Which center should we sign?

[Surferdad]

Just reported that Spurs making Poeltl and Richardson available. Too expensive though given our tax situation.

Grabbing Poeltl with the TPE would be huge for this team. Yes, the owners have to pay a tax big time this year, but if they extend Poeltl, they have the perfect Horford replacement for the future when Al's $27 million come off the books next year.

Meanwhile for this year, it would make the Celtics one of, if not the strongest defensive interior team's in the league and allow a reduction in minutes for Al and Timelord so they are injury free and rested for a long playoff run.

Poeltl for two unprotected first and the TPE could do it. Maybe you thrown in Pritchard.

Smart/Brogdon
Brown/White
Tatum/Grant
Horford/Gallo
Timelord/Poeltl

Love that team's balance and talent level. A very serious 10 deep team

Problems with that:

1. Poetl is probably overqualified to be a backup.
2. He's an expiring that would cost like 45 million total in salary and luxury tax
3. The Spurs almost certainly want a 1st for him, and probably justifiably so. That's a lot to give for a backup center on an expiring contract.

It remarkable to me that this issue with the TPE needs to be repeated so many times.  Folks seem to think that Wyc/Pags are just going to open the coffers for a backup center because the team is so close.  This team is going to let the $17M TPE expire. Don't be sad.

[GreenShooter]

I think Brad will try to bring back Baynes. If that doesn't work out I hope he trades for a big but we don't really have anyone of worth, other than White, to bring in someone worth a [dang].
So, we may have to lean on someone like, recently mentioned, Tony Bradley. Otherwise, it's Trevion Williams or bust. I hope Brad realizes the importance of another big man for this team. The need is essential.

[td450]

To me the only answer that makes any sense is to wait for a major move to be made by another team, and find an opportunity then. Teams always do difficult things to get superstars.

If a player is available that supports the core identity of the team, which is a particularly airtight switching defense, then we should do it. We currently have two playable guys that break that scheme in Gallo and Pritchard. They are at the end of the playable rotation for a reason. There is no use in bringing in a third. We don't win if we compromise that defense.

[celticinorlando]

Having to play Kornet meaningful minutes is a disaster. Guy is terrible. And we know at some point Rob is missing games.

[td450]

Having to play Kornet meaningful minutes is a disaster. Guy is terrible. And we know at some point Rob is missing games.

Isn't that being a bid overly dramatic? He's a respectable defender who has never played enough to develop any dependable offensive presence. He's been back and forth on the roster for a while now and knows the system.

If Rob Williams misses some games, Horford plays as a single big, Grant Williams plays serious minutes and Kornet has to play a couple of shifts a game. If its playoffs, he doesn't play at all.

It is entirely likely we get an opportunity at some point to do better. I doubt we go past next Feb without a addressing this.

[Big333223]

I think Brad will try to bring back Baynes. If that doesn't work out I hope he trades for a big but we don't really have anyone of worth, other than White, to bring in someone worth a [dang].
So, we may have to lean on someone like, recently mentioned, Tony Bradley. Otherwise, it's Trevion Williams or bust. I hope Brad realizes the importance of another big man for this team. The need is essential.

If Baynes can still bang for 15-20 minutes on the nights when Rob and/or Al are out, I'd love to have him back. I have no idea if he has anything left but he's just about perfect, stylistically, for what this team needs.

I'm also hopeful that Trevion Williams sticks around. Some of his passing highlights are really incredible and he's got good size. There could be something there.

[Roy H.]

I doubt we go past next Feb without a addressing this.

Why go three or more months without addressing it, though? 

I mean, I suspect that Brad has more common sense than that, but I think that what's in the back of everybody's mind is that when we had the opportunity to fill five roster spots after the trade deadline, Brad picked five guys who were unplayable.

[footey]

I think Dwight Howard is our best option at this stage.  He seems comfortable as a backup.  He is still pretty productive.  Good rebounder and finisher. Actually seems to do okay vs guys like Embiid which is a plus.  I'd sign him up now.

[celticinorlando]

Having to play Kornet meaningful minutes is a disaster. Guy is terrible. And we know at some point Rob is missing games.

Isn't that being a bid overly dramatic? He's a respectable defender who has never played enough to develop any dependable offensive presence. He's been back and forth on the roster for a while now and knows the system.

If Rob Williams misses some games, Horford plays as a single big, Grant Williams plays serious minutes and Kornet has to play a couple of shifts a game. If its playoffs, he doesn't play at all.

It is entirely likely we get an opportunity at some point to do better. I doubt we go past next Feb without a addressing this.

Kornet is awful man. He’s a practice body. Having to play him meaningful minutes is not productive.

[Birdman]

I think Dwight Howard is our best option at this stage.  He seems comfortable as a backup.  He is still pretty productive.  Good rebounder and finisher. Actually seems to do okay vs guys like Embiid which is a plus.  I'd sign him up now.

I agree

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I think Dwight Howard is our best option at this stage.  He seems comfortable as a backup.  He is still pretty productive.  Good rebounder and finisher. Actually seems to do okay vs guys like Embiid which is a plus.  I'd sign him up now.

I agree

Maybe you haven't watched Howard in a few years. Not only does he foul every time down the court, but he has way less lift as a rim-runner. His teammates don't look like they have a lot of fun playing with him either, which is one of the reasons he bounces around every year.

[gouki88]

Getting back to the minimum salary guys, Tony Bradley seems like he will become available soon, if he isn’t already.  The Bulls have effectively 16 guaranteed contracts (Dosunmu is not guaranteed but there’s no way the Bulls don’t keep him), and it figures that Bradley could be the odd one out with Vucevic, Drummond, and the prospect Marko Simonovic also on the roster at center.

He struggled a little bit finishing around the rim last year, which hurt his stats a bit, but that feels like a blip, potentially due to the Bulls loss of PGs last season.  Otherwise he’s pretty much a rim runner with good shotblocking and rebounding numbers, and teams generally perform okay with him in limited minutes.  He probably could be had for effectively free since the Bulls would otherwise eat his salary.

He would be excellent. Had a down year finishing, as you mention, but prior to that was a career 65% shooter from the field. Good rebounder, decent defender, excellent length, and is perfectly accustomed to that back-up role, so no potential locker-room drama unlike certain other veteran bigs.

[blink]

Getting back to the minimum salary guys, Tony Bradley seems like he will become available soon, if he isn’t already.  The Bulls have effectively 16 guaranteed contracts (Dosunmu is not guaranteed but there’s no way the Bulls don’t keep him), and it figures that Bradley could be the odd one out with Vucevic, Drummond, and the prospect Marko Simonovic also on the roster at center.

He struggled a little bit finishing around the rim last year, which hurt his stats a bit, but that feels like a blip, potentially due to the Bulls loss of PGs last season.  Otherwise he’s pretty much a rim runner with good shotblocking and rebounding numbers, and teams generally perform okay with him in limited minutes.  He probably could be had for effectively free since the Bulls would otherwise eat his salary.

He would be excellent. Had a down year finishing, as you mention, but prior to that was a career 65% shooter from the field. Good rebounder, decent defender, excellent length, and is perfectly accustomed to that back-up role, so no potential locker-room drama unlike certain other veteran bigs.

Yes, I would be happy with that as well.  Bradley has at least started games in the NBA and has proven that he has some decent nba skills for a big guy.   Would we need to dip into the TPE or would he be a vet min contract?

[footey]

I think Dwight Howard is our best option at this stage.  He seems comfortable as a backup.  He is still pretty productive.  Good rebounder and finisher. Actually seems to do okay vs guys like Embiid which is a plus.  I'd sign him up now.

I agree

Maybe you haven't watched Howard in a few years. Not only does he foul every time down the court, but he has way less lift as a rim-runner. His teammates don't look like they have a lot of fun playing with him either, which is one of the reasons he bounces around every year.

He had meaningful role on a championship team 2 seasons ago and I haven’t noticed any significant decline in his play since. We’re looking for someone to give us 10-15 minutes per game to spot Rob. I know he can be immature but this is not a big financial commitment

[gouki88]

I think Dwight Howard is our best option at this stage.  He seems comfortable as a backup.  He is still pretty productive.  Good rebounder and finisher. Actually seems to do okay vs guys like Embiid which is a plus.  I'd sign him up now.

I agree

Maybe you haven't watched Howard in a few years. Not only does he foul every time down the court, but he has way less lift as a rim-runner. His teammates don't look like they have a lot of fun playing with him either, which is one of the reasons he bounces around every year.

He had meaningful role on a championship team 2 seasons ago and I haven’t noticed any significant decline in his play since. We’re looking for someone to give us 10-15 minutes per game to spot Rob. I know he can be immature but this is not a big financial commitment

His defence has taken significant steps backward in consecutive seasons. Big time.