In the grand scheme of things the 2013 Celtics where destine for a hard road. Due to this past off-seasons FA situation (no one to really throw big $$ at) the Celts where left to walk the line. They where stuck with no real option other than to give the Pierce + KG era a few more years. Anything else would have resulted in the celtics being an early lottery team for a top weak 2013 draft. The Cs had to bring back Bass and Green because the cap structure wouldn't them to go outside the team to add similar talent.
The current roster is a mixed bag of players at different stages in there careers. This shows how Danny is trying to create balance to prepare for the future.
Past Prime Vets
KG , PP, Terry, Collins, Wilcox, Barbosa
Prime Vets
RR, Bass, Lee, Green
Raw Young players/prospects
AB, Sully, Melo
Last year the rumored trades that didn't happen where
Ray for Mayo + a pick (prog #25)
Pierce for Okur + Shawne Williams #6 pick
These moves would have made 2013 a much different year.
The guard rotation would have been Rondo and Mayo starting with Ab backing up the 1+2. Also making the full mid-level available becuse Terry would be needed.
The #6 pick would have likely been Barnes, the #25 could have been any number of players. I would think Draymond Green or Jae Crowder.
KG wouldn't have likely resigned. I think Danny may have still signed Bass, Green and Lee but he would have probably gone for shorter deals. I would have also figured on him finding a reasonable FA center (or keeping steimsma).
We would have started the season with Rondo, Mayo, Green, Bass, FA C. The bench would have been AB, Barnes, Sully.
I think this trade deadline is going to leave Ainge with a similar situation where he has to determine whether to tow the line between the future and present or go all in for the Post KG+PP era. I think the time has past for going all in to win this year.