Who will be resigned in the off-season, Nate or TA?

[Meadowlark_Scal]

TA and Nate are both very valuable to this team, youth, defense, slashing, offense, both have came in and done just what was needed..! Perk is one who needs to think about his game..he stock is going down. No offense at all, no dunking, he plays like a 6 footer on offense. If he isn't hurt...what..? All his last summer training are out the window....ball down low, no dunks, he doesn't even look at where the D is while driving..!

[More Banners]

If we win the title, which I think is a given, I would have no problem whatsoever with Danny starting the transition of this team from a Big Three team to a team of the future. What that would entail is keeping the core here for a run again next year but sacrificing bench depth for positions of youth and the development of that youth.

So first off, I would buy a second 1st round pick.

Second, I would trade up in the second round of the draft.

Third, I would draft a SF(Damion James, Quincy Pondexter) that I would put right behind Pierce and stick with him as a backup with the first 1st rounder.

Fourth, I would draft a SG(James Anderson or Avery Bradley, Jordan Crawford or Lance Stephenson) with big upside that could be brought along slower with the second 1st rounder.

Fifth, I would draft a big with potential(Craig Brackins or Dexter Pittman) in the second round and make him the sixth big, third center and bring him along slowly as well.

Sixth, I would not sign one free  agent until after seeing what Wade and Lebron sign for. If they sign max deals for max years, I would limit bringing back our free agents to two year deals. If any of them sign three year deals, I would think about giving certain players three year deals and position the team to be able to pursue Ware or LeBron in 2013.

Seventh, I would re-sign Ray and Nate and let Tony go. 2 or 3 year deals depending on what the big free agents of 2010 do.

Eighth, I would try to sign Ronnie Brewer(3 years/$9 million or 4 years/$12 million) as the defensive wing to pair in the backcourt with Nate and hope Memphis doesn't match and then with what is left of the MLE I would try to secure Travis Outlaw, if there is enough left. If not, Louis Amundson.

Wow.  Could you zip that along to Danny in an email?  Thanks...

Seriously, it's a very good, if ambitious, plan.  Personally, I'd rather have one "right" player than a stable of "potential" any day, though...especially if players in said stable don't have a legit shot at playing time.  We don't want "don't get drafted by the Celtics" to be whispered anywhere, and it would stink to develop players that just move on to other teams in 2-3 years when they're ready to contribute...

I like the idea of locking up Nate, especially if it's a relatively inexpensive, but perhaps incentive-laden, deal.  I'd go long term if the terms were good, since he's young, athletic, healthy, and fast.  He's a pretty good backup PG, and if that's a job he wants, it's his.  

I'd focus next on finding our next starting wing, and let him play rotation minutes behind PP and Ray next year.  TA isn't that guy, making him, at best, the 4th wing, and if we draft a wing as well, perhaps TA becomes 5th (non-rotation) wing.  Bye-bye, TA.

Third, I'd try to find a PF/C (or just a PF) that can fill a lane on the break.  KG's getting long in the tooth for full-court sprints, BBD isn't quite "built" for that sort of thing, nor are perk or Sheed.  If all four of our bigs stay next year, then I'd be willing to roll the dice on finding that guy in the draft, but James Singleton and Hakeem Warick both played for minimum deals this (current) year, so maybe there might be a cheap pickup that can fill that role.

Great ideas, nick, tp.

[Tr1boy]

we need both players back no matter what happens after this series.

Rasheed, BB, PP/Allen, T Allen , Robinson would give us the best bench in the league. They could be starters on many other teams

T allen could be resigned for 3 year at 3 million per year rate and same for robinson. When our starters leave who knows they could easily be starters at that point and giving them 5 million per year will be fair

Next two games no doubt they will come huge again

[dooyork]

I don't like them and I don't like their games. I think the C's could improve the team with better players but, unfortunately, those better players will probably mean not using the MLE in other areas and it would make more sense to re-sign these guys not using the MLE and then using the MLE to sure up the back up spots at the SF and PF positions.

This is where I come down.

Both TA and Nate are flawed players.  In fact, they're both *very* flawed players, and on certain nights, they cost a team wins.

There are better players available than each of them in free agency, and in an ideal world, I'd prefer to see us sign those players.  However, we can't really afford to sign a new PG, a new SG, and still find an athletic SF for our bench.

That means the team has to prioritize.  I can live with both Nate and Tony -- they're competent players who will be net positives -- if it means we can upgrade at backup SF.

By the way, my opinion of Nate and Tony overall doesn't mean I don't respect the heck out of the job they're both currently doing, in terms of giving the team a lift.

Rare that I disagree with Nick and Roy, 2 of the commenters I respect most, but I think Nate and TA are a great fit as backups to the 1 and 2.  I never thought I would say that, because I used to be VERY down on Tony, and didn't want the Nate trade to happen at all.  But, I love them both now.  I can't think of a better backup PG than Nate actually, because of the offense he brings.  If Rondo goes out, we don't want the whole offense to go stagnant, so it's good to have a PG who can create.  TA I would hate to lose, because I finally can see what people have been talking about when they call him a defensive stopper.  He has been very effective on Wade, Carter, Lebron, and now Kobe.  I actually got nervous last night when TA came out and Ray went in in the 4th, because I thought Kobe was ready to go off.  Yes Tony can be frustrating when he has the ball, but you're not going to get a better defender at his size who also can score and shoot from outside for less money.  And, although this FA class is amazing at the top, I don't really see much of an upgrade available at either the 1, 2, or 3 for Nate, TA, and Marquise.

The team as currently assembled can make another run in 2010-11 thanks to the bench and based on the improvement of Rondo and Perk, as long as the big 3 stay healthy, and KG can adjust by adding more McHale-style post moves rather than relying on pure athleticism as he did early in his career.  After next year, it might be time to make a major FA move or major trade
 to have the star power necessary to compete.  It depends on what Ray and PP are getting paid, hopefully they take pay cuts so the team has room to make big signings.

[dooyork]

Plus TA has been with the team longer than anyone other than PP and maybe Scal?  Not sure.  I would love to see him stay long term, after his injury, all his trouble getting healthy, how down everyone was on him, I would love to have him succeed.

[TerreHaute]

What is the status of Marquiss Daniels for next season, and how does he play into this discussion?

[Roy Hobbs]

What is the status of Marquiss Daniels for next season, and how does he play into this discussion?

He's an unrestricted free agent.  We don't have his Bird rights, but can give him a 20% raise without using our MLE.  That would amount to roughly $2.4 million in the first year of any new contract, which is probably enough to get it done.

Marquis is too injury prone and can't shoot, in my opinion.  I'd rather get a more reliable small forward.

[More Banners]

What is the status of Marquiss Daniels for next season, and how does he play into this discussion?

It looks to me like (what I assume to have been) Quisy's plan to contribute to a contender on the cheap in the short run to get a big Poseyesque payday the following summer has completely backfired.

Oops.

His current spot in the rotation, if not filled by a draft pick, pays around the minimum.  Would he take that?

[CoachBo]

Which we may well be able to get with 19 - Damion James, anyone - but I'm still intrigued by seeing what's available via trade out there. I love Beasley, and Spolestra can't coach his way out of a paper sack.

[FallGuy]

Which we may well be able to get with 19 - Damion James, anyone - but I'm still intrigued by seeing what's available via trade out there. I love Beasley, and Spolestra can't coach his way out of a paper sack.

Okay, CoachBo - I'll bite.

What do you think needs to be done with Beasley to get him over the hump and on the way to realizing his potential? I think a number of teams around the league have already written him off as a career headcase.

[moiso]

Which we may well be able to get with 19 - Damion James, anyone - but I'm still intrigued by seeing what's available via trade out there. I love Beasley, and Spolestra can't coach his way out of a paper sack.

I'm surprised you like Beasley so much.  You usually seem to prefer finished products who play consistently and intelligently.  Beasley doesn't fit those criteria.

[dooyork]

We should try to sign A.C. Green

[snively]

I'd like them both back.  The Rondo/Nate/TA trio provide a great deal of positive energy to our back-court. All three posted steal %s of 3% or higher (for reference, of qualified players, Rondo led the league in steal % at 3.3%; the nearest player was at 2.7%; TA and Nate didn't qualify).  All are good rebounders for their position and all speed up the game.

If we win the title, which I think is a given, I would have no problem whatsoever with Danny starting the transition of this team from a Big Three team to a team of the future. What that would entail is keeping the core here for a run again next year but sacrificing bench depth for positions of youth and the development of that youth.

So first off, I would buy a second 1st round pick.

Second, I would trade up in the second round of the draft.

Third, I would draft a SF(Damion James, Quincy Pondexter) that I would put right behind Pierce and stick with him as a backup with the first 1st rounder.

Fourth, I would draft a SG(James Anderson or Avery Bradley, Jordan Crawford or Lance Stephenson) with big upside that could be brought along slower with the second 1st rounder.

Fifth, I would draft a big with potential(Craig Brackins or Dexter Pittman) in the second round and make him the sixth big, third center and bring him along slowly as well.

Sixth, I would not sign one free  agent until after seeing what Wade and Lebron sign for. If they sign max deals for max years, I would limit bringing back our free agents to two year deals. If any of them sign three year deals, I would think about giving certain players three year deals and position the team to be able to pursue Ware or LeBron in 2013.

Seventh, I would re-sign Ray and Nate and let Tony go. 2 or 3 year deals depending on what the big free agents of 2010 do.

Eighth, I would try to sign Ronnie Brewer(3 years/$9 million or 4 years/$12 million) as the defensive wing to pair in the backcourt with Nate and hope Memphis doesn't match and then with what is left of the MLE I would try to secure Travis Outlaw, if there is enough left. If not, Louis Amundson.

Intriguing plan, but I'm not sure if the TA-to-Brewer upgrade is worth burning through the half or more of the MLE when we could have TA and full MLE player.

Brewer's definitely has a smoother, more reliable game than TA, but his impact is about the same.  For all his physical tools he plays pretty vanilla defense (sound but not smothering), he doesn't rebound and he doesn't really score (terrible deep shooter, like TA not much of a scorer if he can't dunk). 

I'd much prefer keeping TA and signing Mike Miller to the full MLE.  After following the rest of your plan that would leave us with

Rondo/Nate/LaFayette
Ray/TA/Crawford
Pierce/Miller/James
KG/Baby/Gaffney
Perk/Sheed/Pittman

Very deep and talented roster, though I'd worry about chemistry with 10-15 spots filled exclusively with rookies itching for playing time and contracts.  Maybe I'd ditch the purchase of another 1st round pick and pursue a stable, hard-working veteran like Bobby Simmons, Raja Bell, Keith Bogans or James Singleton for the minimum.

[Green Hornet]

 Maybe I am missing something here or just do not know the NBA as well as some of you other experts but to me this is a no brainer. It's Tony Allen. People seem to think it would be so easy to replace a lock down defender that has slowed down and given fits to some of the best offensive players in the league. Really?? The NBA is full of scorers but not defenders like T A. Would you want to see him coming off the Laker's bench to guard Pierce or Ray Allen?? How do you think that would work out for us?? Not well. Defensive players the quality of Allen are the premium in this league. Scorers are a dime a dozen. Just my two cents.

[birdwatcher]

Well, we only have 7 players under contract when the finals are over, technically 6 if Pierce decides he wants out (unlikely I'm sure) as he has his early termination option. TA might have played himself into marketable free agent with his postseason play. Tibbs might want to pilfer some a FA Celt or two to help his defense transition in Chicago. Nate is a good plan B at backup PG, but I'd much rather have a Kirk Hinrich type. Likely Nate gets resigned as long as Doc stays around and thinks he can mold him the way he did Rondo. Marquis is most likely gone, and Ray probably stays green unless someone wants to overpay him. We really need some size and rebounding--I really hope we trade the 19th pick away and go for a more prove younger player. Maybe we'll get lucky and Charlotte would still be interested in taking Rasheed's last year from us--no matter what he does this postseason, I hope he's not in green for long next season. Wasted roster spot, IMO.