There Is Hope For The Celtics

Just because the Celtics are 14-42 and look like the most hopeless team in the NBA, there really are reasons to believe that the near future of this team could be bright. Like it or not, the young players (or "assets" as they are constantly called) that Danny Ainge brought to Boston have value. Al Jefferson is turning into a legitimate force in the paint. Gerald Green is still two or three years away from being a complete player but he can score the ball when given the chance and that keeps him on the floor in spite of his weaknesses. Delonte West is a solid combination guard that can shoot, pass, and play defense. Kendrick Perkins may be a liability on offense but his defense and rebounding make him worth playing 4-on-5 when the C's have the ball. Rajon Rondo is a shaky shooter (something that can be fixed) but his energy and athleticism make him valuable. Ryan Gomes, Leon Powe, and Sebastian Telfair are all flawed but playing in the right system -- which may not presently be Boston for any of the three -- could be rotation players in the NBA. Of course, having young players that have yet to either reach their full potential or have yet to find their niche isn't the way to the top of the basketball world. Their flaws are exploited by veteran NBA players who know how and when to take advantage of youthful mistakes. And when a team, like the Celtics, have struggled for so long, the patience of the franchise and the fans that follow it, tend to wear thin when the kids lose game after game. That is why many people around the Celtics, especially team captain and lone superstar Paul Pierce, have been pushing for Ainge to use some of the mentioned "assets" to acquire a veteran player that could potentially push the C's back into contention. Allen Iverson was mentioned as a possibility before the 76ers moved him to Denver. More recently, Memphis' Pau Gasol was brought up as a target of the C's. Both are great players but in both instances, Ainge would not (reportedly) give up Jefferson, Green, and the 2007 first round draft choice, which should be no lower than No. 4 in what could be one of the deepest drafts in recent history. In failing to pull the trigger, Ainge was criticized. The question that keeps being asked is, why build up your "assets" if you won't move them to improve the team? Ainge answered that question in an interview with ESPN.com's Chad Ford: “Look, I know that this is my fault,” Ainge said. “I understand that. We were accumulating assets and hoping to turn some of those assets into a more experienced player who could really help us. We’re still trying to do that. I think we have some really good, young talent, but we have too many of those kind of players. I acknowledge that, and I’m trying to rectify that, but at the same time I’m not going to trade Gerald Green and Rajon Rondo for some 30-year-old guy just because he’s a veteran. It has to make sense for us in the long run.” I agree with Ainge's assessment 100%. Why turn Jefferson, Green, Rondo or any of the "assets" for a player like Gasol who is a great low post player but has his own problems (like not playing defense) and is both older and more expensive than the guy he would most likely replace (Jefferson). And Gasol doesn't guarantee a championship. Ainge is gambling that Jefferson will either develop into a better player than Gasol or that he will be able to make a move for someone better than Gasol who will put the C's into the realm of championship contender (Kevin Garnett). The way the NBA is set up, the team that is looking to acquire the known commodity has to overpay. Ainge knows this and his thinking is, if I have to overpay I better be getting back a player who gets me a championship, not someone who just gets us back into the playoffs. For now, I would stick with the Pierce and the Kids. Wait for the draft lottery to see where exactly the C's will be picking and determine who is coming out of college. If they land the No. 1 pick and Ohio State freshman center Greg Oden makes himself available, I would keep the pick, take Oden and make some minor moves to acquire a few veteran role players and build around Pierce, Oden, and Jefferson. If they don't get the top pick, I would package the pick (which could be Texas freshman forward Kevin Durant or North Carolina freshaman forward Brandon Wright) along with Gerald Green, Rajon Rondo, and Theo Ratliff's expiring contract to Minnesota for Kevin Garnett. Why would Garnett be available you ask? Because his general manager Kevin McHale didn't have the foresight to build his "assets" to make a move for a second franchise player to make his team a legit championship team. Frustration has to be getting to KG and he'll want out, forcing the Timberwolves to rebuild. Any team looking to rebuild needs a top draft choice, young players, and expiring contracts. The C's have all of these things. By not rushing to make a move (like Rick Pitino and Chris Wallace before him), Ainge will turn his "assets" into a championship team. Think what the Celtics would look like if they hold on to the pick for Oden and make a small move for a veteran (Rondo and Ratliff to Sacramento for Mike Bibby): C - Oden PF - Jefferson SF - Szczerbiak SG - Pierce PG - Bibby Bench - West, Perkins, Green, Gomes Not bad. A team that could start to make noise in the East. Veterans could be added to fill out some spots. Now, what if the Minnesota scenario plays out: C - Jefferson PF - Garnett SF - Szczerbiak SG - Pierce PG - West Bench - Perkins, Gomes Again, veterans would be needed to fill out some spots, especially at point guard, but any team built around Pierce and KG will contend for a 3-5 year stretch. Ainge may not be popular right now but by sticking to his plan and not rushing into anything, the Celtics future has hope.