Can someone explain to me the logistics of CP3, Deron, and Howard's contracts as they relate to the new CBA?? According to my primitive understanding, all three have 2 years left on their contracts but can opt out this offseason (except maybe CP3 as I understand he has committed to the Clips not to opt-out)

But I have been told that financially, it actually makes more sense to opt out (for Deron and Howard) even if they want to stay in NJ and Orlando because they can get MORE money. So perhaps the reason that the three of them have not signed multi-year extensions with Nets, Clips, and Magic is more financial than anything else.

If Deron and Howard opt out after this year, they can sign for 5 years at 20 mill each (but if they go to another team, they only get 4 years and around 70 million.) Even a sign and trade wouldn't do much for their salary.

Can someone explain to me the logistics of these 3 guys situations? Am I understanding this correctly?

First thing first: Fantastic game by Rondo against the Bulls. Fantastic.

That is the Rondo us fans know exists and the one we want to see more often. His effort doesn't have to produce a triple-double for us to know he's on his game and playing with focus and energy. He could end up with 9/13/4 in his next game and be just as successful. It's not his final numbers. It's his energy and focus. It's him attacking the basket in the fourth quarter and getting to the free throw line (where it was nice to see him hit his free throws). It's him setting up teammates and rewarding those that run the floor. It's him focusing enough on defense to keep his hands up, fight around picks, and get in the passing lanes. It was a great all-around game by Rondo.

But, he has to do it consistently in order for his 'critics' to stop 'criticizing' his game. For 'inconsistency' is his critics' main critique. And, one brilliant game does not equal consistency.

We all know Rondo can produce those types of games, but he doesn't do it consistently. He has sporadic games of brilliance (like yesterday and certain infamous playoff games), but he sprinkles those throughout a season of up-and-down, inconsistent play. Sometimes he's lethargic, sometimes he seems unfocused. Sometimes he just seems out of it and his defense will suffer due to his offense or vice versa. Defenses (like the Lakers) can get inside of his head and completely take him out of a game. If he is as transcendently good as some of you claim he is then he wouldn't suffer from such inconsistency.

When fans (and GMs) look for a cornerstone for their franchise, which is what we (and Ainge) are judging Rondo as [the future cornerstone of the Boston Celtics!], they look for consistency. Fans and GMs want Tim Duncan and Steve Nash, not Michael Beasley and Baron Davis. All the talent in the world and all the sporadic games of brilliance do not equal a cornerstone player. A cornerstone player needs to bring it every game. Even in 'off' games, which every player suffers, they have to bring the energy and focus, if not the points and rebounds. Some of you will probably complain that I'm never happy with Rondo and I'll continue to critique him regardless of how well he plays... That's not true. I'm critiquing him as the future cornerstone of this team, as is Danny Ainge, and one brilliant game doesn't change that. If Ainge doesn't believe a championship team can be built around Rondo, then he will attempt to trade him (which he has multiple times). Consistency is the key.

Rondo has the capability of being the best player on the team and a top-5 NBA PG (as someone on this site declared he is), but until he delivers the goods on a consistent basis, he is not.

Rondo's Strengths:

- Distributing the ball and court vision

- Attacking the basket

- One-on-one man defense

Rondo's Weaknesses:

- Shooting / Free Throw shooting

- Defensive gambling

- INCONSISTENCY

When Rondo is focused and energized, he runs the floor, distributes the ball, and attacks the basket (i.e. he highlights his strengths and masks his weaknesses). His shooting will always be a weakness, but if he's attacking the basket he can usually balance his game out (against taller teams - like the Lakers - that's considerably more difficult because he can't get to the rim). Attacking the basket and getting into the lane softens the opponent's defense and allows for better spacing for KG, Pierce, and Allen to work. This team needs spacing for their offense to work. Since Rondo cannot consistently hit a shot, he needs to penetrate the lane at will in order to create that spacing. He usually does this wonderfully in the first half and then stops doing it in the second half. We've all seen it. He doesn't consistently attack. When he does (like in the Bulls game), the team is much better. He has to do it every game.

His gambling on defense will always be a weakness. I know CJ Watson shot only 8-23 yesterday, but 18 of those shots were wide open looks where Rondo had abandoned him to either attempt a low-percentage steal or partially double a wing player on the perimeter. I was yelling at the tv screen every time Rondo let Watson effortlessly get around a pick, or leak to the weak side, or cut backdoor without even an effort from Rondo to close out on a shot. If Watson was a more capable shooter or simply had a better game shooting, the Celtics would have been torched by Rondo's gambling. Watson isn't that good and had a bad game, so Rondo's gambling paid off. His gambling also paid off with two late-game steals that helped seal the victory, but remember that when you 'gamble' you can win or lose. Next time, his gambling may not pay off. We've seen Rondo get torched by PGs before and, in my opinion, someone as defensively talented as Rondo should never get torched by a lesser opponent. If he's focused and on his game, no PG in the NBA should be able to torch Rondo. Just last Friday, Calderon put up 17 points and 14 assists on Rondo, in a game where Rondo played highly-uninspired basketball.

Also, top-5 PGs don't usually make a horrible, basic mistake on back-to-back possessions, in this case that mistake would be picking up your dribble in the back court because of a soft trap. Those two possessions led to two Bulls steals and four points. I'm surprised Thibodeau didn't do it more often, as Rondo did not seem prepared to handle it. Doc actually had Pierce bring the ball up the court the next few possessions, taking the ball out of our supposed 'superstar' PG's hands.

Even in a game where Rondo played mostly brilliant basketball and earned a triple-double, there were baffling mistakes and a few unfocused miscues that almost led to a loss. [And, I know that Pierce and others had 'off' games and committed turnovers, etc, but we're discussing Rondo here, not other players. If you want to write an article on Pierce then go do it. But it would be far-fetched for you to call Pierce inconsistent.]

Before we declare Rondo the best player on this team and a top-5 NBA PG, let's see him deliver the energy and focus every game (or at least four out of every five). Until he becomes a consistent player, he will not silence his critics or calls for him to be traded. It's the nature of the beast when you flash brilliance but don't deliver it consistently. I'm not even seeking brilliance on a consistent basis - I know that's not sustainable, unless you're MJ or a few others. I'm seeking for Rondo to be a solid, very good player on a consistent basis. He hasn't proven he can be.

Finally, a lot of people who criticize my analysis of Rondo believe that I don't like him as a player and have always wanted him traded. Untrue. I love Rondo as a player. And, I love Rondo as a Celtic. Only this off-season did I begin recommending Ainge consider trading him if he cannot prove he can bring his 'A-game' consistently. If Rondo was consistently very good, I would never mention trading him. I would be ecstatic to have a top PG locked up at his deal for the foreseeable future. But, he does not deliver consistently. Rondo is sporadically brilliant. He is also consistently inconsistent. His maturity, attitude, and leadership have all been openly questioned by Doc and Ainge over the past few seasons. He is considered somewhat of an enigma or even a savant. He is so highly-talented that he almost gets in his own way. I fear entering the next era of Celtics basketball with a highly-talented yet highly-inconsistent team leader.

"As Rondo goes, so go the Celtics." That's what scares me. But, I'd love nothing more than for Rondo to prove me wrong.

Promoted FanPost

The past two seasons I have witnessed the Celtics come within one game from winning their 18th NBA championship. A season ago I watched them get bounced in the second round, by a powerful Miami Heat team. In 2007 Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett teamed up with Paul Pierce to try to win an NBA championship. When the Big three was assembled, the common opinion among the majority of analysts was that the Celtics would have a three year window to win a NBA title. The Celtics won the NBA championship in 2008 and reached the finals again in 2010. The Big three are currently in year five and Celtics are no longer among the NBA's elite teams. The Celtics core is old. Kevin Garnett is 36 years old and he is no longer the offensive go to player that he used to be. Ray Allen is at best a low end starter and Paul Pierce isn't the same guy that won the NBA finals MVP. Rajon Rondo, the teams best player still struggles with shooting.

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Danny Ainge to MIN for David Kahn, Kevin Love & future 1st unprotected.

Danny Ainge, Doc Rivers to Houston for Daryl Morey, Kevin McKale & 2 future 1st's.....

Then we would either have a team full of point guards with a great power forward, or we would have a team loaded with power forwards coached by one of the greatest power forwards with a great point guard (RONDO) Seriously, which would you prefer, thank god we have a coach and a gm that can/will work as a team to keep the celtics relevant, perhaps even bring us banner number 18.

to somehow acquire Ersan Ilyasova & Nicolas Batum??? Both are unrestricted free agents, whose teams didn't extend a contract to when they had the chance.

Could we send "player A" + 1st round pick for Ilyasova??? If so, who would they ask for??? Making 2.5M this year.

Could we send "player B" + 1st round pick for Batum??? If so, who they ask for??? Making 2.2M this year.

Both of these players are proven young talent coming off rookie contracts, they are better pieces to build around for the future than the maybe a good player down the road upside of a mid-late 1st rd pick. Whatcha think???

Going forward, provided we don't have to give up one of the following, our roster could have these young pieces,

Stiemsma, Ilyasova, JJJ, Batum, Green?, Pietrus?, Moore, Rondo, Bradley,

VETS, Pierce, Allen, KG? Buy a 1st, 2nd, we have our 2nd.. We could get young quickly and remain competitive...

Keep it clean, thanks.

Dont get me wrong Im a huge kg fan as well as Ray, but like it or not they have to go. If the celts are going to make a move that involves either kg or ray they have to do it this season. Next year they will be one more year older and less valuable. Monta Ellis is a big time scorer and i think could real succeed in a Celtics uniform. The same goes for Josh Smith as well.

Trade idea:

celtics get; Monta ellis

Golden state gets; ray allen and brandon bass

OR

Celts get; Josh Smith & kirk hinrich

Hawks Get; Kg, Avery bradley,JO and first round pick

Its clear the warriors need to break up their backcourt if their going to win games. They have Klay Thompson but he's just not ready. Ray could provide them with what they need.

As for Josh Smith. its wishful thinking at best, but if there is a way to get both of these guys i say go ahead and pull the trigger.

We are playing Detroit in Boston on Wednesday night, then flying to Chicago for a rematch with the Bulls the next night. The dreaded Road-2nd-of-Back-to-Back. The guys will get to bed at about 5am (if they're lucky). Everyone will be ragged. You're probably not gonna win anyway.

So give Stern and Co. the finger and sit all the starters. You've got another road back-to-back on that Sunday/Monday, and more coming fast and furious after that. So don't run em into the ground. It probably won't work anyway. Let them rest once in a while, so that they can survive this absolutely-ridiculous regular season schedule.

Yeah, I know they're pros, etc., etc.... but this schedule is brutal for any human.

So, all you anti-Rondo people out there, how does 32 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds sound??? Rondo is without a doubt our best player. Not only that, but he MAKES everyone else on our team better. WHY AM I SEEING POSTS ABOUT TRADING HIM?!?! Yes he is sometimes inconsistent but geez, this guy is a top 5 point guard!! He knows this team inside out, and he knows where to put guys and where to find guys. He's an absolute star. I can't believe people actually would trade him.

Deal with it. If you don't like it then go watch the Heat. Because Rondo is a Celtic and always will be to me.

As for Rondo:

Best passer in the league

Best defending pg in the leage

Best rebounding pg in the league

Best FG% as a pg

He isn't just good because he plays with HOFers

Grittiest and toughest point guard in the league

Sure he can't shoot outside, and he can't shoot free throws but look at that list up there. Everyone has holes in their game and his positives really outweigh his negatives.

If they aren't named DRose or Chris Paul then I'll take Rondo every time. And to be honest I would rather have Rondo then those 2. He might not be better then them but he's a true Celtic.

Tonights performance was one of the best by ANY player this season.

If you don't like Rondo's game then get a clue.

Yes, it makes total sense and must be considered as the leading possibility for Dwight Howard's services. Recent history clearly demonstrates that if your star player doesn't renegotiate a new contract in his final year, then he is as good as gone. Orlando, in spite of owner's wishes, are well aware of this and are keeping things mum until the right moment. I am sure covert negotiations are going on between Orlando and one or two unexpected teams, such as the Celtics.

I am convinced knowing Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers and the way they think, that there this is a real possible play for Dwight Howard and that it is being discussed and held in complete secrecy. It only makes sense!

Please have a look at following Dwight Howard trade possibility: Dwight Howard Trade

Boston is trading their only star player with significant value to Orlando. That player is of course Rajon Rondo! Magic starts their rebuilding with some good pieces such as Ryan Anderson and of course Rajon Rondo. Along with Rajon, we ship them JaJuan Johnson, an attractive PF/C with a very nice upside, also E'Twaun Moore to provide backup minutes at PG position and Jermaine O'Neil to fill in at the Center position for this season and his expiring contract. Naturally, our two 2012 1st round picks would be shipped along with another 1st round pick to be shipped to them in the next 3 years.

Orlando does this trade because they start rebuilding with a star PG in Rondo and a future star in PF Ryan Anderson. Orlando then trades Jameer Nelson to the Los Angeles Lakers for their Lamar Odom trade exception. A welcome financial relief next year! The only bad contract remaining on the Magic will be Hedo Turkoglu....perhaps he can be traded along with a 1st round pick for an expiring deal somewhere?

Boston does it because Dwight becomes the cornerstone of the Celtics going forward and puts us is a great position this year for banner 18. During Rajon's injury this season, we learnt that with a combination of PG's Avery Bradley and Keyon Dooling along with Paul Pierce playing Point Forward, the Celtics looked damn good!

Beware the Ides of March folks...Danny will make this happen, I just have this premonition! This trade just make so much sense for all concerned. Oh I almost forgot, the 2nd best thing about this trade....we would be in a position with the cap room in summer of 2012 to sign free agent Deron Williams!!!! Imagine that, both Dwight Howard and Deron Williams are a real possibility. I love Dominoes!