Looking Ahead

Since the Perkins/Robinson- Green/Krstic trade and the deal sending Harongody & Erden ive been wondering if these deals are really going to benifit us long term.

Of course, no one knows for sure If we'll win a title this year or wether due to the contract negoations (or rather inability to negotiate contracts) what next year will bring. What we do know is that this team is definetly being prepped for after the 3 Amigo's and built into a team more suited to Rondo's game.

That said, it would seem that youth and speed will be high commodities in looking to retool the Celtics long term. Something to keep in mind as the Celtics shop for new players for the future.

Thats where I begin to worry, next season we have currently our own first and second round draft picks as well as KG, Paul, Allen, Rondo, Jermaine O'Neal, Bradley and Shaq on board. that 7 guys returning and two rookies who due to draft position are not likely to be huge contributers ( much like Bradley and Harongody this season)- nine guys.

We'll also have the MLE, LLE and biannual exceptions- IF they still exist.

then the question marks, Green's agent says he has high hopes of resigning with the Celtics, still thats no garuntee it'll happen. then what about Green, Large Infant, Delonte West and Krstic? all three will have huge roles for us this season, but are not certian to be back, arroyo, murphy, wafer and Pavlovic with less important roles are not certian to return either.

Looking at our certain assests, Garnet, Allen, Peirce, Rondo, Bradley and O'Neal's Shaq and Jermaine are we really retooled for the future?

Next season just those fellas will command around 68 million in cap space, of the guys we could bring back that we Know that could have big roles with us- Green, Krstic, West and Large Infant only West might not be in a position to search for a much larger paycheck than what their getting now (Infant=3.3 mill, Krstic=5. and some teams might be willing to fork over a lot of dough to land them (think Posey).

considering the injuiries of this season im trying to envision this lineup for 2011-2012
Krstic(?)-Shaq-Davis(?)-JON
KG-Davis(?)-Green(?)-JON
PP-Green(?)
Allen-West(?)-Bradley
Rondo-West(?)-bradley
+ 1st round 29th pick, 2nd round 29th pick

what if we'd taken the position of staying with what we had (resigning Perk) no other trade, we'd look more like this

Perkins-Shaq-JON-Davis(?) Erden
KG-Davis(?)-JON-Harondgody
PP-
Allen- West(?)-robinson-bradley
Rondo-West(?) Robinson-Bradley
+ 1st round pick #29, +2nd round pick #29

Even not knowing what the collective barganing agreement will do for us, I think i prefer the second possible lineup over the first, in the second we're really only in need of a legit 3 to offer PP some much needed rest- if the MLE still exists then that could be applied directly for the purpose of getting Paul a backup. At worst we'd be able to draft for that need, even if we had to trade up.

my question is, have we really begun to move forward with these deals?

More to consider looking forward: lets imagine there is a 2011-2012 season

these next two seasons we own both picks for each draft, we also have the rights to Minny's either first or second round pick in 2012 (likely their second) and the Clippers 2012 top 10 protected pick (currently they've got the 8th worst record this yr, only have to improve slightley to insure we get the 11th/12th pick

a year beyond (2013) and we have our own two picks and the Cav's 2013 second

Next year we also have the expiring contracts of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnet.

What is we are unable to resign Green or Krystic, what if one or more O"neil calls it a career?

With some talk that this is Rivers last season regardless of what happens in the playoffs and knowing Ainge will take chances and consider dealing anyone.. is it possible that this year we could be looking at the end of the Big Three?

I dont think its out of the question for Ainge to look to rebuild, either deal for youth and picks and tank a season making our own pick more valuble and keep some cap space, or deal for potential in the hopes to keep in title contention.

There's talk of this being the last season for Doc, KG has admitted its possible he'd retire if there is a lockout- which is very likely, and even without a lockout one has to look at the distinct possiblilty that the Celtics as we know them- which already has changed by over 50% since the All Star game, will be a very diffrent team next season, its a safe bet people we love to have in Green wont be back.

While its important to continue to look at what is, its almost impossible to consider what will/could be.. while i like the new guys brought in by the Perkins deal, the more i have thought about it im not sure that the move was the best for us yet this season, or that it'll be the best move for us come the day after the playoffs end..

Still have very high hopes for this yr, just a bit less confident, a lot more uncertian about the future..