Let's get this place rolling. Let's discuss the offseason of half-measures as it's developed. Though it's still early, Danny still has time to find the new Brian Scalabrine.
I guess the "new" direction of the team is to win immediately, which is fine, but the roster contains multiple flaws that Ainge must address before he can say that the Celtics have a shot at winning the East. Oh, wait. Specifically, the team must acquire a point guard that has a decent perimeter shot to keep his defender honest and allow Pierce and Allen to work in single coverage. The free agent market is not very friendly right now, so I don't think the Celtics will try to resolve this issue, if they even try at all because apparently Rondo is a basketball god, through free agency with their mid-level exception. The owners are too cheap to agree to a 32M contract regardless, so the best option is through the trade market. Houston may try to get rid of Luther Head and he would fit perfectly, as Pierce is going to run the offense, so a pass-first point guard is unnecessary. Head is a solid player and fits well with the starters. Rondo will still get his minutes [20-24] or the Celtics can try out Pruitt if he shows promise in preseason. The next major positional problem is at power forward, assuming that Al Jefferson is left at center. The Celtics still need a guy that can do the defensive dirty work. Jeff Foster is perfect and hopefully Ainge can be competent enough to steal him from the seemingly similiarily incompetent Larry Bird for a package involving filler like Tony Allen and Allen Ray, a high lottery protected future first-round selection, and Sebastian Telfair's contract. This entire post is all moot if the Celtics can trade for Garnett using Ratliff's contract, Telfair's contract, Gerald Green, Minnesota's future-first round selection, and Al Jefferson, of course. Garnett, I'm assuming, would waive his trade kicker to come to Boston to join two fellow all-stars perhaps. If the Celtics leave the roster like this, they may get out of the first round, but if they try to fix these issues and strengthen their bench using part of the mid-level exception or pursue a legitimate third all-star like Garnett or Gasol, I think the Celtics can win the East.
A defensive big man is what this team desperately needs. Someone who can clean up the mistakes of Allen and Pierce on the perimeter and protect Jefferson from trying to face opposition guards driving down the lane. Jeff Foster would be ok here, but I think a Marcus Camby deal would be a no-brainer if it is at all possible. I don't know if the Nuggets would make him available, as they think they are winning now and relying on Nene and K-Mart's knees aren't a part of a winning equation. If he is available, the move must be made.
Welcome agoo. I'm sure that you'll love it here.</p> Personally, I prefer Foster over Camby because he is a better post defender by a significant margin, in my opinion, he rebounds at about the same rate, and is trade value is far less than Camby's, but Camby would also be a great acquisition because his help defense ability will really help out Jefferson's defensive lapses. Camby, as well as Foster, can defend the toughest defensive assignment whether it is Shaq or Chris Bosh. Camby is a far better offensive player than Foster, but it doesn't seem likely that the Nuggets would trade him for "just" Ratliff's contract, Green, and a protected first-round pick when their latest move to trade for Iverson showed their apparent commitment to winning rather than trying to save money. Foster; however, would be much easier to trade for and works just as well in Boston, as the Celtics would still have Ratliff's contract to trade for a great improvement at point guard or keep, as the owners will realistically fight hard to save the eight million or so dollars from his contract. </p>
I prefer Camby because I think we need the help-defender sort of guy, rather than the guy who will put a body on an opposing big man in the post.</p> Basically, I don't trust Jefferson to stay on the floor if he's leaving his feet to try and block shots. Offensively, we'll need Jefferson on the block to create space for Allen as he starts to lose a step with his age getting up there. </p> Either way though, they would both be very good pick-ups for us. </p> </p> EDIT: Just checked the trade tracker on ESPN. Ratliff's salary is so much bigger than Foster's that it would make a trade difficult, though not entirely prohibitive if we could find a third party to get involved. </p>
I would absolutely love to get either or both of luther head and marcus camby...i am losing faith that we have a chance to get garnett but i dont think there are many teams that could contend with head, allen, pierce, al, camby...this is ainges last chance to get something done...he better make a good decision for once</p>
ahh...so this is where my old friends have been hiding out...</p> I have been a big Camby fan since his UMASS days. There are always questions on if he can stay healthy, but I'd be thrilled to get him.</p>
Since the Celtics made Theodoros Papaloukas an MLE-level offer, I don't understand why they aren't aggressively pursuing some of the remaining free agents that fit their needs, namely Charlie Bell and Juan Carlos Navarro; two players that can consistently make perimeter shots and allow Paul to create the offense. With Pierce and Allen, the Celtics' point guard will be left open for many possessions and Rondo has not shown that he can be effective as a half-court shooter.
The Celtics still have to extend Al Jefferson and they are being awfully patient, which isn't encouraging.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Premier)</div><div class='quotemain'>The Celtics still have to extend Al Jefferson and they are being awfully patient, which isn't encouraging.</div></p> I don't see the rush. Al still has 2 years left on his contract, they don't have to rush to give him his big extension right away. I think it's actually smart that Ainge is waiting, and here's why:</p> Everybody wants another deal for a bigger name player, therefore taking on a big salary. We can't go over our budget by bringing in free agents and we can't bring in players we can't afford (or match salary) via trade. We CAN, however, go over our budget when re-signing our own players. That is the reason why. </p>
You are mistaken. Al only has one year left on his contract ['07-'08] before he becomes a restricted free agent. He's not going to take the qualifying offer, so it is imperative that the Celtics do not wait to extend him since he is likely to repeat his performance in the last few months of the season, raising his value. I feel that Jefferson may accept less than the maximum currently, though since his name was brought up in the Garnett trade, I bet he isn't particularly loyal to the Celtics right now. If the Celtics wait to talk extensions after the season, he will only take the max and may even force his way into restricted free agency to force a sign and trade. The Celtics need to offer Jefferson the extension this offseason or during the season. Dwight Howard, among others, were already extended.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32)</div><div class='quotemain'>Everybody wants another deal for a bigger name player, therefore taking on a big salary. We can't go over our budget by bringing in free agents and we can't bring in players we can't afford (or match salary) via trade. We CAN, however, go over our budget when re-signing our own players. That is the reason why.</div>Extensions start the year of the qualifying offer ['08-'09 in regards to Jefferson], so it has no effect to our current budget. He would not be getting his money for two seasons, but he is eligible to be extended right now.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Premier)</div><div class='quotemain'>Since the Celtics made Theodoros Papaloukas an MLE-level offer, I don't understand why they aren't aggressively pursuing some of the remaining free agents that fit their needs, namely Charlie Bell and Juan Carlos Navarro; two players that can consistently make perimeter shots and allow Paul to create the offense. With Pierce and Allen, the Celtics' point guard will be left open for many possessions and Rondo has not shown that he can be effective as a half-court shooter.</div></p> Charlie Bell would certainly be a better choice.</p>
