Rank who you'd spend a big chunk of the MLE on...

[winsomme]

there are certain FAs out there that look to command quite a bit more than others. The most the Cs can offer is the MLE.

I though now that we are on the verge of FA, we could rank the players that are in this upper income block who we could conceivably spend all of or at least a big chunk of the MLE.

(the thought being that only having the MLE to go after these guys, we'd only potentially be able to land one of them)

1. Sheed
2. Marion
4. Artest
5. McDyess
6. Kleiza
7. David Lee
8. Childress
9. Villanueva
10. Andre Miller (probably would mean moving Rondo)
11. Iverson (might be a stretch for MLE, but could also do a one year deal to go for a Title)



there are other guys out there or might be out there like Boozer, Turk, Okur, Marvin Williams, Odom, Ben Gordon et al. I left them off my list because I don't think MLE is anywhere close enough to get them.

and others that i just don't particularly care for like Ariza, Varejao, Gooden...

and still others who i really don't know what they will command like Kidd, Hill, Frye, Parker...

how would you rank the top players you would spend a lot on?

[Who]

Players who I don't think are available for the MLE -- David Lee, Ron Artest, Shawn Marion, Andre Miller, and the bunch of players winsomme listed as unavailable for the MLE.

Players I don't want to sign for the MLE -- Linas Kleiza, Josh Childress, Allen Iverson, Charlie Villanueva.

With that in mind, my list would be:

(1) Antonio McDyess
(2) Zaza Pachulia

Okay, I think I'm out. Other than that, I'd like to see the Celtics split it up between two players (Hill + Rasho). I suppose I would go for a one year MLE deal for Rasheed, not sure I'd go beyond a year though.

[winsomme]

Players who I don't think are available for the MLE -- David Lee, Ron Artest, Shawn Marion, Andre Miller, and the bunch of players winsomme listed as unavailable for the MLE.

Players I don't want to sign for the MLE -- Linas Kleiza, Josh Childress, Allen Iverson, Charlie Villanueva.

With that in mind, my list would be:

(1) Antonio McDyess
(2) Zaza Pachulia

Okay, I think I'm out. Other than that, I'd like to see the Celtics split it up between two players (Hill + Rasho). I suppose I would go for a one year MLE deal for Rasheed, not sure I'd go beyond a year though.

here's the thing though. If all those guys can't be signed with the MLE, where are they going to play.

there aren't exactly a lot of teams out there looking to spend big money on FAs, and only two who are playoff teams.

for instance, why is Villanueva even talking about CLE?

and is NYK going to screw up their chances of getting LeBron and Bosh by signing Lee to a multi year full MLE deal?

I agree that a lot of these guys in theory should command more than the MLE, but the question is where?

[Mr October]

1. Sheed
2. Marion
4. Artest
5. McDyess
6. Kleiza
7. David Lee
8. Childress
9. Villanueva
10. Andre Miller (probably would mean moving Rondo)
11. Iverson (might be a stretch for MLE, but could also do a one year deal to go for a Title)

1, Sheed
2, Marion
3. McDyess
4. Artest (doubt he falls to MLE land)

after that I'd probably try to split it between 2 guys. (Hill, Zaza, Gooden, Andersen, Parker, Herrmann, etc.)

[Who]

Players who I don't think are available for the MLE -- David Lee, Ron Artest, Shawn Marion, Andre Miller, and the bunch of players winsomme listed as unavailable for the MLE.

here's the thing though. If all those guys can't be signed with the MLE, where are they going to play.

there aren't exactly a lot of teams out there looking to spend big money on FAs, and only two who are playoff teams.

for instance, why is Villanueva even talking about CLE?

and is NYK going to screw up their chances of getting LeBron and Bosh by signing Lee to a multi year full MLE deal?

I agree that a lot of these guys in theory should command more than the MLE, but the question is where?

My expectations are ...

Ron Artest -- I think he stays in Houston for a contract worth around $8 million per annum.

Shawn Marion -- I think Toronto pays more than the MLE to keep him around ($7-8 mil per annum).

Andre Miller -- I think Phily have him in a corner and will get a good deal on his next contract, again for more than the MLE.

David Lee -- I think there's a good chance NY signs him (risky decision if they do). If they don't, I think Memphis, Oklahoma and possibly Portland all make a run at him. He'll get more than the MLE. Also, the sign and trade market will be strong for Lee because of he's still fairly young and well liked around the league as a player. Teams will be willing to give up something of value to land him.

[D Dub]

Well, one and two have to be Sheed and Dice.  I agree with Who that guys like Marion, Artest and Miller will get more than that, we shouldn't waste our time there. 

The guy I'd really target though is Hakim Warrick.  He's got great versatility at the Forward position and could be our 6th man for years to come.  I bet we could pry him away from Chris Wallace for a 3 year Full MLE deal.

Good defender, shot blocker, athletic, and entering the prime of his career.  You won't get better value than that for 5-6 million per.

[Mr October]

Players who I don't think are available for the MLE -- David Lee, Ron Artest, Shawn Marion, Andre Miller, and the bunch of players winsomme listed as unavailable for the MLE.

here's the thing though. If all those guys can't be signed with the MLE, where are they going to play.

there aren't exactly a lot of teams out there looking to spend big money on FAs, and only two who are playoff teams.

for instance, why is Villanueva even talking about CLE?

and is NYK going to screw up their chances of getting LeBron and Bosh by signing Lee to a multi year full MLE deal?

I agree that a lot of these guys in theory should command more than the MLE, but the question is where?

My expectations are ...

Ron Artest -- I think he stays in Houston for a contract worth around $8 million per annum.

Shawn Marion -- I think Toronto pays more than the MLE to keep him around ($7-8 mil per annum).

Andre Miller -- I think Phily have him in a corner and will get a good deal on his next contract, again for more than the MLE.

David Lee -- I think there's a good chance NY signs him (risky decision if they do). If they don't, I think Memphis, Oklahoma and possibly Portland all make a run at him. He'll get more than the MLE. Also, the sign and trade market will be strong for Lee because of he's still fairly young and well liked around the league as a player. Teams will be willing to give up something of value to land him.

I agree with all of this except Marion. I think the ship is sinking (has been sunk for a while) in Toronto. I think he'd take a little less to play for a winner. I gotta think the guy wants to go out a winner after the fall from Phoenix.

[D Dub]

Players who I don't think are available for the MLE -- David Lee, Ron Artest, Shawn Marion, Andre Miller, and the bunch of players winsomme listed as unavailable for the MLE.

here's the thing though. If all those guys can't be signed with the MLE, where are they going to play.

there aren't exactly a lot of teams out there looking to spend big money on FAs, and only two who are playoff teams.

for instance, why is Villanueva even talking about CLE?

and is NYK going to screw up their chances of getting LeBron and Bosh by signing Lee to a multi year full MLE deal?

I agree that a lot of these guys in theory should command more than the MLE, but the question is where?

My expectations are ...

Ron Artest -- I think he stays in Houston for a contract worth around $8 million per annum.

Shawn Marion -- I think Toronto pays more than the MLE to keep him around ($7-8 mil per annum).

Andre Miller -- I think Phily have him in a corner and will get a good deal on his next contract, again for more than the MLE.

David Lee -- I think there's a good chance NY signs him (risky decision if they do). If they don't, I think Memphis, Oklahoma and possibly Portland all make a run at him. He'll get more than the MLE. Also, the sign and trade market will be strong for Lee because of he's still fairly young and well liked around the league as a player. Teams will be willing to give up something of value to land him.

I agree with all of this except Marion. I think the ship is sinking (has been sunk for a while) in Toronto. I think he'd take a little less to play for a winner. I gotta think the guy wants to go out a winner after the fall from Phoenix.

Can't argue with you about his performance, but I still think Marion is too self-absorbed to accept a bench role along with the pay cut.  If we could offer him a starting spot, he'd probably listen.

[Prof. Clutch]

I would personally go after Artest with everything we've got.  But hey, I'm just crazy like that...

[Michael Anthony]

Williams if available - a great 3/4, and a nice young piece.
...
...
...
Villenueva
Wallace
Marion
Gooden
Jack

Guy like Klieza and Andersen would be a bargain in the $3-$4 million range, and can back up two positions.

You also have to expect Ainge to finally cash in on TA and Scalabrine this offseason.

[toinewalka]

Artest
Sheed
Hill +1
Marion

That's my short list.  I think Artest is a shot in the dark trying to hit a penny, but it's a conversation worth having.  Sixth man of the year no questions asked.  Sheed would be number two, and from there, it's a pretty large margin.

P.S.  It really scares me that people are throwing the name Zaza out there on a list of who they would WANT here.  I hope that is simply a money saving idea and nothing else....

[Gainesville Celtic]

FULL MLE

1. Marion - only if he was OK with coming off bench for 35 mpg
2. Rasheed Wallace
3. Miller - but if it comes to the MLE, PHI would sign for more (~$7m)
4. McDyess


$4M of MLE
5. Childress
6. Artest - only b/c he's a timebombs still
7. David Lee - he's gonna get overpaid by MEM is my guess...
8. Kleiza

$3M of MLE
9. Iverson

[paintitgreen]

I would only give the full MLE (or substantially all with enough room for a rookie minimum) to Sheed, David Lee, Marvin Williams or Ron Artest. I think Lee and Williams both get above the MLE from their own or developing teams with cap room. I'd offer Marion a good chunk, around $3.5-4 mil, but really, his attitude bothers me a lot. I know Sheed and Artest have had issues, but I don't question their commitment to winning. Less than two years ago, Marion was disrupting the locker room of a winning team and forced a trade to lesser teams to get more attention. I really don't like that. He's gonna have to take the MLE, and he's got talent, but when the attitude involves not caring as much about winning as about getting attention for himself, I just have a hard time with it.

If those fall through, I do like the Childress and Kleiza ideas but only if you could split the MLE between them and another similar high-caliber player. And if we could get McDyess and Kleiza or Childress for the MLE, that might be my top option.

[toinewalka]

I would personally go after Artest with everything we've got.  But hey, I'm just crazy like that...

I couldn't agree more.  I think this guy would be the perfect puzzle piece.  He plays three positions, scores in the 20s when you need it, one of the top defenders in the league, and rebounds and runs well.  Nothing missing except that he does some dumb things sometimes.  However, every guy that has every played with him loves him, and he always plays at least 100%.

[RAcker]

FULL MLE

1. Marion - only if he was OK with coming off bench for 35 mpg
2. Rasheed Wallace
3. Miller - but if it comes to the MLE, PHI would sign for more (~$7m)
4. McDyess


$4M of MLE
5. Childress
6. Artest - only b/c he's a timebombs still
7. David Lee - he's gonna get overpaid by MEM is my guess...
8. Kleiza

$3M of MLE
9. Iverson

I was kind of with you there until Iverson.  Yikes.