I'd rather try and win a title. We're killing our chances next year to obtain two young players, neither of which are projected to be franchise players. Will either of them see an all-star game before PP retires?
The problem is I don't think the Celtics have any title chances next year. Unless CP3 falls into their lap.
I think the Celtics can be the 3rd or 4th best team in the NBA next year. To me, that means there is a decent chance at winning a title if the Big 4 can stay on the floor like they did this past season. Obviously, Rondo's freak injury hurt their chances, but injuries to Marquis and their bigs for most of the season didn't help matters either.
Can anyone say with any certainty that Wade won't sustain an injury next season? Same question can be applied with Lebron and Bosh, only to a lesser extent. Something like that would practically put the Celtics back in the drivers seat as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference (providing they aren't dealing with their own injuries). Without any injuries, the Heat will no doubt be tough to beat next season.
For that reason, you have to keep the team together and give it another go. No big trades, but somehow, someway, they need to get a little help.
This is something I don't understand (and I'm not accusing you). But people often say, "If the big Four stay healthy like they did this year," then we'll be a really good team next year. But as soon as posters criticize Rondo's game, they will be quick to say how injured he was this year: ankles, feet, elbow, etc. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Do people really think KG is going to be able to stay healthy and productive next year? Pierce? The truth, as I see it, is that these guys, without adding another perennial all-star are done competing for a title.
KG and Pierce are both historically healthy players. KG's another year removed from his knee injury. The odds on them being healthy aren't as bad as you're implying. Rondo's going to get a couple more months of rest this summer than last, which will probably help as well. I don't expect a huge dropoff from this year.
Why not make a splash for a couple young players, while retaining the Big Three?
Why retain the big three? The team will be worse in the short term without Rondo, and it's far from a sure thing either player will ever be as good as Rondo.
Pierce is an iron man, no doubt. Garnett has had his fair share of injuries since he has been a Celtic. The most games he has played here in one season has been 71. If you have Rondo banged up, Garnett banged up time to time, and if one of Pierce or Allen go down, isn't the season just about over?
I just don't think this team can still compete for a title. You're riding on a big "what if" we stay healthy. I'm sick of that.
In this hypothesized trade, you still keep this Big Three. But you are also getting better for the future, so if one of the big three goes down, it's not that big of a deal because you're already looking towards the future with Green, Williams, and Rubio. You'll still have Allen's expiring and the clippers pick, which could net you another solid young player to pair with Rubio, Williams, and Green.
I also don't think having Rubio and potentially Williams of off the bench significantly reduces the team's chance at a title, which I project to be pretty low next year anyway.