Will Bos VS LA renewed rivaly attract top role playing Free Agents???

[rondohondo]

It looks like for the next 3-4 years the Celtics and Lakers are going to be contenders for the title each year. I know good role playing free agents usually go to good teams, but does the fact that there is a renewed rivalry between Boston and LA mean those free agents are more likely to join either the Celtics or Lakers  rather then say the Spurs or Cavs?  I like both teams benches, but I think these teams can get even better with better role players on each team's bench .

[wdleehi]

even though it is a little early to think about,




Ainge just needs to ask one question to those FA.


'Who do you want to play with, Kobe or KG?'

[seccom]

even though it is a little early to think about,




Ainge just needs to ask one question to those FA.


'Who do you want to play with, Kobe or KG?'

That will be depending on the age of the free agent. The young one will want Lakers, the older one will want Celtics.

It will be Kobe, Gasol and Bynum vs KG, PP and Ray.

You are seeing that trend this year already.

[Chris]

even though it is a little early to think about,




Ainge just needs to ask one question to those FA.


'Who do you want to play with, Kobe or KG?'

And I think that is going to be what will lead a lot of players to choose Boston, despite the inherent advantages LA has (like say, weather).

[TrueGreen]

Players were wanting to come to the Celtics after the KG deal. The Celtics won't have a summer league team (last I heard) this year, but I believe they will be trying out free agents.

[bandonox]

couldn't help it......
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i dunno why this is all screwed up, but this thing gives me goosebumps everytime i see it....

[Barnabas]

Where they go will probably be determined by how old they are.  The younger free agents will go where the money is.  LA and Boston will have less money to offer than a lot of teams.  So I believe the younger free agents will sell their services to those teams with more cap space, whether they are good teams or not.

The older free agents, especially those who have already made their mega-millions, will want to join Boston or Los Angeles.  A title will be more attractive to them than $.  That's my opinion, anyway.

But really, it won't just be Boston and LA that will contend for the next few years.  Cleveland, Atlanta, and New Orleans have a chance to be right up there.  Cleveland has a good nucleus to build around, all they need is to make smart decisions and find the right pieces.  Same with Atlanta.  New Orleans is almost there.  And really, the Spurs just need to find some younger legs (but not too young and inexperienced!) to help them get back to contention.  

Boston is not guaranteed to be in a position to contend next year.  First, they'll have to find a back up PG, regardless of what happens in this series.  I'm hoping Ainge will take a look at Calderon, and dare I say it, Vujacic for our back up PG next year.  He'll have to avoid resigning Pollard, Cassell, and House to free up some money.  I would think that PJ, Posey, and Calderon will give us a very solid 8-man rotation.  LA should be fine as long as Bynum comes back healthy.

[rondohondo]

Where they go will probably be determined by how old they are.  The younger free agents will go where the money is.  LA and Boston will have less money to offer than a lot of teams.  So I believe the younger free agents will sell their services to those teams with more cap space, whether they are good teams or not.

The older free agents, especially those who have already made their mega-millions, will want to join Boston or Los Angeles.  A title will be more attractive to them than $.  That's my opinion, anyway.

But really, it won't just be Boston and LA that will contend for the next few years.  Cleveland, Atlanta, and New Orleans have a chance to be right up there.  Cleveland has a good nucleus to build around, all they need is to make smart decisions and find the right pieces.  Same with Atlanta.  New Orleans is almost there.  And really, the Spurs just need to find some younger legs (but not too young and inexperienced!) to help them get back to contention. 

Boston is not guaranteed to be in a position to contend next year.  First, they'll have to find a back up PG, regardless of what happens in this series.  I'm hoping Ainge will take a look at Calderon, and dare I say it, Vujacic for our back up PG next year.  He'll have to avoid resigning Pollard, Cassell, and House to free up some money.  I would think that PJ, Posey, and Calderon will give us a very solid 8-man rotation.  LA should be fine as long as Bynum comes back healthy.

I would love Calderon on the team too, but there is no way we can afford him. He is a starting point guard in this league and can easily demand at least 8 mil a year which we don't have.

[Barnabas]

"I would love Calderon on the team too, but there is no way we can afford him. He is a starting point guard in this league and can easily command at least 8 mil a year which we don't have."

Calderon finished his contract.  He was only making 2.4 mill.  Toronto will probably make him a bigger offer, but we can at least try.  A combination of not resigning Cassell, House, Pollard, and maybe buying out Tony Allen' contract will give us enough money to make a serious offer.  I understant buying out a contract is hard to swallow from a financial point of view, but Grousebeck proved to us that he's serious about contending.  Maybe he'll be open to buying out Tony Allen, Big Baby, and Scalabrine.  Maybe trade away the draft pick to avoid committing more money?  I believe Vujacic might be available next year also. 

[BballTim]

even though it is a little early to think about,




Ainge just needs to ask one question to those FA.


'Who do you want to play with, Kobe or KG?'

That will be depending on the age of the free agent. The young one will want Lakers, the older one will want Celtics.

It will be Kobe, Gasol and Bynum vs KG, PP and Ray.

You are seeing that trend this year already.

  The Lakers window isn't much bigger than the Celts. As soon as Kobe slows down you guys are toast. Bynum and Gasol won't carry you anywhere without him.

[mahonedog88]

Where they go will probably be determined by how old they are.  The younger free agents will go where the money is.  LA and Boston will have less money to offer than a lot of teams.  So I believe the younger free agents will sell their services to those teams with more cap space, whether they are good teams or not.

The older free agents, especially those who have already made their mega-millions, will want to join Boston or Los Angeles.  A title will be more attractive to them than $.  That's my opinion, anyway.

But really, it won't just be Boston and LA that will contend for the next few years.  Cleveland, Atlanta, and New Orleans have a chance to be right up there.  Cleveland has a good nucleus to build around, all they need is to make smart decisions and find the right pieces.  Same with Atlanta.  New Orleans is almost there.  And really, the Spurs just need to find some younger legs (but not too young and inexperienced!) to help them get back to contention. 

Boston is not guaranteed to be in a position to contend next year.  First, they'll have to find a back up PG, regardless of what happens in this series.  I'm hoping Ainge will take a look at Calderon, and dare I say it, Vujacic for our back up PG next year.  He'll have to avoid resigning Pollard, Cassell, and House to free up some money.  I would think that PJ, Posey, and Calderon will give us a very solid 8-man rotation.  LA should be fine as long as Bynum comes back healthy.

I would love Calderon on the team too, but there is no way we can afford him. He is a starting point guard in this league and can easily demand at least 8 mil a year which we don't have.

Thank you for saying that cause I was about to haha.  Jose Calderon is an excellent pg and he's a starter.  He's gonna become a very rich man over the summer.  The Raptors have already come and said that they actually feel that Calderon is there guy and are looking to deal TJ Ford.

Plus, if we win it this year, PJ Brown is retiring.  Don't forget, he came out of retirement haha so you can take him out of the rotation thoughts.

[rondohondo]

"I would love Calderon on the team too, but there is no way we can afford him. He is a starting point guard in this league and can easily command at least 8 mil a year which we don't have."

Calderon finished his contract.  He was only making 2.4 mill.  Toronto will probably make him a bigger offer, but we can at least try.  A combination of not resigning Cassell, House, Pollard, and maybe buying out Tony Allen' contract will give us enough money to make a serious offer.  I understant buying out a contract is hard to swallow from a financial point of view, but Grousebeck proved to us that he's serious about contending.  Maybe he'll be open to buying out Tony Allen, Big Baby, and Scalabrine.  Maybe trade away the draft pick to avoid committing more money?  I believe Vujacic might be available next year also. 

the celtics are over the salary cap by a lot, you cant simply just cut 8 mil in contracts, you have to be 8 mil under the Salary cap . The most Boston could offer 1 free agent is 5.3 mil and thats called the Mid level exception. You can also split up the mid level exception like we did this year by giving posey 3 mil of it and the eddie house 1.5 mil . Then they have the vet minum which is around 1 mil I believe for any other free agents

[Barnabas]

"Plus, if we win it this year, PJ Brown is retiring.  Don't forget, he came out of retirement haha so you can take him out of the rotation thoughts."

Ok, you're right.  I didn't think about that.  It's too bad.  He looks like he can give quality minutes for another year.  But hey, if you're already a 38 year old millionaire, why not just enjoy your life, right?

[rondohondo]

Kurt Thomas would be a guy I would love to see on this team to take the spot of PJ if he is to retire after this year, but San Antonio probably will resign him

[seccom]

even though it is a little early to think about,




Ainge just needs to ask one question to those FA.


'Who do you want to play with, Kobe or KG?'

That will be depending on the age of the free agent. The young one will want Lakers, the older one will want Celtics.

It will be Kobe, Gasol and Bynum vs KG, PP and Ray.

You are seeing that trend this year already.

  The Lakers window isn't much bigger than the Celts. As soon as Kobe slows down you guys are toast. Bynum and Gasol won't carry you anywhere without him.

Allen is 33, Kobe is 29
KG is 32, Odom is 28
PP is 31, Gasol is 27
Bynum is 20.

The Lakers 3 will the same age as the Celtics 3 four years from now. So you tell me how big is their window?