The Celtics rebuild

[Rock]

Much has been made of Danny Ainge's decision to blow up the Celtics and rebuild with draft picks. Sound reasoning, to a point. Don't get me wrong, I love what Danny is thinking, I just hate how the general rebuilding concept is viewed on sports radio. Just not reality at all.

Someone needs to stand up and tell the truth about the lottery. “You can’t get there from here”. NBA championship teams do NOT build their title team by spending years acquiring lottery players. The Heat have one player (Wade) they drafted in the lottery, the Spurs (Duncan) have one they drafted in the lottery. Heck the ’08 Celtics had only one they drafted in the lottery (Pierce). Waiting on multiple lottery picks to payoff for you is a slow, painful death – witness the Boston Celtics early 90’s to 2007.

Even if the Celtics should hit on each of their potential lottery picks over the next three, four drafts you aren’t winning anything with a group of 19-24 year olds and that’s the problem. The lottery is often fool’s gold. Now, tank it next year and land a top-5 (I like the Rondo rehab sabbatical idea myself), sure, but then use the picks in subsequent years to trade for established players (mid/late 20 year olds). That’s how you win titles.

Why is this truth not told?

[friar71]

Rock: I agree it is difficult, but Oklahoma drafted Durant-Westbrook-Hardin with lottery picks and made the finals in year 5.

[dex]

." Now, tank it next year and land a top-5 (I like the Rondo rehab sabbatical idea myself), sure, but then use the picks in subsequent years to trade for established players (mid/late 20 year olds). That’s how you win titles."

Totally agree Rock and I think that is exactly what Danny is going to do with the assets he's assembling.

if it's not being reported as such, it should be. no way is this ownership going to wait around a half dozen years and ride with all young players and Hope to be competitive again

[Rock]

Jul 1, 2013 17:27:51 GMT -5 friar71 said:

Rock: I agree it is difficult, but Oklahoma drafted Durant-Westbrook-Hardin with lottery picks and made the finals in year 5.

True but they are the lone team I can think of who managed that and, well, they didn't win a title now did they? My point remains, if the C's think hanging in the lottery and drafting the Montross's, Mercers, Green's, Brown's and Foye's of the world are a plan then we are in for it! (Billups and Walker were good choices, as was Pierce but none in tandem would even have been enough)

[Rock]

Jul 1, 2013 17:31:42 GMT -5 dex said:

." Now, tank it next year and land a top-5 (I like the Rondo rehab sabbatical idea myself), sure, but then use the picks in subsequent years to trade for established players (mid/late 20 year olds). That’s how you win titles."

Totally agree Rock and I think that is exactly what Danny is going to do with the assets he's assembling.

if it's not being reported as such, it should be. no way is this ownership going to wait around a half dozen years and ride with all young players and Hope to be competitive again

BINGO, Dex. I think that's exactly what Danny is gonna do and it drives me nuts that people have it planned out so differently in media/sports radio discussions. I would actually prefer (crazy as it sounds) that they stay as relevant* as possible next season, let other teams fight out the ping pong balls and then use the currency of picks you have to move where you want in the draft. Instead though, I do think we're heading for ML Carr days next season and I can eventually get with that as long as it's the only lottery we take aim for.

*I'm a season ticket holder so I'm, admittedly, not neutral here.....

[friar71]

It looks like the Josh Smith signing rumor has died.

[colonel]

As a lifelong Sixers fan, I'll say I'm thrilled with Philly's decision to blow it up and go for lotto gold in 2014! Philly's last finals run was led by their #1 pick Allen Iverson - surrounded by complementary pieces. You can always get those extra pieces - but you need to get lucky to get a star!

It's been a rough last decade of mediocrity, and I don't really see another path to greatness for Philadelphia. The Andrew Bynum maneuver clearly didn't work! I'm ready for a season of tanking - and then a young team full of length & athleticism! I can root for that!

[Rock]

By the way, after one meaningless summer league game I have now changed my mind about the Celtics selection of Kelly Olynyk. Excellent pick. Hey, I never said I wasn't easy.

[dex]

glad to see your Acie Earle nightmares have subsided....for the moment.,

[Rock]

More than subsided Dex. I'm now thinking the 2nd coming of Brad Lohaus or maybe even the next Kevin Pittsnogle!