2009 free agents

[JSD]

It will continue to be a sellers market for NBA teams focused on the 2010 free agent class. This puts the Celtics in a great position to pick up a key "win now" type veteran player.

2009 Free agents:

Kidd
Bibby
Gordon
Gooden
AI
JR Smith
Rasheed Wallace
Artest
Odom
Marion
Andre Miller

Ben Gordon is the most attractive to me... He could be a bridge to help the the Celtics stay on top as the three get older. I know he'd be looking for a lucrative deal. But is he going to get it in this landscape? I believe the Celtics could offer the MLE x 5 could they not? This would also keep the C's in line you make a run at the 2012 Free agent class headed by Dwight Howard. Maybe Rasheed is more realistic? What do you guys think?

[Chris]

I think it is going to be a REALLY interesting off-season.  There are a lot of guys who are going to be settling for MLE deals. 

My wishlist would go something like:

1. Wallace
2. AI
3. Artest
4. Chris Wilcox
5. Zaza
6. Joe Smith

[BudweiserCeltic]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=FreeAgents-09-10

[JSD]

I think it is going to be a REALLY interesting off-season.  There are a lot of guys who are going to be settling for MLE deals. 

My wishlist would go something like:

1. Wallace
2. AI
3. Artest
4. Chris Wilcox
5. Zaza
6. Joe Smith

I didn't include Artest. He is an UFA I can't see Houston not locking him up.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I don't think we'll be major players in Free-Agency. I can see us going after a Joe Smith type of player, and that's about it. I guess it'll all depend on the Eddie House situation. I can also see them going after a SF/PF type... but I don't think they'll break the bank over it.

[indeedproceed]

My realistic wish list:

1) Drew Gooden, Rasho Nesterovic, Joe Smith
-This is not and remains our biggest need. Big vet guy who can play defense and hit a couple of shots

2) Quinton Ross, Jarvis Hayes, Keith Bogans
-Solid wing defenders.

3) Robert Swift, M Sene, Chris Mihm, Etan Thomas (vet defensive specialist that would fit in here)
-Bigs worth a shot that could find a place in our rotation

But the guy I really really really want that we have no chance of getting:
Ime Udoka.
http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/muoneke/2007/12/09/ime-the-great/

[Chris]

I don't think we'll be major players in Free-Agency. I can see us going after a Joe Smith type of player, and that's about it. I guess it'll all depend on the Eddie House situation. I can also see them going after a SF/PF type... but I don't think they'll break the bank over it.

Well, I think, like last year with Maggette, they will offer 1 year MLE deals (or potentially longer) to any of those players who are clearly worth more (Wallace, AI, possibly Kidd, Gordon), and hope they want to go for a ring for a year.  Other than that though, I think you are right.

[Gainesville Celtic]

I think we will (and should) go after Rasheed.

He'll be 36, if i'm not mistaken, and would likely settle for comign off the bench for 2 years at $6M/per since it will mean being in contention for a ring both years.

He and KG battle, but seem to very much respect one another --- i seem to even remember hearign they were friends, can anyone confirm?

I thought last year that this year they might go after Kidd or AI, but i think we're playing at such a high level, they'll *settle* for a legit 3rd big.  Wallace is a great compliment to Powe down low.

[Brickowski]

I'm not interested in any of the players mentionned here.  Oh, Rasheed Wallace would be a nice pickup, but he'll be too expensive.

Some team is always willing to overpay for a marquee free agent and you wind up getting into a bidding war and overpaying yourself.

How about using the money to resign Rondo long term?  How about an extension for Tony Allen?  I'd also like to see them keep Powe, Davis and House.

If they resign Rondo for what he's really worth they'll be pushing up against the luxury tax threshhold as it is.

[Chris]

I'm not interested in any of the players mentionned here.  Oh, Rasheed Wallace would be a nice pickup, but he'll be too expensive.

I don't know if this is the case.  There just aren't many teams out there with cap space.  So unless there are a lot of sign and trades (which are unlikely, since so many teams are trying to open up cap space), there is going to be a player or two who is stuck with the MLE, who is worth much more.  Wallace is a prime candidate to be one of those guys when you look at his age and character issues.

[JSD]

I think we will (and should) go after Rasheed.

He'll be 36, if i'm not mistaken, and would likely settle for comign off the bench for 2 years at $6M/per since it will mean being in contention for a ring both years.

He and KG battle, but seem to very much respect one another --- i seem to even remember hearign they were friends, can anyone confirm?

I thought last year that this year they might go after Kidd or AI, but i think we're playing at such a high level, they'll *settle* for a legit 3rd big.  Wallace is a great compliment to Powe down low.

I can confirm... They constantly hug. 

[JSD]

I'm not interested in any of the players mentionned here.  Oh, Rasheed Wallace would be a nice pickup, but he'll be too expensive.

Some team is always willing to overpay for a marquee free agent and you wind up getting into a bidding war and overpaying yourself.

How about using the money to resign Rondo long term?  How about an extension for Tony Allen?  I'd also like to see them keep Powe, Davis and House.

If they resign Rondo for what he's really worth they'll be pushing up against the luxury tax threshhold as it is.

Rhondo, House and TA don't expire until 2010. so it really comes down to Powe Vs. Davis. I think they will keep Powe.

[ManUp]

I think we could have a legit chance at Wallace. He's just about the only free agent I want that we might have a chance at with just a 1 year MLE deal.

What makes me really want him is the thought of a KG/Wallace front line. It'd be Nuts multiplied by Insane. We'd constantly have someone talking in the opponents ear psyching them out. He could be a starter along with KG, or his perfect sub (bringing the same skills as KG to a slighty lesser affect).

I'd love to have Wallace, but I could see the Pistons resigning him for another year with a deal worth more than the MLE. He could be loyal to the Pistons and stay or he might feel the organization is going in a different direction and leave. If he's looking for a Ring he'll leave, but if he's looking for money they're probably his best bet.

[celticmaestro]

In order, these are my preferences from that list:

Rasheed Wallace
Andre Miller
Drew Gooden

Frankly, AI, Artest, Odom, Marion and Smith can kill someone else's chemistry, Kidd and Bibby have had their problems with Boston and Gordon is looking to get paid.

[ManUp]

In order, these are my preferences from that list:

Rasheed Wallace
Andre Miller
Drew Gooden

Frankly, AI, Artest, Odom, Marion and Smith can kill someone else's chemistry, Kidd and Bibby have had their problems with Boston and Gordon is looking to get paid.

What worries me about miller is his ability to defend and that he doesn't bring anything Rondo doesn't have other than height. I think we could easily get him to sign, but I want a backup who can do things Rondo can't. Gooden will be looking for multiple years, and I don't think Danny will be giving out anything close to what he's looking for in terms of years. The other guys can like you said "kill someone else's chemistry".