Rafer Alston Bought Out - Heat/Cavs front runners

[soap07]

WojYahooNBA
2:47pm, Jan 05 from Web
Rafer Alston has agreed to a contract buyout with Nets, and Heat and Cavs lead list of possible suitors for free agent, sources tell Y!

Any interest for the C's here for a backup? Good handles, veteran and experienced...decent outside shot, suspect defense - but really no worse than House.

[Drucci]

I would like him as a backup for Rondo, but I don't see Danny cutting anybody to get him (and I'm not sure he would agree to sign with us).

[Lucky17]

Interesting.

The Heat have to decide this week whether to keep Arroyo on. Alston would be an upgrade.

Why the Cavs? They are already loaded with guards.

Dark horse: what about Philadelphia?

Possible precursor to the following rumor:

Discussions for a trade that would’ve exchanged Eduardo Najera(notes) for Kris Humphries(notes) and Shawne Williams(notes) are “on life support,” a league source said, because the New Jersey Nets have been unable to clear a roster spot to make it happen. New Jersey had hoped the Dallas Mavericks would add some money to the deal to allow them to buy out Williams’ contract, but the Nets haven’t been able to make a roster move. They tried to trade former first-round pick Josh Boone(notes) to Denver for Joey Graham(notes) and his non-guaranteed deal as a precursor to the Dallas deal, but those talks dried up, too. …

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AlIPCY07ba7Vp2DJi.Lj1F85nYcB?slug=mc-jazznotes010410&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[Brickowski]

Go for it, Danny!

[soap07]

"I would like him as a backup for Rondo, but I don't see Danny cutting anybody to get him (and I'm not sure he would agree to sign with us).


Agreed. Although, if I'm Danny, I'd be perfectly willing to cut Walker or Scal in place of Alston.

[Who]

Interesting -- I'd like the C's to stay away but it's very tempting. I want the Celtics to keep House in the rotation due to his shooting ability and I don't like the idea of a House-Rafer backcourt or a three man perimeter rotation (Rafer/House/Daniels) off the bench. I prefer a shorter rotation. But it's very tempting. I like Rafer's game.

[Drucci]

Interesting -- I'd like the C's to stay away but it's very tempting. I want the Celtics to keep House in the rotation due to his shooting ability and I don't like the idea of a House-Rafer backcourt or a three man perimeter rotation (Rafer/House/Daniels) off the bench. I prefer a shorter rotation. But it's very tempting. I like Rafer's game.

Except for the lack of size of Eddie at the 2, this would be a great perimeter rotation! Rafer is excellent on drives, he can create his own shot, he shoots OK from three or midrange (not his biggest weapon, that's fore sure), House can shoot, and Marquis is really good going to the hoop and has a nice midrange shot.

The three of them playing together would be really good, and we would have our backup PG in case Rondo is injured (knock on wood).

However I have some concerns about Rafer being a guy who can create chemistry problems. He is not a "cancer" by any means but I remember he started a controversy about his role and Jameer Nelson's in the last playoffs. Also, maybe he and Eddie don't like each other, and I don't see Rafer getting along with Rajon. Alston could complain about playing time, too.

But overall he ould be a good fit since we lack a backup PG.

[Bankshot]

I would like him as a backup for Rondo, but I don't see Danny cutting anybody to get him (and I'm not sure he would agree to sign with us).

Why not?  Bill Walker is of little or no use to the Celtics.

[Drucci]

I would like him as a backup for Rondo, but I don't see Danny cutting anybody to get him (and I'm not sure he would agree to sign with us).

Why not?  Bill Walker is of little or no use to the Celtics.

I would cut Walker to get Alston, that's for sure, but I think Danny won't.

[j804]

Meh

Eddie prob cant stand the guy 

[PosImpos]

This is probably our best chance to get a legitimate backup point guard.  That's the bottom line, regardless of Alston's shortcomings and potential personality issues.

[Bankshot]

Interesting -- I'd like the C's to stay away but it's very tempting. I want the Celtics to keep House in the rotation due to his shooting ability and I don't like the idea of a House-Rafer backcourt or a three man perimeter rotation (Rafer/House/Daniels) off the bench. I prefer a shorter rotation. But it's very tempting. I like Rafer's game.

Daniels isn't really a perimeter player.  At least he can't shoot from the perimeter.

[Who]

Interesting -- I'd like the C's to stay away but it's very tempting. I want the Celtics to keep House in the rotation due to his shooting ability and I don't like the idea of a House-Rafer backcourt or a three man perimeter rotation (Rafer/House/Daniels) off the bench. I prefer a shorter rotation. But it's very tempting. I like Rafer's game.

Daniels isn't really a perimeter player.  At least he can't shoot from the perimeter.

That's exactly why I'd like to keep a shooter at the backup point guard.

That position/role (House) is currently the only jump shooter outside of the Big Three on the perimeter.

[Roy Hobbs]

The thing you worry about with Alston is whether he'd accept a backup role.  Alston has never exactly been a leader in the locker room, so bringing him in could be a feast or famine type of move.

[Tough Juice]

In that case if I'm Danny Ainge, I'll show Bill Walker the door in a nick of time