Quick Peek Ahead To The Summer

I know this is dreaming but is there any way to land Kevin Durant…I might give up my 1st born, as long as he gets bought out and I could take him back of course (:!

why everyone was a little trigger-happy as the trade deadline was nearing this year. I think, deep down inside, we all realize that this might be our best shot at one last ring before painfully watching the core grow old without any cap flexibility to stop the bleeding.

DA made it clear what this team was built for with the ‘Sheed signing. It’s amazing how much longer that extra year looks now. The real question is: How would everyone feel if we won #18 this year? Would we be content with watching our core limp to the post season and put up a valiant effort before being ousted by a younger, more athletic team (see Hawks) ala the SAS? I think I would. #17 validated the KG trade for me, and #18 would validate standing pat this season and even the ’Sheed signing. You?

I’m going to be doing alot of sailing.

Future’s a mess. Impossible to figure out how it will all shake out… even for Danny, I imagine.

When this “era” is over, I don’t think it’ll take long for us to get back on the horse. Certainly, not at the championship level, but not at a mediocre level either. Middle of the pack. We don’t have any long-term bad contracts with us at the moment, so that flexibility will be highly useful. It’s up to Ainge to use it wisely, and not panic and pick the first guy that is available to be signed just to compete. If there’s no one there, there’s no one there… we can certainly wait it out for the right guy.

And let’s start buying picks.

but there are certain teams (the C’s of the late ‘50s-’80s, the Lakers from the early ‘80s-now) where the rebuilding cycle hasn’t been too painful – they’ve been able to repopulate their team with stars pretty quickly. Any insights as to how this happened, if that’s even possible in this era of arcane salary rules, and what lessons those teams might have for the C’s?

Thank God, we are in the Eastern Conference.

Depending on what Lebron, Dwyane, and Bosh decide to do this summer, things either remain the same, or if 2 of the three decide to pair up somewhere, then that’ll acutally make the eastern conference even more top heavy than it already is.

So we should remain relevant, for a few more years past the current one, and we could possibly still be a contender, by the simple fact that we are in the inferior conference. (unless the majority of the upcoming free agents all decide to sign with a team in the east.)

We must avoid those bleak years in the before time, before #17…

P.S. Most hilarious caption on the picture. My compliments to the chef.

is that his star player and face of the franchise (Rondo) is not really a carry the team kind of guy. I would have given up banner #17 to have Kevin Durant in a Celtics uniform. With good management – and OKC has that in Sam Presti – they will win more titles than the Cleveland LeBrons.

The Spurs have had a lengthy run with Duncan, Ginobli and Parker but they are near the end. If Ginobli is not re-upped and Duncan ages more quickly, they will be in the same boat as the C’s with Parker trying to carry them.

I’d clear the books of contracts, collect some draft choices and try to entice a top notch free agent to pair with Rondo in 2-3 years.

Jeff what will you write about in the off-season if you already use the possible topics now.
Besides what if Ray Allen reads this? And starts to worry about his future again? Do you take the full responsibility for another long slump? And the loss of #18?

Move the big 3 to the bench and get Al Jefferson back. Simple. Impossible.

I think Perkins and Rondo are untradeable.

if somehow we win a title then I think Danny will bring everyone back but try to add a few pieces like another shooter and an athletic 4. SCal is gone unless he re signs for cheap money as the 12th man. ditto for tony. In this scenario Ray becomes the 6th man and you find a younger shooting guard. The guy who would be perfect for us is Joe Johnson but there is no way we can afford him even if we re sign ray for cheap money because we will still be over the cap. Scenario 2 is we blow this up and try to get younger players and get under the cap. the major problem with going the free agent route is that we may not get any. let’s face it ,the draw for free agents to come to boston the past few years has been because they can play with kg and win a title. You take that away and where are you? WHo is going to want to come to boston with no kg or pierce here? the better alternative is to trade pierce,kg etc for younger talent . we had that chance at the trading deadline with ray but we didn’t do it. At some point we’re going to be rebuilding but I suspect that danny will try to squeeze one more year out of this group.

They’ll try to resign some of the guys they have, plus add a draft pick. The big excitement will involve all of the blue chip free agents who can opt out and sign with the teams that have carefully cleared cap space for that purpose. But none of them are coming to Boston.

I expect LeBron to stay in Cleveland, but either Bosh or Stoudamire will go to Miami to play with Wade. I don’t know who will be willing to go to NY or NJ.

So Celtics fans will spend the summer with their faces pressed up against the candy store window while we argue furiously about whether we should give the MLE to Marquis Daniels or someone else.

I would have guessed a stink pot captain like Quint from JAWS.

I’m a believer in the 3 year plan and this is year 3 and they are going for it all . Not trading Ray was a good move (since Iguodala and Ellis weren’t do-able) for this year. I think Nate Robinson will be a positve roster “shake up”. Eddie was terrific in many ways and limited in other ways. Hell-making quickness is a needed asset for us.

Next year, I bet we keep Ray at about $5 mil/year. We re-sign Daniels and Nate (because I think you said we could re cap. Therefore they are most valuable to us). I wouldn’t trade Perk as he and Rondo have a good comraderie and securing the 1 and 5 positions is still very hard to do. Witness the Sam Dalemberts out there. I like Glen Davis’ dimension – wide, athletic. He can learn how to not get his shot blocked and we need a dirty-nosed rebounder.

So, let next year unfold to find its level. Not championship level probably. Distractions will be healthy. Sailing is good. I’m going to Machu Pichu. Keep the “next big thing” in sight which is the new CBA and please, Danny, hold onto your draft picks.