Celtics playoff roster prediction

[Danimals]

Rajon Rondo
Ray Allen
Paul Pierce
Kevin Garnett
Kendrick Perkins
----------------
Gabe Pruitt
Eddie House
Brian Scalabrine
Joe Smith*
Alonzo Mourning**

Cassell, TAllen, Walker, Giddens, POB (DNP-CD)

* Received in trade for Powe, Davis, Scalabrine, and pick (Thunders buy out Scalabrine who then resigns with Celtics). Trade now checks out on RealGM.

** FA signing

Celtics will #18. Delusional Laker fans will once again tell themselves about how Phil Jackson had his team lose on purpose (again) to really psych them up to win in 2010.

[Rondo_is_better]

I kind of hope that isn't the playoff roster, and honestly, I don't think it will be. Maybe one half of the Powe/Davs duo will be traded, but I don't think Danny will trade away both of them. They both bring useful skills to the table, and are solid bench players. I feel like Joe Smith isn't the type of player you trade 5 players and a pick for. I also don't think Cassell is going anywhere, since he's basically an assistant coach... I don't know; I don't really see this roster materializing and I don't really even want to see it in the first place. It leaves us with no wing players whatsoever unless you count Bill Walker, who probably won't be part of the picture for the playoffs. 

[Danimals]

"It leaves us with no wing players whatsoever..."

No worries. For the draft pick, OKC will buy Scals out. All Celtics fans will love Scals for returning for the vet minimum. He loses 10 lbs, and is Posey's replacement. Danny repeats as exec of the year.

[xmuscularghandix]

if we get rid of all of our young talent for THAT roster.... i'll kill somebody.

[BudweiserCeltic]

The trade is complete fantasy. The numbers don't match up.

[celticmaestro]

if we get rid of all of our young talent for THAT roster.... i'll kill somebody.

[Bankshot]

if we get rid of all of our young talent for THAT roster.... i'll kill somebody.

Me too.

[Danimals]

1) Joe Smith for Scalabrine, Powe, and Davis checks out on RealGM.

Sure, it's 3 players plus a pick for Joe Smith, but objectively speaking, we just don't have bench players other teams want. This is a good trade for both teams. Do we really want to take a chance on Smith landing in Cleveland after a buyout?

2) We would keep all of our highest potential youngs - Pruitt, Walker, Giddens, POB, (and TAllen).

Davis and his agent insisted on a 2 year contract because they want to get paid this summer. Powe's contract is up this summer as well. Other teams will make offers. Both have value, but limited ceilings. But Powe is a low BBIQ PF, so he is limited. Proper defensive rotations confuse him, even though this team is built on defense. Court awareness and passing is very alien to him, even though Doc made it a clear goal for him. Davis has trex arms and can't jump. Why would Ainge pay full price this summer for either player? We may lose both (for nothing) if we don't trade them.

3a) Scal as SF on offense - All we need on offense from Scal is exactly what Posey provided. Just spread the floor.
  3pt shooting:
   Posey 38% (last year)/35.6% (career)
   Scal 39.5% (this year)/35.1% (career)

3b) Scal as SF on defense - Who could we get right now at SF who could spread the floor on offense and execute Thib's defense at a very high level, let alone by the post season? 

Scal is an excellent team defender. On big SFs, there would be no difference between Posey and Scal (with hard work and 10-15lbs less). Sure, on quicker/smaller wing players, Scals would not be as good, but then again Lebron blew past Posey on every possession in the playoffs. On not one possession was Posey able to stay in front of Lebron. (Pierce was the only player able to force Lebron into a jump shot or a pass.)

4) Would it kill you if this team got us #18?

[LarBrd33]

9 man rotation

PG - Rondo
SG - Marbury
SF - Paul Pierce
PF - Scalabrine
C - Perk
---
PF - Leon Powe
PG/SG - Eddie House
SG - Tony Allen
PG - Sam Cassell
PF/C - Raef Lafrentz


Big Baby and Pruitt cut.

Blazers trade Lafrentz's expiring contract for a impact player.  New team immediately buys out the remainder of Raef's contract.  In a fit of desperation the Celtics sign Lafrentz as their "center backup"...

Knicks buy out Marbury.  He signs with the Celtics as planned


Ray and KG go out with season ending injuries.

Marbury and Scal start the final month of the season.   We tailspin into the playoffs with the 4th seed and get beaten by the 5th seed Pistons in 5 games.

Followed by a small mutiny... and dozens of Ray Allen trade rumors throughout the offseason.


Or not.  How the heck should I know? 

[xmuscularghandix]

Rondo
Ray
Paul
KG
Perk

.......................................................

Pruitt
TA
Scalabrine
Powe
BBD

........................................................

Bill Walker
Eddie House



thats right, im thinking the same exact roster except House's and Pruitt's role's will be reversed. also by this time im thinking Coach Cassell.

[D Dub]

I don't think we will make trade, we'll be lucky to get a FA.  Here's my prediction:

same starting 5

Cassell
Allen
Scal
Powe
PJ Brown

House
Davis

[Tr1boy]

The joe smith trade is not going to easy to pull. But it looks more and more like that thunder are going to hold onto him, showcase him and trade him to the highest bidder. Even if they get a subpar vet and a 2nd round pick it would be better to give him up for nothing

[zerophase]

i can't see pj comming back. at most a joe smith signing and a marbury signing. i still think joe smith will go back to the cavs before the celtics.

[Jon]

I'm still thinking about the playoff roster, but one thing I will say is that Danny Ainge should absolutely mortgage the future.  This team is in the rare position of winning a championship.  That can only be seriously said about a handful of the teams in the NBA every year.  To think about how good Bill Walker, J.R. Giddens, Gabe Pruitt, Big Baby, or Leon Powe might be in 2-3 years is ludicrous.  It doesn't matter.  Because in 2-3 years this team may still be good, but it likely won't be contending.  Thus, unless any of the young players I mentioned above is the next Michael Jordan, it really doesn't matter if they end up being "good" NBA players by then.  All a bunch of "good" players get you is a "good team" and a second round playoff exit at best.  That isn't worth giving up a shot at #18.

Am I advocating dumping our youth for nothing?  Absolutely not.  However if Ainge feels he can upgrade this team in even the slightest way by sacrificing some of the youth, he should absolutely do it.  Remember, this team narrowly beat Cleveland last year.  Little things do matter.  The difference between having one more vet vs. what we have now may be a second round exit compared to banner #18. 

[dark_lord]

Ray and KG go out with season ending injuries.

  thats not cool to even think, let alone post!