NBA Trade Rumors: Why Teams Must Avoid Washed-Up Boston Celtics Big Three

Don't look now, but the Boston Celtics might be in desperation mode.

By first trading Kendrick Perkins for Jeff Green last year, the Celtics made it evident that they were not only itching for younger talent, but that it wouldn't be the last move either.

If the Celtics were willing to trade off a key defensive threat for a younger, far less intimidating forward, they also wouldn't be too hesitant to give up other key pieces as well.

They proved that again in early December. When the lockout finally came to a close, one of the first trade rumors to spring up was on involving the Celtics and New Orleans Hornets. Word is that the team was attempting to trade Rajon Rondo for Chris Paul. To say the least, this was a tremendous surprise to anyone who follows Celtics basketball, or the NBA in general.

While immaturity may have played a factor in the team attempting to trade him away, Rondo was the second Celtic to be considered as trade bait.

Rondo and Perkins are two players that we can understand. Sure they're fan favorites, but they're expendable, aren't they?

The Celtics still go as far as their big three in Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen take them. These three have been the driving force behind the Celtics' consistent championship runs since 2008 and are the reason why we'll be seeing them contending for a title again later this year.

Well, except for that one part where they consider trading away Paul Pierce.

With teams calling the organization and inquiring about Pierce, the Celtics haven't exactly been too firm on keeping him around. It's reported that a number of contending teams are attempting to trade for Pierce, who has spent his entire 13-year career with the Celtics. He's averaged 22 points for his career and was the recipient of the 2008 Finals MVP.

If a lifer like Pierce is up for grabs, that means Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are as well.

The Celtics haven't gotten off to a great start this year and with talk of this organization being done, the team is now going through desperate measures in order to maintain some relevance over the coming years when these three players retire.

Tough to blame the Celtics really. They have a three-man core composed of players who are 34 years or older. That's tough to work with in a young man's game, especially after losing in five games to an athletic Miami Heat squad. The slow start, regressing numbers and last year's postseason have all been contributing factors in why the Celtics would possibly want to break up the band.

My only question is, why would any team get suckered into trading for one of these three players? As I said before, we're in a young man's game and being over the age of 34 is a lot older when you're on the basketball court. If Ray Allen's having to defend Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce is still guarding LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, there's going to be obvious problems from fatigue alone.

These three players are still great. Pierce is still deadly from everywhere, Allen is as dangerous as they come from beyond the arc and Garnett is an emotional warrior, but would you really want to trade away several key assets in order to possibly obtain one of them?

The Celtics are going to ask for a lot if other teams are actually going to inquire about these players. They want a lot of young talent in return in order to build for the coming years, which means that none of these future retirees will come for cheap. Each player, no matter their current age, will command a lot in return.

Does a team really want the one- or two-year commitment while trading away young pieces away at the same time? It seems like a bad idea and I'm not even qualified to be a general manager. In fact, you don't have to be a general manager to realize that it's bad idea.

Boston's going to be asking for a lot in return for one of three players that are well past their primes and nearing their NBA expiration dates. Aside from Ray Allen, who only seems to be improving, Pierce and Garnett have significantly regressed in their later years and don't look near like the players that they once were.

This would be an asinine trade for any team that wants to trade for Pierce, Garnett or Allen.

Ray may have an extra year left in him because he'll still be a quality three-point threat until the day he dies, but going after Pierce and Garnett for the price that the Celtics are possibly asking for would be ridiculous to complete. 

There's no upside to it for the other party in this trade. Sure, you get Pierce and Garnett, but they're going to be quality for possibly another year or two before retiring. All while those three young pieces you gave up to obtain either of them are killing it on the Celtics and turning them into a contender once again.

Have some sense, NBA organizations. I know you'd give $20 million to Rashard Lewis and Gilbert Arenas per season, but don't make the mistake of selling young talent in order to secure a regressing player who is a shell of his former self.