The Boston Celtics are still in the rebuilding stage but all that could finally be lifted once the current NBA regular season is done. And with their chances of going beyond the regular season not looking so well, the Celtics may be buckling down and weighing out their options once the offseason comes around.
Among their targets are Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers), Greg Monroe (Detroit Pistons) and Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies). At a glance, that could mean a hefty price to pay considering these players are among the players carrying a fat paycheck. But given that the Celtics have the money to burn, any of their targets could be a possibility.
But then again, there are a lot of factors to consider.
For one, snagging one or two of those potential big names may depend on the team's structure. At the moment, the Celtics aren't exactly carrying a promising bunch. They have a slew of role players in Evan Turner, Tyler Zeller and Marcus Thornton but adding any of them doesn't necessarily mean that the Celtics would be an instant title contender.
This scenario may very well apply to Love and Gasol, two players who are obviously looking to get an NBA ring.
Then there is the matter of winning the bid for any of the player's services. Surely their current teams are not going to give them up easily unless their respective team management feels that they are not worthy of keeping. That scenario is of course a million to one except perhaps for Greg Monroe.
Monroe is a prime target and the Celtics are only one of many teams eyeing him in the offseason. Of the three players mentioned, it seems feasible to land him although that won't stop Danny Ainge and company from targeting Love and Gasol.
Can the Celtics finally move out of that rebuilding stage niche? It all depends on the offseason.
But for now with about 23 games left in the 2014-15 regular season, the Celtics could make a go at a playoff spot. They are currently sitting at 10th but are not far behind from the 7th and 8th placed teams, the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Bobcats respectively.
