Boston Celtics: How Celts Will Turn Page on Big 3 and Build Around Rajon Rondo

The Boston Celtics' season may end in playoff glory or postseason demise. Regardless, a new era is on the horizon with Rajon Rondo clearly out front. 

If you want a vision of life after the Big Three, you caught a glimpse on Monday night when the Celtics took on the hapless Bobcats. 

Rajon Rondo had 20 points and 16 assists in a 94-82 win while Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce caught some rest. 

The Celtics are nowhere near the awful team we took them for a couple months ago, but it's very clear that they can't afford another season with the aging vets being the focal point of the team. 

Rondo has already taken over from a production standpoint, and now it's time to make it official with offseason acquisitions that would solidify the future of this storied franchise. 

The thing to remember here is that a rebuild should be measured and intelligent. I just don't see the Celtics pulling off another coup like they did when they brought together the Big Three. 

There are several ways to make a huge splash this offseason, especially with the hefty amount being taken off the payroll with the possible departures of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. 

The NBA draft will give Boston some depth considering how well this class is shaping up to be. I am not about to call their late picks franchise-saving, but there are some guys that can help this franchise immediately. 

One such player I have had my eye on for the Celtics is Fab Melo, who continues to be a late-round pick in mock drafts. Boston sorely needs a big man with defensive sensibilities, and Melo would mature on a team that is geared that way. 

After the draft, it's time to pick off free agents. 

It's far too early to start spouting off names with any certainty, but I can't help but envision a few players that would be perfect for this team. 

Eric Gordon is a player that can ignite fans with his play and has proven to be a consistent scorer, durability issues aside. 

The key here is whether the Hornets intend to re-sign him, and whether he would rather call somewhere else home. You can hardly do better than a franchise like Boston. 

SI.com reports Gordon is content in New Orleans, but you never know what the next few months might bring. 

While we are on the subject of New Orleans, let's consider Chris Kaman, a versatile big man that can help this team transition with his experience. 

The point here is that that Boston needs a slow build, and with Rondo's age and leadership the front office is confident they can do just that. 

There is no way they will find a Dwight Howard solution to their ills this summer, but they can build slowly around Rondo, Paul Pierce and the pieces that are willing to buy into defense and the Celtics' way. 

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