Shawn Marion might sign for vet min

[winsomme]

Precisely.

but what good team can he go to where he would be more than a #3 or #4 option...?

Any time he's on the floor with Rondo and Perkins, he's at least the 3rd option - and that's assuming Pierce, Garnett and/or Allen are on the floor.

And the way free agency is shaping up, we're not going to scare anyone with this bench again.

so wait...are you saying the Cs are a good or bad landing place in Marion's eyes?

[cdif911]

i cant understand guys who only care about the social aspects...i thought the goal was to win championships...a guy like marion could be the piece needed to get one for himself and boston...orlando is loading up but it is very obvious they think hedo is going

a different social aspect is there's often talk of Boston being a racist city, and while I think it has changed a lot in the past 20 years, there's definitely still some of that hanging around...

[Vermont Green]

So the deal is that Marion, like others before him, will sign in Orlando (or somewhere else other than Boston) because there are better clubs to go to.  Hmmm

I can see the "it is just a job to them" argument only to a point.  Marion will only work a couple more years and then can live anywhere and in anyway he wants the rest of his life.  It is not like a working stiff who is looking at working another 20 or 30 years.

If he would really trade a couple of years in a place with better clubs over a couple of years in a better basketball situation that could result in a ring to wear the rest of his life, I question his judgement.  Of course he could get a ring in Orlando too so if he decides on Orlando for basketball reasons, good for him.  If you have two good basketball situations and one has better weather, well can't argue with that I guess either.

Marion never struck me as the sharpest tool but I hope if he does end up on Orlando, it is for the right reasons or he is just going to end up sitting in those clubs in his silk shirt and fancy shoes being unhappy because his basketball isn't going well.

[nickagneta]

Basketball is a job for NBA players. They workout for a couple hours per day. The they either practice for 4 hours or so or go play a game where they are tied up for another 4-5 hours or so. After that, they have real, honest to goodness lives like you and I. And since they work at night and sleep and nap during the day to be fresh for games, many, especially the unmarried ones, want to live in a city that has certain amenities.

Some want warm weather for golfing or outdoor activities. Others want a nightlife, a city that is geared toward more older adult entertainment. They want clubs that are open until 4-6AM. They want after hours spots. They want clubs with large VIP sections. They want men's clubs. They don't want not to be surrounded by college kids. They want cities where other types of celebs(music industry, movie industry, modeling industry, other pro athletes) live and spend time out and about. They also want cities that are in fair tax states because even though their primary residence might be in a good tax state, they get hammered by local and state taxes for working in other states.

Boston is way low on the totem pole for these types of priorities that might make a player swing his decision in Boston's favor. If a player can have a shot at winning and playoffs in other areas that offer this desireable stuff, why are they going to come to Boston?

I don't see Marion coming here. He seems like a guy where ego, status on the team and most of the above aforementioned availabilities that are there for him are all important to him.

[Cman]

Basketball is a job for NBA players. They workout for a couple hours per day. The they either practice for 4 hours or so or go play a game where they are tied up for another 4-5 hours or so. After that, they have real, honest to goodness lives like you and I. And since they work at night and sleep and nap during the day to be fresh for games, many, especially the unmarried ones, want to live in a city that has certain amenities.

Some want warm weather for golfing or outdoor activities. Others want a nightlife, a city that is geared toward more older adult entertainment. They want clubs that are open until 4-6AM. They want after hours spots. They want clubs with large VIP sections. They want men's clubs. They want not to be surrounded by college kids. They want cities where other type of celebs(music industry, movie industry, modeling industry, other pro athletes) live and spend time out and about. They also want cities that are in fair tax states because even though their primary residence might be in a good tax state, they get hammered by local and state taxes for working in other states.

Boston is way low on the totem pole for these types of priorities that might make a player swing his decision in Boston's favor. If a player can have a shot at winning and playoffs in other areas that offer this desoreable stuff, why are they going to come to Boston?

I don't see Marion coming here. He seems like a guy where ego, status on the team and most of the above aforementioned availabilities are there for him.

Tp, well put.

[MrTripleDouble10]

I wouldn't bet on it.  Free Agents do not like Boston.

I agree but find this odd. It seems like the Sox and Pats get good FAs and not the Celts and I can never figure that out

It's true though. Go back and look at the FAs Boston has landed in the last 20 years. I can remember over paying for Danna Barros, Travis Knight, Pervis Ellison, and Calbert Chaney. I can also remember us over paying for former all-stars way past their prime in Dominique Wilkins and Xavier McDaniel. Besides Posey, for 1 year, I can't remember getting someone of real value through the fa market.

Excellent points.  But keep in mind the Celtics have never been a team in position to have the cap space to sign a max player or close to it.  During the current CBA, they've always had at least 2 max guys (Pierce, Walker, Vin Baker, KG, Ray) or make bad trades for guys with albatross contracts (Baker, Raef LaFrentz) or trade for stiffs and sign them immediately to awful contracts (Vitaly Potapenko).

So while I agree that Boston is probably close to last on the wish list of free agents, I still think this theory has never fully been tested.  Think about it.  Have the Celtics ever been under the cap to actually sign anothet teams' potential max player?  I don't recall this ever being the case.

[MrTripleDouble10]

I wouldn't bet on it.  Free Agents do not like Boston.

I agree but find this odd. It seems like the Sox and Pats get good FAs and not the Celts and I can never figure that out

I know I could be wrong, but just going on memory, what major FA from another team did the Sox actually sign other than Manny?  Schilling, Pedro, Varitek, Lowe, Beckett, Lowell, Bay were all brought here by trades.  Nomar, Youkilis, Pedroia, Lester, Papelbon were all dratfed.

Ortiz, I guess, but he was a borderline major leaguer that was waived by Minnesota.  It doesn't seem like they actually sign other teams' major FA either.

[Vermont Green]

Basketball is a job for NBA players. They workout for a couple hours per day. The they either practice for 4 hours or so or go play a game where they are tied up for another 4-5 hours or so. After that, they have real, honest to goodness lives like you and I. And since they work at night and sleep and nap during the day to be fresh for games, many, especially the unmarried ones, want to live in a city that has certain amenities.

Some want warm weather for golfing or outdoor activities. Others want a nightlife, a city that is geared toward more older adult entertainment. They want clubs that are open until 4-6AM. They want after hours spots. They want clubs with large VIP sections. They want men's clubs. They don't want not to be surrounded by college kids. They want cities where other types of celebs(music industry, movie industry, modeling industry, other pro athletes) live and spend time out and about. They also want cities that are in fair tax states because even though their primary residence might be in a good tax state, they get hammered by local and state taxes for working in other states.

Boston is way low on the totem pole for these types of priorities that might make a player swing his decision in Boston's favor. If a player can have a shot at winning and playoffs in other areas that offer this desireable stuff, why are they going to come to Boston?

I don't see Marion coming here. He seems like a guy where ego, status on the team and most of the above aforementioned availabilities that are there for him are all important to him.

Yeah, Yeah, I get it that this is the conventional wisdom regarding the modern superstar athlete, particularly the NBA version but it certainly does not apply to everyone (and I am not suggesting that you were implying this).  One example I can think of is Elton Brand signed in Phili.  That isn't a whole lot warmer than Boston.  So if Phili can sign Brand, I think Boston can attract enough FA as well.

Marion is, well shall we say "complex" and probably is going to go to Orlando but how well did it work out for him in Miami which should have been his ideal location based on your proposed decision criteria?  I don't disagree that many athletes allow this criteria to be part of their decision but I just think it is short-sighted and ultimately detrimental to their best interests.

[acieEarl]

I dont buy any of it. Sheed and Marion will got to the highest $$ suiter. Both these guy just want the money. I see the Celts get one of these guys.

[Vermont Green]

I dont buy any of it. Sheed and Marion will got to the highest $$ suiter. Both these guy just want the money. I see the Celts get one of these guys.

If it comes down to show me the money or show me the weather/clubs, yes, the vast majority will take the money over the clubs I suspect.

In some cases, some players may take some less money for a better chance at a ring or say a chance to start over being a back-up.  I will be shocked though when a player takes less money to play in orlando over Phili/Boston/NY... just because it is warmer and they like the mens clubs better.

[orrzor]

If Minny does not get Rubio this season, their team is arguably going to be worse than last year's. Also if Rubio only comes in 2 years, I can see Big Al resigning somewhere else as he is not going to wait so long for Rubio to develop.

[Vermont Green]

If Minny does not get Rubio this season, their team is arguably going to be worse than last year's. Also if Rubio only comes in 2 years, I can see Big Al resigning somewhere else as he is not going to wait so long for Rubio to develop.

I think you must feel that Rubio is NBA ready today and I just don't think so.  I don't think he is going to be ready to make them a better team for 2 years anyway.  You could be right (who knows for sure either way) but based on the comments from Kahn, I believe he is thinking more in line with not ready just yet, that is why he picked another PG plus he is stuck with Bassy for another year or two.

(Wait, is this the wrong thread?)

[guava_wrench]

I dont buy any of it. Sheed and Marion will got to the highest $$ suiter. Both these guy just want the money. I see the Celts get one of these guys.

If it comes down to show me the money or show me the weather/clubs, yes, the vast majority will take the money over the clubs I suspect.

In some cases, some players may take some less money for a better chance at a ring or say a chance to start over being a back-up.  I will be shocked though when a player takes less money to play in orlando over Phili/Boston/NY... just because it is warmer and they like the mens clubs better.

But if those cities can offer the same money with less taxes? And if their cities don't close at 2pm? And if their clubs don't feel like glorified frat houses?

[guava_wrench]

The media? I guess if you're into getting all kinds of attention and stuff you'd want to go NY or LA (well LA has a soft media).

I remember Nomar, when he went to LA how drastic the difference and how he can finally relax and just play.

Also, I remember hearing that D'Antoni, use to tell reporters to write good stories about Marion, and tell them to bring his name up to boost his confidence, he could get eaten alive here in Boston.

Also the night life is a bunch of college kids puking. If Boston has the kind of clubs NBA stars want to go to, then I must be going to the wrong places.

Night life in Boston is clearly geared towards alcoholics with no interests beyond drinking.

[Vermont Green]

I dont buy any of it. Sheed and Marion will got to the highest $$ suiter. Both these guy just want the money. I see the Celts get one of these guys.

If it comes down to show me the money or show me the weather/clubs, yes, the vast majority will take the money over the clubs I suspect.

In some cases, some players may take some less money for a better chance at a ring or say a chance to start over being a back-up.  I will be shocked though when a player takes less money to play in orlando over Phili/Boston/NY... just because it is warmer and they like the mens clubs better.

But if those cities can offer the same money with less taxes? And if their cities don't close at 2pm? And if their clubs don't feel like glorified frat houses?

There are lots of hypothetical scenarios that can be created but in this case or Marion choosing between Boston and Orlando, I think he would go to either team that offered more money.  If the same money, then I think he would choose Orlando because they can probably assure him of a starting position at SF.  In Boston, he would come off the bench.

If Orlando said for some reason that we would come off the bench there too, I think he ends up with the Lakers to be their replacement for Ariza.

I just don't see a scenario in this case where Marion picks Orlando over Boston because the night clubs are better.