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On the radio, Felger and Maserati, raised an interesting point. They both feel it's a priority this off-season to address finding a replacement for Garnett, anticipating that he could be in decline.

Basically, their feelings are he won't make it through or be the same player for the duration of his contract. The suggestion is that Garnett's replacement will need to come at the expense of Ray's expiring contract. Maserati said, it's Priority A this summer.

Do you agree?

I feel that Garnett can still be a productive player when he's healthy. What will his role be on the team by next season and for the last year of his contract, is anyone's guess. But I can't believe that Garnett's level of play would diminish so far that he's a bench player in the next two seasons.

I can't even begin to think of who's realistically available at Garnett's position that Boston could acquire with the help of Ray's expiring contract. They brought up Bosh in general. But no one comes to mind for me when we're talking about this off-season.

I don't agree.

Ainge I believe is going to keep the New Big 3 together for as long as KG's contract. Ray is probably going to get a 2 year deal after the season. The idea being that they all fall off together and the Celtics end up with cap space like the Knicks will have in 2010-2011. I don't expect Ainge to acquire contracts that last longer than KGs.

Rondo, Perk and a ton of cap space is a good way to start over.

This is what I think will happen.

Nope, Ray will probably resign with us for cheap (7-8 mil) and they'll slowly decay into nothingness like the original big 3.

What we should be doing is trading Ray.

I would like us to somehow get a long, athletic 4 with defensive potential for KG to mentor while hes still here... someone like Ty Thomas (Randolph, Smith would be other examples but far less realistic)

however.. for the next 2 seasons we have Garnett and Sheed manning the power forward spot, they may be banged up and on the decline up but that rotation is still better than most, if not all of the league when healthy.

If we trade Ray it has to be for a replacement for him, in this theory who do we get to start at the 2 guard? if Ray goes it needs to be for a stud young(er) wing player to not only contribute now but be a source of offense for perk and rondo long term

I've said it many times and reading the Tea leaves. We are targeting Bosh in the offseason.

cfan79 wrote:What we should be doing is trading Ray.

Nope. Right now the only guy under contract in 2012/2013 is Rondo. I expect them to resign Perk and then 2012/2013 will be the Celtics big free agency year. The New Big 3 will be replaced with a fresh crop of free agents. Time will tell but it's going to be interesting to see if Ainge acquires someone with a contract in 2012/2013. I doubt it.

leper-con wrote:I've said it many times and reading the Tea leaves. We are targeting Bosh in the offseason.

How are they going to get him with the mid level exemption?

Celts17Pride wrote:

cfan79 wrote:What we should be doing is trading Ray.

Nope. Right now the only guy under contract in 2012/2013 is Rondo. I expect them to resign Perk and then 2012/2013 will be the Celtics big free agency year. The New Big 3 will be replaced with a fresh crop of free agents. Time will tell but it's going to be interesting to see if Ainge acquires someone with a contract in 2012/2013. I doubt it.

Im bummed that Durants deal is up the year before that because you know Danny wouldve targetted him.. 2012 is definitely going to be a big FA year here IMO, KG and Sheed (and potentially Pierce) are all expiring and Ray will likely be extended this off-season for 2 more

looking at that crop, I think Mayo would be the best target, his scoring would mesh well with Rondo and Perks defense

still, a bit of a sidetrack and a long way off yet

leper-con wrote:I've said it many times and reading the Tea leaves. We are targeting Bosh in the offseason.

My crystal ball says no. He'll probably go to Chicago or Miami to play with Wade.

Celts17Pride wrote:
Nope. Right now the only guy under contract in 2012/2013 is Rondo. I expect them to resign Perk and then 2012/2013 will be the Celtics big free agency year. The New Big 3 will be replaced with a fresh crop of free agents. Time will tell but it's going to be interesting to see if Ainge acquires someone with a contract in 2012/2013. I doubt it.

Sadly, by then I don't think anyone will want to sign with the C's, so we might have to get someone via trade. I don't think Perk and Rajon are big enough of a draw for other players to want to come play with.

I would trade Ray to GSW for Randolph+Magette+exp. if they would do it.

KG would be great teacher and influence on Randolph as the future BOS pf.

Ray exp. contract + other exp. contract are worth gold ...we have to get a future starting sg/sf/pf if possible with Ray returning after buyout.

cfan79 wrote:

Celts17Pride wrote:
Nope. Right now the only guy under contract in 2012/2013 is Rondo. I expect them to resign Perk and then 2012/2013 will be the Celtics big free agency year. The New Big 3 will be replaced with a fresh crop of free agents. Time will tell but it's going to be interesting to see if Ainge acquires someone with a contract in 2012/2013. I doubt it.

Sadly, by then I don't think anyone will want to sign with the C's, so we might have to get someone via trade. I don't think Perk and Rajon are big enough of a draw for other players to want to come play with.

Money and cap space are draws.

Celts17Pride wrote: Money and cap space are draws.

Maybe, but we went through a lot of bad years because no one would come to Boston. I can't even name a big free agent we got before the new big 3.

klemen4 wrote:I would trade Ray to GSW for Randolph+Magette+exp. if they would do it.

KG would be great teacher and influence on Randolph as the future BOS pf.

Ray exp. contract + other exp. contract are worth gold ...we have to get a future starting sg/sf/pf if possible with Ray returning after buyout.

Maggette will be 34 yrs old with a salary of $11.0 mill in 2012/2013 when Pierce, Allen and KG are through. Don't think Ainge and the Celtics will do that.

I stopped reading after you referred to Felger and Massoratti.

Listening to Felger talk about basketball is like me talking about cosmetic surgery neither of us know what we are talking about or really care.

Ainge will fail trying to replace Garnett's leadership and defensive prowess this off-season. You likely won't get either from Bosh.

I agree, if you trade Ray it's for his replacement and not for Garnett. The only player that immediately comes to mind as far as for replacing Ray with is Kevin Martin. I don't like Martin's contract but he makes the most logical sense. He's a scorer, he's young and he's a possible budding star. A cheaper alternative could be Brandon Rush or Nick Young.

A far as Garnett is concern, you won't find him in free agency this year. You might as well look toward the draft. Because you just don't replace a Kevin Garnett with another player. I mean San Antonio will be dealing with the same situation with Duncan.

I'd love Amar'e Stoudemire 'replacing' KG..that would be a dream come true to me..

It is about finding Ray's replacement with Ray's contract not KG`s...

Isn't that what I'd just said?

Anyways, reportedly, Dallas is seriously interested in acquiring Kevin Martin if he should become available. However, he isn't at this time according to Sacramento.