What is Baby's asking price/ Is he worth it? (Cheaper/better options?)

[jimmyt]

It is easy to look at Big Baby's production over the playoffs and want to pay him whatever it is that he is asking for. However, I feel that Davis is overrated at this point (think selling high, if this was fantasy sports). I honestly don't think he fits into our system that well, and he's undersized at his position. Don't get me wrong, he played well for us, and worked on his jumper enough to make it more reliable than Rondo's. Put KG and Powe in the mix, and Baby's numbers are dimished greatly, and he isnt getting half the money he might get this offseason.

The reason I'm saying this is because that will be the case next season. Baby is a bench player, and it is essential that we do not overpay for him (like we did with Scalabrine). He benefitted because we went with a 7-man rotation in the playoffs and he got the ball a lot more. There are many other PF/C I'd take over him, all 1-2 year contracts:

Leon Powe- just as good as Davis if not better before he went down with the injury.
Joe Smith- If we got Smith over Moore, we are probably in the ECF right now.
Chris Anderson- Another guy the Celtics were in talks with. High energy guy, knows his role on bench 6+ points 6+ reb and 2.5 blocks
Rasheed Wallace- possible MLE, 1 year deal... knows how to win and contribute consistently
Drew Gooden- Another guy that if we had landed at deadline we could be in ECF.

What do you guys think? I'm just not going to all of a sudden demand that the Celts pay Davis more than he's worth.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=FreeAgents-09-10 <--- link to 09-10 FA's

[kheeko]

Is it possible to get Chris Anderson?

I would love to see him in green

[celticpride07]

i can see ainge going after rasheed wallace.

[cordobes]

(I meant no offence, but you could have used one of the already opened 1000 threads whose topic is Baby's asking price).

I agree with you (not on the details though). I believe Baby is going to get more than he's worth for us: I think his rebounding makes him a bad option to be our first big off the bench.

It depends a lot on Ainge's budget: if Wyc allows him to spend whatever he wants, then you keep Baby. If not, it really depends on how much is asking and who else is out there.

[Lucky17]

Of the guys you list, only Rasheed has the clearly better jump shot. And believe it or not, Davis is probably the least expensive of the options you list here.

I'd pay about $10-$11 million of Wyc's money to keep Baby in Boston for the next 3 years. For all Baby's deficiencies, he's also demonstrated some real skills over this past season. I think he's a fine backup frontcourt player (either the 4 or 5).

[Donoghus]

I have a feeling that someone out there is going to be willing to overpay for Baby.  In that case, I think he walks.  As much as he's brought to the table for us this year, with KG returning and some possibly cheaper options out there in free agency, I just don't see the Celtics breaking the bank to keep a plAYER whose primary function, next season on this squad, will be coming off the bench.  Not when facing the financial contraints this team will probably be dealing with.

[jimmyt]

I have a feeling that someone out there is going to be willing to overpay for Baby.  In that case, I think he walks.  As much as he's brought to the table for us this year, with KG returning and some possibly cheaper options out there in free agency, I just don't see the Celtics breaking the bank to keep a plAYER whose primary function, next season on this squad, will be coming off the bench.  Not when facing the financial contraints this team will probably be dealing with.

agreed. Baby might be worth that money to that team, but for what he would be asked to do on the Celts, it might be too much. I don't want another Brian Scalabrine situation for the next 5 years. The Celts have about a 2 year window left to win with this core group of players... they need veterans like Wallace McDyess or Gooden. All guys who I feel might sign 1 year deals to win a championship. They all fill a big void as well.

[Lucky17]

I have a feeling that someone out there is going to be willing to overpay for Baby.  In that case, I think he walks.  As much as he's brought to the table for us this year, with KG returning and some possibly cheaper options out there in free agency, I just don't see the Celtics breaking the bank to keep a plAYER whose primary function, next season on this squad, will be coming off the bench.  Not when facing the financial contraints this team will probably be dealing with.

agreed. Baby might be worth that money to that team, but for what he would be asked to do on the Celts, it might be too much. I don't want another Brian Scalabrine situation for the next 5 years. The Celts have about a 2 year window left to win with this core group of players... they need veterans like Wallace McDyess or Gooden. All guys who I feel might sign 1 year deals to win a championship. They all fill a big void as well.

We need at least two big men to back up Perkins and KG. Baby can be one, and he won't cost us any MLE money. We can use MLE to get the 4th. I love Powe, but I don't think we can expect much from him last year, beyond penciling him in as a 3rd stringer.

[Donoghus]

I have a feeling that someone out there is going to be willing to overpay for Baby.  In that case, I think he walks.  As much as he's brought to the table for us this year, with KG returning and some possibly cheaper options out there in free agency, I just don't see the Celtics breaking the bank to keep a plAYER whose primary function, next season on this squad, will be coming off the bench.  Not when facing the financial contraints this team will probably be dealing with.

agreed. Baby might be worth that money to that team, but for what he would be asked to do on the Celts, it might be too much. I don't want another Brian Scalabrine situation for the next 5 years. The Celts have about a 2 year window left to win with this core group of players... they need veterans like Wallace McDyess or Gooden. All guys who I feel might sign 1 year deals to win a championship. They all fill a big void as well.

We need at least two big men to back up Perkins and KG. Baby can be one, and he won't cost us any MLE money. We can use MLE to get the 4th. I love Powe, but I don't think we can expect much from him last year, beyond penciling him in as a 3rd stringer.

The thing is that I don't see Baby signing at the $10-11 million 3 year deal that you suggested in a prior post. 

I really think someone else is going to offer in the neighborhood of $4-5 million a year for him.  If that's the case, he's gone.

I'd like him back but the economics have to be right and I don't see that happening with Davis.

[jimmyt]

I have a feeling that someone out there is going to be willing to overpay for Baby.  In that case, I think he walks.  As much as he's brought to the table for us this year, with KG returning and some possibly cheaper options out there in free agency, I just don't see the Celtics breaking the bank to keep a plAYER whose primary function, next season on this squad, will be coming off the bench.  Not when facing the financial contraints this team will probably be dealing with.

agreed. Baby might be worth that money to that team, but for what he would be asked to do on the Celts, it might be too much. I don't want another Brian Scalabrine situation for the next 5 years. The Celts have about a 2 year window left to win with this core group of players... they need veterans like Wallace McDyess or Gooden. All guys who I feel might sign 1 year deals to win a championship. They all fill a big void as well.

We need at least two big men to back up Perkins and KG. Baby can be one, and he won't cost us any MLE money. We can use MLE to get the 4th. I love Powe, but I don't think we can expect much from him last year, beyond penciling him in as a 3rd stringer.

The thing is that I don't see Baby signing at the $10-11 million 3 year deal that you suggested in a prior post. 

I really think someone else is going to offer in the neighborhood of $4-5 million a year for him.  If that's the case, he's gone.

I'd like him back but the economics have to be right and I don't see that happening with Davis.

right, and I'd take Powe for half the price and half the years, and focus on signing a veteran short term for another championship run.

[Lucky17]

The thing is that I don't see Baby signing at the $10-11 million 3 year deal that you suggested in a prior post. 

I really think someone else is going to offer in the neighborhood of $4-5 million a year for him.  If that's the case, he's gone.

I'd like him back but the economics have to be right and I don't see that happening with Davis.

I'd really be surprised if someone offered him 3 years/$14-15 mil. I think there are more attractive RFA bigs out there that will garner attention. Millsap, Lee, Gortat, Villanueva, and Marvin Williams, for example.

Perhaps we should be asking which teams might be in the market for BBD, and what might they be willing/able to offer him?

[MBz]

right, and I'd take Powe for half the price and half the years, and focus on signing a veteran short term for another championship run.

Powe is looking to return around the all-star break, they need other options.  I'd be fine with signing Powe to a short deal, short money contract, but to be honest, I'd be surprised by how he returns.  A 25 year old with 2 major knee surgeries in the past is not a good thing.  I'd sign Baby for about 3 mil a year for 3 years with an option for a 4th year.  Clearly he isn't Kevin Garnett, but having a big off the bench who can knock down that 15 footer would be very valuable.

[Mr October]

The thing is that I don't see Baby signing at the $10-11 million 3 year deal that you suggested in a prior post. 

I really think someone else is going to offer in the neighborhood of $4-5 million a year for him.  If that's the case, he's gone.

I'd like him back but the economics have to be right and I don't see that happening with Davis.

I'd really be surprised if someone offered him 3 years/$14-15 mil. I think there are more attractive RFA bigs out there that will garner attention. Millsap, Lee, Gortat, Villanueva, and Marvin Williams, for example.

Perhaps we should be asking which teams might be in the market for BBD, and what might they be willing/able to offer him?

Yeah, Davis is probably #15 or so on the desired bigs list for other teams. Guys that far down the ladder tend to get squeazed.

Sign him for 10/3. Otherwise, go hard after others, and possible swing a sign and trade. Again, I doubt anyone will go anywhere near 5 per for Davis.

[SamuelAdams]

And before the game is barely over he is pimping himself to other teams.  I don't mind these guys getting paid. But I lost a lot of respect for his classless timing.

[Mr October]

And before the game is barely over he is pimping himself to other teams.  I don't mind these guys getting paid. But I lost a lot of respect for his classless timing.

Although, when someone asks you if you want to come back... I think is is A-OK to say that yes I do want to come back, but I'm going to check all my options.

Thats what any smart business man should do... and as far as I know thats all he did.