The end of Boston’s ‘big three’?

I’m sure you remember way back in the day, before the era of LeBron, Wade and Bosh, there was another trio of all-stars that played together: Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. OK, so it wasn’t that far back. Shoot, it was actually only four years ago that Garnett left his pathetic Timberwolves team to go East. Seems long ago, doesn’t it?

Well after those four years that brought a championship to Boston, talks are starting up about the end for those three in Beantown.

Allen and Garnett only have one year left on their contracts and we may not even get to play that season. Plus, it’s no secret that they’re all getting up there in age, so all the talk is definitely justified. But to hear Allen talk about it, you’d think the he and Garnett were turning 24 next week. Allen says he’s still got plenty left in the tank and adds that Garnett does too, and the pair have no desire to go anywhere else. If we listen to him, we’ll see the Boston trio around for a few more years.

But does it even matter? Should Boston want to keep the trio intact? Is this still a contending team? Not really.

When the Garnett trade was made back in 2007, I remember being blown away, thinking “How could such a great player get traded to an already great team?” And those thoughts were justified. The team gelled and they won a championship.

I don’t see that team anymore. I don’t see those guys as the superstars they once were. To me, they’re just a bunch of slightly above average NBA players. I honestly think Rajon Rondo is more important to the team now than Garnett. Allen may think he has a few more years in him, but I’m starting to see the deterioration of a long but successful career.

I actually think the Celtics would be better off if they traded away some of their players and started rebuilding now. If they keep the pieces in place, they’re only clinging to the glory of the past couple years. They can’t compete with the Bulls and Heat right now, and the longer they wait, the less value they can get for their big names.

It’s definitely time for Boston to say their “Thank you’s” to the big three and send them off into the sunset. They’ve given their best and had a nice run, but it’s time to move on.