Pruitt better have some skills

[vwoodruff]

It looks like Ainge is putting his eggs in the Pruitt basket by low-balling Eddie House.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/2008_07_16_House_up_for_a_move/srvc=celtics&position=1

Apparently he sees something in Gabe Pruitt that I haven't and/or is confident that Ty Lue can come in as an insurance policy at the vet minimum.

I've got to think that resigning House to a two-year deal would payoff financially for the Cs given what House brings to the table.

I trust Danny, but I'm not too keen on letting House walk because management won't ante up a bit higher.

[rondohondo]

Apparently he sees something in Gabe Pruitt that I haven't

Of course you haven't seen anything from Pruitt, he hardly played last year. That doesn't mean he can't play though. I watch him a lot in college and the kid can play. I would rather have House back for one more year, but if Pruitt has to fill the House role I think he could do an adequate job of it . If it doesn't work out there is always the trade deadline where you can pick up an Eddie House type of player for relatively cheap .

[vwoodruff]

Who are some Eddie House type players that the Cs could pick up?

I just don't see House as an interchangeable part. He is one of the better snipers in the league, he brings an infectous energy off the bench, and is willing to accept his role.

I've seen Pruitt a little bit, and I have yet to see the swagger that will make him successful. I've been wrong before, and I hope I'm wrong this time.

[BudweiserCeltic]

It's a bit understandable though, if they're going to spend the full MLE on Posey, they'll want to cut corners in some other areas. If it were next year, with a better salary situation from the looks of it, I have no doubt they would be more willing to pay up more.

[wdleehi]

Just not a shock.  Posey gets the MLE. 



They offer min contracts to everyone else.

[Who]

The backup point guard ranks are starting to slim down. Not a lot of quality there. Anthony Johnson was a very good pickup for the Orlando Magic, I would have been very happy with him. Pity. Looking at the rest (unrestricted free agents):

Point/Combo Guards: Jannero Pargo, Eddie House, Sebastian Telfair, Keyon Dooling, Shaun Livingston, Juan Dixon, Kevin Ollie, Earl Boykins, Jason Williams, Dan Dickau, Darrell Armstrong, Carlos Arroyo, Tyronn Lue, Royal Ivey, Salim Stoudamire, Alex Acker, Sam Cassell, Damon Stoudamire, Smush Parker, Blake Ahearn

Jannero Pargo would cost a fair bit of money so let's rule him out for now. Keyon Dooling is looking for more money than Eddie House is so if Eddie leaves for lack of money, Keyon probably won't be arriving. Livingston's health issues make him too undependable for my liking. Not a great deal of talent available. Bassy might be the best player in that remaining group outside of Eddie House.

I'd rather the C's didn't sign any of - Kevin Ollie, Earl Boykins, Jason Williams, Dan Dickau, Darrell Armstrong, Tyronn Lue, Royal Ivey, Salim Stoudamire, Alex Acker, Sam Cassell, Damon Stoudamire, Smush Parker, Blake Ahearn - to be the primary backup. A few of those guys would be solid 3rd string point guards but I'd like Pruitt to have that role.

Doesn't leave much -  Eddie House, Sebastian Telfair, Keyon Dooling, Shaun Livingston, Juan Dixon, Carlos Arroyo.

[cdif911]

If Pruitt is our backup point guard we are in serious trouble... though Rondo will be able to play 40 minutes a game next year imo, so maybe they figure we dont' need anyone who knows how to play the position there.... I think Lue is coming....

[Chris]

It looks like Ainge is putting his eggs in the Pruitt basket by low-balling Eddie House.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/2008_07_16_House_up_for_a_move/srvc=celtics&position=1

Apparently he sees something in Gabe Pruitt that I haven't and/or is confident that Ty Lue can come in as an insurance policy at the vet minimum.

I've got to think that resigning House to a two-year deal would payoff financially for the Cs given what House brings to the table.

I trust Danny, but I'm not too keen on letting House walk because management won't ante up a bit higher.

Well, it doesn't mean he is counting on Pruitt, just that he didn't want to pay a premium for House, when he knows he can get a decent backup PG (at least as decent as House is) for the vet minimum.

For one thing, Lue is actually a better player than House.  He is nearly as good of a shooter, but he is a much better ball handler and defender.

Its a shame to see House go, but this is his chance to cash in (much like Posey).  He is a vet minimum player IMO, but someone will give him more than that after he did well on the big stage this past season.

And its not just Lue.  There are still a good number of other options out there, whether it is Cassell, Williams, Dooling, Arroyo, or even Dickau (remember, House was known as a defensive sieve before last year as well).

This does tell me they are counting on Pruitt to play 3rd string though...but that is pretty much a no brainer IMO, since at this point, he would just be a waste of a roster spot if he wasnt.

[kozlodoev]

Just not a shock.  Posey gets the MLE. 

They offer min contracts to everyone else.

Technically, they can offer a non-Bird contract to House. I'm sure he'll take a 2-year deal. 

[Chris]

Just not a shock.  Posey gets the MLE. 

They offer min contracts to everyone else.

Technically, they can offer a non-Bird contract to House. I'm sure he'll take a 2-year deal. 

They could...I don't think they will though.  Its not about what they can offer under the CBA, its about luxury tax.  Not only is the vet minimum less money in general than the non-Bird, but the NBA also pays half of it.  So instead of paying nearly 4 million per year (including luxury tax) if they give him the non-bird contract, they would only be paying something along the lines of $1.5 million (including luxury tax).  Considering they were not that high on House as a backup PG last year, I doubt they want to pay him that kind of money next year, when they would still probably be hoping that he would ultimately be 3rd string, and Pruitt would step it up and win the job.

[Roy Hobbs]

For one thing, Lue is actually a better player than House.  He is nearly as good of a shooter, but he is a much better ball handler and defender.

I think the defense thing is greatly exaggerated.  For one thing, Lue has been an average-to-poor defender for at least the past two seasons.  Inversely, Eddie's defense was much better last year than people give him credit for.  At the very least, the two players are even, and I might take Eddie.  Lue has more quickness, but Eddie has more energy and hustle.

Also, Lue hasn't played in more than 56 games in the past three seasons.  He's not a terrible option, but I'd rather have Eddie, who 1) is healthy, and 2) fits well into our system.

[Chris]

For one thing, Lue is actually a better player than House.  He is nearly as good of a shooter, but he is a much better ball handler and defender.

I think the defense thing is greatly exaggerated.  For one thing, Lue has been an average-to-poor defender for at least the past two seasons.  Inversely, Eddie's defense was much better last year than people give him credit for.  At the very least, the two players are even, and I might take Eddie.  Lue has more quickness, but Eddie has more energy and hustle.

Also, Lue hasn't played in more than 56 games in the past three seasons.  He's not a terrible option, but I'd rather have Eddie, who 1) is healthy, and 2) fits well into our system.

Well either way, neither of them is getting more than the vet minimum for the Celtics.  Neither of them are worth what they would cost in luxury tax otherwise.

[indeedproceed]

The backup point guard ranks are starting to slim down. Not a lot of quality there. Anthony Johnson was a very good pickup for the Orlando Magic, I would have been very happy with him. Pity. Looking at the rest (unrestricted free agents):

Point/Combo Guards: Jannero Pargo, Eddie House, Sebastian Telfair, Keyon Dooling, Shaun Livingston, Juan Dixon, Kevin Ollie, Earl Boykins, Jason Williams, Dan Dickau, Darrell Armstrong, Carlos Arroyo, Tyronn Lue, Royal Ivey, Salim Stoudamire, Alex Acker, Sam Cassell, Damon Stoudamire, Smush Parker, Blake Ahearn

Jannero Pargo would cost a fair bit of money so let's rule him out for now. Keyon Dooling is looking for more money than Eddie House is so if Eddie leaves for lack of money, Keyon probably won't be arriving. Livingston's health issues make him too undependable for my liking. Not a great deal of talent available. Bassy might be the best player in that remaining group outside of Eddie House.

I'd rather the C's didn't sign any of - Kevin Ollie, Earl Boykins, Jason Williams, Dan Dickau, Darrell Armstrong, Tyronn Lue, Royal Ivey, Salim Stoudamire, Alex Acker, Sam Cassell, Damon Stoudamire, Smush Parker, Blake Ahearn - to be the primary backup. A few of those guys would be solid 3rd string point guards but I'd like Pruitt to have that role.

Doesn't leave much -  Eddie House, Sebastian Telfair, Keyon Dooling, Shaun Livingston, Juan Dixon, Carlos Arroyo.

Jason Williams doesn't interest you at all?

[kozlodoev]

Jason Williams doesn't interest you at all?

God, no. Stick a fork in him.

[Chris]

Jason Williams doesn't interest you at all?

God, no. Stick a fork in him.

Really?  I think when he is healthy he can still give you something.  Of course it is all about the right price, but I think Williams is the best actual play maker remaining on the market.  He might be a nice combination with Pruitt (who would play the House role).