Celtics Have Already Been Blown Up
by Jeff Clark on Feb 22, 2012 6:01 AM EST
in Boston Celtics News & Links
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PrintI've been beating this drum for a while, but it is nice to hear someone else say it so I know I'm not (overly) crazy. Paul Flannery makes the following points.
As Celtics falter, Danny Ainge's test begins - WEEI | Paul Flannery
It’s been said before, but it’s worth repeating again because the calls are getting louder for Ainge to do something – anything – after the depleted Celtics were blown out by the Mavericks, 89-73 on Monday night. They have lost four straight and six of seven to fall below .500, scuttling what had been a modest revival. But here it is again: Ainge doesn’t have to blow up the Celtics because he already did. He’s dragged as much as he can out of this run while timing almost everything to end when the extension Garnett signed upon his arrival is completed. He will have ample cap space, two All-Stars including a 25-year-old point guard, a respected coach locked up on a long-term contract and at least two picks in what will be a loaded draft. There are teams who spend years wandering in the NBA abyss trying to get themselves into this position with half the assets that Ainge will possess if he simply lets the season play out and does nothing at the trade deadline.
He follows up with a detailed look at what the Celtics would look like next year if they make no trades this season (and don't land Dwight Howard in the offseason). They won't be contenders out of the gate, but they'll have a very solid start to the rebuilding process.
One interesting note: If the season ended today, the Celtics would have the 15th and 23rd picks in the draft. Guess who's being ranked right around the 15 spot... Duke guard (and a certain coach's son) Austin Rivers.
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Ummmm
I think it’s a dream to think austin will be there.
by cltc5 on Feb 22, 2012 6:07 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Good article by Flannery.
He forgot to note that a few of those free agents are restricted. he also forgot to note Chris Kaman at the center spot. He should be noted there.
It seems like
I’m alone on this, especially when it comes to Celtics fans but I think Austin Rivers is overrated.
by jackscompletelackofsurprise on Feb 22, 2012 8:40 AM EST reply actions
I don't think he's too overrated. Somewhere in picks 13-20 seems about right.
but I kinda hope someone above Danny takes him so that Danny isn’t faced with that quandary.
I always want Danny to take the best player available, but this year I kinda really sorta want the BPA for us to be someone with size!
NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.
This is and has been, the plan. I’m already watching the “assets” in terms of the bosses showcasing them.
I am guessing that Paul’s and Ray’s minutes will go down. I think KG will retire at the end of this year. Wilkox is going to get big minutes, as Danny decides whether to keep him, or watch him be injured too much. Stiesmsmsmsa will be a throwaway. Sorry, he had it for one game. That was it. He either needs more hair or more beef.
Next year, Ray will come off the bench. Paul will start, and finish games, with Green/French Guy doing the middle innings. Even I am thinking that RR is replaceable. I am so over prima donnas. Celtics are not prima donnas. Celtics are Dennis Johnson, Havlicek, Larry, Kevin, etc.
I am also over prima donnas
Even if we dont have superstars, I dont care. I would rather average players that are hard working every play of every game
by Kgwillkillyou on Feb 22, 2012 10:00 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Steisma
I think with a training camp and a big man couch he would be a good 3rd string center, maybe a 2nd string at best.
I think Greg
already is a decent back up center but think since centers are so rare in the NBA and he is a legit center with length, size and big man skills, he has the potential to be a starting caliber center also.
If the season appears to be a loss or if JO is traded I hope the C’s can give Steamer a load of minutes this year so we can see what he can do and to allow him to learn the game at the NBA level which will only help his growth and development.
Huh?
Who on earth would want JO? And Doc has already given up on Steamer, as he did with Semih and Nenad. Trust me on that. Doc won’t change. Overrated coach.
by green solution on Feb 22, 2012 4:27 PM EST up reply actions
in the last three games
Stiemsma has played the following minutes:
12:48
15:08
17:27
so, it doesn’t look like Doc has entirely given up on him.
NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.
I think Ainge has ...
done a good job of setting up the C’s to rebuild, both by his financial and personnel moves over the past years.
He already has I think some decent and promising players to build around in the future next year with Rondo, Bradley, JJ, Moore, and if they retain Stiemsma and possibly Bass.
Ainge will have the possibility to add some more young and promising talent to the roster to help the rebuilding cause with the 2 draft picks the C’s will have this year.
Then the way he has setup KG’s and Ray’s big contracts to come of the books along with JO’s and the other miscellaneous player contracts this summer he will have alot of money to go out and try to sign other young talent in the next couple of off seasons to also help the C’s rebuilding cause even more.
Also with Pierces big contract coming off the books after 2013, Ainge will have even more $$$ available and free to try to add even more young talent to the C’s roster .
So Ainge has already started the rebuilding process in a sense and the rebuilding of the team will only intensify more as this and the next upcoming years play out.
Sorry...
Forgot to add Green to the above list of young talented players Ainge has acquired in recent years that will help the C’s rebuild.
+1
I also think DA will offer Ray/KG a chance to stay with C’s. I can’t think he will just let them go.
If KG and Ray want to sign low cost contracts...
and would accept bench type minutes and it is assured Doc does not try to play them starter type minutes so that they do not interfere with the younger players getting their minutes next year that they will need to have in order to learn and develop their games, I would not mind the C’s signing them.
They would also be good mentors and influence for the younger players.
I think Ray would stick around in Boston on a low cost deal, coming off the bench and playing bench minutes, but I wonder if KG would?
Thank you for not saying...
…lets resign KG and Allen and have them come off the bench next year. A lot of fans keep posting that and it’s pretty clear that will never happen as long as Doc is the coach here. KG and Allen could be 50 years old and Doc would still start them. I also agree that Danny has done a good job in lining things up but I question if Pierce will want to stay here for another rebuilding process.
I haven't seen anyone on this squad who plays well enough to deserve a starting spot over KG or RA.
Not even close. Which isn’t to say they haven’t fallen off, but rather they’re still the best we have at their respective positions.
by redbridge13 on Feb 22, 2012 1:14 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Exactly...
…as long as they are here they’re slowing the growth process for their replacements whether its JJ. Moore or whomever Danny brings in. The best way for young players to develop is to play starter minutes on regular basis. You can only learn so much from practice and watching from the bench. JJ is not good enough to start over KG but he needs to start to get that experience but as you pointed out why would Doc start him if we have KG still here?
Doc is not creative, Danny
Any combo of JJ, Steamer, Wilcox and Bass should start over KG, RA and PP. They are holding back this franchise, unless they’re used as wisdom and a boost off the bench. To be precise, Doc’s lack of guts and his sentimentality are holding back the franchise.
by green solution on Feb 22, 2012 4:32 PM EST up reply actions
I agree with your point
I just wanted to comment on the next point made that Doc gives or would give preferential treatment to KG or RA. I really hope they resign with some new blood next season.
by redbridge13 on Feb 22, 2012 3:44 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Not
They’d have to be deceased for Doc not to play them – JO, too. Doc is all about sentiment and “his boys”. Those four (including Pierce) are slow as mud. The 3 four years past their prime. JO should have retired in the 90’s.
by green solution on Feb 22, 2012 4:34 PM EST up reply actions
lol...
Funny comment :
“They’d have to be deceased for Doc not to play them”
But may be true and what I fear about resigning Ray and KG.
For the past few days
I’ve been consistently reading articles which relates the Rondo-WIlliams trade. And up to now, I really cannot decide which is the best scenario for the Celtics. Which is which? Yesterday the trade for Wiliams is a no-brainer, but thinking again, if ever a combo guard like Austin Rivers will be drafted by Boston next season, am I wrong to say that Rondo-Rivers is better than a WIlliams-Rivers duo? I mean Rondo with all his incapacities as a player remains to be a “rare specie” because of his being a “pure point guard”. He easily complements to a co-player who has great great offensive instincts, although in return you also have to swallow his not-so good offensive production. Any ideas guys of the best scenario for the C’s? Is it Rondo stay, or Deron in?
I think its a win win either way..
If the C’s keep Rondo I think its fine since he is one of the younger talented players in the NBA who can only help the C’s rebuild plan.
But Rondo is also a trade asset and if the C’s can trade him to bring in another player or players who will help improve the C’s talent level and help them with there rebuilding plan I would be open to that also.
It should be interesting indeed what the C’s plans will be for Rondo in the upcoming months and years.
I still think pierce to Chicago for the bobcats pick, korver, brewer makes sense..
the cats will be a top 5 pick.. aka.. Barnes, Davis, Drummond, Kidd-ghilcrist, Lamb…
than add the 15th pick.. T. Jones, Rivers, Teague..
the 25th pick, possibly, fab melo, kris Joseph..
they can move korver easily cause he only makes 5 million or keep him to use as a 3 point specialist to play along side rondo.
Brewer is a good perimeter defensive player.
the pick is lottery protected this year
top 12 next year. bulls are NOT getting that pick this year thats for sure.
the bulls do have some players id want though: gibson,noah, asik, mirotic
by craziness@analltimehigh on Feb 22, 2012 3:01 PM EST up reply actions
The article
goes towards what I’ve been saying for a while now. there’s not much in terms of UFA’s worth big money this coming offseason however there’s some really good RFA’s. make a bid on Hibbert and/or Gordon to force their teams to pay a high price with other high-priced players on their teams or let them go to the C’s. The following year, a number of the RFAs become UFAs with a better shot at landing them. We’ll probably have a pick in the middle of the first round too (if not lottery) to add as an asset that year.
Good point
Besides, Gordon is worth itif we can land him.
by soonercowboy14 on Feb 22, 2012 4:19 PM EST up reply actions
Hibbert is a legitimate possibility.
Right now Indiana has cap holds totally some 58M for next year. They are going to have to ‘give’ somewhere.
If Howard makes it to the summer as a FA, obviously Danny has to try to land him first. But Hibbert would be a very nice ‘consolation prize’.
NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.
+1
Though Hibbert is not as exciting as Howard he would not be a bad plan B for Ainge.
He probably would be easier to acquire also…..maybe even easier if old pal Larry Legend can help out his old team and teammate…lol
Pacers
can go over the cap to resign Hibbert- why do people assume other teams are stupid about their own players?
The link from this post had a team with no centers and perimeter guys like Gordon aren’t coming to a team that is bound to suck.
by calc on Feb 22, 2012 9:05 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Next year
All this talk about young talent for next year..it’s non exisistent! Rondo yes! Bass.mmm yes..maybe JJ..Avery bradley sux! I’m sorry he does! He’s not a true point guard, and he can’t shoot(although he seems to think he can)..he’s a defensive specialist at best..he can’t pass, makes to many mistakes, and shows poor judgement. I wish they’d trade him..and no one knows how green will come back..I like him but that’s a serious condition, especially for an athlete..Moore shows signs, but I wouldn’t want to build the future of my team with2nd round talents..also, everyone keeps talkin about these draft picks..the clippers pick wont be high, and who know w our own pick. Nba draft picks have a high bust rate..very few are ever stars you can build a team around, and ainge has a track record of drafting poorly..the celts haven’t had a memorable draft in years…the best chance for immediate success is free agents, and beyond Howard and Williams who else is out there..neither of those two want to come to Boston..ainge will end up overpaying for guys who don’t deserve it just to spend that $..the future looks bleak I hate to say it
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