Rumor: Ainge Will Wait Another 10 Games

by Jeff Clark on Jan 20, 2012 4:47 PM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

Yes, another "blow it up" rumor post that doesn't really add a lot of new information. My apologies in advance.

Postups: As Magic plot to keep Howard, other scenarios blossom - NBA - CBSSports.com

League sources say Celtics president Danny Ainge is willing to wait at least 10 more games, and maybe longer, before deciding whether it's time to seriously pursue trade scenarios that would break up the Big Three.

Ainge has never wanted to let the Big Three era end because of age, leaving him with no resources to reload for another run of success -- which is why he engaged the Hornets in trade discussions for Chris Paul. The question he will confront in the coming weeks is whether it's too late. One rival GM said Thursday he believes the Celtics will hang on, take the time they need to figure out what they have, and still will be a dangerous out in the playoffs even as the seventh or eighth seed due to the extra rest and game-planning time in a seven-game series.

It isn't a secret that Ainge might want some more time to evaluate the current roster before getting too serious about the nuclear option. That said, it is interesting to hear report after report come out with little bits of specific information like this. Either there's a burning ember sitting in the woodshed, or there's a lot of people trying to make something out of nothing. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

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if it's true, it's dumb

ainge has already shown he’d rather roll the dice than go with the surest thing, so I guess this is no surprise. still, i hope he thinks long and hard about what it means to be a championship contender versus being in ‘rebuilding mode’

by JunkyardDawg on Jan 20, 2012 4:39 PM EST reply actions

I'm just guessing, but

I expect that Danny thinks about that pretty much all the time.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Jan 20, 2012 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

No news here

I doubt there are any hard timelines, but clearly there are points when you must get more pro-active with things.

The team still needs better rebounding a reliable scoring, would be interesting to see if NJ would be willing to Lopez for Pierce to increase the lure to pending FA Howard.

That being said, I don’t think Boston pulls the trigger on anything because I don’t see any teams who are willing to give up anything worth having.

Certainly, KG is immovable at 21 million, his money is more valuable as a disappearing act than it is in trade. Ray is desirable to every title contender, but none have anything worth having – maybe Memphis for Mayo & Arthur?

There’s not a Pierce deal out there that yields anything this team wants unless IND was willing to get silly. DAL would be a straight salary dump, which I don’t see happening.

As Ainge said, there are no great deals evident on the surface….riding it out seems the best/easiest option

by BillfromBoston on Jan 20, 2012 4:46 PM EST via mobile reply actions

agree

which is why I’ve thought from the start that we will end the season with the Big 3 and Rondo still on the team

Faith and Sports - an essay by Jeff Clark

by Jeff Clark on Jan 20, 2012 4:57 PM EST up reply actions

Yep. I completely agree.

I wouldn’t say the chance of some deal is completely zero. But pretty darn small.

Danny is pretty well set up to rebuild assets quickly. He’ll have a lot of cap space. Even if he can’t find a true stud FA to spend it on – i.e., if Howard is simply not on the market – he can still use it to acquire talent that can be later traded. Plus it is looking like we’ll have the Clipper’s pick this year. Sure it wont’ be a lottery pick. But combined with our own pick, it is always good to have two first rounders. Not only does that double the chance of picking a gem (if you just USE them) but it also gives you a powerful package to maybe use to trade up or out with.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Jan 20, 2012 5:08 PM EST up reply actions

Common Sense

I keep hearing about Danny blowing it up, but I think there’s a common sense thing in play here. If we are playing bad and not contenders, at least, a playoff team than I think Danny may trade any of the Big 3 starting in late Feb through the trade deadlne.

I still believe the most likely guy to be traded is Ray. He has an expiring contract and is still the best shooter in the NBA. Any team that can use shooting should be interested. The tough part is for Danny to not take back a lot of money so it does’t hurt him this summer. I think, if he is traded it will be a 3 or 4 team trade and not heads up.

I also think KG can be traded, but he has to play better than he is right now. Last season, I’ll bet Philly would have traded Brand and Turner for KG, just to get rid of Brand. That scenario probably isn’t avail now, with the way Philly is playing. But I do think, Danny if he tried could find a place for KG.

PP, that’s the tough one. I would hope that Danny doesn’t try to move PP unless he wants to be traded. If we are out of contention, PP might want to go to a contender rather than trying to rebuild here.

The most important thing for Danny is to acquire assets squadndering valuable cap space. LIke I said, I think it’s all common sense as far as how we are playing and then what is available – draft choices and young players – to help us rebuild.

by badax33 on Jan 20, 2012 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

I disagree, I see quite a few options

but it´s definitely smart to wait a bit longer, until teams are able to include free agents after March 1st.

by Casperian on Jan 20, 2012 5:53 PM EST up reply actions

Agree with Bill

Ainge wouldn’t want to have a reputation for being dumb (even though Master Po thinks that already) so he won’t chill such gossip . But Bill is right, a good, eye popping value isn’t coming in that door. So might as well have one more roundup and let the money pile up. Who knows, treat them square and they might sign back up for $4-5 mil each. There could be a fun year there with 10-12 15 min game players. +

by Wildblu1 on Jan 20, 2012 4:58 PM EST reply actions

Totally agree

No need to make a trade for the sake of just making a trade. Don’t trade these guys for 50 cents on the dollar. If you can’t get something worthwhile, see if they will come back on the cheap in a reduced role.

by bblakes5 on Jan 20, 2012 6:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

what? How did I get in on this?

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Jan 20, 2012 6:58 PM EST up reply actions

Sheesh - Ken Berger : Just typing in words to get paid?

There is literally no news content in that blurb.

‘League sources’ (really?)

Danny will wait and see how things play out before making any drastic moves. (really?)

10 games … and maybe longer. (Now THAT is nailing things down!)

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Jan 20, 2012 5:00 PM EST reply actions

“League sources, namely the work experience kid, suggested that Ainge will wait between 10 and 30 games before making a decision on deciding whether to decide if it is the right time to blow it up.”

"Can't eat sushi in Utah, brother. Landlocked."

by IsItTheShoes on Jan 20, 2012 5:51 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I don't know too much about numbers but.

If we are out of the playoff can we amnesty PP I know he can’t sign here this year, but what about next year. Let’s says we do it a week for the season is over. Next year can we sign him for the min? So we can have more money and he get paid all his money anyway? Can someone tell me it’s that posible?

by celt4ever on Jan 20, 2012 5:29 PM EST reply actions

danny do these trades.. rebuild

ray to the clippers. for gomes, foye & leslie.

bass & dooling to the kings for jj hickson

JO & wilcox to indy for l.stephenson.

- that is 25 million going out.
- only 13 coming in.
- with kg’s 21 million off in the summer. = 34 million in summer money
- minus the raises for rondo & the resigning money for hickson that is around 28 million for summer pay.
-your over 21 million as of now.
- so it free’s up 7 million to sign free agents. gives you young talent to build around.
- and if pierce wants to go play for a contender add 15 million to play with.
- 2 first round picks, the celtics would likey be a lottery pick so the chance of landing a special player goes up, i would love for a barnes or drummond to come here. package both picks to get 1 of them..

if pierce leaves and the celtics have 21 million to play with they could go after free agents like – gordon, love and sell the chance to play with rondo and these young players that are ready to develope into a OKC type team…

by jdunn123 on Jan 20, 2012 6:18 PM EST reply actions

right now they are slotted in the 10th spot..thats the tenth pick overall come draft time. that could land a henson, t.jones, or rivers (if leaves early).. than get a fab melo or with the clippers pick. drummond and melo would be my 2 picks if i could take any 2. add them to hickson, johnson, steeeemer, and i think that is a good young core of bigs. 2nd round pick i would look at players who have been struggling college wise and could drop, ryan boatright comes to mind. he is short but natural leader and scorer. would be a perfect rondo back up project.

by jdunn123 on Jan 20, 2012 6:28 PM EST up reply actions

evaluate

Its nice that Danny rightly wants to evaluate what he has before doing anything- we stand to lose nothing by standing pat and having cap space later. So when he says he needs to evaluate what he has, I assume he already knows what the vets can do. What he really needs to see is more of the young guys, but that isn’t happening unless injuries occur and Doc if FORCED to sub. Even if we do nothing, if we are looking bad at the halfway point we should increase their minutes significantly and let the vets deal with it.

by P stoff on Jan 20, 2012 9:18 PM EST reply actions

free agents

is josh smith a free agent this summer? would be nice to pick him up, trade p.p this year , k.g. and ray will be gone next year , which leaves room for howard too , the new big three next year , rondo , j.smooth , D-12 , i know it sounds crazy but nobody thought we would get k.g. after 07’,and we did, …ANYTHINGS POSSIABLEEEEEEEEE !!!

by wal mark on Jan 20, 2012 10:14 PM EST reply actions

Make your move Danny.

What does Danny really have? This team isn’t going anywhere and anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional. So, its only logical then to use the assets to kick start the future. And, my guess is that we as Celtic fans over estimate the value of the assets we have. Transition sucks.

by sgawrys on Jan 21, 2012 8:15 AM EST reply actions