The problem is that, in the NBA, the worst thing you can be is mediocre. The only way to get to Elite from mediocrity is to be a desired FA destination. Boston is NOT that destination. So it comes to trading everyone now to get as many young players and, since you're not getting future stars by trading the Big 3 now, potential lotto picks (but the likely trade partners would need picks from other teams for this to happen) OR taking one more desparate crack at it and then let the Big 3 retire and be bad on your own for a few years and hope to get a star or 2 in the draft before today's younth (Rondo, Green, Bradley, etc), who are all role players (note, I think Rondo's status as a Top 5 pg could be in jeopardy if his shooting doesn't improve - given the potential at the position throughout the league), get old or move on via their NEXT round of free agency.

Chris Mannix suggests the C's would move Rondo for the right offer. I'm not sure if such an offer is actually out there but . . .

Slow down now. Conceptually, it makes some sense. This team needs to find a way to get very good to great young players for the post-3 era. KG, Ray and Paul are NOT bringing that in return (Okay, maybe Pierce). Further, while an All-Star (and I love him) Rondo is NOT suited to be the best player on your team (maybe for a stretch of games but not overall). We're also not getting any at our spot in the draft. So how do we do that? Trade a great (but, arguably, flawed) young asset to get multiple ones (but only if one has a chance to be of equal value). For example, if someone offers a D-Will like deal (even less than that) don't you have to consider it????

I DO agree with that. Scanning the rosters for someone who needs a PG and has a young big, young pg and/or young shooter to offer (or a high pick that might help acquire one of the above) and the closest I get is Toronto (Davis/Johnson, DeRozan and the #5 but what's the point of getting Rondo if he has nobody to dish to). I supposed I could start looking for possible 3-ways (insert your joke here) but odds say that you're right (not going to happen anyway so why bother).

For what it's worth (insert your joke here), Peter Vecsey reported that the Hornets and C's recently agreed to a trade involving Rondo for Paul (no mention of any other names) but it was squashed due to CP3's refusal to sign an extension. This, of course, is contrary to the popular opinion that Boston would be one of a few teams who'd be willing to do a deal without such a caveat (they could make 1 last run at a banner, try to convince him to stay or do a sign-and-trade with him next year). It's probably contrary to a lot of other things but . . .