NBA Trade Rumors: Celtics Smart to Ride out Season with Current Roster

Trade rumors have circled around the Boston Celtics for too long now. Although only 20-18, and far removed from their championship play, this team is basically where it belongs: a low playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics' best overall player, Rajon Rondo, is 26 years old with four years remaining on his contract. Two of the "Big Three," Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, are both older than 35 and coming off the books at season's end. And their emotional leader and most clutch performer, Paul Pierce, isn't going anywhere with three years and upwards of $15 million per year remaining on his contract.

This is not a rebuilding year, but it is not a championship year—and the Celtics finally understand that is OK.

According to Celtics coach Doc Rivers (via ESPN Boston):

"

I think right now we’re in a good place. The ebbs and flows of the season and this is the best place we’ve been all year. Our team is executing well. They understand who we are. It’s taken all year to kind of get there, but we’re starting to figure out who we are. We’re not there yet, but we’re getting close and when we do (get there), I think we’ll be really good.

"

And they will be good for what they are and who they are.

In a playoff series with extra rest for players, the Celtics are still very dangerous. Rondo has flashed some of the best ability we've ever seen from him this year. Pierce still has killer instinct and drive when the game is on the line. KG and Allen will never back down from anything. And they know not to expect too much from themselves or panic when they lose in regular-season games.

They're barely over .500, but that is what this roster offers.

They don't have a true center. Their bench is lacking firepower and they're completely dependent on Rondo and the "Big Three."

So what?

Adding a player at the deadline seems unlikely, as Rivers said, "We pretty much know what we want to do. Like I said a week ago, I’d be surprised if we did anything. But if someone wants to give us a player, we’ll take him."

Nobody is going to give them a player, and they're not going to give anybody up.

Allen and KG are more valuable as expiring contracts, Rondo is the only reason this team is over .500, and if Pierce were ever traded there would be riots in the streets of Boston.

The Celtics are going to play out the 2012 season with the roster they have and that is the best thing they can do.

This summer, regardless of how the year plays out, Danny Ainge will have enough money to tinker with his roster and he'll still have his two most important pieces under contract for multiple years. For better or worse, the Celtics are going to finish the year the way they started. In the long run, this is by far the best move possible.