NBA Rumors: Now Is Time to Blow Up Aging Boston Celtics
What started with a Kendrick Perkins trade gamble should be finished by sending off every last Boston Celtic star not bolted down.
In fact, I would wager that everyone not named Rajon Rondo should be packing their bags at this moment, and there shouldn't be a big issue if Rondo was dealt as well.
It's panic time in Boston and that means an epic explosion should take place at some point shortly. Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski writes on green-and-white Armageddon:
"As Kevin Garnett and Allen become free agents this summer, money will peel away from the salary cap...the bigger question promises to be: Does ownership and general manager Danny Ainge go for the complete rebuild and trade Pierce before the March 15 deadline? Several contending teams have inquired about Pierce’s availability. As one Eastern Conference official said, there are “lots of calls asking if [Boston] will blow it up.”
"
The Celtics are off to a miserable start and have lost five straight to land at a dismal 4-8 record. This is hardly the Celtics we have grown to know and love.
The defensive juggernaut has devolved into a team that watches easy layups and rebounds go to their opposition. The fire may still be there, but the talent in the legs is long gone.
ESPN's John Hollinger delves into this very problem, stating that the Celtics are a ghost of their former selves. Ever since the Celtics traded away Kendrick Perkins, they lost that defensive measure that made them great.
Now age is beginning to really take a toll on this former contender.
"But let's face an honest truth: Perk can't fix what's wrong with Boston right now. He can't make the other players younger or the bench players capable of scoring or fix a score of other weaknesses.
"
There is nothing left to do but sell off the older players that will more than likely be gone next season anyway.
There should still be a handful of teams that can use a Kevin Garnett or Ray Allen, especially considering their expiring contracts.
If you do that, Paul Pierce becomes a beautiful bargaining chip to really get some leverage this summer when a crop of stars become available. The proud Celtics name is still enough to woo the best in the game to wear green and play in Boston.
The Celtics are not getting any younger or better. Rather, they are getting older and something must be done.
If the Celtics were dumb enough to get rid of a big man that defended the paint like Perkins, they have to be smart enough to blow up the team while there is still time to get something for these aging stars.
