A Boston Rebuild?

The Boston Celtics are one of the most successful franchises in sports history.  Since 1946, the year the team was founded, the Celtics have accomplished more than any other team.  The team has had forty-nine .500 or better seasons in its 68 years in the league, 21 division titles, 21 conference titles, and 17 championships (the most of any team).  The team has seen legendary players (Bill Russell, Robert Parrish, Larry Bird, Bob Cousy, Kevin McHale, John Havlicek, and Bill Sharman), had legendary coaches (Red Auerbach, K.C. Jones, and Doc Rivers), and had All-Star players Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen together just two years ago.  The current star of the team is starting point guard Rajon Rondo, which anybody who watches or follows basketball knows that.  He is a defensive force and efficient passer, but enough of what you probably already know.  Let’s get to the good stuff.

Seen here: Allen, Garnett, & Pierce after winning
the NBA Finals in 2008.

The Celtics recently lost star players Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in the previous offseason.  With them gone the emergence of Rondo to perform was sky-high.  However, Rondo has not produced like the Celtics would have liked.  In fact, he has barely produced at all.  This lack of production can be contributed to an ACL tear in January.  This season he has averaged 8.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 6.9 apg, and 1.1 spg; these numbers are down from last season when he averaged 13.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 11.1 apg, and 1.9 spg in only thirty-eight games.  Luckily for the Celtics, starting small forward Jeff Green has stepped up this season averaging 16.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.6 spg, and 0.5 bpg, but Green cannot do it all.  The Celtics are below .500 for the season and are being projected for not even making the playoffs.  So is a rebuild in the near future?

Honestly, I think the Celtics should start a rebuilding effort soon.  If they even make the playoffs this year, then they are most likely going to be knocked off in the first round (like last year).  They just do not have enough depth.  Rondo is too much of a liability at this point.  He is barely played, and when he has played he has not produced nearly well enough.  I say the Celtics should cut their losses and trade Rondo before the trade deadline.  That way they can get a draft pick, a young player that they can make better in upcoming years, or even a reliable backup player to come off the bench.  With Rondo gone, the team would undoubtedly play worse and could even score a good draft pick.  The way I see it, the Celtics could continue to hover around “not making the playoffs” and “not getting good lottery picks” for years to come, or the Celtics could tank this year, acquire young talent in the off-season, and build around Jeff Green in these next few years.  That is just my opinion, and maybe I am wrong.  I am just looking at it from a realistic point-of-view.  What do you think?