Kurt Thomas should be target #1

[Eeyore III]

Regardless of Posey leaving, out two biggest needs are still at backup C and backuip PG, in that order.  We can probably get by OK with one of our draft picks (or even TA?) as the wing defender, but if Perk or Rondo goes down, we're up the proverbial creek without a paddle.

Now that the Spurs used up most of their MLE on Roger Mason (I think, Roy?), we should be able to outbid them for Kurt Thomas.  He'd be perfect: he has enough of a shot to spread the floor; he's a proven winner; he can defend the post, and he rebounds.

He'd be my #1 target (and VT Hillbilly's, who convinced me of all this).  It'd probably take most or all of the MLE, but the Spurs only have about $2.3 million of their's left.

[zerophase]

i say, bring in kurt thomas, sign house and tony allen. that may actually be a realistic plan.

[DinoRadjaLives]

Regardless of Posey leaving, out two biggest needs are still at backup C and backuip PG, in that order.  We can probably get by OK with one of our draft picks (or even TA?) as the wing defender, but if Perk or Rondo goes down, we're up the proverbial creek without a paddle.

Now that the Spurs used up most of their MLE on Roger Mason (I think, Roy?), we should be able to outbid them for Kurt Thomas.  He'd be perfect: he has enough of a shot to spread the floor; he's a proven winner; he can defend the post, and he rebounds.

He'd be my #1 target (and VT Hillbilly's, who convinced me of all this).  It'd probably take most or all of the MLE, but the Spurs only have about $2.3 million of their's left.

Not a bad idea, but we would still need a wing that can defend.

PS -  Is your pic, Rasputin ?

[wdleehi]

I think he is worth a 2 year, partial MLE contract.  


Use the other half for a PG (Arroyo or Dooling)

[BudweiserCeltic]

I don't like him for our team. I'd like a bigger player than him... he's a bit redundant in my opinion.

[Eeyore III]

PS -  Is your pic, Rasputin ?

No, it's Man Ray's photo of the dead Proust, my favorite writer.

[the_Bird]

Kurt Thomas seems to be the only big left on the market worth spending any money on, and I think he'd be a good pickup - but that would likely mean the end of BBD's career in Boston.  You wouldn't have Powe, BBD, and KT all on the roster as backups, there's too much redundancy.  Maybe you could trade BBD, a 2nd rounder, and Scal (for salary ballast, only two years left at this point) in a sign-and-trade for one of the better PGs left on the market (like Dooling), then split the MLE between KT and House.  I don't know, KT would absolutely be helpful to us next year but it's going to take most of the MLE to get him, and you'd still like to flesh out the bench some more.

[wdleehi]

Kurt Thomas seems to be the only big left on the market worth spending any money on, and I think he'd be a good pickup - but that would likely mean the end of BBD's career in Boston.  You wouldn't have Powe, BBD, and KT all on the roster as backups, there's too much redundancy.  Maybe you could trade BBD, a 2nd rounder, and Scal (for salary ballast, only two years left at this point) in a sign-and-trade for one of the better PGs left on the market (like Dooling), then split the MLE between KT and House.  I don't know, KT would absolutely be helpful to us next year but it's going to take most of the MLE to get him, and you'd still like to flesh out the bench some more.

Thomas can play C off the bench for the Celtics with Powe and Davis fighting for the PF minutes. 


Or the Celtics could trade one of them in a package to get a swingman or PG

http://www.celticsblog.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=64&topic=21303.msg333300#msg333300

[the_Bird]

I know he can play C, that's the real attraction of KT.  But, there's still a logjam at the PF spot, and his presense (especially if they get ANYTHING out of O'Bryant) just adds to that. 

Even short of a KT signing, I'd not be surprised to see either BBD or Powe be traded - and I'd be shocked if they pick BBD.  I'm not sure what BBD does better than Powe, I think he definately *can* be a player in the league, and I love his hands and footwork, but Powe's not too bad in either respect either.  I think they've got more confidence in Powe staying motivated and contining to improve himself.  I really think the great admiration that Danny and Doc show the guy is genuine, he's a player that they'd love to keep around.  Not to say that he can't be traded, but if they're looking just to clean up the end of the rotation, Powe stays.

[sk7326]

I know he can play C, that's the real attraction of KT.  But, there's still a logjam at the PF spot, and his presense (especially if they get ANYTHING out of O'Bryant) just adds to that. 

Even short of a KT signing, I'd not be surprised to see either BBD or Powe be traded - and I'd be shocked if they pick BBD.  I'm not sure what BBD does better than Powe, I think he definately *can* be a player in the league, and I love his hands and footwork, but Powe's not too bad in either respect either.  I think they've got more confidence in Powe staying motivated and contining to improve himself.  I really think the great admiration that Danny and Doc show the guy is genuine, he's a player that they'd love to keep around.  Not to say that he can't be traded, but if they're looking just to clean up the end of the rotation, Powe stays.

Spurs will take care of Thomas, so this is mostly moot. 

[PRIDE]

DA says we aren't after any more bigs.

Please stop with the Kurt Thomas talk in every thread.

[the_Bird]

Spurs will take care of Thomas, so this is mostly moot. 

Is this a mis-statement, then?

He'd be my #1 target (and VT Hillbilly's, who convinced me of all this).  It'd probably take most or all of the MLE, but the Spurs only have about $2.3 million of their's left.

I could see KT leaving some money on the table to go to a good sitation...  but if we offered him something in the neighborhood of 3 yrs/$12M, plus he'd still be in essentially the same position as a key cog on a team with legit Championship aspirations, is it a lock that he'd sign with SA for less $$?

As to the "Danny says we're done" talk...   things change.  Is there another player available on the market who would likely have as much of an impact as KT?  IMHO, he's clearly the best unrestricted FA left on the market, will likely command a salary in the range that we could give him, and would fill what still looks to be a hole in the roster.  PJ Brown ain't walking through that door! (at least until All-Star break ).  If Danny's NOT looking seriously at him, he's not doing anyone any favors. 

[zerophase]

Regardless of Posey leaving, out two biggest needs are still at backup C and backuip PG, in that order.  We can probably get by OK with one of our draft picks (or even TA?) as the wing defender, but if Perk or Rondo goes down, we're up the proverbial creek without a paddle.

Now that the Spurs used up most of their MLE on Roger Mason (I think, Roy?), we should be able to outbid them for Kurt Thomas.  He'd be perfect: he has enough of a shot to spread the floor; he's a proven winner; he can defend the post, and he rebounds.

He'd be my #1 target (and VT Hillbilly's, who convinced me of all this).  It'd probably take most or all of the MLE, but the Spurs only have about $2.3 million of their's left.

Not a bad idea, but we would still need a wing that can defend.

PS -  Is your pic, Rasputin ?

i distinctly remember one game where tony allen completely shut down kobe last year. and then the next possession pierce guard him and he scored. next possession tony allen again, and kobe's shot missed.

[sk7326]

Spurs have full Bird rights to Kurt Thomas.  So they can sign him for as much as they want.  Now they will be prudent because they will not trip the luxury tax threshold BUT their use of the MLE has zero impact on their ability to resign Thomas.

[jaketwice]

The issue is whether KG can play the 3; does he have the lateral quickness to guard guys on the perimeter?

Because with KT, there's a gap at either SF or SG (since PP is versatile).  If KG COULD play the 3, you'd have Allen doing ~ 35 minutes at SG; PP doing 25 @ SF and 10-15 at SG; KG doing 25 at PF and 10-15 at SF.

KT could sub in for KG at the PF (20 mpg) and for Perk if O'Bryant can't do it.

We'd thus have the occasional line-up

Perk
KT
KG
PP
Rondo (or other PG).

Can KG do it is the question.