Best Celtics Free Agent Signing Historically

[Redz]

My top 5:

1. Nelson
2. Posey
3. Dominique Wilkens
4. Payton (he was traded from the Celtics for Toine, released and signed as an FA)
5. Eddie House?

This is a thin list

It's kind of strange really, when you think about how big a deal the free agent market is to the league.

[Andy Jick]

i really don't get the dominique wilkins thinking here...he was washed up by the time he got here, played nothing like the celtics style of basketball, and ended up heading off to greece.

it was a ploy by m.l. carr and should have never been done.  wilkins and xavier mcdaniel never clicked (well, mcdaniel himself never clicked) and wilkins was a part of a playoff team that had no chance (although orlando was given a little more than they wanted).  but this move had no bearing on developing a team for the future.

the celtics were a reeling franchise at that time, and had just suffered the losses of reggie lewis, larry bird, kevin mchale and robert parish...they swapped point guards (shaw for douglas) and also started handing out long-term deals to average players.  when wilkins signed i shook my head in disbelief because he was the last thing this franchise needed.

[Redz]

i really don't get the dominique wilkins thinking here...he was washed up by the time he got here, played nothing like the celtics style of basketball, and ended up heading off to greece.

it was a ploy by m.l. carr and should have never been done.  wilkins and xavier mcdaniel never clicked (well, mcdaniel himself never clicked) and wilkins was a part of a playoff team that had no chance (although orlando was given a little more than they wanted).  but this move had no bearing on developing a team for the future.

the celtics were a reeling franchise at that time, and had just suffered the losses of reggie lewis, larry bird, kevin mchale and robert parish...they swapped point guards (shaw for douglas) and also started handing out long-term deals to average players.  when wilkins signed i shook my head in disbelief because he was the last thing this franchise needed.

No one's saying he was great.  It's more of testament to the thinness of the list, and that he was a recognizable name. 

Maybe he fits more in the "most publicized" free agent signing category, rather than the best

[Andy Jick]

agreed...

[Donoghus]

i really don't get the dominique wilkins thinking here...he was washed up by the time he got here, played nothing like the celtics style of basketball, and ended up heading off to greece.

it was a ploy by m.l. carr and should have never been done.  wilkins and xavier mcdaniel never clicked (well, mcdaniel himself never clicked) and wilkins was a part of a playoff team that had no chance (although orlando was given a little more than they wanted).  but this move had no bearing on developing a team for the future.

the celtics were a reeling franchise at that time, and had just suffered the losses of reggie lewis, larry bird, kevin mchale and robert parish...they swapped point guards (shaw for douglas) and also started handing out long-term deals to average players.  when wilkins signed i shook my head in disbelief because he was the last thing this franchise needed.

I have to agree with the 'Nique thing.  He was one and done here and the team was an #8 seed.  He was a great "name" signing but his contributions on the floor were only so-so.

Sad thing is, that he probably is a top 5 free agent signing in C's history because there hasn't been much success.

[papa shuttlesworth]

This is an interesting topic.  I had never thought about how few good signings this team has made.  I think it is both a testament to good drafting and trading (80s and today) and horrible management in between.

Do you think that the Celtics' current success will make future free agent signings better/easier?  I would think so, but everyone said that free agents would line up around the block this past summer for a chance to play with GPA and take huge pay cuts, but that hasn't happened... except for POB.

[mikeford]

Clearly the answer is Gin Baker, the highball maker.

Would Dana Barros qualify for this list?

Also Kevin Gamble? We signed him out of the CBA, thats basically like being a FA, right?

[Andy Jick]

Clearly the answer is Gin Baker, the highball maker.

Would Dana Barros qualify for this list?

baker was a trade...barros was signed from the 76ers, so he would qualify.  never cared for him, though.

[mikeford]

Did we trade for or sign Gerald Henderson? I know we didn't draft him  but his playing time was before I was born so...

[Redz]

Did we trade for or sign Gerald Henderson? I know we didn't draft him  but his playing time was before I was born so...

I think Gerald was a CBA-er too (like Gamble)...Signed to a 10-day contract then stuck around and ended being a big time contributor.

[GroverTheClover]

i really don't get the dominique wilkins thinking here...he was washed up by the time he got here, played nothing like the celtics style of basketball, and ended up heading off to greece.

it was a ploy by m.l. carr and should have never been done.  wilkins and xavier mcdaniel never clicked (well, mcdaniel himself never clicked) and wilkins was a part of a playoff team that had no chance (although orlando was given a little more than they wanted).  but this move had no bearing on developing a team for the future.

the celtics were a reeling franchise at that time, and had just suffered the losses of reggie lewis, larry bird, kevin mchale and robert parish...they swapped point guards (shaw for douglas) and also started handing out long-term deals to average players.  when wilkins signed i shook my head in disbelief because he was the last thing this franchise needed.

I honestly though when X-man signed, he'd go back to his former All-Star numbers. I was also nine.. Though, his first season in Boston, if I recall correctly was pretty decent.

[Redz]

i really don't get the dominique wilkins thinking here...he was washed up by the time he got here, played nothing like the celtics style of basketball, and ended up heading off to greece.

it was a ploy by m.l. carr and should have never been done.  wilkins and xavier mcdaniel never clicked (well, mcdaniel himself never clicked) and wilkins was a part of a playoff team that had no chance (although orlando was given a little more than they wanted).  but this move had no bearing on developing a team for the future.

the celtics were a reeling franchise at that time, and had just suffered the losses of reggie lewis, larry bird, kevin mchale and robert parish...they swapped point guards (shaw for douglas) and also started handing out long-term deals to average players.  when wilkins signed i shook my head in disbelief because he was the last thing this franchise needed.

I honestly though when X-man signed, he'd go back to his former All-Star numbers. I was also nine.. Though, his first season in Boston, if I recall correctly was pretty decent.

I loved the X-Man

[BballTim]

My top 5:

1. Nelson
2. Posey
3. Dominique Wilkens
4. Payton (he was traded from the Celtics for Toine, released and signed as an FA)
5. Eddie House?

This is a thin list

  How about Greg Minor?

[mikeford]

Did we trade for or sign Gerald Henderson? I know we didn't draft him  but his playing time was before I was born so...

I think Gerald was a CBA-er too (like Gamble)...Signed to a 10-day contract then stuck around and ended being a big time contributor.

Well him and Gamble probably vault to the top of the heap (but not ahead of Nelson) if we count CBAers as FAs.

[Andy Jick]

i really don't get the dominique wilkins thinking here...he was washed up by the time he got here, played nothing like the celtics style of basketball, and ended up heading off to greece.

it was a ploy by m.l. carr and should have never been done.  wilkins and xavier mcdaniel never clicked (well, mcdaniel himself never clicked) and wilkins was a part of a playoff team that had no chance (although orlando was given a little more than they wanted).  but this move had no bearing on developing a team for the future.

the celtics were a reeling franchise at that time, and had just suffered the losses of reggie lewis, larry bird, kevin mchale and robert parish...they swapped point guards (shaw for douglas) and also started handing out long-term deals to average players.  when wilkins signed i shook my head in disbelief because he was the last thing this franchise needed.

I honestly though when X-man signed, he'd go back to his former All-Star numbers. I was also nine.. Though, his first season in Boston, if I recall correctly was pretty decent.

I loved the X-Man

chris ford never used him properly...ford's problem as a coach was his "dog house" - i know he wanted to put his foot down and show people he was the boss, but he unfairly put guys down at times and his rotations were based (so it seemed) on his mood that day.

x-man got screwed a bit by this, and when it was stated that the celtics only signed him to keep him away from the knicks, there was a part of me that truly believed that.