Is there anyone else who's not worried?

[fairweatherfan]

Posey is the only thing I'm concerned about.  Once he is re-signed, I have no worries.

It's kinda funny with all of the story lines heading into last season about how none of the New Big 3 had never won anything, the biggest national credentials boost I've seen out of anyone in the aftermath of the Celts championship has been Posey.  I guess it's because of his free agent status but the guy has been given an enormous amount of credit.  Clearly deservingly, it's just unusual to see the quintessential role guy get this much credit for being really good at what he does (and for being a "winner").

I think that's because Posey has done this before, and didn't get much credit for it.  It's the Robert Horry syndrome - the first couple times he made big plays for championship teams, it was just "oh, Horry made some good plays".  It wasn't til Horry, and now Posey, showed a trend of contributing to multiple great squads that people began to understand that they were more than just in the right place at the right time - they were a major part of their teams' success. 

I agree, once we get Posey locked down, all I'd like to see is some kind of serviceable big, but Posey alone gives us an excellent chance to repeat.

[TrueGreen]

It looks like we picked up a ready to play guy in the draft. Also the tone is that we will go all out to sign our free agents. Danny said something like we need to be "fair" with them. In other words he won't try to stiff them like the previous regime did. My only worry is that it will be hard to win a 2nd championship. This will be a short off-season, we don't know the true condition of PP's knee, Perk's shoulder will probably be okay. But everyone on the team needs some time to recover from a tough, long season and there will be little time to get in shape for next year and for the young players to work on their games. Don't forget these guys started working together a month before training camp officially started.

[WBrownTrophy]

I think if we keep Posey, this team can even improve with the current team. They have only played one season together, and showed signs of brilliance in the playoffs. Rondo will get better, and hopefully our other youths can improve while our vets can hold par. Barring injuries, I am not worried.

[paintitgreen]

I personally think both picks were fantastic. I was hoping for CDR heading into the draft, but hearing Ainge and Chris Wallace (I know, I know) say that Giddens is just a better player set aside any concerns I had about that. And Walker is a project but could be a beast.

Also, the only addition I would like to see is a replacement for PJ. If Pollard can play a full year, fine. If not, another vet. Other than that, resign guys and one will be the odd man out in a few months - likely either TA, Pruitt or Cassell. I agree I think we bring Cassell back. I was in favor of him at first and defended him more than most, but even I recognize that he can't fit our system as is. But, let's face it, he jumped on our team 2/3 of the way through the season. That's not a lot of time for a point guard to get used to an offense. He had to just do what he's done his whole career. Some nights it was awful. Some nights it won us games, including playoff games. With a full offseason, preseason and regular season, I think he can learn the system much better and satisfy our backup PG needs.

If he can, we resign our FAs and we throw in a center, I think the team is basically complete. I mean look at how much we have:

Starting Point Guard: Rondo (1)
Starting Off Guard: Ray Allen (2)
Starting Small Forward: Pierce (3)
Starting Power Forward: KG (4)
Starting Center: Perk (5)
First Reserve - Wing: Posey (6)
First Reserve - Bigs: Powe (7)
Reserve Point Guard: Cassell (
Reserve Shooter: House (9)
Reserve Defensive Specialists: Posey, T Allen (10)
Reserve True Center: ?? (11)
Developing Young Players: Rondo, Perk, Powe, T Allen, Davis (12), Giddens (13), Pruitt (14), Walker (15)
Towel Waver: Scalabrine (16)

That's 16 guys, including one yet-to-be-signed true center who I'm guessing is just a 7 foot veteran who's been able to stay in the league, a Pollard/PJ/Ratliff type. But among those 16 guys, 8 are under 26. Not bad for a really old team.

Over the next two or so months, we will reach our first decision point since we have to get down to 15. If Pruitt's developing well, maybe we don't need Sam. If Pruitt is just not getting it and looks like he never will, maybe we cut him. If Pruitt looks promising, but not quite ready, we keep both. If TA is playing like he did ~18 months ago, we keep him. If he's not coming back and is getting worked by Giddens and Walker, we cut or trade him. If Walker's knee is worse than expected, maybe we cut him. If everybody's working out well, then maybe we explore buying out Scal's contract.

I think the OP was right. The team has what it takes to win championships, if we keep our parts, and just got two talented young players in the draft.  [Edit: Forgot Powe and Davis contracts expire after 08-09.]

Everything's coming up Milhouse.

[boscel33]

I personally think both picks were fantastic. I was hoping for CDR heading into the draft, but hearing Ainge and Chris Wallace (I know, I know) say that Giddens is just a better player set aside any concerns I had about that. And Walker is a project but could be a beast.

I was listening to the draft on XM ESPN Radio and the analysts were talking about how CDR had not impressed in workouts and thought he should have stayed.

Sorry, I can not remember any of the details they were talking about, but they were all on the same page.

[TitleMaster]

After we hoist banner #18, then I'll stop worrying.

Realize, that this moment, we're the '97 Green Bay Packers, a formerly dynastical franchise, who'd won its first since Auerbach, oops Vince Lombardi era

Now, we go for the repeat within the next 2-3 years. Once we get that repeat then we're done. It's simply not the case then the league needs the C's to win half the titles every decade. It's time to share the rings with the likes of non-Lakers teams like Houston, Denver, Golden State, Seattle, Utah, and the rest while having our fair share every now and then, perhaps two per decade.