free agents without a home - including Ross

[Mr October]

What the heck? Quinton Ross was in in my top 5 free agents wish list for this summer. His defense is terrific, he has good size for a wing, and although he's by no means a scorer, he's ok with the open mid range jumper. He should have been a terrific value pick up for some team looking to spend somewhere between the minimum and $2/year on a young bruce bowen clone.

Am i missing something? Why hasn't anyone signed him?

Anyway, here are some more free agents without a home. Any thoughts on where they will ultimately end up?

wings:

B. Gordon 6-3 25  - restricted (Chi)
Q. Ross 6-6 27
B. Wells 6-5 32
S. Livingston 6-7 23
F. Jones 6-4 29
I. Newble 6-7 33

bigs:

A. Mourning 6-10 38
PJ Brown 6-11 39
D. Mutombo 7-2 42
M. Doleac 6-11 31
R. Horry 6-10 38
A. Croshere 6-10 33

[celticmaestro]

Bonzi, Livingston, Ross, Zo, PJ, Horry all interest me somewhat.

Although, is what we have better? I'll trust Danny on whatever decision he makes. (For the record, I'd love Bonzi to join us if Miles fails.)

[Mr October]

At this point I don't think any of these guys will end up on the Celtics.

Of course I'd love to see Zo or PJ join the team (if needed) for the playoff push.

I am absolutely baffled that Ross and Wells haven't landed anywhere... If Miles makes a full recovery, I'd like to roll with him too. But if the experiment fails during the next month or so, I'd really like to see Ross or Wells join the team.

I'd certainly take either of them over Cassell. 

[cdif911]

regardless, only 12 guys can suit up on any given day, and the rotation is usually closer to 10, so these guys are more or less superflous...though I worry about Paddy O' (furniture) Bryant backing up Perk, I'd much rather have a proven, established big man, not necessarily a star, just someone serviceable... that said imo the top 10 guys for minutes will be:

Starting 5 (duh)

Tony Allen
Eddie House
Leon Powe
Big Baby
JR Giddens

Next 2 to round out top 12 would be:

Walker
O'Bryant

Next 3:

Scal
D. Miles
Pruitt
Cassell?

Now does a Quinton Ross take JR Giddens spot? possibly...does JR actually have a spot? not sure....

I think a big could push Baby down the depth chart and essentially push O'Bryant off it - but I think this is the roster they'll go into the season with, perhaps with Cassell in and Pruitt out...

[Mr October]

regardless, only 12 guys can suit up on any given day, and the rotation is usually closer to 10, so these guys are more or less superflous...though I worry about Paddy O' (furniture) Bryant backing up Perk, I'd much rather have a proven, established big man, not necessarily a star, just someone serviceable... that said imo the top 10 guys for minutes will be:

Starting 5 (duh)

Tony Allen
Eddie House
Leon Powe
Big Baby
JR Giddens

Next 2 to round out top 12 would be:

Walker
O'Bryant

Next 3:

Scal
D. Miles
Pruitt
Cassell?

Now does a Quinton Ross take JR Giddens spot? possibly...does JR actually have a spot? not sure....

I think a big could push Baby down the depth chart and essentially push O'Bryant off it - but I think this is the roster they'll go into the season with, perhaps with Cassell in and Pruitt out...

I don't think the rookies will be ready to run with Rip, Lebron, Kobe, Joe Johnson, Butler, Stevenson when the playoffs roll around. The odds are against them succeeding in this year's playoffs. I would have grabbed Ross, before resigning TA. I guess Doc and Danny wanted more roster consistency going from last year to this year. That's fine.

When the post season rolls around, if Powe and Baby are the top 2 bigs off the bench we're in trouble. Someone needs to have the height to help protect the rim. I hope POB is our guy. If not, Zo and PJ still look really really appealing.

Until they prove themselves, I'm placing Giddens, Walker, POB, Pruitt and perhaps Miles in  the C's 11th-15th men category of 'developing prospects'. I hope 1 or 2 of them break through and become regulars.

[indeedproceed]

It'll go the five, then

T Allen
L powe
E House
G Davis
P Obryant
Cassell
Giddens/Miles

Pruitt/Walker seem doomed to D Leagueness

[johnnyrondo]

At this point I don't think any of these guys will end up on the Celtics.

Of course I'd love to see Zo or PJ join the team (if needed) for the playoff push.

I am absolutely baffled that Ross and Wells haven't landed anywhere... If Miles makes a full recovery, I'd like to roll with him too. But if the experiment fails during the next month or so, I'd really like to see Ross or Wells join the team.

I'd certainly take either of them over Cassell. 

I'd take Acie Earl over Cassell. Would have liked the C's to sign Ross instead of Miles, but whatever. Surprised no one has taken a flier on Livingston. Very minimal risk, high reward possibilty signing imo.

[jdub1660]

Quote from Mr October
Am i missing something? Why hasn't anyone signed him?
  His Defense is great, but Bowen can actually make the corner 3, Ross can't.

wings:

B. Gordon 6-3 25 - I like his offense, but he thinks he deserves more than what he's worth (NO DEFENSE)
Q. Ross 6-6 27 - As stated above, he can defend, but has no range or offensive game
B. Wells 6-5 32 - I would take the risk on him if Miles fails, assuming that Wells can get back into shape
S. Livingston 6-7 23 If we didn't take Cassell and didn't have Pruitt, then I'd sign Livingston
F. Jones 6-4 29 Shaky jumper and has hops, plays some D...No, there are teams in need of him though
I. Newble 6-7 33 - Never. Great guy with limited talent. Keep Scal over this guy

bigs:

A. Mourning 6-10 38 -All day everyday I'd sign him, BUT ..IF he returns, then he's Miami bound
PJ Brown 6-11 39 - He's a likely late season pickup if any
D. Mutombo 7-2 42 - He considered Boston, but blatantly said HOUSTON or RETIREMENT
M. Doleac 6-11 31 - No...not unless Powe and/or BBD got hurt and we needed a roster filler
R. Horry 6-10 38 - He proved last year that he lost his range. He's a SPURS or RETIREMENT too
A. Croshere 6-10 33 - I completely forgot about this guy. UGLY shot, but efficient. I would consider a BBD replacmnt

[Mr October]

Quote from Mr October
Am i missing something? Why hasn't anyone signed him?
  His Defense is great, but Bowen can actually make the corner 3, Ross can't.

wings:

B. Gordon 6-3 25 - I like his offense, but he thinks he deserves more than what he's worth (NO DEFENSE)
Q. Ross 6-6 27 - As stated above, he can defend, but has no range or offensive game
B. Wells 6-5 32 - I would take the risk on him if Miles fails, assuming that Wells can get back into shape
S. Livingston 6-7 23 If we didn't take Cassell and didn't have Pruitt, then I'd sign Livingston
F. Jones 6-4 29 Shaky jumper and has hops, plays some D...No, there are teams in need of him though
I. Newble 6-7 33 - Never. Great guy with limited talent. Keep Scal over this guy

bigs:

A. Mourning 6-10 38 -All day everyday I'd sign him, BUT ..IF he returns, then he's Miami bound
PJ Brown 6-11 39 - He's a likely late season pickup if any
D. Mutombo 7-2 42 - He considered Boston, but blatantly said HOUSTON or RETIREMENT
M. Doleac 6-11 31 - No...not unless Powe and/or BBD got hurt and we needed a roster filler
R. Horry 6-10 38 - He proved last year that he lost his range. He's a SPURS or RETIREMENT too
A. Croshere 6-10 33 - I completely forgot about this guy. UGLY shot, but efficient. I would consider a BBD replacmnt

Ross's offense is at least as good as Bowen's was when he first joined the Spurs (which isn't much). If any contender picks this guy up cheap, they'll have a really nice defensive specialist.

Thanks for your thoughts on the list. Those bigs do look like they should represent the ready-for-retirement team. :-P Hopefully we can entice Zo or PJ later on.

A couple more follow up thoughts:
Gordon - he's gonna get starter money. I don't think he is starting material (if on a true contender)
Wells - he's got to land somewhere soon right? Heck, why not the Lakers?
Livingston - His health situation is so sad. He seamed like such a good kid, and his talent was so high. I honestly don't think he'll ever make it back as a starter. Sad.

[Mr October]

Interesting.... Lindsey Hunter still hasn't resigned either. He seams like a good 3rd string pick up for someone...

[adam8]

Interesting.... Lindsey Hunter still hasn't resigned either. He seams like a good 3rd string pick up for someone...

I would love to pick up Hunter if for no reason other than so Detroit can't pick him up and force us to play Rondo the whole game because are backup point guards can't beat the press.

[cdif911]

I'd take Acie Earl over Cassell. Would have liked the C's to sign Ross instead of Miles, but whatever. Surprised no one has taken a flier on Livingston. Very minimal risk, high reward possibilty signing imo.

I think there's two ways to look at the Livingston thing...one is I hear he wants 2 years gauranteed, which no sane team would do unless he can prove he'll hold up, which he can't without signing with a team, a little catch 22 action for ya

or, maybe from the workouts, he hasn't shown himself capable of returning to the league - a la Jay Williams....

 

[BigAlTheFuture]

We should sign Wells, he is a really good player to have off the bench.

[cordobes]

Ross's offense is at least as good as Bowen's was when he first joined the Spurs (which isn't much). If any contender picks this guy up cheap, they'll have a really nice defensive specialist.

I disagree. It's not. Ross simply has no offence to speak about. Maybe as good as Bowen's when he first joined the Celtics. With that said, I was coveting him before we signed Tony Allen. Now, I think they'd duplicate (although I have Ross as the better defender and a very useful player).

Wells - he's got to land somewhere soon right? Heck, why not the Lakers?"

They already have a logjam at the 3. I just hope he doesn't land in Boston.

[Fan from VT]

I've wanted Kirk Snyder since Posey left. Still available.