Celtics Summer Game Plan

[nickagneta]

I don't think it would hurt to try a D-League guy or two on next year's team, besides having draft picks. I don't know if the two guys they signed will be that/those D-Leaguer(s) but I think the D-League is becoming a definite place to start looking.

For those that don't know it our good friend here at Celticsblog, Steve Weinman, runs a D-League blog and you can catch up on all things NBDL related there. He and his co-horts give great scouting reports regarding the leagues best players.

I read it all the time and highly recommend it.

http://dleaguedigest.com/

[celticinorlando]

still would like to see ray finish his career in boston. i think he could be a 15 plus guy a night the next 2 years and a deadly shooter.

[Chris]

still would like to see ray finish his career in boston. i think he could be a 15 plus guy a night the next 2 years and a deadly shooter.

I agree with that.  I think any plan of moving Ray would only be if they could get significant value for him.  He is so important to what this team does, that it is going to be difficult to see him go, unless its a very good deal.

[Cman]

Here's some intel (which a number of you probably already heard).

Mike Gorman suggested tonight that the summer plan is already in place - and that's retooling the team around younger, athletic players who can run with our superstar point guard.

This makes me very, very happy.

Even if we end up in a transitional year, this team should be a blast to watch next year.

Hmmmmm, a "running" team?  Let's hope the goal isn't to become GSW 2.0.

I'll worry about the offseason once we get there.

Edit -- I love how Rondo is playing, but let's keep in mind that he has an advantage with the matchup against the Cavs.  If the Cs were playing Orlando instead (Jameer Nelson) the matchup wouldn't be as good.  And PP would be playing better offensively against R. Lewis than he is against LBJ. 

The point is that matchups matter, and so going into the offseason it will be healthy to keep this in mind, and build a multidimensional team.  I think the worst thing to do would be to jettison everyone and build the team solely around Rondo. 

[Chris]

The point is that matchups matter, and so going into the offseason it will be healthy to keep this in mind, and build a multidimensional team.  I think the worst thing to do would be to jettison everyone and build the team solely around Rondo. 

Absolutely true.  However, I think you build for matchups with your role players, not with your core players.  You build your core around each other, to compliment their strengths.  Then, once you have a strong enough core to contend, you fill in around them, not only with guys who compliment your core, but also who matchup well against the teams you anticipate facing.

So, while I agree that you should not build the team solely around Rondo, you need to be considering how they will fit with him, if they are part of your core. 

[gpap]

Here's some intel (which a number of you probably already heard).

Mike Gorman suggested tonight that the summer plan is already in place - and that's retooling the team around younger, athletic players who can run with our superstar point guard.

This makes me very, very happy.

Even if we end up in a transitional year, this team should be a blast to watch next year.

Hmmm....yeah if you find watching the Celtics lose as having a blast.

Let's stay grounded here. Rondo is having a good series but to already proclaim him as the guy we should build around for the next few years is ridiculous (IMO.)

I am really surprised as to how many here want to see the Celtics "rebuild" just for the sake of watching us get younger.
Apparently the gut-wrenching, horrendous nightmare 2006-07 season didn't teach us anything.

Me personally, I would either

:A)Keep the team as is and build a new bench around mid-level players like David Lee, Brad Miller, Dwight Gooden, Jermaine O'Neal

:B)(AND MY PERSONAL PREFERCNE) Sign a max free agent like D-Wade or Bosh to complement the Big 3. Who cares if the C's get hit with the luxury tax? They will more than make up for it.
If the economics don't work out, then talk Pierce into taking a pay-cut and then sign a max free agent.


Now that my friend, would be a blast

[ManUp]

Mike Gorman has no credibility.

It's best to put conditionals like probably or most likely in his statements when they regard the Celtics future plans.

[nickagneta]

Here's some intel (which a number of you probably already heard).

Mike Gorman suggested tonight that the summer plan is already in place - and that's retooling the team around younger, athletic players who can run with our superstar point guard.

This makes me very, very happy.

Even if we end up in a transitional year, this team should be a blast to watch next year.

Hmmm....yeah if you find watching the Celtics lose as having a blast.

Let's stay grounded here. Rondo is having a good series but to already proclaim him as the guy we should build around for the next few years is ridiculous (IMO.)

I am really surprised as to how many here want to see the Celtics "rebuild" just for the sake of watching us get younger.
Apparently the gut-wrenching, horrendous nightmare 2006-07 season didn't teach us anything.

Me personally, I would either

:A)Keep the team as is and build a new bench around mid-level players like David Lee, Brad Miller, Dwight Gooden, Jermaine O'Neal

:B)(AND MY PERSONAL PREFERCNE) Sign a max free agent like D-Wade or Bosh to complement the Big 3. Who cares if the C's get hit with the luxury tax? They will more than make up for it.
If the economics don't work out, then talk Pierce into taking a pay-cut and then sign a max free agent.


Now that my friend, would be a blast

Getting back to reality:

A) - David Lee is not mid-level player. He will command $10 million plus per year.
   - DREW Gooden is a mid level player who's skill set we already have in Rasheed Wallace
   - Jermaine O'Neal and Brad Miller are back up centers who again, skills are already present off the bench in Rasheed Wallace.
   - Unless Rasheed Wallace is traded the chances of the Celtics using the mid level exception on a back up big man is next to nothing.

B) As has been mentioned many many times, the Celtics do not have the ability to sign a max level free agent like Wade or Bosh. I am pretty sure Roy Hobbs has laid out the details of this to you in the past but you keep on insisting on posting this. It's not happening.

[Chris]

Mike Gorman has no credibility.

It's best to put conditionals like probably or most likely in his statements when they regard the Celtics future plans.

Wow, I don't think I have ever heard someone say something negative about Mike Gorman before.

Do we know that he did not put conditionals, or say that it was his opinion?  I would want to hear this statement in context before saying something like that.

Generally, Mike is one of the better guys in the media of NOT throwing things out there without saying that it is his opinion, and he almost never claims anything is inside information.

[Chris]

   - Unless Rasheed Wallace is traded the chances of the Celtics using the mid level exception on a back up big man is next to nothing.

Not sure about the back-up part, but I would not be surprised if Danny did go after a young, project big man like Tyrus Thomas or Amir Johnson, with part, if not all of the MLE. 

[incoherent]

Mike Gorman has no credibility.

It's best to put conditionals like probably or most likely in his statements when they regard the Celtics future plans.

Of all people to not have credibility I don't think Gorman is one of them.

[nickagneta]

   - Unless Rasheed Wallace is traded the chances of the Celtics using the mid level exception on a back up big man is next to nothing.

Not sure about the back-up part, but I would not be surprised if Danny did go after a young, project big man like Tyrus Thomas or Amir Johnson, with part, if not all of the MLE.  

Given that the only players returning for sure unless they are traded away are Perk, KG, Rasheed, Baby, Pierce and Rondo, I just can't see Danny using any of the MLE on a frontcourt player this year unless Rasheed and/or Baby is traded away for wing and back court help.

My guess is Ray and Tony Allen will be back. But other than that I don't see a backcourt or wing player currently on this team that the Celtics will bring back. Nate, Marquis, Finley and Scal are gone, IMO. Sheldon could be back and has done nothing to not deserve to come back on another vet minimum contract. That's 5 front court players(Perk, KG, Baby, Rasheed, Sheldon), 1 SF(Pierce, and 3 back court players(Ray, Tony Rondo).

I expect the first pick to be a SF and I expect a guard chosen in the second round. But I just can't see given the circumstances they are in with contracts that they would use their MLE on a big that is going to come off the bench if they don't trade one of the ones they have under contract now. Not with all the other holes they have on the roster.

[FallGuy]

Here's some intel (which a number of you probably already heard).

Mike Gorman suggested tonight that the summer plan is already in place - and that's retooling the team around younger, athletic players who can run with our superstar point guard.

This makes me very, very happy.

Even if we end up in a transitional year, this team should be a blast to watch next year.

Was this Mike's opinion, or was this a leak?  It is a very vague statement, and I feel pretty confident is the way the team will end up going based on common sense.  But I would caution people to read too much into the statement since Mike has said many times he does not get inside info (and when he does, I think he keeps his mouth shut, unlike some other guys on the telecast).  Even if that is the goal of the summer, it is easier said than done, given the way the C's are currently built. 

Um.... I don't remember the exact words he used but my interpretation is that he's confident, especially given how well-sourced he is within the organization. He was on the Celticsstufflive show talking about it in case anyone else wants to check it tout.

[FallGuy]

Mike Gorman has no credibility.

It's best to put conditionals like probably or most likely in his statements when they regard the Celtics future plans.

Wow, I don't think I have ever heard someone say something negative about Mike Gorman before.

Do we know that he did not put conditionals, or say that it was his opinion?  I would want to hear this statement in context before saying something like that.

Generally, Mike is one of the better guys in the media of NOT throwing things out there without saying that it is his opinion, and he almost never claims anything is inside information.

My read exactly. And he made the logical point that, yes, the Celtics have decided to build around Rondo. That's what the contract signified. And to maximize his talents, they want certain kinds of players alongside him.

[nickagneta]

Mike Gorman has no credibility.

It's best to put conditionals like probably or most likely in his statements when they regard the Celtics future plans.

Wow, I don't think I have ever heard someone say something negative about Mike Gorman before.

Do we know that he did not put conditionals, or say that it was his opinion?  I would want to hear this statement in context before saying something like that.

Generally, Mike is one of the better guys in the media of NOT throwing things out there without saying that it is his opinion, and he almost never claims anything is inside information.

My read exactly. And he made the logical point that, yes, the Celtics have decided to build around Rondo. That's what the contract signified. And to maximize his talents, they want certain kinds of players alongside him.

Funny to think that one interpretation of your comment could be that the Celtics might not think that Rondo's talents are maximized with Perk, KG, Ray and Paul alongside him.