They retained their rights to Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Nate Robinson and Marquis Daniels. They added Jermaine O’Neal through free agency, using the midlevel exception. They drafted Avery Bradley and Luke Harangody. It’s a lot of talent, but is it enough? Will the C’s need to make one last push to compete again for a championship? Will Danny Ainge make a splash with a midseason trade?
In the past, it’s always been part of Ainge’s routine. The Celtics have looked strong every winter for the past three years, but they have never been content to rest on their laurels and coast into the postseason. They’ve always looked to improve, and Ainge has always been able to pull the trigger on a deal — whether it’s a deadline trade or a free-agent signing late in the year.
In 2008, the unlikeliest of stories came true when the L.A. Clippers’ trash became the Celtics’ treasure: Sam Cassell. The Clips bought Cassell out on Feb. 28, 2008, giving him an $850,000 parting gift and placing him on waivers immediately. Within less than a week, he was a Celtic, and he ended up stepping up as an explosive bench scorer in the Celtics’ first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks. A couple months later, he had a ring.
While Ainge was striking a deal with Cassell, the Celtics’ Big Three were busy courting P.J. Brown, who also arrived in late February. Brown came out of retirement, played his way into shape and emerged as an extra low-post body in the playoffs for the C’s to throw at Rasheed Wallace and later Pau Gasol. The wily old veteran helped the C’s win it all.
In ’09, the Celtics were looking for an extra bench scorer, and they went out and got Stephon Marbury. The move seemed insane at first, but it didn’t look so crazy on May 12, when Starbury scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and led the C’s to a comeback win over the Magic in Game 5 of the East semifinals.
This spring, the big name was Robinson. The Celtics’ bench was missing something as the team headed down the home stretch — Ainge wanted more youth, energy and explosiveness. He landed Robinson, a compact 5-foot-9 barrel of enthusiasm that breathed new life into the C’s second unit. And he did more than breathe — in Game 6 of the East finals, he came off the bench and dismantled the Magic with his deadly jump shot. He earned himself a legion of fans and a fat new contract.
Every year, Ainge has a way of examining his roster, assessing his greatest need and going after it. He’s a good big-picture thinker — Ainge thinks in terms of championships, and he always knows what his team needs in order to win one.
In 2008, it was veteran bench role players. In ’09 and then again this spring, it was a dynamic scorer.
What will it be next?
The Celtics’ needs for the home stretch next season will depend on how their current roster pans out. Who finds success in Boston, and who doesn’t?
Do the C’s need another point guard behind Rajon Rondo? Robinson could fill that role, but he’s more of a shooter and isn’t a top-notch defender against opposing point guards. Bradley could be that guy, but it’s unclear if he’s ready.
Do they need another big man? That depends on how ready Harangody is — and of course, how healthy Kendrick Perkins is. We shall see.
Do they need another perimeter defender? They may have lost Tony Allen, but they still have Daniels. Can the 29-year-old stay both healthy to play and hungry to win? Maybe — the jury’s still out.
NESN.com will answer one Celtics question every day in July.
Wednesday, July 28: Will the Celtics still dominate the Atlantic Division?Friday, July 30:
Will the Celtics go hard in the regular season, or save it for the playoffs?
