NBA Trade Rumors: The Best Time to Break Up Celtics' Big 3 Has Passed

Boston Celtics' President of Basketball Operations, Danny Ainge, is not afraid to pull the trigger when it comes to trades.

Every Celtics fan saw that last season when Celtics center Kendrick Perkins and point guard Nate Robinson were traded to Oklahoma City for Jeff Green and Nenad Kristic, a move that sparked a debate throughout the streets of Boston.

So, with about a month to go before this year's trade deadline, the city of Boston has reason to be on the edge of their seat.

Multiple reports have leaked regarding the destruction of the Celtics' Big Three. NBA teams have been inquiring about Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett for a while it seems, and Ainge has welcomed these inquiries.

Blowing up the Big Three may be best for the future in Boston. However, is it too late? There is no doubt rebuilding is in the best interest for the future of the franchise, but the time has passed to get quality in return.

Ray Allen re-signed as a free agent in the summer of 2010 and Kevin Garnett received a contract extension, as his former contract ran out at the end of the 2011-2012 season.

Those moves were questionable, but showed the league that Boston were going to give it one more try.

With an extremely slow start to this season, Ainge now is looking to go in another direction. The only problem is, with the Celtics' struggles, no team will give up above average, young talent.

Garnett has decreased in every major category, Allen has been MIA as of late and Pierce is still struggling to get his rhythm coming off the heel injury.

Although Ainge has the right idea, it is one season too late. With the powerhouse in Miami and Chicago rising to the top of the East, Boston needed to look to make moves before this season began.

The Celtics do not have the youth and athleticism to compete with the top NBA teams this season. If Ainge had this same idea of breaking up the Big Three last season, it could have given Boston many solid opportunities.

Free agents Tyson Chandler, Jamal Crawford or Nene could have been heavily pursued by the Celtics to begin their rebuilding process.

But instead, Boston is now in a position of near-desperation. Teams looking to make a championship run would love to have a player such as Ray Allen for a season, but the problem for Boston is these teams will not give up top talent anymore.

The time to make moves for the Celtics' future has passed. Look for Boston to make some moves at the deadline, but receive little quality back.

After losing Game 7 to the Lakers in the NBA Finals two season ago, Allen and Garnett should have been traded. Now, the Celtics are on their heels, feeling the pressure to keep the team relevant in the near future.