The draft is over, Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen aren't traded, and Lester Hudson is now a Boston Celtic.
So.... What now?
The c's have alot to accomplish in free agency, we HAVE to get a back wing for pierce, our only back point guards are Gabe Pruitt and Lester Hudson, and until BBD and Powe are resigned, our only back-up big man on the roster is Brian Scalibrine.
So lets cover some of the posibilities.
Big Men
Glen Davis: How much do you think he is worth, and do you think there is actually a market for him out side the c's. The more i think about it, the more I really doubt it. Who is willing to pay 5-6 million dollars on a back up big man. I don't think we should go any higher the 3-4 million a year for Glen, especially if Powe is willing to take less.
Leon Powe: Oh boy was it a shame this guy got hurt at the end of last season. It really did seem like he was really coming into his own, even putting up a few 20-point games. I think he's looking for something much more short term. Maybe 2 years 4 million. But the question we need to ask ourselves, is, Is this guy going to be too injury prone to be our first back at Power Forward? and how serious was his injury. I honestly expect him back, again who else is in the market for an injury prone back power forward.
Mikki Moore: I don't know what to right, i'm sure very few of you want him back and i'm not going to disagree. He was a very big dissapointment. However, i don't think he'd be a terrible 4th option, and he is a seven-footer. Kendrick Perkins has a bad shoulder and it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep moore on as a backup to perkins back-up. Also Moore could be had pretty easily.
Antonio Mcdyess: This seems to be everyones favorite choice. I don't think his first choice is Boston, and I do think it would take close to, if not all of the MLE to get him here. This guy is a great fit, in my eyes it all comes down to where he wants to play.
Marcin Gortat: Gortat is a restricted free-agent, and Orlando can match any offer we give to him. However, with the addition of Vince Carter, and Hedo being a free agent as well, there might not be enough money to go around to Gortat. To me, he is an even better fit then Mcdyess, he's younger, and bigger then Mcdyess, he looked great in the playoffs, and he is the one I want. I just don't think he's likely to be the guy.
Rasheed Wallace: Is he done? Thats up to speculation. Again Wallace has said he'll retire if he can't get 8 million, any way you slice it we can't offer that much. So if you believe him, he's already off the list. I don't, however that means, he will definitly not be signing for less than full MLE. He's a good friend of Kevin Garnett, and if effort is an issue for wallace, I think Garnett will be the ideal person to motivate him. Both San Antonio and Cleveland also have interest in him. Cleveland though may have just taken them out of the running by trading for shaq, it would be alot of money to have invested in having both Rashed and Zydrunas on the bench. San Antonio however is a very good fit, and i think thats where Rasheed will end up.
Zaza Pachulia: Will he come here for the MLE, that I don't know. However, like Gortat though he is young and could be a backup for Perkins for a long time. Who else is going to pay Pachulia more then MLE. We'll have to wait and see, but again a good fit, that might be out of our price range.
Joe Smith: He's been coveted on this site for a long time, he's a guy who could be had for less than the MLE. If one of the other FA bigs went to Cleveland he'd be a good option. However I believe he's going back to Cleveland.
Small Forward
Grant Hill: Best options, he's the guy everyone on this site has been talking since the offseason has began. I don't see him wanting to go back to Pheonix since they have recently began a fire sale of all their big men. But he likes it there, so we never know. Perfect option for the LLE or vet min.
Dahntay Jones: Theres already a rumor started from Stephen A. Smith that this is the man the celtics are targeting. He's been on this team and cut before. He is a good defenseman and could probably be had for vet min. However does he hold a grudge against the c's for cutting him the year before we won a championship. Honestly I don't think it matters.
Quinton Ross: I think this guy is a perfect replacement if Tony Allen is traded. He is said to be James Posey without a 3-point shot. Meaning he's a good defenseman, and has a better head on his shoulder then Tony Allen. But I'm not sure he's good enough to be the first wing off the bench. A great vet min. candidate though.
Other affordable back-ups: Josh Childress, Hakim Warrick, Joey Graham
Pipe-dream players (will they take MLE): Ben Gordon, Ron Artest, Shawn Marion
Point Guard
Stephon Marbury: I want this guy back, i think we only saw half of the potential he brings to our bench. We saw glimpses of it in the playoffs where he was a spark, and even took over the game in a few seperate, short bursts. If we can sign him without using any of the MLE or LLE money, which I think we can do at around 2 million a year, then I think its a no-brainer.
Gabe Pruitt: Is he ready to be the back-up Point Guard? I doubt he'll even be here for the start of the season. He's the only guy on the team with a partially guaranteed contract, which as we see in recent trades, has great trade value.
Back-up Options: Raymond Felton (restricted), Andre Miller, Mike Bibby, Jarrett Jack (restricted), Ramon Sessions (restricted)
Analysis: I don't think we have as many options as i've listed. I think to Danny he has a few Free agent's in mind, and he just won't be willing to go deep into the luxury tax for people outside his mental list.
Trades
What do we have for value?
Im going to do this with the mindset that Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo are staying. We've exhausted trade ideas for them and until we start hearing more rumors i'm going to assume Danny Ainge is moving past it.
Tony Allen- 2.5 million coming off the books next year
Brian Scalibrine- 3.2 million coming off the books next year
Eddie House- 2.65 Million expiring if he picks up his option
Gabe Pruitt- His contract isn't guaranted, meaning the team that trades for him can cut him and save even more money, making his contract most valuable.
Giddens and Walker: I think Danny values him alot more than what they are worth in the trade market, so I would be very surprised to see either of them moved.
Targets:
Andres Noccioni: He's got a hefty contract, and the celtics have already shown interest in acquiring him at the last trading deadline. However I'm not sure the Kings are looking to just give him away.
Pheonix Suns Players:
Leandro Barbosa: His contract is already expiring (i think on a player option), the only incentive the Suns would have in trading him would be to save money this season as well. The most financial effective deal for them would be a, Scalibrine, Walker, Giddens, and Pruitt for Barbosa swap. Which would save them roughly 2 million in the upcoming season assuming they cut Pruitt.
Steve Nash: Are the suns really looking to compete next year? And I said I wouldn't do it, I said I wouldn't do it, but what about a Ray Allen, Scal and Pruitt deal for Barbosa and Nash? Hmm.. yah lets just move on.
Jason Richardson: Probably the worst contract left on the suns book, but I just don't see a fit here with the celtics, worth looking into though.
Travis Outlaw: It would be simple, a scal for outlaw swap. However the Blazers are looking for substance, and it may take more than just expiring deals. They would probably take a while for them to settle on a deal like this, and it might be to long to wait for a back up wing that is desperatly needed.
The Other Option
At the end of the day, the best option, mind just be to hold on to Tony and Scal until the trading deadline. We would have more options then, and fewer competitors who think they have a shot at contending.
I want your dream scenario, try to keep it simple and realistic, whats the most important hole that needs to be filled, whats not as important, and who are you ideal free agent signings.
What should Danny do?
Here is what I can come up with:
Sign Grant Hill to LLE
Sign Marcin Gortat to full MLE/5 years
Resign:
Starbury: 1 year 2 million
Glen Davis: 4 year 14 million
Leon Powe: 2 year 4 million
Mikki Moore:vet min.
Trade TA, House, and Pruitt for Barbosa (not sure if contracts work)
Rondo/Marbury/Hudson
Allen/Barbosa/Giddens
Pierce/Hill/Walker
Garnett/BBD/Powe
Perkins/Gortat/Moore
I know, i know, i said realistic. But I just can't help myself. This would make are bench very good, and are weakest point probably at point guard.
Topic: Alright the draft is over..... now what? (Read 3315 times)