NBA Rumors: Mickael Pietrus Can't Save Celtics from Inevitable Falloff

The Celtics are in a scramble and Danny Ainge looks like he's aged 10 years in the last two. From injuries, free agent exits to the unbeatable father time, the Celtics are fading.

Does this mean they'll be sub .500? Of course not, but teams like the Celtics have to consider any year that doesn't end in a NBA Finals appearance as a failure.

This isn't college football, there are no cheap bowl appearances. The recent signing of Mickael Pietrus helps with depth, but unless he comes equipped with a trip to the fountain of youth for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, it will be inconsequential.

The Celtics bench will be bolstered by Pietrus, as he is a fit in his defensive style, but he is not the game-changer Boston needs to add that "it" factor the team needs to compensate for the aging core.

The rebuilding period could be short as the Celtics should have the contract slots of Garnett and Allen. That is $31 million dollars the Celtics should have to spend in free agency. The biggest fish, Dwight Howard, could be dealt and extended by that time.

Gerald Wallace will be a free agent, as well as Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and Andrew Bynum. There are pieces available, if they can pluck one of those prizes from the upcoming free-agency season.

Until then, Celtics fans will have to do something they haven't done in about five years: adjust their expectations.