Wait...so can we afford to lose Baby?

[Chris]

There are other big men out there...but Danny has pretty much shown us he doesn't want anything on the books after this upcoming season.  Not many players are going to want to sign here for a year when they'll have other 2 or 3 year offers from other teams

He hasn't shown us that.  If that were the case, he wouldn't have resigned Pierce to the deal he did. 

Now, he has been pretty clear that he doesn't want to overpay guys, or sign guys he does not feel are part of the future of the team (and that may or may not include Davis), but I think the idea that he won't sign anyone beyond next year is overplayed. 

[Galeto]

We really couldn't even afford to have Big Baby out there even last season.  He was a well-below average player whose lack of rebounding and shot happy ways really hurt the team.  I don't know what team could use a PF/C who does none of the things a big man should do like protect the basket and rebound and is also one of the least efficient offensive players in basketball.  I still can't believe he averaged double-digit shots last season.  He produced 11.7 points on 10.3 shots, he doesn't get to the line and he shot 44.8 from the field even though he saves his three point attempts on game-tying situations late in the fourth.  He is beyond delusional if he thinks he's going to be a sought after free agent or get a starting role. 

[Phil125]

He can stay if promises never to take a mid range jump shot ever ever ever again.

[Surferdad]

We really couldn't even afford to have Big Baby out there even last season.  He was a well-below average player whose lack of rebounding and shot happy ways really hurt the team.  I don't know what team could use a PF/C who does none of the things a big man should do like protect the basket and rebound and is also one of the least efficient offensive players in basketball.  I still can't believe he averaged double-digit shots last season.  He produced 11.7 points on 10.3 shots, he doesn't get to the line and he shot 44.8 from the field even though he saves his three point attempts on game-tying situations late in the fourth.  He is beyond delusional if he thinks he's going to be a sought after free agent or get a starting role. 

Finally, some solid stats to back up what many of us have seen this season.

[mgent]

I see this thread popping up everyday and all I can ever think is "can we afford to go through another year with Baby as our first big off the bench?"

[MBz]

For 3 million a year, he really isn't that bad.  The issue is him playing 30 minutes a night.  If he plays 15 minutes, I have no issue bringing him back for the same price.  I think the bigger question is whether or not we can find someone to be the legit 3rd big man on this team.  Glen Davis as your 2nd big off the bench is fine, but I am not sure we'll be able to find someone who can play 30 minutes via free agency.

[wiley]

he's just not going to be happy here.  Let him go or sign him to eventually trade him.  Of course he can still contribute, but at some point you have to let an unhappy player be happier elsewhere (or unhappy elsewhere).  N.O. would be perfect.  They won't have David West for most of the year and Davis is a native (or just LSU native?).....Anyway, that's a team he could help with his enthusiasm and general package....

Green can help out at the 4 and we can get real centers for the center spot....Yes not all of our new bigs will be as good with the system as Baby, but let them stay on the floor and let their size make up for the extra mistakes.....a few more rebounds and blocks, etc....

[Chris]

We really couldn't even afford to have Big Baby out there even last season.  He was a well-below average player whose lack of rebounding and shot happy ways really hurt the team.   

I don't know if everyone just has a very short memory, or if they have no idea what kind of players come off most teams benches.  Davis struggled down the stretch last year, but overall, he was one of the top handful of big men coming off the bench in the entire league, and through the first 3+ months of the season, he was a legitimate 6th man of the year candidate.

Now, that doesn't excuse the egg he laid in the playoffs when the C's needed him most, and I think perhaps a change of scenery might be necessary here, but I just think a lot of you are expecting way too much, if you are expecting the C's to find anyone better than Davis, particularly if you also want them to find a starting quality center. 

Anyone who wants him gone, just needs to prepare themselves for a Tony Allen scenario.  You may be happy that you don't have to watch him anymore (I know I am)...but the skillset is not that easy to replace.

[chambers]

We really couldn't even afford to have Big Baby out there even last season.  He was a well-below average player whose lack of rebounding and shot happy ways really hurt the team.   

I don't know if everyone just has a very short memory, or if they have no idea what kind of players come off most teams benches.  Davis struggled down the stretch last year, but overall, he was one of the top handful of big men coming off the bench in the entire league, and through the first 3+ months of the season, he was a legitimate 6th man of the year candidate.

Now, that doesn't excuse the egg he laid in the playoffs when the C's needed him most, and I think perhaps a change of scenery might be necessary here, but I just think a lot of you are expecting way too much, if you are expecting the C's to find anyone better than Davis, particularly if you also want them to find a starting quality center. 

Anyone who wants him gone, just needs to prepare themselves for a Tony Allen scenario.  You may be happy that you don't have to watch him anymore (I know I am)...but the skillset is not that easy to replace.

I'm still baffled by these people as well.
It's like people think we can go out and get a replacement on the fly, as if we can go pluck someone like Lamar or Big Baby out of thin air with no problems making him fit in or expecting the productivity (and hustle) that baby brought for 95% of his career with the Celtics.
Does anyone remember the 2009-10 season at all and what he did for us that year?

Problem is again, that he wants more time and a bigger role and he won't get that here at least for another 1-2 years which is frustrating for him and could lead to more bad patches in his play when we need him most.

[mgent]

There are other big men out there...but Danny has pretty much shown us he doesn't want anything on the books after this upcoming season.  Not many players are going to want to sign here for a year when they'll have other 2 or 3 year offers from other teams

He hasn't shown us that.  If that were the case, he wouldn't have resigned Pierce to the deal he did.  

Now, he has been pretty clear that he doesn't want to overpay guys, or sign guys he does not feel are part of the future of the team (and that may or may not include Davis), but I think the idea that he won't sign anyone beyond next year is overplayed.  

So you think it's just a crazy coincidence that all these guys come off the books in the same year and none of his FA signings were longer than 2 years (including Ray) and that he traded for 2 guys who fit in that window when there were better guys out there that didn't fit.

And spending cap space on Pierce is hardly the same as wasting it on Baby.  A starter is way different.

[Spilling Green Dye]

We really couldn't even afford to have Big Baby out there even last season.  He was a well-below average player whose lack of rebounding and shot happy ways really hurt the team.   

I don't know if everyone just has a very short memory, or if they have no idea what kind of players come off most teams benches.  Davis struggled down the stretch last year, but overall, he was one of the top handful of big men coming off the bench in the entire league, and through the first 3+ months of the season, he was a legitimate 6th man of the year candidate.

Now, that doesn't excuse the egg he laid in the playoffs when the C's needed him most, and I think perhaps a change of scenery might be necessary here, but I just think a lot of you are expecting way too much, if you are expecting the C's to find anyone better than Davis, particularly if you also want them to find a starting quality center. 

Anyone who wants him gone, just needs to prepare themselves for a Tony Allen scenario.  You may be happy that you don't have to watch him anymore (I know I am)...but the skillset is not that easy to replace.

I can backup what a lot of people here are saying Chris.  We don't have a short term memory, and clearly remember watching Davis play WAY more mintues than his production warranted for the past 2 years.  He's not efficient, and does not compare at all to Tony Allen b/c Tony at least had 1 elite skill (defense) whereas Davis is soundly below average in many.

This isn't some vendetta I have against Davis, b/c this problem was created mostly by Danny & Doc.  And I'm not a revitionist of history.  There are numerous statistics that backup what many of us have said about Davis' game these past few years.  And they aren't niche statistics taken out of context.  They cover his entire production on the court, or lack there of.

We can do better than Davis, and CANNOT afford to have him taking double digit shots or playing anything more than 10 minutes a game for this team.

[cman88]

The thing with BBD is that much like the Tony Allen....they are valuable in LIMITED minutes..when you play bbd over the 20minute mark he starts to make boneheaded decisions and take bad shots.

part of the problem this year was because of our injuries at the center position, BBD was playing starter minutes...something he shouldnt.

even though, I think if we can sign him for a 1year deal(assuming he isnt going to get what he wants on the free market because of his poor play this year)....because theres not much better we can get out there as a big off the bench...

our best bench for next season would be to Keep our bench from this season and use the MLE to sign a 5...they would benefit greatly from a training camp to be a much more effective unit

[Chris]

We really couldn't even afford to have Big Baby out there even last season.  He was a well-below average player whose lack of rebounding and shot happy ways really hurt the team.   

I don't know if everyone just has a very short memory, or if they have no idea what kind of players come off most teams benches.  Davis struggled down the stretch last year, but overall, he was one of the top handful of big men coming off the bench in the entire league, and through the first 3+ months of the season, he was a legitimate 6th man of the year candidate.

Now, that doesn't excuse the egg he laid in the playoffs when the C's needed him most, and I think perhaps a change of scenery might be necessary here, but I just think a lot of you are expecting way too much, if you are expecting the C's to find anyone better than Davis, particularly if you also want them to find a starting quality center. 

Anyone who wants him gone, just needs to prepare themselves for a Tony Allen scenario.  You may be happy that you don't have to watch him anymore (I know I am)...but the skillset is not that easy to replace.

I can backup what a lot of people here are saying Chris.  We don't have a short term memory, and clearly remember watching Davis play WAY more mintues than his production warranted for the past 2 years.  He's not efficient, and does not compare at all to Tony Allen b/c Tony at least had 1 elite skill (defense) whereas Davis is soundly below average in many.

This isn't some vendetta I have against Davis, b/c this problem was created mostly by Danny & Doc.  And I'm not a revitionist of history.  There are numerous statistics that backup what many of us have said about Davis' game these past few years.  And they aren't niche statistics taken out of context.  They cover his entire production on the court, or lack there of.

We can do better than Davis, and CANNOT afford to have him taking double digit shots or playing anything more than 10 minutes a game for this team.

My only question is HOW can we do better than Davis, while also maintaining the core of this team, and addressing the center position?

There are scenarios out there, but there aren't a ton of good ones IMO. 

All I am saying is that while Davis is not ideal, he is still a quality player, and losing him will open up yet another hole the C's are going to have to fill with very limited resources. 

I would love to see Davis move on, and I certainly do not want Danny signing him to a longterm deal.  But I just think we need to be careful what we wish for, because while Davis isn't great, it could be a heck of a lot worse.

[mgent]

We really couldn't even afford to have Big Baby out there even last season.  He was a well-below average player whose lack of rebounding and shot happy ways really hurt the team.   

I don't know if everyone just has a very short memory, or if they have no idea what kind of players come off most teams benches.  Davis struggled down the stretch last year, but overall, he was one of the top handful of big men coming off the bench in the entire league, and through the first 3+ months of the season, he was a legitimate 6th man of the year candidate.

Now, that doesn't excuse the egg he laid in the playoffs when the C's needed him most, and I think perhaps a change of scenery might be necessary here, but I just think a lot of you are expecting way too much, if you are expecting the C's to find anyone better than Davis, particularly if you also want them to find a starting quality center. 

Anyone who wants him gone, just needs to prepare themselves for a Tony Allen scenario.  You may be happy that you don't have to watch him anymore (I know I am)...but the skillset is not that easy to replace.

Please.  Never compare Tony Allen to Big Baby Davis.  One was an energy player that showed signs of potential and was completely underrated.  The other was an energy guy who stopped bringing what made him good in favor of trying to be a hero (which he couldn't do) and was overrated like heck in the beginning of the year before his shooting met the law of averages.

[Chris]

We really couldn't even afford to have Big Baby out there even last season.  He was a well-below average player whose lack of rebounding and shot happy ways really hurt the team.   

I don't know if everyone just has a very short memory, or if they have no idea what kind of players come off most teams benches.  Davis struggled down the stretch last year, but overall, he was one of the top handful of big men coming off the bench in the entire league, and through the first 3+ months of the season, he was a legitimate 6th man of the year candidate.

Now, that doesn't excuse the egg he laid in the playoffs when the C's needed him most, and I think perhaps a change of scenery might be necessary here, but I just think a lot of you are expecting way too much, if you are expecting the C's to find anyone better than Davis, particularly if you also want them to find a starting quality center. 

Anyone who wants him gone, just needs to prepare themselves for a Tony Allen scenario.  You may be happy that you don't have to watch him anymore (I know I am)...but the skillset is not that easy to replace.

Please.  Never compare Tony Allen to Big Baby Davis.  One was an energy player that showed signs of potential and was completely underrated.  The other was an energy guy who stopped bringing what made him good in favor of trying to be a hero (which he couldn't do) and was overrated like heck in the beginning of the year before his shooting met the law of averages.

I think they are very comparable. 

Both of them were players that brought some skills to the table, and played a role in this team's success, but drove many fans crazy with their inconsistency and at times downright dumb plays...to the point that many of us were willing to overlook the benefits that they brought to the team, in order to get their negatives off the team (both for the teams sake, and for our sanity as fans). 

I think it is an incredibly similar situation, and I also think it will play out in a similar way, where Danny will not be willing to pay a premuim for Davis, he will go elsewhere, and we will miss what he brought.