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I started putting together this list back in December, when the Celts were playing great team ball and riding a swarming defense to the top of the Eastern Conference.  Much has changed since then, including my list.  Unfortunately, most changes have occurred with under-performing players falling down the list, as opposed to surprise players climbing up the list.  It’s the nature of the C’s season so far. 

Here is my List of Not-to-be-Traded Celtics, from 1 to 12.

- This is purely theoretical.  Contracts are not taken into account.  We all know from three years ago that if a GM in the NBA wants to make a trade happen, they will make a trade happen.  For example, Jesus Shuttlesworth and KG came to Boston and Pau Gasol went to LA; both for mere peanuts, in retrospect.

1. The Truth – This man deserves to retire a Celtic.  He wants it and he has earned it.  He is the only true offensive weapon on the team, and he is the one lynchpin that they cannot win without.  For the briefest of moments I considered Rondo for #1.  I was thinking of the future and his potential.  It was a foolish idea.  No matter what Rondo becomes for the Celtics in the future, he will never be to this team what Pierce is to this team.  Pierce is The Truth.

Under no circumstance, ever, is Paul Pierce to be traded.

2. Perk – I understand the value that Rondo brings to this team, but do you understand the value that Perk brings?  He is a tenacious post defender and a do-everything teammate who plays hard every night.  He is still extremely young, and has room to learn, but his offensive skill sets (which should take a back seat to his defense) are already growing at a nice rate.  Perk will be needed in years to come because Bynum, Howard, and other young centers aren’t going to retire anytime soon.

Perk isn’t to be traded unless you get Bynum or Howard in return, and, honestly, I cannot stomach the thought of having either of those men on the Cs.

3. Rondo – Now, onto the man who causes quite a discourse amongst basketball enthusiasts.  Is he the best young point guard in the NBA, with a 15-year career ahead of him, or is he benefiting from playing with three all-time greats on a team built to win now?  Rondo isn’t my #1 because I don’t believe he’s the most important player on the team.  It’s an obvious fact that the Cs do not win when Rondo is the offensive force on the floor – his max needs to be 18 points in a game.  If he goes over that, the Cs tend to lose because they grow stale on the offensive end and the ball ceases to move.  He’s a ball distributor and a defensive hawk.  That’s what he has to stick to being.  He’ll always need a potent scorer on the floor with him for the Cs to win.  Now, that scorer is Pierce.  What becomes of Rondo when Pierce is gone?  I am not trying to demean Rondo; he is a phenomenal young player and one of the best young PGs in the game, but he’ll always need help.  And, unlike Perk, who is a glue guy and will complement anyone on the floor, I don’t believe Rondo is complementary to everyone.  There may come a time when Rondo hurts his team more than he helps it.

There is one man in the NBA I would trade Rondo for in a heartbeat – Chris Paul.  Flat out.  But I couldn’t do that to New Orleans.  Basketball would never recover there.

4. KG – He is the defensive heart of this team, as we’ve been reminded of since he arrived, but it certainly seems like his heart is slowly fading as the games pass.  It doesn’t help that his knees are quickly deteriorating.  Hopefully, he passes everything he knows onto Perk, who can then lead the defense into the future.

I would keep KG for the next season, but when it comes time for his 3-year extension to end, and his salary becomes a commodity to other teams, I would certainly look into flipping him for a younger scorer at the PF spot, perhaps Al Jefferson, Anthony Randolph, or Marc Gasol.

5. T.A. – Does this surprise you?  It surprises me, too.  But I looked at the old roster, and it makes sense to keep around some of the talented young guys who learned from the vets.  Tony has offensive explosiveness, but that isn’t his gift to the team.  His gift is his in-your-face shut-down defense and his proclivity to get steals off the other team’s best player.  If he works on his lay-ups and jump shots, he’ll become a better all-around player.  He’s already an energy guy (a bottle of lightning), and if he ever adds smarts to his talent (and that’s a big IF), then he could become the potent scorer the teams needs after Pierce’s retirement.  I doubt he will, but I’d keep him around.

I would trade T.A. in a heartbeat to get either David Lee or Hakim Warrick, both players I covet.  *In fact, everyone from this point on down the list would be thrown in to make a deal for either D. Lee or Prince Warrick.

6. Jesus Shuttlesworth – He’s still too good to give up for just anybody, and though he cannot carry the team for stretches on end, he will single-handedly win us a game in this year’s playoffs.  His shooting may be off, but the man plays, day-in, day-out.

Is he worth a few years of Kevin Martin?  I don’t know.  Is Kevin smart enough to learn our system and buy into our defensive scheme?  I don’t know. 

7. Glen Davis – Since he no longer rocks a nickname, he sounds like an aging country star.  Davis is this high on the list for one big reason – age.  He’s younger than everyone behind him.  I hope with added maturity and minutes he develops into a better offensive catalyst and defensive lynchpin.  Unfortunately, everything with Davis is a mystery.  He hustles.  He fights for rebounds and loose balls.  He takes charges.  You need guys like him on your team.  He’s also emotionally fragile and a little…dumb.  You don’t need guys like that on your team.

I’d package him in a deal for quite a few younger up-and-comers.  He’d never be the star of a trade, so it’s difficult to assess him one-on-one.

8. Sheed – He’s only this high because everyone below him has less talent and upside.  However, let me be frank, I extremely dislike how Sheed is playing this year.  His proclivity for shooting threes and playing lackadaisical defense frustrates me to no end.  He should have retired before the season began.  Perhaps he’ll turn things around before the playoffs.  More likely, he’ll get fatter and slower, and take more 3s.

It’d be impossible to trade him, but I’d like to see Ainge try.

9. Marquis Daniels – We’ll see how he progresses as he returns from injury.  I was enjoying his play early in the season.  I like his defensive intensity when healthy, but he has to show that he can hit the open 12-footer.

You can’t trade him.  He just came off injury and he’s on a 1-year deal. 

10. Scal – Scal is a team guy who gives his body for the ball and eats up fouls at multiple positions.  Would I rather have a more-talented 10th guy on the team?  Of course.  But I’ll take Scal, his hustle, and his occasional 3-pointer.

It will be sad to see Scal go, but whatever deal Ainge makes next, Scal is most likely going to be part of it, so…

11. Sheldon – He must not be the smartest Duke graduate, because he apparently hasn’t learned the system well enough to get minutes on the floor, but I liked what I was seeing early in the season.  He hustles, finishes around the rim, and finds the loose ball on the floor.  He was a poor, poor man’s Leon Powe.  Ah… I miss Leon Powe, even if he is still rehabbing.  If Powe’s healthy come playoff time, he will single-handedly win the Cavs a playoff game... and that thought makes me sick and depressed.

Throw Sheldon into any deal if another team wants him.

12. / 13. Walker and Giddens – These two are like Bert and Ernie, with Walker playing the loveable Bert and Giddens the surly Ernie.  Walker always has fun on the sidelines, he’s a great energy guy on the bench, but his talent seems limited and he’ll probably never amount to a quality player.  Giddens seems to have more talent and bball IQ, but he’s more distant and doesn’t seem as excited to be a bench player in the NBA.  Maybe that’s something that will drive him to become better.  Maybe not.

What’s the difference between these two and bench players on another team?  Trade ‘em if called upon.

14. 2-Point Eddie House – No one has frustrated me more on this year’s team.  His 3-point shooting has dipped to 37% (a career low for as many threes as he’s taken) and 70% of his 3-point shots are called 2-pointers because he can’t keep his damn feet off the line.  What is the point in taking a 22 foot 2-pointer?!?! 

Give the Cs any other 35% 3-point shooter in the league.  Anyone!

In conclusion, Pierce is the heart and soul of the Celtics.  Everyone else is merely on the team.  We need to keep some of our youngsters because we don’t have many, and a few of our vets need to be dumped if at all possible.  It’s probably not going to be pretty in the next few years, so let’s enjoy it while we can.

I know there are some fans out there who would trade anyone and everyone for a shot at Kevin Durant, Chris Paul (maybe not after injury?), Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, Deron Williams, Brandon Roy, Chris Bosh, or others (and others does include the hated triumvirate of LeBron, Kobe and Dwight Howard), but even though my list is theoretical, I’m not delusional.  I would never want to see LeBron, Kobe or Howard in Celtics Green – call me a F.A.N. – and the others are all extreme possibilities with questionable circumstances attached.  Acquiring any of those guys is great, but they’d need a team around them.  By trading our best commodities to get them, we’d be giving away their support system.  Could Durant win with T.A. and Scal moreso than he can win with Westbrook and Gasol?  We have great players; they’re just aged.  So we need to continue to develop the youngsters, flip a few vets for mid-level guys, and draft well (which is something we don’t usually do). 

Here’s hoping…