At this point, I think I'd rather just hang onto Rondo, extend his contract and go after a big name either at the trade deadline or next summer
There will be some decent free agents next summer and while the rest of the league paces themselves for 2016, maybe we can sneak in like thieves in the night and grab a couple
(Gasol, LMA, Rudy Gay, Al Jefferson, Monta Ellis, Deandre Jordan.)
-Rondo has already said he will become a free agent. Doesn't mean he's leaving, but he can make more money by not resigning. And as soon as he a free agent, all bets are off and anything can happen.
-Marc Gasol has kinda lost a step. He was terrible in the World Cup last month. I like him a lot, but probably not for the kind of money he's going to command. Maybe. Itll depend how this season goes.
-LMA has already said he is resigning with Portland and doesn't want to play anywhere else. And why would he? They're a team on the rise, and he can make the most money by staying there. He's in a perfect spot with terrific fans. No chance he comes to boston unless a LOT changes.
-Rudy gay is a more expensive Jeff Green. I'm admittedly a Rudy gay hater, but you're not going to win with Rudy Gay on your team (at least not with him making $19 mil and taking as many bad shots and playing as terrible defense as he does).
-Al's in a good place down south. He won't come back to the cold here, and his foot injury is too risky for a rebuilding team to risk the money on. For a win-now team like the bobcats (hornets) are trying to be, well okay. But he's not coming back to Boston.
-I love DeAndre Jordan, but he's overpaid for his role right now. He makes at least $10-12m to rebound and block shots (and a couple awesome dunks). Danny Ainge traded away a championship in 2011 (perk) because he didn't want to pay a guy like that (who had tons of history and chemistry and was best friends with rondo) $9mil like perk wanted. For Jordan's price tag, I don't see him coming to boston. He'd come once other big names were here and only then would he take less money. No way he could be your marquee free agent. Besides, if Doc pays him why would he leave the ideal situation he's currently in in LA?
-I'll be [dang]ed the day Monta Ellis wins a championship. He does everything wrong (admittedly he's a terrific scorer and made great strides towards being an actual point guard and team player with the Mavs last year, but that's why they'll keep him...or he'll go for the most money. Why would we pay another combo guard to come in? Especially IF we have smart and rondo still?)
You make some valid points but if this offseason taught us anything, it's that nothing is for certain.
No one knows for sure if Jefferson wants to stay in Charlotte, just like no one knows for sure if Jordan stays in LA, ditto for Aldridge and Gasol with Portland and Memphis.
I don't think a year ago, anyone thought Lebron would go back to Cleveland.
The landscape of the league can change very quickly and no one really knows for sure where anyone is going to land a year from now.
Also, I disagree (respectfully of course
) with your assessment of Rudy Gay and Monta Ellis.
I know alot of peope on this site don't like either guy, but if the Celts keep Rondo (which I hope they do) then someone like Ellis or Gay would be a good compliment to provide scoring.
In an ideal world, maybe next summer DA has the best of both worlds.
Maybe he finally gets lucky and lands a top 3 pick and goes into the offseason drafting one of the big guys in the draft (Okafor, Towns, whoever) and lands a big-time player like Gasol, Aldridge, Jefferson, Jordan and/or maybe a tier B free agent like Ellis or Gay.
It be nice if the 2015/16 roster looked something like this
PG-Rondo/Smart
SG-Avery Bradley or another shooting guard like Monta Ellis
SF-Rudy Gay/James Young
PF-Sullinger/Olynyk/(insert 2015 draft pick)
C-Gasol, Jordan OR Al Jefferson
But in my opinion, you can't rebuild JUST through the draft. You need a combination of veteran talent and talent through the draft.
I personally hate the idea of only building through the draft and waiting until 2035 to be a contender again.
As for Eric Bledsoe, I don't hate the idea of going after him but I am also not crazy about it either.
He's a decent player but he's injury prone and I don't think he's all that.