Dear Kevin Garnett,

First and foremost, happy birthday, and thank you for teaching a new generation of fans what Boston Celtics basketball was about. Regardless of whether you return for the upcoming season, your legacy has forever been cemented in Celtics lore. You were the backbone for that 2008 title team, and have kept us competitive since your arrival.

I still remember that euphoric moment when your trade from the Timberwolves to the Celtics was finalized. It finally gave us true hope. Not blind hope that we might be able to compete, but that we now could compete. This commercial sums it up much better than I ever could.

Most of us know what has happened since that time. There have been many more joyful memories than sad, but all good things must eventually come to an end.

With the report surfacing that you will not be having surgery on your ankles, it leaves your future as a Boston Celtic in as much doubt as ever. It’s possible that maybe you really do not need surgery, but at points this year you claimed it was painful to even push the gas pedal while driving because of your ankles.

Is this your way of hinting to Celtics’ fans that it is over? If so, then I understand. It will be hard to move past it, but you’ve given so much to this franchise and the game of basketball.

The 15 All-Star game appearances, 25,274 points, and 2004 NBA MVP award says it all. You are a first ballot Hall-of-Famer, and Celtic nation has been lucky to have you.

I understand the mental grind you go through daily to prepare for games, and that doesn’t take into account the physical toll the game has taken on your body.

If you want to retire, you deserve to do so, and we all look forward to the day your jersey number is raised to the rafters.

BUT, if you do want to return for one more run, then I must ask of you one favor. Please force Danny Ainge to find you a competent center to play alongside with. It’s not fair to ask you to carry the burden in the paint on a nightly basis.

You still have a lot of gas left in the tank, evidenced by your 12.7 points per game and 13.7 rebounds per game in the postseason. Yet, the regular season is a long journey, and with all due respect, you need help.

Give Ainge an ultimatum, either find a center capable of providing starters minutes, or retire. I realize this is easier said than done considering the Celtics salary cap limitations, but it’s a necessity.

Adding a viable center doesn’t guarantee a championship in any form, but without one, this team stands no shot at raising banner 18.

You will likely play the deciding factor on whether this team rebuilds, or re-tools. So what will your choice be?

Celtic nation is waiting.

May 3, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) warms up before the start of game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Throughout the past few NBA seasons Paul Pierce has been in numerous trade conversations. Even last season there was talk that he could be traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors.

Because the Boston Celtics’ rebuild is starting sooner rather than later, Pierce believes that his time with the Celtics has finally come to an end according to CSNNE’s sideline reporter Greg Dickerson. Here’s what Dickerson had to say:

“I don’t think they will (bring Pierce back),” Dickerson said Sunday on CSNNE. “And I know that the company that Paul Pierce hangs around in, they do not believe – and I don’t think Paul Pierce believes – that he is going to be brought back next year at $15 million.”

-Greg Dickerson

This is just speculation, at best. It has some validity to it, but Dickerson does not speak for Pierce. Until Pierce comes out and comments on the situation himself or Danny Ainge makes a move, we can only take what becomes available to us with a grain of salt.

Dickerson also went on to talk about the implications of Pierce leaving and losing Kevin Garnett in the process. Garnett, himself, said that Pierce would definitely be apart of his thought process and whether he returns or not.

These are two great players who will go down in history as some of the best players to ever play the game. Seeing this happen right before our very eyes is troublesome–this could be a very ugly divorce that breaks up the Kevin Garnett era in Celtics’ history.

Pierce is due $15 million dollars next season, but all of that contract is not fully guaranteed. He’s guaranteed about $6 million next season, so if Danny Ainge would like to buy his contract out he could definitely do so. It wouldn’t be a hefty chunk of cash that goes against the cap and it could give him more leverage in bringing in other pieces to try and move in a different direction.

Whatever happens between these two sides, we should forever cherish the time that we have been able to watch them work in harmony to bring the Celtics’ franchise success and restore the former glory that it once held for so many years.

May 3, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) during the second quarter in game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

There has been a lot of speculation about what is going on with this Celtics team and their relationship with Danny Ainge. Ainge had already come out and said that he exp-ected Doc Rivers back and would allow things to simmer for a bit, but there’s still speculation that Rivers may want out and both Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce could be let go.

Ainge came on WEEI radio to clear some things up about the Celtics’ offseason. In the interview he talked about the shape of this team, Paul Pierce, Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett, Rondo’s rehab and even Leandro Barbosa. Here are a few quotes from Ben Rohrbach, a blogger for WEEI:

Ainge on Stephen A.’s rumored Doc feud: “I think I have the best coach in the NBA, and I’m not the least bit tired of hearing his voice.”

— Ben Rohrbach (@brohrbach) May 9, 2013

Ainge on Rondo: “So far, he looks good.” (Also commented on Barbosa. Hmm. Wonder if he’s coming back?) — Ben Rohrbach (@brohrbach) May 9, 2013

Ainge on KG: “I’ll touch base w/him some time next week. … He needs time to chill and contemplate his life. I do anticipate KG will play.” — Ben Rohrbach (@brohrbach) May 9, 2013

Ainge: “We’re more than 1 player away unless it’s a great player. It’ll be tough to become a championship team from where we are.” Ouch.

— Ben Rohrbach (@brohrbach) May 9, 2013

Ainge on Pierce: “We love what he’s done for us, but ultimately we have to do what’s best for us. I think he has a lot of ball left in him.”

— Ben Rohrbach (@brohrbach) May 9, 2013

Those are some pretty interesting quotes to say the least. It sounds like he’s interested in bringing Leandro Barbosa back–he’s using Celtics’ facilities to rehabilitate. It sounds like if Doc Rivers is willing to return then he’s more than welcome in the Celtics front office. That’s pretty good news there.

Ainge thinks that Garnett will play somewhere this season–he didn’t say whether or not it would be in a Celtics’ uniform. You have to imagine that he’s taking the same stance with Garnett that he is in Pierce.

He said that the Celtics have to do what’s best for them–if that’s letting Garnett and Pierce go then so be it. Looking to improve this team is Ainge’s job and if he’s willing to part ways with those guys to do it then we have to ride with him down that road.

As Ainge said, the Celtics are not one player away from being a contender again. This is a flawed roster and he knows it. Anything to do to improve it should be on his agenda this summer.

Ainge is going to have a lot of work to do. We can fall back on these quotes to see if he stays true to everything that he said in this interview. The interview is here if you’d like to take a listen yourself.