Doc Rivers not buying Kevin Garnett retirement talk, thinks KG will return to Celtics
How long can the Big Three era keep ticking? Technically it died a long time ago, when Rajon Rondo spun a web of triple doubles in the 2009 playoffs and it became clear the Boston Three Party needed to scooch over to make room for one more. But Pierce is under contract for two more seasons. And if Garnett’s coming back, a healthy Ray Allen would be the perfect sixth man behind Avery Bradley. He really would. That’s what’s so frustrating about Bradley’s injury and Allen’s hobbled body. If they were both healthy, Allen would be the yin to Bradley’s yang. Allen’s silky shooting would perfectly complement Bradley’s athleticism and blood-thirsty defense.
I know Danny Ainge wants to start rebuilding as soon as possible, and has been building a well of cap space specifically so he could start doing that this summer. But Dwight Howard opted in, Deron Williams plays Rondo’s position and no other unrestricted free agent is really capable of altering a franchise. Unless Ainge gets truly creative and unearths a solution which I can’t currently fathom (think: the close call with David West this summer, which I don’t think anyone predicted), the Celtics aren’t likely to reload as contenders overnight.
Assuming Allen and Garnett want to return for one more season, another year of the Big Three might actually make sense. On the other hand, I wouldn’t put it past Ainge to trade Pierce, float Rondo’s name in dozens of trade rumors and see what he can fetch for Bradley while his stock is sky-high.
Note: I’m just joking about Ainge testing the market for Bradley, I think. As second-year players who recorded 11.31 PERs go, I would guess Bradley’s close to untouchable.
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Celtics Blog | Jay King | June 3, 2012
“That’s what’s so frustrating about Bradley’s injury and Allen’s hobbled body. If they were both healthy, Allen would be the yin to Bradley’s yang.”
Truth like Paul Pierce.
I’m trying not to think about the offseason too much until we get there — but I have been anyways, and the more I think about it… The more I hope the Big 3 re-up. I am typically an overly-nostalgic fan but I actually think it makes good basketball sense, for the same reasons you outline here.
Here’s hoping we raise banner 18 and the Danny/the gang feel compelled to mount a proper title defense!
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I don’t understand why there was ever any talk of breaking up the Big Three. To me it was always so much idiocy. There’s no reason for them not to retire as Celtics unless they want outrageous amounts of money – which, admittedly, is more likely because of Danny’s hardball with them, because of the ceaseless thrum of the Ainge Express in the background.
We should try to add one or two quality players. IF we can swing a crazy deal for Josh Smith, so much the better, but not if we have to give up a core guy, and that includes Avery now, so what’s the likelihood of that? Would anyone take a combination of Brandon Bass and Jeff Green for a player such as Josh Smith? Doubt it.
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Danny Ainge is an idiot! He should be doing what San Antonio does with their big three, continue to put pieces around them. Keep KG for one more year, bring Ray back off the bench… Get Josh Smith, and see if we can get Jeff Green and Wilcox back for cheap. Along with Greg Steisma. That’s a good damn team
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I agree. I say we sign KG and RA for 2 years so there’s no more speculation next season. Certainly, both are in great shape and RA could win the 6th Man award if healthy. Don’t forget the draft where we have 2 first round picks in a deep draft (all 5 KY starters coming out and a couple of NC starters and a bunch of others so our picks should be better than in past years and we could bundle our two picks to move up a few spots if need be). Go Cs…KG & RA retire in 2015!
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It seems the last few seasons Danny Ainge doesn’t believe in this team… Very disloyal with all the trade talk about the core 4. He should of been publicly stating that the big 4 are going nowhere and his main focus is to get them young help. I don’t like Ainge’s attitude
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Ive always hates Ainge, even as a player. He should have stayed in baseball…short bitch.
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