Could Rondo and Pierce make the Blazers a contender?

[South East]

Boston is gonna blow it up after this year and will probably be looking to get out of Pierce's contract. I think they will look to package Pierce with Rondo and get younger with draft picks. Is this something Paul Allen is looking for. Pierce has slowed some but if you limit his minutes can still be really effective. Everyone has heard the Rondo rumors to Portland for years and he is playing really well in the playoffs.

Bos trades
Rondo
Pierce
#21
#22

Portland Trades
Matthews
E. Williams
S. Williams
#6
#11

Bos would have almost no salary 2 top draft picks and would be able to play young guys and get another top pick next year.

Por lineup

PG Rondo, Smith
SG Batum,
SF Pierce, Babbitt
PF Aldridge, Freeland
C Przybilla, Thomas

Plus have the 2 picks, I would try to trade up and get Rivers. If not take the best center and next BPA

Portland would have to hope that some veterans would sign cheap to get some depth.

I think this is something Paul Allen is looking for. Does it make Portland a contender?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

The next contract Pierce is going to get is from the AARP.

No thanks to Paul Pierce.

 

[Natebishop3]

Contender? Maybe. But I can tell you right now that they won't be dealing Rondo. That ship has sailed. Dude is dropping 44 points on the Heat and he's just coming into his prime. No way they trade him.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

If you were New Orleans would you trade the #1 pick for Rondo? If you were the Bobcats would you trade the #2 pick for Rondo?

I bet either team would happily give up their picks for a player like Rondo.

The #6 and #11 picks + garbage isn't going to get us Rondo.

 

[Natebishop3]

If you were New Orleans would you trade the #1 pick for Rondo? If you were the Bobcats would you trade the #2 pick for Rondo?

I bet either team would happily give up their picks for a player like Rondo.

The #6 and #11 picks + garbage isn't going to get us Rondo.

Eh... I don't know if I'd trade the #1 for Rondo. I'd have to think about it. I'd definitely trade the #2 though.

 

[44Thrilla]

The best way to rebuild is to trade away your 26 year old best player.

 

[Run BJM]

The next contract Pierce is going to get is from the AARP.

No thanks to Paul Pierce.

Looks like he's still got it right now, and he'd essentially be 3rd fiddle to Rondo and LMA, no? Obviously hes not a long term answer, but thats a hell of a theoretical team. You could afford to rest him a ton during the regular season like SA with Duncan.

 

[RoyToy]

The best way to rebuild is to trade away your 26 year old best player.

He's literally the only piece they have to build around

He'll be 30 by the time they're even thinking about contending again, and picks 6 and 11 would speed that process up.

 

[South East]

If you were New Orleans would you trade the #1 pick for Rondo? If you were the Bobcats would you trade the #2 pick for Rondo?

I bet either team would happily give up their picks for a player like Rondo.

The #6 and #11 picks + garbage isn't going to get us Rondo.

It's not just #6 and #11 for Rondo, they also get out of Pierce's contract. If they have Pierce and Rondo they will never be a bottom 5 team. They won't get a good lottery pick and will be stuck in that middle ground. Take it for what it's worth but Boston worked out Harrison Barnes the other day...he is slated to be a top 6 pick. I don't think they get there without trading Rondo. Most agents won't let their players work out for a team way outside their range unless there is good reason to believe they are moving into that range.

 

[Natebishop3]

It's not just #6 and #11 for Rondo, they also get out of Pierce's contract. If they have Pierce and Rondo they will never be a bottom 5 team. They won't get a good lottery pick and will be stuck in that middle ground. Take it for what it's worth but Boston worked out Harrison Barnes the other day...he is slated to be a top 6 pick. I don't think they get there without trading Rondo. Most agents won't let their players work out for a team way outside their range unless there is good reason to believe they are moving into that range.

I hadn't heard that.... that's an interesting bit of information. I still think they could do better for Rondo than what we can offer.

 

[44Thrilla]

I just found the bit on Barnes, that is interesting, but I doubt Rondo gets traded.

 

[RoyToy]

Well obviously it'll be hard to trade Rondo because the Celtics will want a lot

That said, I think Ainge will look to see what he can get for him. Think he wants to tear it down and start over, and trading Rondo for 6 and 11 + players could make a lot of sense for Boston.

Boston is going to be YEARS away after this year.

 

[Natebishop3]

Well obviously it'll be hard to trade Rondo because the Celtics will want a lot

That said, I think Ainge will look to see what he can get for him. Think he wants to tear it down and start over, and trading Rondo for 6 and 11 + players could make a lot of sense for Boston.

Boston is going to be YEARS away after this year.

It's true. Boston is fucked. As good as Rondo is, he's not enough. When has Boston ever attracted a big name free agent?

 

[Rhal]

Well obviously it'll be hard to trade Rondo because the Celtics will want a lot

That said, I think Ainge will look to see what he can get for him. Think he wants to tear it down and start over, and trading Rondo for 6 and 11 + players could make a lot of sense for Boston.

Boston is going to be YEARS away after this year.

A lot will probably depend not only on our picks but how much they like the throwin players (babbit, elliot, Mathews). If Ainge thinks he can turn those guys into more first round picks next year.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Well obviously it'll be hard to trade Rondo because the Celtics will want a lot

That said, I think Ainge will look to see what he can get for him. Think he wants to tear it down and start over, and trading Rondo for 6 and 11 + players could make a lot of sense for Boston.

Boston is going to be YEARS away after this year.

First, Ainge will trade Rondo to us.

Then he will take the GM job here.

 

[44Thrilla]

Boston's potential rebuild also depends on how this series plays out. If they're swept, they may. If they go 7 or win, it might put pressure on Ainge to add depth and make one more run next year.

 

[Mediocre Man]

No.

 

[Blaze01]

much better team than this last year, but contender? I don't think so....

May win a 1st round series though if Pierce can stay healthy and the wheels don't fall off...

That is what I like to build championship teams around...a lot of "if's".......not

 

[Natebishop3]

We don't have the juice to add Rondo. Draft picks aren't enough. Maybe if we had a top three pick AND a young prospect to throw at them, but we don't. Unless we could somehow move our two picks for a top three and then do a sign and trade #3/Batum for Rondo.

If we do that, we better pull someone good with that cap space. I'd shoot for Gordon. Max deal. Put Gordon with Rondo and Aldridge and you've got a pretty damn good core... not much else, but a pretty damn good core.

 

[South East]

We don't have the juice to add Rondo. Draft picks aren't enough. Maybe if we had a top three pick AND a young prospect to throw at them, but we don't. Unless we could somehow move our two picks for a top three and then do a sign and trade #3/Batum for Rondo.

If we do that, we better pull someone good with that cap space. I'd shoot for Gordon. Max deal. Put Gordon with Rondo and Aldridge and you've got a pretty damn good core... not much else, but a pretty damn good core.

I think the only way you are getting Rondo is by taking back Pierce.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think the only way you are getting Rondo is by taking back Pierce.

How much space would we have left with Pierce on the team?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

With this new CBA taking back the elderly Paul Piece should not be an option, even for Rondo.

 

[Natebishop3]

With this new CBA taking back the elderly Paul Piece should not be an option, even for Rondo.

He only has two more years left on his deal. It's not THAT bad, and then you have Rondo and Aldridge in their primes and hopefully some cap space when he comes off the books.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

With this new CBA taking back the elderly Paul Piece should not be an option, even for Rondo.

lol wut? Pierce only has two years left on his deal. It's not that big of a deal in this CBA, dude is an expiring contract next year if it doesn't work out anyways.

This is the type of move I have been thinking about (don't think Boston moves Rondo now though), and it would get Paul Allen pumped about the team again.

 

[Natebishop3]

lol wut? Pierce only has two years left on his deal. It's not that big of a deal in this CBA, dude is an expiring contract next year if it doesn't work out anyways.

This is the type of move I have been thinking about (don't think Boston moves Rondo now though), and it would get Paul Allen pumped about the team again.

I think he has two years AFTER this season, unless there's a team option that I don't know about.

 

[South East]

How much space would we have left with Pierce on the team?

A few small exemptions but no cap space. Together Rondo and Pierce make $28 mil. The thought is you make a run the next couple years with Pierce and use MLE to get better. If Batum signs for less then 10 per year you might be able to get a significant piece after pierce comes off. Also pierce would be expiring after next year so you could use him in a trade to get some help then.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I think he has two years AFTER this season, unless there's a team option that I don't know about.

Correct, two years after this season. About 15-16 million each year.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Back to the original question: Does a 35 year old Pierce, LaMarcus and Rondo as your best three players make you competitive in a series with San Antonio, the Heat or OKC? I kind of doubt it.

Pass.

 

[South East]

I think he has two years AFTER this season, unless there's a team option that I don't know about.

Yeah '12/13 and '13/14. So starting next offseason he would be an expiring contract and Portland could use him to get a player.

 

[South East]

Back to the original question: Does a 35 year old Pierce, LaMarcus and Rondo as your best three players make you competitive in a series with San Antonio, the Heat or OKC? I kind of doubt it.

Pass.

You also have Batum as your 4th best player. I think minus LA getting Williams and Howard that that team would compete for a top 3 seed and a good playoff run could put them over the top. This team matches up really well with OKC with Rondo/Westbrook, Batum/Sefolosha, Pierce/Durant, Aldridge/Ibaka and Przybilla/Perkins. The bench would be the biggest concern for Portland.