Where Do We Go Now? (Celts off season plan)

[CoachBo]

Right now, anything is an improvement.

But I'm not in love with him as a defender - plus the habits on that team make me cringe as a coach.

I'd probably pass - for now.

[TerreHaute]

1) I'm not sure if it is wise to bring Marbury back, but I also don't think it is fair to use his short time here as a true assessment of his potential to help/hurt the team in the future.

2) We need to bring BBD back. His skill offensive skill set and ability to guard both bigs for short periods are valuable to this team.

3) What kind of money will be available to get some of these "bigger name" free agents people are talking about on here?

[CoachBo]

Three is what scares me.

Every single move we've made since winning the title last summer has been the cheapest option available.

With one exception: Tony Allen.

Swing and a miss. We're out.

[WeMadeIt17]

I would love a player like Carney but it seems like we have Bill Walker for that role

[Greg]

My priority list:

#1 - Re-sign Glen Davis.  His improvement has been remarkable.  He is very intelligent, is so strong, is nimble, has that jumper, and really showed an ability to score in the post in the Orlando series.  I'd sign him up to about $5 million a year.

#2 - Get a big big.  Unfortunately, I think Leon will walk.  And the Celtics need a big who can be there if we really need him.  Maybe a Theo Ratliff and Sheed would be redic.  I'd also like to see us get a rookie big man with size.  Maybe the Celtics purchase a pick in the late first or something.

#3 - Backup 3.  I pray that Bill Walker can step up, but if he can't, the Celtics need a capable backup to Pierce that can defend.

#4 - Trade TA.  I love him, I hate him.  But he's so wildly inconsistent.  At some point, you've just got to put an end to it.  And Doc clearly has no confidence in him.

#5 - Resign Steph.  Give him a summer to work with the team and regain his confidence.  I really enjoyed him on the team.  He got a second chance, and in my opinion, attitude wise, made the most of it.  I loved his improvement defensively.  And the offense, as Doc puts it, will come.

And I'd really like to see some summer league action this year.  But who knows.

[tenn_smoothie]

Job one is to get KG healthy. No KG, no title next year.

Job two is to find a competent three. Pierce cannot go these kinds of minutes, and the proof is in the playoffs. Sounds like Nocioni's going to be out there again, and he intrigues me if he can be induced to defend. He appears to have the skills and the quickness to be a younger - and more expensive - version of the unfairly reviled James Posey.
As a postscript, miss you, Pose. A lot.

Job three ... quit experimenting at the backup 5 and the backup 1. Get out the checkbook and find a couple of decent veterans. They don't have to be stars. But they need to do a few things fairly well. Perhaps you can buy a late first rounder and find that backup 5 in the draft. Some competent youth ... not the reaches we've been drafting like Pruitt, etc.

Job four is to end the Tony Allen experiment. It's over. He cannot help a championship team. Buy him out, trade him, waive him, release him, whatever. He has to go. So does Mikki Moore and Steph. We have to do better at both positions.

Job five is to get through to Rondo. His game has improved. His game can improve some more. His attention to detail and his commitment to the game aren't there yet, as tonight clearly showed.

Job six: Davis. I'm interested, but only at the right price. $10 large for three sounds about right. Any more, and I have to allocate the resources to more pressing needs.

Disappointing end. Disappointed in all the injuries, and all the doubt that will shround KG's future all summer. Man, I don't want to think about that knee.

Disappointed in the season-long lack of effort by management to adequately equip this team to repeat. Would MUCH prefer eating crow on this subject.

Disappointed in a lack of focus that has plagued this team the second-half of the season. Not all that uncommon, actually, in title defenses, but you expect better.

We have a LONG way to go to make a Finals run next year. We are not close. Bill Walker's not going to make a difference next year. Gabe Pruitt isn't the answer at the backup one or two. Five solid starters if KG is healthy - but nothing remotely resembling the depth it should be VERY clear now that we have to have.

Ainge and Grousbeck have a lot of work ahead of them this summer. I hope they don't let the coach, players and fans down again.

excellent analysis - you hit every thought i have on what needs to be done.

danny does need to quit ****footing around with those backup players. get players who are consistently effective - players who come in and make a positive impact !!

i fear Ainge's tendency to fall in love with his players and stand pat - figuring they'll improve enough over the season - or whatever insane logic he put together that allowed him to conclude that tony allen could replace james posey.

[c3lt1c5]

I think this is going to be a very interesting off season for the Celtics. I think Glen Davis is not going to miss the oppertunity to get his money, which most likey will be with another team. I dont think there are any trades with the NBA Draft, although it would be really nice to get a big guy like Earl Clark, Blair and others. What I want to no more about is Ben Gordon.. what is his situation? Can the Celtics get him? Also, I think the C's should go after Gortot he was great backing up Howrard this year.

[CoachBo]

Job one is to get KG healthy. No KG, no title next year.

Job two is to find a competent three. Pierce cannot go these kinds of minutes, and the proof is in the playoffs. Sounds like Nocioni's going to be out there again, and he intrigues me if he can be induced to defend. He appears to have the skills and the quickness to be a younger - and more expensive - version of the unfairly reviled James Posey.
As a postscript, miss you, Pose. A lot.

Job three ... quit experimenting at the backup 5 and the backup 1. Get out the checkbook and find a couple of decent veterans. They don't have to be stars. But they need to do a few things fairly well. Perhaps you can buy a late first rounder and find that backup 5 in the draft. Some competent youth ... not the reaches we've been drafting like Pruitt, etc.

Job four is to end the Tony Allen experiment. It's over. He cannot help a championship team. Buy him out, trade him, waive him, release him, whatever. He has to go. So does Mikki Moore and Steph. We have to do better at both positions.

Job five is to get through to Rondo. His game has improved. His game can improve some more. His attention to detail and his commitment to the game aren't there yet, as tonight clearly showed.

Job six: Davis. I'm interested, but only at the right price. $10 large for three sounds about right. Any more, and I have to allocate the resources to more pressing needs.

Disappointing end. Disappointed in all the injuries, and all the doubt that will shround KG's future all summer. Man, I don't want to think about that knee.

Disappointed in the season-long lack of effort by management to adequately equip this team to repeat. Would MUCH prefer eating crow on this subject.

Disappointed in a lack of focus that has plagued this team the second-half of the season. Not all that uncommon, actually, in title defenses, but you expect better.

We have a LONG way to go to make a Finals run next year. We are not close. Bill Walker's not going to make a difference next year. Gabe Pruitt isn't the answer at the backup one or two. Five solid starters if KG is healthy - but nothing remotely resembling the depth it should be VERY clear now that we have to have.

Ainge and Grousbeck have a lot of work ahead of them this summer. I hope they don't let the coach, players and fans down again.

excellent analysis - you hit every thought i have on what needs to be done.

danny does need to quit ****footing around with those backup players. get players who are consistently effective - players who come in and make a positive impact !!

i fear Ainge's tendency to fall in love with his players and stand pat - figuring they'll improve enough over the season - or whatever insane logic he puts together that allowed  him to delude himself into thinking that tony allen could replace james posey.

I agree. Certainly, management hubris is one explanation for the multitude of bad personnel decisions that doomed this season. Danny doesn't like to admit that he's wrong - Gerald Green's a good example of that.

[bruinsandceltics]

My dream would be a sign and trade for Shawn Marion.

[WeMadeIt17]

Does anyone think someone like Stephen Jackson will be available? I would also love to have Shawn Marion

[Kiorrik]

I would also love to have Shawn Marion

ROFL @ the thought of seeing Ray Allen shoot the three, and then Marion right after.

He looks like Ray's retarded brother.

[WeMadeIt17]

I really am hoping for a Shawn Marion signing or Sign and Trade Because he would be the perfect 6th man for this team. Plays great D, Runs the Floor,shoots a decent three, and can rebound. Imagine that lineup going into crunch time..

Rondo
Allen
Pierce
Marion
KG

[lon3lytoaster]

Does anyone think someone like Stephen Jackson will be available? I would also love to have Shawn Marion

Jax would be great, but his contract makes it nearly impossible unless he gets bought out.

I'm still hoping Phoenix will trade Barbosa for exprirings, though. That's be great. He could get a lot of minutes backing both Rondo and Ray.

[cordobes]

The next stop is the Orlando Summer League, I've read somewhere. There are a few players I'd like to see playing for the C's there.

[MetroGlobe]

What do you think of Rodney Carney from Minnesota who's a fa? 6ft7, played decent last year. How would he be as a Pierce back-up? Could we get him for a decent price?

I actually think Carney would be a decent addition to the team.  He's a homeless man's version of Posey.  But he's got a decent jumper and is long and athletic.  Theoretically he would plug in well to the defensive scheme.

I'm also seeing that Jamal Crawford will potentially hit the FA market.  He got a huge contract last time, but he seems like an MLE player to me at this point.  He would be a huge upgrade over Marbury, and since he can actually play the PG position, he could completely replace Eddie House.  I wonder if he wants to play for a contending team after all his years playing for woeful clubs?  He might be ready to come off our bench for a shot at a title.