Which bench players are re-signed? Nate? Daniels? Shelden? TA?

[jr_3421]

I think Nate goes somewhere where he can play more.

I think that Boston will be a place Nate can play more. An offseason with the team I think will give Doc more confidence in Nate leading to bigger minutes. That being said I think Danny offers Nate a contract but would be content to let him walk for a bigger contract a la James Posey.

TA is the closest to a must sign in my opinion because I don't think it's possible to replace his defense in free agency or the draft. Shelden I could care less about.

But how does Nate get more minutes?  While I'd agree with the notion that Rondo shouldn't be playing 40+ mpg during the regular season, there's no reason a player at his age with his conditioning can't play 36-38 mpg.  If that's the case, Nate can't get more than 10-12 mpg unless we go with the small backcourt.  And that means dealing with the defensive issues that go along with Nate on the court to begin with and Rondo now guarding a player 5+ inches taller than him.  It could work, as a 2-guard would also have no prayer in staying in front of Rondo or Nate; however, it'd be a risk. 

Ultimately, while I'd love to see him come back and be productive in 12 mpg, I wouldn't be surprised and I wouldn't blame him for going where he'll have more of a shot.  The only type of point guard that's really going to find Boston appealing is an aging vet looking to pick up a ring.  No one looking to build his value and pick up minutes is going to want to come in and backup Rondo. 

I was saying more min in terms of his average mpg during his tenure with the Celtics. I think his max number of min should be around 20 with 15 being about his average. If he wants more than he should sign with a losing team.

[Who]

1. I only want to start rebuilding when we're likely to get a high draft pick.  I don't see a KG/Pierce/Rondo team falling into the lottery next year, I really don't think Pierce will be traded (though I think the most important step in rebuilding is not shelling out a big extension for Pierce) and I don't think KG can be traded.

Rebuilding is only a worthwhile option if Danny is willing to dump Pierce + Garnett too.

I think Pierce could be traded to Dallas (Pierce + Sheed for Damp + Stevenson) and Garnett to San Antonio (KG for RJ).

[CoachBo]

Since they all have steam in the tank, this is not the summer to unload the Big 3. Far too Draconian a move.

Instead, as I have said before, I'm willing to shop Perkins - and to a much lesser extend 19 - to see what kind of a younger player, particularly a 3 or 4, the package would land. I'd throw TA into that mix if he can be resigned.

[Roy Hobbs]

(1) I am still open starting the rebuilding process this summer. I'm not sure this group has another title run in them (next season) ... so maybe it's best to cut the cord now rather than play out two more years and rebuild then.

There's absolutely no way that I punt next season and begin rebuilding.

What's the end result of rebuilding?  If absolutely everything goes right, we have a contender.  That happens, what, 5% of the time?

So, we can have a 5% chance of a contender, or a 100% chance of a contender (barring injury).  That doesn't mean we'll win a title next season, but we'll have as much of a chance as any other team out there.

[Who]

(1) I am still open starting the rebuilding process this summer. I'm not sure this group has another title run in them (next season) ... so maybe it's best to cut the cord now rather than play out two more years and rebuild then.

There's absolutely no way that I punt next season and begin rebuilding.

What's the end result of rebuilding?  If absolutely everything goes right, we have a contender.  That happens, what, 5% of the time?

So, we can have a 5% chance of a contender, or a 100% chance of a contender (barring injury).  That doesn't mean we'll win a title next season, but we'll have as much of a chance as any other team out there.

It's hard to say how much of a contender the Celtics are going to be next season without having a firm grip of the landscape.

All these marquee free agents could play out in a way that is beneficial to the Celtics chances (teams without the depth to compete) or to the detriment of the Celtics (LeBron/Wade more help than ever before).

Add in the continued variable of age + decline ... and it's a murky picture.

[BballTim]

(1) I am still open starting the rebuilding process this summer. I'm not sure this group has another title run in them (next season) ... so maybe it's best to cut the cord now rather than play out two more years and rebuild then.

There's absolutely no way that I punt next season and begin rebuilding.

What's the end result of rebuilding?  If absolutely everything goes right, we have a contender.  That happens, what, 5% of the time?

So, we can have a 5% chance of a contender, or a 100% chance of a contender (barring injury).  That doesn't mean we'll win a title next season, but we'll have as much of a chance as any other team out there.

It's hard to say how much of a contender the Celtics are going to be next season without having a firm grip of the landscape.

All these marquee free agents could play out in a way that is beneficial to the Celtics chances (teams without the depth to compete) or to the detriment of the Celtics (LeBron/Wade more help than ever before).

Add in the continued variable of age + decline ... and it's a murky picture.

  If we used the MLE fairly well (probably on a wing) I don't see us as worse than a top 3-4 team in the league next year. We could possibly be favorites to win it all. I don't see any real reason to break that up unless it's going to net us a possible franchise player.

[Roy Hobbs]

(1) I am still open starting the rebuilding process this summer. I'm not sure this group has another title run in them (next season) ... so maybe it's best to cut the cord now rather than play out two more years and rebuild then.

There's absolutely no way that I punt next season and begin rebuilding.

What's the end result of rebuilding?  If absolutely everything goes right, we have a contender.  That happens, what, 5% of the time?

So, we can have a 5% chance of a contender, or a 100% chance of a contender (barring injury).  That doesn't mean we'll win a title next season, but we'll have as much of a chance as any other team out there.

It's hard to say how much of a contender the Celtics are going to be next season without having a firm grip of the landscape.

All these marquee free agents could play out in a way that is beneficial to the Celtics chances (teams without the depth to compete) or to the detriment of the Celtics (LeBron/Wade more help than ever before).

Add in the continued variable of age + decline ... and it's a murky picture.

  If we used the MLE fairly well (probably on a wing) I don't see us as worse than a top 3-4 team in the league next year. We could possibly be favorites to win it all. I don't see any real reason to break that up unless it's going to net us a possible franchise player.

That's my thinking, as well.  I think we need to maximize our window while we still have one.  There's no guarantee that the Celtics will be back in this position for a decade or more.

[Brendan]

Let's say they go the conservative route:

1. Sign Nate to a one year with a team option.
2. Resign either T. Allen or Daniels (no need for both, offer them both reasonable deals and keep one, I think TA blinks in that situation)
3. Resign R. Allen for two years at ~10 per

Starting lineup of: Perk, KG, Pierce, R. Allen (on a two year), Rondo

Wallace, BBD as big men off the bench
Daniels or T. Allen at the wings
Nate as the backup PG

That's your nine man. Does that team make the playoffs? Yes. How do they compare to this year's team? I'd guess:

1. Perk, BBD, Rondo, Nate all better than this year.
2. Wallace the same as this year - he can't get slower or more apathetic than he was this regular season, right?
3. Pierce, Allen, KG all slightly worse than this year. (Possibility that Pierce and Allen stay the same and KG is actually better with an extra year between him and surgery.)
4. X-Factor: Daniels really under performed since his injury and Tony Allen seems close to pre-knee injury, either of those guys could make a big leap, either option is going to be about as good as this year worst case.

But you'd have an additional advantage of basically everyone having another year together under the same system.

For the rest of the players:

We'll have two draft picks, Sheldon or some other big at the minimum, and let's assume some Finley-eque shooter at the minimum to get to 13. (I'm hoping they can get a combo forward in the draft, someone who can play behind Pierce and a small(er) ball PF, but I hope they take BPA either way.)

I don't see any reason to think that team wouldn't be a favorite to win the division again and I don't see why that team can't make a run like this year's team. Yes there is some risk they any of the top 4 guys during the post season and they are not going anywhere, but I think that's less of a risk than hoping you get a new contending team.

I think they should follow this conservative approach unless a clear win trade or MLE upgrade comes along. Under no circumstance should they "blow it up".

[GranTur]

Rondo / Nate
Ray / JJ Redick or Mike Miller
PP / Tony
KG / Davis
Perk / Sheed

Resign Scal and Shelden for minimums.