Next years free agents and the Celtics cap situation

[Lucky17]

What a brutally horrible class, especially when you take out the non-guaranteed guys who will have their contracts picked up, and the restricted free agents.

When you think "young and athletic", there aren't a lot of names we'll have much of a shot at.  The ironic thing is, the strength of the class may be its mid-level backup small forwards.  Now that we don't need one (assuming Green re-signs), there are a ton on the market, including Grant Hill, Shane Battier, Tayshaun Prince, Mike Dunleavy, etc.  None are exactly young, but would fit our mold from years past.

Among young, athletic, unrestricted guys, I may gamble on Earl Clark, or go after Josh McRoberts.

One guy I would like to see us go after is Chuck Hayes.  He's undersized, but he's a good, tough defender.

Last thing we need is an undersized big man. Chuck Hayes is a less talented Glen Davis. He will not help get rebounds.

You must be thinking of someone else.

For the months of Feb, March, and April of this season, Hayes averaged 10 rebounds a night.

[bdsulliv]

We should go get Reggie Evans, Kirilenko & Powe. Size, defense & rebounding.

[kozlodoev]

We should go get Reggie Evans, Kirilenko & Powe. Size, defense & rebounding.

We'll have better success if we sign the three Stooges.

[hardlyyardley]

Kris Humphries bounced around his first three years and this year
became a rebounding machine.....Marcus Thornton is a scoring machine and, I believe, as opposed to the big list should be an unrestricted as he came in as a second rounder

Shy of that draft Kenneth Faried as a power forward inside prescence

[JBcat]

What a brutally horrible class, especially when you take out the non-guaranteed guys who will have their contracts picked up, and the restricted free agents.

When you think "young and athletic", there aren't a lot of names we'll have much of a shot at.  The ironic thing is, the strength of the class may be its mid-level backup small forwards.  Now that we don't need one (assuming Green re-signs), there are a ton on the market, including Grant Hill, Shane Battier, Tayshaun Prince, Mike Dunleavy, etc.  None are exactly young, but would fit our mold from years past.

Among young, athletic, unrestricted guys, I may gamble on Earl Clark, or go after Josh McRoberts.

One guy I would like to see us go after is Chuck Hayes.  He's undersized, but he's a good, tough defender.

I agree the free agent class seems to be small forward heavy not many bigs.   Because of that I would try to use Green as a sign and trade.  I'm guessing Green will likely want at least 7, 8 mil a year and frankly I'm afraid to sign the guy the long term even though he has talent.   Maybe something like a sign and trade for Marcus Camby and possibly get a draft pick in return as well.  If you did something like that I'd target Kirlenko, Battier, or Prince (J Rich even though not really a SF but would really like him on this team. Could be out of our price range)  Baby sounds like he wants an opportunity to shine in a starting role.  Good luck to him if that's the case.  Maybe we could sign and trade him as well but I'm guessing that's less likely. 

For a center I might take a flyer on Pryzbilla who might fly under the radar.  For a power forward Chuck Hayes might be had for cheap and he is a tough player.  I also like the Indiana boys Foster and McRoberts.  I could see Foster chasing a ring and I like his toughness.

So say we split the MLE/LLE somehow between;
one of Kirlenko, Battier, or Prince.  Jason Richardson if possible.
one or two of Chuck Hayes, Foster, McRoberts, Pryzbilla, even Yao Ming (rumor on ESPN).  Don't think we'll be able to get Chandler, Dalembert, Jordan, or Humphries. 
The sign and trade of Green for Camby (or something like that) as mentioned and maybe able to get a draft pick as well.
I would take a flyer on Murphy again with a full training camp here and re-sign Krstic, Wafer, and especially West. 

[nickagneta]

I did that list and then had to run out so I never really got the chance to study it. I agree with Roy, if you are looking at unrestricted players and players that probably won't be picked up from amongst the unguaranteed and restricted crowd, this group of free agents is poor at best. There really isn't a young, athletic talent among that group of players worthy of an MLE other than maybe Carl Landry and basically you would be spending the MLE on a Big Baby replacement. Meh.

So I think the C's have to resign Green and maybe insert him into the starting lineup and have Pierce come of the bench and finish games. I think Avery Bradley must be developed and used as a rotation player next year. I think the C's have to try to land another young project for the front court in the draft( I'm thinking someone like Jeremy Tyler, Trey Thompkins or Jordan Williams). I think you need to resign Delonte West, maybe the LLE as I don't think we have his Bird rights.

Then...its a crap shoot. Krstic and Baby are both sign and trade fodder that I wouldn't bring back, IMHO. As centers I would see about trying to give Joel Przbilla or Kurt Thomas or Jeff Foster a veteran's minimum contract and kick the tires on Nazr Mohammed and see if you can get him cheap.

I would try to see if Kris Humphries or Carl Landry would come here for a MLE type contract for two years with a player option on the third. If not, time to go bargain hunting to fill out the rest of the roster. No need to spend the MLE all in one spot or for contracts taking up multiple years.