will be a good opportunity to draft an impact player, whether its Jeff Green, Brewer, Yi, or whoever. I’m liking Noah the more I hear about him. He appears tough and talented, a good team-mate.

The second round is going to have some talented options at #32, either a PG or a big man. Chris Richard seems interesting. His measurements suggest a guy with a Oden-esque wingspan and he’s 6-9/250 lbs. He always looked good filling in at Florida for Noah and Horford. This draft is exciting for its mystery.

DinoRadjaLives said:
  “Thank God!!!!!!!!! No Marion either!!!!!!! I say lets try to pick up Lewis for cheap as he is gonna walk anyways, Theo and Minny’s 1st rounder next year, perhaps a gomes to sweeten the deal”

Jeez, if you didn’t want to give up this year’s #5 for Marion, why on earth would you want to give up Minnisota pick — which is very likely to be a high pick by the time we use is, considering how Minnesota isn’t getting any better any time soon — for Rashard Lewis, a softball “big” man who doesn’t rebound or play D?

WTF?

fyi injury = intesity in my earlier post.

Fired up.

This time of year makes my head spin..sorry.

Let’s keep drafting players so we can use “their young” excuse for the next 21 years.

thank you soooooooooooo much kevin. if he was 26 or 27, then a trade would be maybe, maybe, maybe ok. but at 31, i hope garrnett has a wonderful life someplace else.

methinks he wants to go to LA, detroit, dallas, phoenix, et al.

Ok enough of that rumor. Draft Jeff Green and lets see what we can get for Gerald Green, Delonte West, Ryan Gomes and Ratliffs contract.

HOOPS! said:
  
"To be clear regarding Minnesota’s 1st round pick.

We get their 1st round pick THE YEAR AFTER the Clippers get their 1st round pick and the Clippers don’t get the pick until Minnesota makes the playoffs…then the next time they make the playoffs. If by 2012 they don’t make the playoffs twice we LOSE THE PICK."

Err… not quite. First, we don’t get the pick until TWO years after the Clippers get their pick (because under the so-called “Septien rule,” no team can trade away its first round pick in consecutive years), which means, for example, that if the Clips get their pick next year, the Celtics get theirs in 2010.

2. If we don’t get the first round pick in (or before) 2012 (because the Clips don’t get theirs until 2011) then it becomes a second round pick in 2012. The “Septien rule” only applies to first round picks.
 
 

Now that this trade is dead (Bulpetts bull notwithstanding), let me repeat my mantra:

Replace Rivers
Draft Conley
Trade Pierce

Brick…maybe if Conley drops to 5 we can get more trading his spot,keep Rondo,and still shop PP…????

No.

Draft Conley

Trade Pierce (preferably for a package that includes a good young defender, e.g. Kirilenko, Tayshaun Prince, Gerald Wallace, Caron Butler)

Trade Rondo to Atlanta for #11.

Draft Tiago Splitter with #11. Wait a year for him to come over, if necessary.

Acquire a mid to late first rounder and try to get Rudy Fernandez or Marco Belinelli. #24 is certainly for sale.

Use #32 (a very valuable pick in this year’s draft) to get one of the studs who slides out of the first round. To give you just one name, Derek Byars could be just as good as Jeff Green.

That’s my plan and I’m sticking to it.

Let me add that my plan is 180 degrees from Ainge’s plan, which appears to be to keep Pierce and trade #5 for whatever veteran help he can get.

i went to bed last night with a feeling that i’d wake up with good news on this front.. and i did..

this just shows that KG doesnt think he can win it with PP and KG in Boston. See, we were right. What is the point of trading away our future for a lineup that CANT win it.
just so we can loose in the first round.. and some of you can feel so much better about being celtics fans for 1 year then start drying again the year after and complain how we have no future and have to rebuild again. pathetic

Thanks Brick…made it very clear that it isn’t a strong piece to trade.

Conley? Rondo is faster…bigger…can shoot as good, probably better (check his last 10 games) and will be a top defensive player next year.

Green? That guy is as methodical and slow as they come…no thanks.

If we draft, Oden, Durant and Horford are gone. Leaves us with Wright maybe or Brewer. Those 2 plus Law are the next 3 sure things in this draft…Get JRich and Law at 18 if you must for Theo and the #5. We’d be better and as entertaining as GS just like that…look what they did out West.

So many options…Thanks Danny!

Thanks Brick…made it very clear that it isn’t a strong piece to trade.

Other than that, my goodness….your plan sucks. Are you Chris Wallace?? Or you like winning 24 games and want to do it for the next 5 years???

Conley? Rondo is faster…bigger…can shoot as good, probably better (check his last 10 games) and will be a top defensive player next year. Conley?

Green? That guy is as methodical and slow as they come…no thanks.

If we draft, Oden, Durant and Horford are gone. Leaves us with Wright maybe or Brewer. Those 2 plus Law are the next 3 sure things in this draft…Get JRich and Law at 18 if you must for Theo and the #5. We’d be better and as entertaining as GS just like that…look what they did out West.

So many options…Thanks Danny!

It has nothing to do with KG and PP fitting in, the Suns are light years ahead of the C’s and KG is a smart man. Do you want to be part of one of the elite teams in the NBA or become a mediocre playoff team in Boston. Who knows if Minnesota was in the EAST they would have probably made the playoffs. Lebron’s cast of characters was far from that much better than KG’s. If we can get Marion without getting rid of Big Al then lets do it. Make the Suns give up the veteran talent, Amare and we’ll supply the draft pick, and Theo’s contract. Perk, Big Al, Marion, PP, and Rondo with Gomes, Wally, West, and Green is a solid team in the East. Plus we don’t budget our future to acquire one of the most underrated players in the league in Marion.

Conley is better than Rondo. If you don’t believe me, wait a year.

Let me add that I would expect my team to win 30-35 games next year. In 2008-2009, with a better coach, I would expect 45 wins, and 50 per year thereafter.

Utah won 41 games in Deron Williams’ first year, with Boozer hurt most of the year. So I think 45 wins in year two and 50 threafter is fairly realistic. You’d have Jefferson, Kirilenko (to take one hypothetical), an improving Gerald Green, Splitter and Perkins up front, Rudy Fernandez (explosive guard) Tony Allen, Gomes and Delonte West, all of whom would be in their 5th year. That’s nine rotation guys— with Kirilenko the oldest at age 28—and Szczerbiak makes 10.

I’d go to war with that.

Oh,and I forgot Conley at the point lol.

Praise the Lord.

Ainge has got it in his mind to move the 5 pick. He’s like a poker player who just HAS to put his money in the pot. Nothing good will come of any of this, it’s just a matter of avoiding something really really bad. These are truly cursed times for the franchise. Can anyone here imagine a scenario where Orlando would trade Dwight Howard, a blue chip young big man? Yet Al Jefferson is bandied about like we have ten guys just like him waiting in the wings. Look for Al’s name to float around the league the rest of the summer. Every GM knows that Ainge is dumb and desperate, a terrible combination for Celtics fans. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jefferson and Ratliff offered up for Kidd, Moore and the Nets #1. These guys aren’t going to stop until they have some instant facsimile of a playoff team. Ironically, the only thing that might save this team now is Prince Paul-Hog demanding a trade to a contender. Here’s hoping he does so ASAP.

Sure wish we took a good look and hired Stan Van Gundy when we had the chance. Odds are though now even before taking the Orlando job, he wouldn’t have wanted to be here either.

I do think the “fire Doc” crowd unknowingly were onto something in regard to players not wanting to play for Doc.

Any other competent coach would have made a difference. As weak as the East is, Garnett could have had the Cs in contention to win the East which compared to what he had in Minny, really hurts.

El Danny-o needs to see what the market will give for Pierce.

Please Red forgive us for the dancers and loud music.

KG thinks our dancers are not hot enough. PHX has hotter dancers.

When you have talented NBA veteran players saying they won’t come to Boston, then I say screw them all. You also have another vet in Pierce who wants out if vet help won’t come. Time to get young, lean, and mean players. Maybe we continue to build, but sacrifice our vets for young hungry talent.

Let’s not forget the biggest weaknesses of our current team:

A) Poor half-court D, (pick-and-rolls, rotations)
B) Turnovers (Perk, AJ, Green, West)
C) Coaching

Either Marion, Lewis or Kirilenko could help reduce turnovers, but I don’t know if our D improves much with any of them. We already have guys who can score (Pierce, AJ, maybe even Rondo and West).

I like the idea of acquiring Tayshaun Prince from the Pistons. Is he really on the trading block?

THANK GOD! I’m not saying Garnett is a bad player, but he has a LOT of mileage and is (even if slightly) on the decline. He isn’t getting better. Next year may even be the last year he’s actually better than Al.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Garnett!

If nothing else this will simmer Paul Pierce down. Danny made a hard push to get him the “supporting cast” he needed and I’m sure at some level he’s gotta appreciate that. Now that this mess is over let’s avoid Marion & Lewis draft Corey Brewer and figure it out from there.

Why is there all these comments about trading Paul Pierce. He is the only thing tht this franchise has had since bird left. Big Al may be great, and an even better trade chip. But he is certainly not on the same level with Paul Pierce. The only reason he wants 2 be traded if he doesnt get help is because he doesnt want 2 end up like KG is in Minny. Keeping AL is nice but trading Pierce is stupid. So please Danny get us some vet help. The Rashard Lewis deal looks best 2 me. least we keep Al,#5 and possibly Green, if we get lewis.

If you want PP gone then ur not a true Boston Celtic’s fan

They were just talking about the trade on ESPN and they made it sound like Phoenix wants to trade Amare. Why? I would give them Pierce, the #5 for him. I don’t know why they want to trade him.

Thank you, Kevin Garnett. You saved the day.

phaze said:
 “THANK GOD! I’m not saying Garnett is a bad player, but he has a LOT of mileage and is (even if slightly) on the decline. He isn’t getting better. Next year may even be the last year he’s actually better than Al.
Thank you, thank you, thank you Garnett!”
[quote]
Totally agree!! Tell me if Jefferson came out of college this year would he be #1 ,2 or #3? I think we are ahead based he’s already on our team and we have the #5 chip to draft or deal.

Let’s see a what a healthy Celtics team can do in October.

Good! I’m glad we’re not blowing our loads on a couple of high salaried players who don’t want to play here.

DJ to Bird,

Both Marion and Kirelenko are among the best defensive players at their position. Either of them would be a huge help and upgrade to the Cs defensively. Lewis, on the other hand, is among the work defensive players in the league. Just terrible.

I don’t believe Ainge is just dying to unload that pick as others do. KG is a special circumstance but other than that I see us with a pick on draft night. Will it be #5 or #8, that may be the question. Let other GM’s think they can fleece Ainge. Please the guy is not a moron. He will just continue to try to add to the talent base as we move along. It’s all he can do right now. The question is who de we take at #5? Brick’s been slowly working on me with Conley but I still feel they need to get bigger even though passing on Brewer would be tough also. Brewer’s calling card is his defense and athleticism but I wonder if he can continue that high level of defense against NBA caliber talent to justify a #5 selection. Jeff Green seems to have a solid all around game but does he do any one thing great that would make you want him at #5 or is “solid” good enough? Brandon Wright is super long and while he’ll take time there may be things he can add right away. Finally, even though most if not all don’t see Noah as a good pick, I still keep coming back to him. I think he does a lot of things very well and will show that you can contribute a lot to the team effort without having to shoot the ball. He brings that old time Celtic heart onto the court with his competitiveness and desire. Remember that if this team is to end up doing great things eventually it will be as a team and with a collective team effort not just based solely on individual brilliance.

thank god – big al will stay in boston

celty86, nice draft analysis. Makes me happy to have the options we have. The thing is, I think at least a few of the other guys you mention will still be there at 8, so I wonder if the smartest move, as you alluded to, is to trade for the 8 and 22.

The only problem with that is (I know a hundred other people have said this already), it makes the Celtics even younger, with even more mystery pieces and projects. So, does it seem illogical to keep Pierce and more logical to trade him for a handful of good, not great, vets, to plug empty holes until the youngsters can develop into a solid rotation?

If so, I’m having trouble figuring out a scenario that brings back a good anough package. I like Kirelenko (and boy, would it be nice to hear Brickowski have something positive to say), but who else does Utah through in. If they’d do Kirelenko and Milsap, that might be interesting. But Milsap is one more youngster. I don’t know.

NYC has the “Donald”, we have the “Danny”. I don’t know what the Danny does with the #5, hopefully it works out for the best. However, if his pick is anything like what happened last year, “you’re fired”.

   I’m a Celtic fan, but wouldn’t want to live in Mass. Here’s your problems:

   1. Horrible weather (compared to Phoenix, LA, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston et all). Can’t boat, golf etc etc on off days and wives and kids want the warm weather too.

   2. Perhaps not the crookedest state in the Union (Louisianna comes to mind) but close. Look at your tax structure compared to other states.

   3. Relatively a long ways from ‘anywhere’ if driving. And your airport has a rather tainted reputation.

   It may not be fair to the great Boston fans, but this is the way Free Agents look at things. Obviously baseball is a summer sport so not a problem and football misses most of the really bad weather, but basketball eats every drop of it.

On the comment that trading Pierce being the equivalent of not being a true C fan, look-ee here. The goal is to build and NBA championship contending team. Although it would have mortgaged the future, the KG trade did give a 2-3 yr window assuming KG was on board. To me the proposed trade was too high a price, but I see the Danny’s logic and can’t be too critical at all on him for it.

If you don’t think the Cs can get the complimentary players for Pierce to make the run, common sense to me says you think about acquiring young talent to develop with Al and company.

I too would do a trade of Pierce and #5 for Amare if that rumor has any legs. If Pierce isn’t in the trade talk mix, it is a mistake IMHO. We can coast to a 500 or less record with Pierce, Al, Wally, the #5; or look for wholesale changes to improve this franchise. The Eastern conference is the JV of the NBA. It is wide open and we can build a contender for years to come if the Danny plays his cards right.

The Danny says we probably hang onto the #5 pick next week. So who do you do when do the #5 on draft night assuming you still have the pick, didn’t trade down, etc? My answer, I don’t know!

I will say this though. Whoever the Danny thinks with his superior above knowledge regarding drafting thinks is the best player available for the Celtic team for the long term after the Pierce years, that’s the person he should choose come draft night.

So, whomever he feels is the best long term, productive player, and you can make an argument for Brewer, Yi, Conley, Wright, Green, etc; that’s the man the Danny should pick.

Wilt, I see your point on the Boston climate. To me then the only solution is to pray for global warming. Damm you Al Gore, you are potentially ruining our chances for a banner.

Not sure how the cold weather would prove to be a problem for someone planing in Minnesota…

Anyways.. there is 6 days left before the draft goes down. I wouldnt be 100% sure the door is officially closed on any potential deal just yet.

Anyways.. there is 6 days left before the draft goes down. I wouldnt be 100% sure the door is officially closed on any potential deal just yet.If there is a deal my main concern is making a trade just for the sake of it and thats where it would annoy the hell out of me .

Garnett has been losing enough to not want to go to another losing team. And he’s probably heard enough about Doc and Danny from Banks, Blount, and RickyD. Not a ringing endorsemnet, I’m sure.

So we move on with Al and the 5th pick. I wonder how this all plays out in extending Al. He’ll make them pay up. There’ll be no loyalty card. We still need to get better defensively and longer, whether its via trade or draft, but clearly they are more interested in keeping PP than moving him, so they’ll need to get abig man. Jeff Green reminds me of AWalker, being a little stuck between SF/PF, not quick enough for perimeter, not big enough for post.

Danny is in a gambling mood, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him roll the dice with Yi. At least it will be faster than waiting for Brandon Wright to put on 30 lbs.

West Side suggested trading Pierce for their #3 and #11. I suggested that we’d probably take Horford at #3 but wondered who we’d take at #11.

West Side was quick to suggest “Acie Earl”….a legend in Celtic folklore….Ha! Ha!

No doubt it was a slip of the tongue, meaning instead “Acie Law” and NOT the grey-haired and aged “Acie Earle”. Loved the humor……

Cousin, I think Kirilenko is a fine defensive player and all but I wonder this. The thought process on trading Pierce is in getting back one or two very good young player(s)with the potential to be great. And in doing so probably take another hit for next season in regards to being back in the high lottery thus adding another potential gem. Then you would start to climb back up the ladder with all your core pieces at or near the same age. The variable though is that we don’t know how far the ceiling would be for the team at that point to make it worth falling back (unloading Pierce). Would it be first round and out, second round and out, further than that? Is second round and out worth that? For all of Chicago’s years of being in the lottery they now have a second round team that I’m not sure goes any further without a very good low post player. Pierce’s game can age well I think as he never has been a high flyer and he gets a lot of points at the charity stripe. If you stay the course and make a good pick at #5 (or #8 & #22) and then continue to let Al, Rondo, Gerald and the others mature it’s possible we could see the second round in a couple of seasons, maybe three. No? I look forward to your thoughts.

From what I’ve been reading about AK-47, PP would be alot to give up for him at this point. His own team doesn’t speak that highly of, and wants him to just shut up. If Wally’s health wasn’t such an issue , he’d probably be enough, and he still might be later in the summer. Theo’s contract would be , but the team isn’t going to do that.
   The Kobe situation is unraveling now. I thought he’d just shut up, and everything would down, and they’d pick up anther player like Pierce to improve the team, but thats apparently not happening. PP might be the interim piece that goes to LA when Kobe goes to a new team. Simmons did a trade scenario with Kobe going to Bulls and Boston being a facilitator. PP goes to LA, and Tyrus Thomas, Sefolosha, Duhon,and Gordon going to Boston. That seems like a lot, but clearly a deal could get done, and Boston would have lots of assets to move around, for picks and other players.

celty86, what can I say? I’m a glutton for punishment. I like the idea of sticking with the draft. There are too many intriguing guys coming out this year not to. Just my opinion. And I do think this team, when healthy and with a full training camp together, will be much, much better next year. So, they could add some nice young players and continue building for the future while also being competitive.

I’m as frustrated with the constant losing as anyone else, but I do think last year was an anomoly caused mostly by rampant injuries and a bad game coach.

i just miss Red you knew when he did something it was right