Celtics Trade Rumors: Danny Ainge Shouldn't Break Up Big Three at Deadline

Even though the Boston Celtics haven't lived up to expectations this season, general manager Danny Ainge shouldn't take the drastic step of blowing up the team's roster before the trade deadline. It's too risky of a move to attempt when the market is limited like it is now.

Changing the entire complexion of a franchise isn't something to take lightly. It's a task the Celtics front office will certainly need to consider as the Big Three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen near the end of their run, but making those decisions during the offseason makes a lot more sense.

Nevertheless, Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reports Ainge might be unwilling to wait until season's end:

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So let the Celtics break up their Big Three, which is what the Knicks’ opponents this Sunday in Boston are actively trying to do. Team president Danny Ainge realizes that the Celtics won’t win the title and can only make the playoffs. That’s not good enough for a franchise that proudly flies 17 championship banners.

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To completely count the Celtics out from title contention is extreme. While they would be underdogs against the Miami Heat or Chicago Bulls, how many times have the aging San Antonio Spurs been counted out only to make another run?

Boston still has plenty of talent on its roster, but getting them to play up to their maximum ability as a team has been the problem. If head coach Doc Rivers can find a remedy before the playoffs, the Celtics could suddenly become that team nobody wants to face.

Outside of the top three, the Celtics are also seeking trade partners for point guard Rajon Rondo, according to the report. The nightly triple-double threat would seemingly have a lot of value on the market and might fetch the pieces to make Boston a contender again.

Rondo has always been the fourth man. The best actor in a supporting role, so to speak. Now that the Celtics offense, which ranks 26th in the NBA, has grown stale, it might be time to flip him for a player who can provide a bigger spark on that end of the floor.

Breaking up the Big Three in an unceremonious fashion before the deadline would be an awkward end to a terrific run. They won a championship in 2008 and made another finals appearance two seasons ago.

No trade involving Big Three members would put the Celtics on the path to success this season. The midseason market isn't exactly craving for aging veterans. So Ainge would be better off waiting until the summer when teams have a better read on the direction of their teams.

Trading Pierce, Garnett or Allen in the next two weeks would come off as an overzealous attempt to change things up instead of a reasoned approach on how to rebuild the team.

If Ainge plays his cards right during the offseason, he should be able to swing enough moves to ensure the Celtics don't have to reach rock bottom before building back up.

When it comes to the big three and the trade deadline, Ainge should just fold his hand and live to fight another day. There's no reason to go all-in quite yet.