Should I try to improve speakers at $2000.00 range

I think that most listeners who have never heard the Celestions would probably prefer one of many newer/used $2000 speakers; however, having lived with and enjoyed them for so long, that might not be true for you. I have never been happy with the Vandersteen 2 or 3 series speakers.

Nostalgia is good for emotions but horrid for building the best audio system one can.

If I had $2K for speakers and the desire to upgrade those old Celestions would be dumped so fast you'd hear them screaming on the way out the door. :)

At POLK, the price of poker just went up!!! You get nothing for 2000. (floorstanding that IS)

Disagree with Doug.
Most speakers made today cost twice as much as 10...20 years ago so @2k doesn't seem to be argumentative enough to replace current speakers at all.
It's only $3400 after Celestion speakers are sold so the question still remains weather it's possible to find an upgrade(used might make much more sense) spending $3400 to the current Celestion?

...Had been long time in desire to listen to Nola Contender with powerful tube amp such as QuickSilver M90.
The new price is exactly $3400 I've mentioned in the previous post.
Another way is to wait to double your upgrade budget and shoot for Nola Viper II.