What is Ainge's plan for 3, 4 or 5 years down the road?

Hemingway · Post #1 » by **Hemingway** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 5:08 pm

For about as long as Ainge has been here I always felt confident that the long term plan was to get KG. It just made a lot of sense. He would be the best person to put next the PP. This was increasingly confirmed by the trades we made that led to us getting expiring contracts and the years of talks with Minny.

Now I wonder what the next plan is. Obviously for at least the next 2 seasons the plan is: Win with what we got unless an offer to good to pass up comes along.

But after that what? I would think the plan would revolve around getting another superstar. Someone like LBJ(probably out of reach), Wade, Bosh or Durrant. But how would we get them? One of the big 3 as an expiring plus other assets? Is there any way Rondo doesn't have to be in the deal?

Hopefully some of the posters here with great incites to the team can share their opinions and we can get some ideas going. So the question is, right now, what is Danny thinking the plan is for down the road?

JordansBulls · Post #2 » by **JordansBulls** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 5:18 pm

Does it matter at this point?

What matters is that you are title contenders at this point. This is like me in 1997 worrying about how the Bulls would be in 2000 when MJ, Pippen and company would not be around.

Post #3 » by **ParticleMan** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 5:30 pm

Interesting question. Of course his first plan is to sit back, enjoy a non-alcoholic drink, and stare at his #18 and #19 championship trophies :wink:

But beyond that, I think the plan is basically the same as what got us KG. I don't think Ainge knew it would be KG necessarily. If it was 2 years prior, it might have been Shaq. But whoever it is, we have to be ready with The Package:
Big expiring contracts
Young talent
Draft picks
If we have all 3, we'll be in the running for whichever unhappy superstar is ready to move on. Maybe it's Wade, CP3, Durant, or who knows even Lebron. Or someone else. You never know how things will go for other teams. You can't predict who it will be, but you can set yourself up to have a seat at the table when the bidding starts.

I think we've got some good young talent. And yes, Rondo and Perk are on the table here (would you trade Rondo+stuff for CP3? hell yeah). We should have some big expiring deals from the Big 3. And Ainge religiously protects his picks; he only gave up this years' to get KG (and sent Minny their own future pick back), but we have all our own picks from now on iirc. So long as we can develop some other quality players, Giddens, Walker, BBD (if we retain), maybe Hudson, they would serve as enticement filler. This is why it's important to draft well and keep these guys around at low $$ for many years.

Celts17Pride · Post #4 » by **Celts17Pride** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 5:35 pm

Out with the old and in with the new.

leper-con · Post #5 » by **leper-con** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 5:37 pm

Wyc alluded to the fact that we are in a position to offer someone a full contract next year. How that will get done is beyond me, but we will get creative. I think PP opts out. I think we don't resign allen until we offer someone else a full contract, I think we sign Rondo after we offer someone else the full contract. Danny has always stated that he doesn't want to see the team get old...there is a future vision. desciphering what it is, is the hard part but I think it is a fluid vision.

TheOGJabroni · Post #6 » by **TheOGJabroni** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 5:42 pm

Personally, I feel like we will stay put for the next 2 years. KG guaranteed champions for the next 2 years so I don't see any major changings. Then I have a feeling that Danny will go after Durant the first year he is available in FA which is after the 2010 offseason. Everyone is going to be spending big on FA's next offseason, no one will have money to bring in star FA's after that. Celtics maybe be in a great position to do so. And it has been recorded that Danny Ainge would have taken Durant over Greg Oden - not many would ever say that at that point, so that is huge. Personally, I hope we get that done. Slide Pierce down to shooting guard and start Durant and we should be great even past the prime of our current Big 3.

MVP16 · Post #7 » by **MVP16** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 5:46 pm

leper-con wrote:Wyc alluded to the fact that we are in a position to offer someone a full contract next year. How that will get done is beyond me, but we will get creative. I think PP opts out. I think we don't resign allen until we offer someone else a full contract, I think we sign Rondo after we offer someone else the full contract. Danny has always stated that he doesn't want to see the team get old...there is a future vision. desciphering what it is, is the hard part but I think it is a fluid vision.

I don't think that's a possibility anymore with us signing Sheed for a 2 year MLE contract.

The plan is basically flexibility in 2 years. That means not signing role players to contracts after 2011. The only player signed beyond after 2011 is KG. Hopefully we sign Rondo/Perk to reasonable contract extensions as well. So if the finances are worked out, we may be able to offer a max contract in 2011 - although I'm not sure who will be available then who's unrestricted. Durant would be a good get, but OKC will match so that's not a reasonable target.

Hemingway · Post #8 » by **Hemingway** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 5:55 pm

leper-con wrote:Wyc alluded to the fact that we are in a position to offer someone a full contract next year. How that will get done is beyond me, but we will get creative. I think PP opts out. I think we don't resign allen until we offer someone else a full contract, I think we sign Rondo after we offer someone else the full contract. Danny has always stated that he doesn't want to see the team get old...there is a future vision. desciphering what it is, is the hard part but I think it is a fluid vision.

Does it work like that though? Wouldn't we at least for Rondo have a hold on some money? If it worked like that than wouldn't every team that wanted to spend just make all their contracts come up in the same year, have no money committed, sign whomever they want and then resign their own guys?

CeltsfanSinceBirth · Post #9 » by **CeltsfanSinceBirth** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 6:19 pm

JordansBulls wrote:Does it matter at this point?

What matters is that you are title contenders at this point. This is like me in 1997 worrying about how the Bulls would be in 2000 when MJ, Pippen and company would not be around.

Agreed. I mean, it's nice to keep an eye out for the future, but I'll leave that in Danny Ainge's hands. That's his job. My job as a fan is to drink beer and scream my a$$ off at the TV during Celts games. :lol:

Fencer reregistered · Post #10 » by **Fencer reregistered** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 6:23 pm

leper-con wrote:Wyc alluded to the fact that we are in a position to offer someone a full contract next year. How that will get done is beyond me, but we will get creative. I think PP opts out. I think we don't resign allen until we offer someone else a full contract, I think we sign Rondo after we offer someone else the full contract. Danny has always stated that he doesn't want to see the team get old...there is a future vision. desciphering what it is, is the hard part but I think it is a fluid vision.

Well, what you're talking about is questionable without losing Bird Rights for Pierce and Allen, because of CBA rules (they count at a big increment OVER their last salary until something happens one way or the other on their deal).

vct33 · Post #11 » by **vct33** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 6:54 pm

I still think he should be looking for a good Ray Allen trade this year. If we can get two good 20-somethings for Ray, I'm down. I'd still love J Rich & Barbosa for Ray.

s1ickd · Post #12 » by **s1ickd** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 7:06 pm

The good thing about keeping Ray this year is not only the fact that we get to see his talent, but also the fact that we now have the option of signing a FA in a great class OR S&Ting Ray for a player.

We can either use him for free agency, or in a trade. Our options are actually better this way.

We need to resign Rondo to a long deal that makes sense. I wouldn't be opposed to extending KG for a couple yrs. As far as FA goes, we gotta grab a diference maker on the wing. A real one, and a young one.

The REAL interesting thing is going to be how PP and the ownership deal with each other when Paul's contract is up.

Hemingway · Post #13 » by **Hemingway** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 7:15 pm

s1ickd wrote:The good thing about keeping Ray this year is not only the fact that we get to see his talent, but also the fact that we now have the option of signing a FA in a great class OR S&Ting Ray for a player.

We can either use him for free agency, or in a trade. Our options are actually better this way.

We need to resign Rondo to a long deal that makes sense. I wouldn't be opposed to extending KG for a couple yrs. As far as FA goes, we gotta grab a diference maker on the wing. A real one, and a young one.

The REAL interesting thing is going to be how PP and the ownership deal with each other when Paul's contract is up.

How do we have that option? Unless you are talking MLE, how are we going to sign someone?

underneathtoDJ · Post #14 » by **underneathtoDJ** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 7:39 pm

My thoughts on the Ainge 3/4/5 year plan? I don't care. If we get 1 or 2 more championships out of the Big 3 and company, I'll be more than happy to deal with the potentially crap teams that will be on the floor in years 3/4/5.

If we can manage to set us up for the long-run, great. But if it's down to us blowing up the Big 3 and having less of a shot at the title, I'm not interested. I want titles and I want the best chance to get them. That's why you play the game.

CelticFaninLBC · Post #15 » by **CelticFaninLBC** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 7:49 pm

Have money for Durant or Oden when they become free agents and build around a core of Rondo, Perkins and FA signees...

jfs1000d · Post #16 » by **jfs1000d** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 8:08 pm

What's the plan?

BASK IN THE GLOW OF ANOTHER TITLE OR 2.

Honestly, you can't predict the future. Ainge can't be worried about 5 years. When you got a shot at the brass ring you give it your best, and, ask questions later.

5 years? Who cares.

CelticFaninLBC · Post #17 » by **CelticFaninLBC** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 11:33 pm

jfs1000d wrote:What's the plan?

BASK IN THE GLOW OF ANOTHER TITLE OR 2.

Honestly, you can't predict the future. Ainge can't be worried about 5 years. When you got a shot at the brass ring you give it your best, and, ask questions later.

5 years? Who cares.

An indication of the plan was when they let Posey walk and signed Sheed for 2 years. They're going to dip into free agency during Durant's year..

Dave_From_NB · Post #18 » by **Dave_From_NB** » Wed Jul 8, 2009 12:56 am

CelticFaninLBC wrote:
An indication of the plan was when they let Posey walk and signed Sheed for 2 years. They're going to dip into free agency during Durant's year..

Actually that essentially supports what I think, which is that Ainges plans are very fluid. Last summer I would have said that he was targeting dipping into free agency in 2010 because he signed TA and House to 2 year contracts. If he was targetting Durants FA year, why wouldn't he have been signing those players on 3 year deals for that expiring year? Now we're going to end up with needing to replace RA, TA, House next year, and it's unlikely any can/will come back on 1 year Vet Minimum contracts. So Celtics will probably end up with 1 or more contracts out of the MLE to fill back in the roster, screwing up the Durant year cap space.

I don't think Ainge has a long range plan per se, other than to sort through the draft riff raff to come up with a couple usable parts once this peak we're in runs it's natural course. And I think as long as we can compete for championships, Ainge will be very fluid about adding whatever players he can to extend the run, while stockpiling other "tradeable assets" for whenever the run finishes.

Celts17Pride · Post #19 » by **Celts17Pride** » Wed Jul 8, 2009 12:59 am

This topic proves that the only way some Celtics fans are happy is if the Celtics are rebuilding.

Enjoy the now!!

Post #20 » by **ParticleMan** » Wed Jul 8, 2009 1:32 am

I think this is an interesting topic. It's better than the usual banter about which SL scrub may or may not end up as our 15th man. It doesn't mean we can't enjoy the team now also.

On topic.... I don't think Ainge is just playing it by feel. He definitely has a plan. That's his job.

I agree that he has probably targeted 2011 summer to begin serious rebuilding. The time to start collecting the chips to do it is right now. He can't sit on his laurels. He knows the Big 3 will only be at top form for a couple more years, and then we have to move on, as unsentimentally as possible.