Potential Midseason Buyouts

[billysan]

Marbury might still be the "best player" in that lot, but Antoine is the "best fit" for us and for him too.

1. Walker's played for the Celtics before

2. Walker's played with Pierce before

3. Walker's played for Doc before

4. Walker's played with Shaq so he would know how to throw entry passes to KG.

5. If Walker becomes a "locker room problem" (he never has in his career)...we just sit him in his fine suits/street clothes.

- Marbury has been known to be a locker room problem and he's had run ins with his head coaches. (Well, it is Isiah afterall....)

- Marbury, if unmotivated and unleased, his evilness might spread to Rondo and we can't have that

- Our team's, our franchise's, winning attitude and the Celtic Pride mystic can be threatened with Marbury's selfish ways. This is the guy who turned down playing with KG for more money....a la Tyronne Lue.

- Marbury is the same player who did not make it work in his home town....TWICE.

- I love what Marbury is doing with his shoe line, but his attitude on and off the court is less than desirable.

- If this was the same Marbury who was motivated like he was with a young, up and coming Suns team that stole a playoff game against the Spurs a few years ago...I'd root for the guy.

- If this was the same Marbury who showed his true patriotic colors when he played lights out for the USA Team a few years ago...I'd root for the guy

- It's too bad New York and Isiah hasn't mixed well with Marbury's head or the other way around...whatever....

*Let's get Toine back on the cheap. There's virtually no risk and the rewards are bonus...like "icing on the cake".

If we need a PF or bigman then Raef is a better option than AW. He can  play backup center providing his knees are able to last 25mpg. He doesnt shoot for volume like Antoine and he knows PP from Kansas, Doc and Danny from here.

Personally I would rather have Zo hands down but it's unlikely he comes here IMO.

[Robb]

I understand this is entirely hypothetical, but how do you determine who could be bought out?  Buyouts seem to come from teams that are expecting to contend, don't and then don't want to have deals with multiple years on their salary cap (otherwise they'd just let the contract expire)...that or a veteran player asking for it for a chance to go to a winner.  Any way you slice it, I think it's quite a bit of a crap shoot guessing who it'll be prior to the season starting.  If there is any other formula, I'd love to hear it.  I'm still getting accustomed to all of this periphery information about winning basketball games.

With that said, I think if their teams underperform, you can expect some guys from your list to be bought out, namely the old ones.

[billysan]

I understand this is entirely hypothetical, but how do you determine who could be bought out?  Buyouts seem to come from teams that are expecting to contend, don't and then don't want to have deals with multiple years on their salary cap (otherwise they'd just let the contract expire)...that or a veteran player asking for it for a chance to go to a winner.  Any way you slice it, I think it's quite a bit of a crap shoot guessing who it'll be prior to the season starting.  If there is any other formula, I'd love to hear it.  I'm still getting accustomed to all of this periphery information about winning basketball games.

With that said, I think if their teams underperform, you can expect some guys from your list to be bought out, namely the old ones.

This IMO is an exercise in predicting (with some wishfull thinking) who is not going to fit in to the future of their respective teams later in the year. Nobody knows for sure but we all can have fun speculating.

Big accent on the wishful thinking.

[Robb]

This IMO is an exercise in predicting (with some wishfull thinking) who is not going to fit in to the future of their respective teams later in the year. Nobody knows for sure but we all can have fun speculating.

Big accent on the wishful thinking.

So it's just guessing, there isn't any real formula to it?  That's what I thought, but looking at the situations in which a player has been bought out would be helpful in predicting where those situations might be replicated.  Good luck to anyone with time for that.

[JBcat]

I understand this is entirely hypothetical, but how do you determine who could be bought out?  Buyouts seem to come from teams that are expecting to contend, don't and then don't want to have deals with multiple years on their salary cap (otherwise they'd just let the contract expire)...that or a veteran player asking for it for a chance to go to a winner.  Any way you slice it, I think it's quite a bit of a crap shoot guessing who it'll be prior to the season starting.  If there is any other formula, I'd love to hear it.  I'm still getting accustomed to all of this periphery information about winning basketball games.

With that said, I think if their teams underperform, you can expect some guys from your list to be bought out, namely the old ones.

This IMO is an exercise in predicting (with some wishfull thinking) who is not going to fit in to the future of their respective teams later in the year. Nobody knows for sure but we all can have fun speculating.

Big accent on the wishful thinking.

Your right Rob.   I looked at mostly older veterans in the last year of their contracts (somehow overlooked AW on my list) where their respective teams may underperform.  I also took a team's roster flexibility into consideration such as NJ having 16 players under contract (which is why I included Swift and Chicago with Gooden) Obviously only a handful of these guys will actually be bought out but I tried to make the list as extensive as possible for the purpose of having a good discussion here.   

The more I think about if Raef can still play (big question mark since he's hardly been given any playing time the past 2 years but only 32 years old) he could fill a nice role like PJ Brown.   All he would need to do is play solid D, rebound, and help space the floor with his outside shooting which he is more than capable of doing.  He knows Doc, Paul, and the system so it is at least an option.  Actually I like it a little better than the Antoine Walker idea.  Portland's roster is a little tight so there might not be a spot for him anyway.

Alonzo is a good idea as well and I believe he is still a UFA.  Didn't he just have surgery?   I know DA has been calling him the past couple summers to come on board just like Dikembe.   Any rumors to what Zo is planning on doing? 

[Chief]

I think Brad Miller will be bought out. He's 32, Sacramento owes him $24 million over the next 2 seasons, and they are a team going nowhere with a young center in Spencer Hawes who needs playing time. I think he would be a nice fit for a championship caliber team.

[bostonfan23]

I think Brad Miller will be bought out. He's 32, Sacramento owes him $24 million over the next 2 seasons, and they are a team going nowhere with a young center in Spencer Hawes who needs playing time. I think he would be a nice fit for a championship caliber team.

And he had a very, very nice season last year.

[billysan]

I understand this is entirely hypothetical, but how do you determine who could be bought out?  Buyouts seem to come from teams that are expecting to contend, don't and then don't want to have deals with multiple years on their salary cap (otherwise they'd just let the contract expire)...that or a veteran player asking for it for a chance to go to a winner.  Any way you slice it, I think it's quite a bit of a crap shoot guessing who it'll be prior to the season starting.  If there is any other formula, I'd love to hear it.  I'm still getting accustomed to all of this periphery information about winning basketball games.

With that said, I think if their teams underperform, you can expect some guys from your list to be bought out, namely the old ones.

This IMO is an exercise in predicting (with some wishfull thinking) who is not going to fit in to the future of their respective teams later in the year. Nobody knows for sure but we all can have fun speculating.

Big accent on the wishful thinking.

Your right Rob.   I looked at mostly older veterans in the last year of their contracts (somehow overlooked AW on my list) where their respective teams may underperform.  I also took a team's roster flexibility into consideration such as NJ having 16 players under contract (which is why I included Swift and Chicago with Gooden) Obviously only a handful of these guys will actually be bought out but I tried to make the list as extensive as possible for the purpose of having a good discussion here.  

The more I think about if Raef can still play (big question mark since he's hardly been given any playing time the past 2 years but only 32 years old) he could fill a nice role like PJ Brown.   All he would need to do is play solid D, rebound, and help space the floor with his outside shooting which he is more than capable of doing.  He knows Doc, Paul, and the system so it is at least an option.  Actually I like it a little better than the Antoine Walker idea.  Portland's roster is a little tight so there might not be a spot for him anyway.

Alonzo is a good idea as well and I believe he is still a UFA.  Didn't he just have surgery?   I know DA has been calling him the past couple summers to come on board just like Dikembe.   Any rumors to what Zo is planning on doing? 

I dont know any rumors, but I do live in South Florida. Zo is deeply rooted into the Miami community and the 'scene' at South Beach. He has multiple long term business interests and charity organizations in the Miami area. He absolutely hated it when he was in New Jersey and Toronto for his brief visits. He basically said he would stay retired rather than move back 'up north'. He is originally from northern Virginia I believe and even said no to the Wizards a couple years ago. Based on all of this, it would be very surprising if he came to Boston or anywhere out of Florida.

A guy like Kurt Thomas is much more likley for us, just my opinion though.

[LB3533]

Raef Lafrentz?

Are you guys serious?

It's true Raef is not a volume shooter, but he's also a cripple and disappears in the playoffs. (He is not a PJ Brown)

Raef is afraid to take the big shots, that is why he is not a volume shooter.

[Jon]

Raef LaFrentz from 5 years ago wouldn't be a bad fit on this team.  He could provide some shotblocking defensively (though he's not a good 1 on 1 defender) and could stretch the floor on offense with his range.  However, I don't think he has anything left.  He's had leg issues for years now. 

As for Toine, while some deeply twisted part of me inside would probably like to see him back in green, I don't really see how it makes sense.  As a big, he doesn't solve our problem of size and shotblocking.  As a wingman, while he does solve size, he's not a good enough of a defender to really make it work.  The only way this makes sense is if a) Ainge is unable to pick up anyone else desirable before playoff rosters are set or b) a bunch of our backups get hurt, like TA, Powe, Baby, Giddens, etc. 

[Robb]

It's true Raef is not a volume shooter, but he's also a cripple and disappears in the playoffs. (He is not a PJ Brown)

Haha.  I understand your point but I LOVE your phrasing.  I just think it's funny to imagine Raef "disappearing" anywhere.  Where has he ever "appeared"?

[Chris]

It's true Raef is not a volume shooter, but he's also a cripple and disappears in the playoffs. (He is not a PJ Brown)

Haha.  I understand your point but I LOVE your phrasing.  I just think it's funny to imagine Raef "disappearing" anywhere.  Where has he ever "appeared"?

Well, he obviously appeared somewhere to get drafted 3rd overall, and then get a near max contract.

I think if Raef is healthy (obviously a big if), he would be a great option (although still well behind Mourning and PJ).  He is a big body, can play good team defense, and can stretch the defense with his shot if they need it.  He might be an interesting fallback plan.

[LB3533]

I'd take my chances on Pat O'Bryant over Raef's corpse.

Look, maybe this guy could have been useful to us when it was 8 YEARS ago when he was at least blocking 2 to 3 shots per game.

Raef had ONE descent playoff run with Dallas where he averaged a whopping 11 points and 7 rebounds while shooting a nice 50% and 54% from 3 land.....and he was like the 6th option on the team so ya he was greatly defended back then.....so he swindled Cuban a near max contract.

So he signs a near max contract and proceeds to churn out a very medocire 9 and 5 season for the Mavs and then gets traded to the Celtics the following October and basically misses 80% of the season for the C's.....

Raef had one serviceable year as a starter for the C's in 2004-2005. We could have used that Raef for offense on our team...but defensively he was already finished. The following 2005-2006 Raef would have made a nice backup to Kendrick Perkins...but now Raef can't even backup Greg Oden.

[LB3533]

Actually going back in time, I would very much rather have a 2002-2003 Nick Van Exel.

This guy could play during the big spots and he would have been a huge upgrade over Sam Cassell as far as playoff spotlight games go.

I miss Nick "the quick"!

Back in 2003-2004, Van Exel was out shinning Dirk+Nash+Finley in the playoffs.

He could really fill it up and spark his teams.....a la House, but Van Exel is House on 100x steriods.....a Mansion, if you will.

[Gainesville Celtic]

Haven't looked over the list, but I have to agree with Larry Bird... why buy guys out?  Let them sit at home or make them travel with the team....

a lot of these teams (MIN, GSW, etc) have huge contracts on their books and some of the guys go on to be semi-productive elsewhere. 

You still have to pay a guy if you buy them out --- usually about as much as their owed.


And... i think it would be a colossal mistake for teh C's or us as fans to go into the season planning on adding a guy via buyout... there is just no way to tell if someone will come available or not.