When Danny Ainge formed the "Big Three" by dealing for future Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to team up with Paul Pierce in the summer of 2007, many predicted that the Boston Celtics were destined to become perennial championship contenders.
The revamped Celtics immediately seized their first championship that season, bringing the long depraved Garnett and Allen their first rings. The team has fared well since that first championship trophy, most notably coming just short of winning another championship in 2010 by falling to the Lakers in seven games.
In 2012, the Big Three aren’t as dominant as they were when they first arrived in Boston.
With Garnett and Allen both at the end of their expiring mega-deals, it’s time for Celtics GM Danny Ainge to end the Boston "Three" Party.
As Garnett and Allen see their skills tail off, the Celtics record reflects the team’s deteriorating talent level. Boston is floundering as one of the lower playoff seeds in the Eastern Conference, and it appears the team is destined for an early first-round playoff exit.
Garnett and Allen both are victim to the veteran's curse as their age continues to wear on their athleticism.
Garnett’s balky knees have limited the once agile forward and Allen isn’t able-bodied enough at age 35 to create scoring opportunities for himself anymore, though his jump shot is still one of the most lethal of all time.
It would be in the best interest of the Celtics' franchise to not renew both player's contracts at the end of the season, despite the likely outcry from fans. Garnett and Allen’s namesakes alone will mean any team wishing to sign either player will have to pay a premium.
Boston has a solid franchise player to build around in point guard Rajon Rondo.
With cap flexibility the team will have from shedding Allen, Garnett and another worn out veteran in Jermaine O’Neil at the end of the season, the Celtics should be a big player in this summer’s free agent market.
Dwight Howard will not longer be available, but the team could offer contracts to players like Chris Kaman, Spencer Hawes and Eric Gordon (though Gordon is restricted). The Celtics will likely have enough cap room to offer multiple deals to big name players.
Additionally, Ainge might consider moving Pierce, a lifetime Celtic.
While it might mortify Boston fans to imagine Pierce finishing his career in another uniform, the 35-year-old Pierce, while still productive enough to make the 2012 All-Star team, is sure to suffer the same fate of Allen and Garnett over the next year or so.
It might prove wise for Ainge to deal his star while he still has value.
Ainge and the Celtics must certainly consider the future of the organization when making the final call on Allen, Garnett and Pierce. If the team wants to win and start chasing another championship immediately, this likely might be the last year Boston’s heralded trio plays together.
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