Candidates are many. Hope is high. Time to spin the wheel.
No one wants the Celtics to go into next year hackled the way they were this season more than Coach Doc Rivers.
The fact that a healthy Celtic team might have repeated is not a reason not to do their very best and spend a few pesos to bring in better depth and insurance. Owner Wyc Grousbeck said they would do just that.
So…what are the critical needs? All seem to agree that a back up big man, a solid swingman and a back up point guard are the three pieces needed to get the Green Machine rolling again.
There seems to be some question in Celtic Nation over which position is the prime need; big man or swingman.
With Leon Powe a big question mark and not due back until mid season at the earliest, Glen Davis up in the air, the failure of Patrick O’Bryant, and Mikki Moore, many feel that a strong, talented big man is the number one concern.
Others feel that Paul Pierce needs a solid back-up to allow him rest. The Celtics need someone other Pierce to effectively guard the top swingman like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
The need for a back up point is pretty much agreed to be third in terms of priority. In a worst case scenario, the Cs won with Eddie House as the back up. While not the best use of House, they might be able to roll with that again.
My first choices are:
PF/C: Antonio McDyess –
McDyess is a perfect fit. He may also be acquired cheaply, considering all the money he gave up in Denver in order to return to the Pistons. What an incredibly wrong move on Antonio’s part that turned out to be. If he stayed in Denver, he is the type of never-say-die player that could have spurred the Nuggets possibly on to an upset. At any rate, he would have been with a team that went much farther.
For that reason, he is now said to be reconsidering his loyalty to Detroit. If he wants a chance at a championship next season, the Pistons aren’t the answer. The Celtics could very well be and he could help make it so.
Antonio does seem to have an aversion to Danny Ainge, though. Ainge has tried numerous times in the past to sign McDyess, only to see him go elsewhere. And I’m sure Ainge made overtures last season as well. Still, this is the guy I want in a Celtic uniform.
My hope is that they could get him for less than the full MLE,and use the rest of that for a swingman. Would McDyess be had for the LLE? Hmm…..
PF/C: Rasheed Wallace (2nd choice)
Kevin Garnett’s buddy is another great player to add. Rasheed has had motivation problems and doesn’t always take the right shot. But like everyone else that we think comes here, the Celtic culture and Garnett’s verbal whip will take care of any of those issues.
I think he would require the full MLE as he is making noises that he would retire unless he gets $7-8 million next season. He has that important ‘big game’ experience any team could use.
C: Rasho Nesterovic – He won a title with the Spurs. Blocks shots, shoots and passes well. Would he rejoin his former mate Kevin Garnett? Would he come for the LLE? He said that Europe is an option.
PF/C: Drew Gooden – well traveled solid rebounder with an inconsistent shot. Looking for an NBA team to call home.
C: Zaza Pachulia – great offensive rebounder, tough player, nice shot. Not a great defender.
C: Marcin Gortat - long and active. Looks good from what I’ve seen in the playoffs
C: Franscisco Elson – under rated role player with limited offense. Low cost option.
PF/C: Juwan Howard or Joe Smith. Very experienced players at the ends of their careers. Again – low cost options – Veteran mimimums or LLE at most.
PF: Brandon Bass – probably will get re-signed by Dallas. If not, he is an active body with some skill.
PF: Charlie Villanueva (RFA), talented offensive player who would need to pick it up defensively. I think he’s very coachable and played better defensively in Milwaukee. Probably will get much better offers elsewhere.
PF: Chris Wilcox – Mr. Inconsistency. Motivation seems to be his problem. He is quite talented…but lazy.
Swing Position Choices
My true number one choice at the swing position is Trevor Ariza. Even before he could shoot the long ball, I’ve always liked this player. Now he’s added the three point shot. It is his value as a very active defender and disrupter that makes him invaluable.
He made$3.1 mil this season. What is he worth? Depends on the team, but perhaps up to the MLE amount makes sense for some teams.
L.A. would be foolish to let him get away. Both Isaiah Thomas and Larry Brown made publicly disparaging remarks about him before trading him from New York. Then the Magic traded him to the Lakers for Maurice Evans who is with the Hawks now. Imagine if the Magic kept him?
He, apparently, is an unusual personality, and apparently does not like the Celtics. So I, apparently, have to root against him for a long while.
Surprisingly, there are a number of solid possible options as back up small forward and/or shooting guard. None are lock down defenders, but all choices are good defenders. Bogans and Wilkins have the best defensive reputations.
A Few Words About Grant Hill
He played (or should I say ‘not played’) for Doc Rivers in Orlando. He is versatile offensively, and could come cheaply (LLE). The problem is that he will be 37 by the time the season starts. He hasn’t been asked to play great defense, and I don’t know if he can anymore. Though I am enamored of his career, recent healthfulness (82 games) and productivity, I will let Danny decide that one, and move on to other options.
The first four all have something positive to offer but are not without flaws either. I’ll slightly prioritize them anyway. Here they are:
SF: Jamario Moon – An active, long defender. He needs more discipline and would get that with the Celtics. He always defended Pierce pretty well in Toronto, and shoots the three-ball. Not nearly as clever or tough as Posey but….Posey-light? Has the length Danny likes. I like him.
SF: Matt Barnes (2nd choice)- defended Dirk well in the series that the Warriors upset the Mavericks a few years ago. Decent role player, tenacious defender when asked to be, though I’m not sure he would do as well against the likes of Kobe or LeBron. Inconsistent offensively.
SG/SF: Damien Wilkins (ETO) -
can opt out of a $3.3 mil. salary with OKC Thunder this season.
Call this one a long shot but I like him. His minutes went down (15 min.) on a bad team and doesn’t look like they will increase with OKC this year. Would he take less (LLE) to play nearly the same amount of time and for a chance at a title with the Celtics? Played a solid role with Ray Allen on Seattle’s playoff team.
At 6′ 6″ Damien is a very good defender and can hit the three. Not a good shooter otherwise.
SG: Keith Bogans - good relief for Pierce or Ray Allen. Solid defender, and offensive game has improved a bit over the years. More of a shooting (sic) guard, but could guard some SFs in limited minutes.
SG: Quinton Ross – decent defender with under rated offensive ability. Questionable if he can defend Bryant or James, though.
SF: Marquis Daniels - Pacers have team option at $7.3 mil. Willl they use it? If not, would he come to the Celtics for much less? Probably not. A good role player, who I believe would fit in with the Celtics.
Point Guards
Good back up point guards are surprisingly sparse. Any of these four would do.
C.J. Watson is the youngster with upside. I don’t know how well he could defend. He can do what House or Marbury can do defensively, right? He will probably get the qualifying offer of $1 mil. from Golden State. Is he worth more? I haven’t seen enough to know. But he may be worth a chance.
You think he is too young? Remember, Doc was giving Gabe Pruitt a chance to earn the back up role.
PG: C.J. Watson
PG: Brevin Knight
PG: Tyronn Lue
PG: Kevin Ollie
Any comments or ideas of your own? Let me know.
I don’t think that most of my choices are surprises. Perhaps you disagree with the order of my choices. Feel free to add your thoughts and make your case. Is there someone I missed?
For a big man, I want size and someone young enough to play major minutes, in case Perkins shoulder becomes an issue. My money would go to Chris Kaman. Whatever it takes; send Davis, picks, Scalabrine’s contract…. Perhaps his biggest problem in L.A. (post injury) was Baron Davis.
Next, a mean as piss defender to scare LeBron and/or Kobe …. Ron Artest (a hard pill to swallow, but he’d look a lot better in green than in any other color ;>), or preferably Raja Bell.
For point guard, I would go after Anthony Carter. He can defend, shoot and handle, but is underutilized in Denver.
Comment by JB — June 2nd, 2009 @ 6:36 am
So you would go the trade route. I can’t say that I blame you.
A look at the free agents available shows no one truly capable of solid defense on someone like Kobe.
I like your choices. In fact, I’m doing a trade article next and Raja Bell is one of the guys I want in trade.
I also had Carter under consideration in Denver for a low cost option for a capable point guard.
Kaman is solid, but seems like a long shot. He is reported to love playing in California (and the Clippers) and even rumored to have ‘extended’ his injury past the trade deadline so he wouldn’t be traded.
Randolph and Camby are said to be available for the right offer.
I can’t get behind a Ron Artest signing as of yet, but I understand the suggestion.
Comment by Tom Halzack — June 2nd, 2009 @ 7:52 am
“Randolph and Camby are said to be available for the right offer.”
You are kidding right?
Those two are big money players; one who is like the dean said to Bluto: “Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life” and the other is well past his prime and spent much of that prime on the injured list.
We need a center who can play big minutes if Perkins shoulder (and all opinions say it will) problem recurs.
There aren’t many of those guys available, but Pincus reports Kaman is……
Comment by JB — June 3rd, 2009 @ 5:45 am
“Randolph and Camby are said to be available for the right offer.”
You are kidding right?
Hey, I didn’t say I want to sign them! Though I would take Camby, in a heart beat…for the right price.
Kaman was out most of the season with injury, too. Still I’d take him, too.
I was just mentioning that those are the guys that the Clippers are rumored to be amenable to offers for. My understanding is that they want to keep Kaman.
Aah. I just read the Pincus article. Interesting, if true. But I don’t see how the Cs get him at $10.4 mil.
Remember, if the Cs re-sign Baby he is a Base Year Comp player and his salary can only count 1/2 for 6 months….if you plan on including him in a trade.
Zach Randolph is a piece of work, no doubt.
Shortly after I talked with him in a pre-game, and he told me how he has matured over the years, he went out a few days later and got a DUI (I think).
Verajeo’s available.
(ducks behind couch)
I’d take Camby or Kaman with open arms.
Comment by Tom Halzack — June 3rd, 2009 @ 11:15 am
“Remember, if the Cs re-sign Baby he is a Base Year Comp player and his salary can only count 1/2 for 6 months….if you plan on including him in a trade.”
You may be right on this…. I never considered base year.
My thought was Scalabrine’s expiring, Davis and T. Allen to make up the 9.5 million Kaman will get.
In any event, it’s not real likely that C’s ownership would spend that much money on a single player.
Comment by JB — June 4th, 2009 @ 6:28 am
Charlie V. would be a HUGE pick-up. The only problem is I don’t know if the Celtics can afford him. I tweet CV alot asking him to please come play the Celts. Cavs fans have been doing the same.
Comment by KobeWearsAPurpleThong — June 29th, 2009 @ 3:53 pm