2009 free agents

[Mr October]

So if one of these grizzled vets came knocking next summer with the following request to come of the bench, which scenarios should the C's persue if any?

Jason Kidd 36 - I want $6/1
Allen Iverson 34 - I want $12/2
Rasheed Wallace 35 - I want $12/2
Jeff Foster 32 - I want $18/3
Ron Artest 30 - I want $26/4
Hedo Turkoglu 30 - I want $35/5
Anderson Varejao 27 - I want $35/5

I started thinking about these players after reading the latest Chad Ford list:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=09FreeAgents-080915

Or...

Should the C's continue breaking up the MLE into spare parts role players?

Should the C's not go above 1 year deals, so they can be semi-players in 2010 FA bonanza?


Any more thoughts on Chad's free agent lists for 2009?

I know the real answer is to wait until the end of the season... but I'm bored and need October to get here already!!

[BigAlTheFuture]

None of 'em are gonna be willing to come off the bench besides Varejao and Foster.

[Mr October]

Right, i forgot to mention this is a fantasy "what if" scenario.

A little something to have fun with, to help pass the time.

[shookones99]

I voted for more spare parts by mistake.  But I would love to have Sheed or JKidd coming off the bench for us.

[hwangjini_1]

I voted for more spare parts by mistake.  But I would love to have Sheed or JKidd coming off the bench for us.

IF the celtics ever sign jason kidd (the devil better buy some parkas on that day) i guarantee you it will be rondo coming off the bench.

[billysan]

A couple of variables come to mind with this 'fantasy'.

Do we have our current roster more or less intact and who do we get rid of to open a roster spot? Do we assume that there are no other FA available that qualify for this list? Are we going to trade someone to get a better fit if one of them gives us too much depth?

I think we have enough depth at the wings assuming Walker and Giddens are on the roster next season. That rules out adding Artest. Not enough shots or basketballs to consider AI and I wouldnt sit Rondo to give him minutes anyway. I dont know if Kidd accepts a backup role this easily. He and AI could easily be a royal pain if they dont fit in.

I am not sure Sheed would play here for a 2 year deal, I think Hedo Turkoglu is the most versatile and gives us the best scoring help off the bench but commands a bigger payday. Jeff Foster is a good backup center but not as versatile or athletic as Varejao who plays PF and Center.

If we dont have one of Powe/Scal/Davis on the roster next season then I go with Varejao, Sheed, Turkoglu and Foster in that order. Varejao is a long term addition. Sheed would be short term due to age. Turkoglu and Foster would want long term security to finish there careers. They may not be worth the commitment (contract length).

[jdub1660]

For everyone voting to save for 2010...The chances of Boston signing any of those big names is slim. All the players expected to be free that year(LeBron,Bosh,Wade) are all big names that want BIG money. We would have to break up the big 3 and still might not have enough cash for talent. Waste every penny on Lebron and have a new Cavalier team...a one man show. By that year KG will be diminishing, Pierce will be a year or two behind, Allen a year behind maybe..Perk and Rondo our great for our future, but we gotta cash in on the big 3 and fill the bench with proven talent. My vote went for Hedo Turgulu. The guy can shoot, not afraid to hit the buzzer beater, and can play good D sense he plays SF and is 6'10 with wingspan. ...I know this is still a shot in the dark, but what about the overseas game. Lebron could end up there along with whatever other stars want to double up their yearly salaries. I like the idea of working with our starting 5, considering trading Ray's expiring contract for younger talent, sign Hedo and a couple other pieces, hope Darius Miles is still here and growing, and make a run for # 19 assuming that we get 18 this year.......And just to throw one more ball out here...What if Ainge and the Big 3 could talk Shaq out of retiring. Get him to sign a vet min contract to play backup behind Perk. No matter how old he gets, he's still a beast down low. Even if he dunk at will, we can still back down players to draw a double team and pass out to an open man.....

[KCattheStripe]

For everyone voting to save for 2010...The chances of Boston signing any of those big names is slim. All the players expected to be free that year(LeBron,Bosh,Wade) are all big names that want BIG money.

Players I would go after in the 2010 unrestricted free agent class that won't demand/ deserve max money. We can afford these players if Ray and Paul are willing to resign for significantly less money. In no particular order they are:

1) Caron Butler $$$
2) Josh Howard  $$
3) Tayshaun Prince $$
4) Kelenna Azubuike $
5) Shane Battier (maybe) $
6) Mike Dunleavy $$
7) Troy Murphy $$
8)Richard Jefferson $$$
9) Michael Redd $
10) Tyson Chandler ( Yes, he makes Perk expendable) $$
11) Nick Collison $

Number of $'s= How much the Celts should be willing to spend. Also, unless the sign Chandler, the Celts should focus on resigning Perk that year.

[blazingarrow]

I hate Jason Kidd

Despise Jason Kidd

But that seemed like the least risk/ highest reward situation

Keeping in mind we are going to need some cash down the road to resign some young guys, and the fact that I'm not all that excited about the 2009 free agents

[JBcat]

So if one of these grizzled vets came knocking next summer with the following request to come of the bench, which scenarios should the C's persue if any?

Jason Kidd 36 - I want $6/1
Allen Iverson 34 - I want $12/2
Rasheed Wallace 35 - I want $12/2
Jeff Foster 32 - I want $18/3
Ron Artest 30 - I want $26/4
Hedo Turkoglu 30 - I want $35/5
Anderson Varejao 27 - I want $35/5

I started thinking about these players after reading the latest Chad Ford list:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=09FreeAgents-080915

Or...

Should the C's continue breaking up the MLE into spare parts role players?

Should the C's not go above 1 year deals, so they can be semi-players in 2010 FA bonanza?


Any more thoughts on Chad's free agent lists for 2009?

I know the real answer is to wait until the end of the season... but I'm bored and need October to get here already!!

TP for an interesting topic.  Most of the answers to which players I would prefer will become clear after seeing how this group progresses Patrick O'Bryant, BBD, Powe, Giddens, Walker, Tony Allen, Miles if he is still around and even Pruitt.   I think Ainge would like to see all these guys improve to the point where the players on your list is not needed.  However playing devil's advocate here is what I would prefer providing worst case scenario for the players I listed.

If the PO experiment completely fails and either BBD or Powe don't return (I believe both guys are in the last year of their contract) I would prefer Wallace at $12/2.  Just too talented to pass up even at age 35 but he would only have to play bench minutes for us.  Foster is a very solid rebounder and defender but 3 years for 18 million seems a bit much at his age for his skills.  5 years and 35 mil for Varejao seems way over the top for me.  I wouldn't touch that deal.  

If most of the Giddens, Walker, Miles, TA group fails I would prefer Turkoglu but I think he is going to command more than the midlevel and I can see Orlando keeping him.  I think he is out of our league next summer.   With Artest I think teams could be scared to go beyond the midlevel because he is such a headcase however I could see offering him the full midlevel for say 2 years but not 4.  Maybe a team option on the second year so we can get rid of him quickly if he acts up.  

If House somehow forgets how to shoot, Pruitt never develops, and TA blows a knee again I would gladly take Kidd or Iverson.  Hell even if House is still the same player he is now I would take either one of them.  I think Kidd has to start thinking at this point of his career if he wants to be on a winner and possibly extend his career he will have to take a reduced role.  He could settle for 15 to 20 minutes or so a game behind the rapidly improving Rondo.  He has a rep for being a little bit of a coach killer but he wants to win bad and I think he would be fine with the big 3.   Iverson is still awesome on offense.  Not sure how much his game will slip a year from now but I would take 2 years at 12 million if he is willing to be a super 6th man combo guard playing about 25 minutes a game playing all out on D.  If I had to choose between Iverson or Kidd at this point next summer I would lean towards Iverson because he is younger and seems to have more game left in him.

A ton can change within a year so let's see what happens with these young guys first and what trades are made to open up roster spots.  

[gagvirk]

For everyone voting to save for 2010...The chances of Boston signing any of those big names is slim. All the players expected to be free that year(LeBron,Bosh,Wade) are all big names that want BIG money. We would have to break up the big 3 and still might not have enough cash for talent. Waste every penny on Lebron and have a new Cavalier team...a one man show. By that year KG will be diminishing, Pierce will be a year or two behind, Allen a year behind maybe..Perk and Rondo our great for our future, but we gotta cash in on the big 3 and fill the bench with proven talent. My vote went for Hedo Turgulu. The guy can shoot, not afraid to hit the buzzer beater, and can play good D sense he plays SF and is 6'10 with wingspan. ...I know this is still a shot in the dark, but what about the overseas game. Lebron could end up there along with whatever other stars want to double up their yearly salaries. I like the idea of working with our starting 5, considering trading Ray's expiring contract for younger talent, sign Hedo and a couple other pieces, hope Darius Miles is still here and growing, and make a run for # 19 assuming that we get 18 this year.......And just to throw one more ball out here...What if Ainge and the Big 3 could talk Shaq out of retiring. Get him to sign a vet min contract to play backup behind Perk. No matter how old he gets, he's still a beast down low. Even if he dunk at will, we can still back down players to draw a double team and pass out to an open man.....

Hey JDub1660- You honestly think that Shaq would be willing to play for a vet minimum and that too- coming off the bench? what i feel is that his ego is even larger than his body frame and there is no way that he would agree to such a deal- even if hes on the wrong side of 40

However, 'sheed and KG together manning the boards n the low block. <licking my lips>

[kw10]

The only name on the list that I am truly interested in is Foster, I see him as the only guy who is a 'sure' fit on our team. Sheed might do well to, however I'm not sure if I really want him in a year's time for 12M/2yrs (I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it, but just not on this team).

[celticmaestro]

I really am not even thinking about 2009, I'm solely concentrating on this season. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

[JBcat]

I'm curious what people think Shawn Marion will command next year on the open market at age 31.  I don't think there will be many teams that can offer him much more than the MLE and given his age it doesn't make much sense for Miami to give him a big contract to grow with Beasley and Wade...

[Who]

I'm curious what people think Shawn Marion will command next year on the open market at age 31.  I don't think there will be many teams that can offer him much more than the MLE and given his age it doesn't make much sense for Miami to give him a big contract to grow with Beasley and Wade...

I think he'll get offers in the $10-12mil range.

I also think his best chance for a larger contract is an extension with the Miami Heat. I think the reported offers from Miami this summer were in the $14-15mil per annum range but I'm not sure on that.