2010/11 MLE options

[DavorCroatiaFan]

It seems like ownerschips is ready to add a MLE type of player.
I believe we can go to another finals with Fakers, so this offseason we must improve our:
a) rebounding
b) scoring
With quick browsing thru FA list there is some interesting names:
Tyrus Thomas - rebounder, shot blocker, perfect first big from the bench
Brendan Haywood - worse defensivly but much better offensivly then Perk, legit 7 footer
Anthony Morrow (RFA) - perfect sg to go into Rondo's era, 10 years younger then Ray, 46% from 3pt land
Travis Outlaw - could be a Posey-type player
Udonis Haslem - solid worker, rebounder
Al Harrington - 6-9 scorer, could erase our 2nd unit scoring woes
Mike Miller - all-around player, great shooter

[ACF]

Tyrus Thomas.

[bopna]

isn't Thomas restricted?...If so, will the Bobcats match. I have no idea what their cap situation is at this point but I would move heaven if we can get our hands on Tyrus.  The Guy is a legit forward who can Rebound and his athleticism next to Rondo on the break would be a dream come true for PG like RR.

Why didn't DA go after him at the trade deadline when Thomas was basically traded for a bag of peanuts was beyond me. Thomas also extends KG's window extensively coz he can split minutes with KG who must definitely be played no more than 32 min in the regular season. We need bodies that can rebound or be long enough to compete with Orlando in the East and the Fakers in the West.

[cdif911]

I'd say Mike Miller, a guy who can spread the floor, which helps Rondo, KG, Baby, Perk when they're out there

[Who]

Tyrus Thomas -- one of the best talents to be available for the MLE in the last decade

[xmuscularghandix]

i like AL

[WeMadeIt17]

I really like any of the options. If i would go in order i would say

1.outlaw
2.morrow
3.miller
4.harrigton
5.tyrus

I really think outlaw would strive being Paul's backup. but Morrow,Miller,and Harrigton can be guys that can come in and light up the score board and win games. So its tough but I like everyone of those guys.

[wiley]

I overrated Thomas coming out of the draft, and so voting for him just now is based on the strong support of others here......He and Baby could make for a wild ride.....I overrated him in the first place due to my love of high energy plalyers....but maybe he can come in here and undo some of my draft opinion regret.....

Outlaw would be my second choice.

I have no idea where Harrington's at these days.  I know he scores.  I know nothing else.

I'm tired of being old and slow.  As good as Mike Miller is supposed to be, I think we need more speed, so I'd go for Morrow over Miller and get a nice small forward in the draft....

Rather have Ty Thomas and Damion James or Dominique Jones than Mike Miller and Orton/Alabi.......

[Who]

I have no idea where Harrington's at these days.  I know he scores.  I know nothing else.

Al Harrington is a poor to very poor defender + an atrocious rebounder + a shot happy volume scorer and is one of the most selfish offensive players in the league.

A difficult and annoying guy to play with. His decline athletically makes him an out and out power forward at this point in his career. He is no longer able to consistently play the small forward spot as a power three which makes his dodgy rebounding such a large and hugely negative issue.

Al Harrington is a bad basketball player.

[Who]

Rather have Ty Thomas and Damion James

Just thinking about the idea of those two on this Celtics team is exciting.

A major influx of defensive ability + rebounding + speed and quickness (Tyrus) + toughness (James).

A bench unit of Nate, Tony, James, Tyrus, BBD and Sheed alongside their starters. Six legitimate rotation players who all provide a different type of skill set and several of whom (Tony/James/Tyrus) who can play multiple positions and give you a huge number of lineup choices. A coach's dream. Probably the best bench in the league.

[snively]

Rather have Ty Thomas and Damion James

Just thinking about the idea of those two on this Celtics team is exciting.

A major influx of defensive ability + rebounding + speed and quickness (Tyrus) + toughness (James).

A bench unit of Nate, Tony, James, Tyrus, BBD and Sheed alongside their starters. Six legitimate rotation players who all provide a different type of skill set and several of whom (Tony/James/Tyrus) who can play multiple positions and give you a huge number of lineup choices. A coach's dream. Probably the best bench in the league.

That scenario is about as close to ideal as possible. I think Ty Thomas and Damion James were made to play with Rajon Rondo, on both sides of the court.  Rondo, James, Thomas, a 3-pt shooter and a rebounding big would make for a tremendous defensive pressure/fast break unit. 

It's just that I still can't see Thomas making it out of Charlotte if all they have to match is the MLE. 

[Chris]

Rather have Ty Thomas and Damion James

Just thinking about the idea of those two on this Celtics team is exciting.

A major influx of defensive ability + rebounding + speed and quickness (Tyrus) + toughness (James).

A bench unit of Nate, Tony, James, Tyrus, BBD and Sheed alongside their starters. Six legitimate rotation players who all provide a different type of skill set and several of whom (Tony/James/Tyrus) who can play multiple positions and give you a huge number of lineup choices. A coach's dream. Probably the best bench in the league.

My only problem with that is it is really missing shooting.  I think it really hurt the C's not having a wing off the bench who could shoot AND defend.  So unless James learns to shoot, I can't get too excited about that group.

[Who]

Rather have Ty Thomas and Damion James

Just thinking about the idea of those two on this Celtics team is exciting.

A major influx of defensive ability + rebounding + speed and quickness (Tyrus) + toughness (James).

A bench unit of Nate, Tony, James, Tyrus, BBD and Sheed alongside their starters. Six legitimate rotation players who all provide a different type of skill set and several of whom (Tony/James/Tyrus) who can play multiple positions and give you a huge number of lineup choices. A coach's dream. Probably the best bench in the league.

That scenario is about as close to ideal as possible. I think Ty Thomas and Damion James were made to play with Rajon Rondo, on both sides of the court.  Rondo, James, Thomas, a 3-pt shooter and a rebounding big would make for a tremendous defensive pressure/fast break unit. 

It's just that I still can't see Thomas making it out of Charlotte if all they have to match is the MLE. 

Charlotte have luxury tax concerns. They cannot afford to pay both Raymond Felton and Tyrus Thomas if they command MLE offers without passing the tax threshold + Michael Jordan has adamantly said that the Bobcats are not willing to pay the tax. Not for this team.

There is a fair chance (50-50) that some team is going to be able to pry Ty Thomas away from the Bobcats.

[Who]

Rather have Ty Thomas and Damion James

Just thinking about the idea of those two on this Celtics team is exciting.

A major influx of defensive ability + rebounding + speed and quickness (Tyrus) + toughness (James).

A bench unit of Nate, Tony, James, Tyrus, BBD and Sheed alongside their starters. Six legitimate rotation players who all provide a different type of skill set and several of whom (Tony/James/Tyrus) who can play multiple positions and give you a huge number of lineup choices. A coach's dream. Probably the best bench in the league.

My only problem with that is it is really missing shooting.  I think it really hurt the C's not having a wing off the bench who could shoot AND defend.  So unless James learns to shoot, I can't get too excited about that group.

How good is James' shooting? He took about more than a fifth of his shots from behind the arc last season and hit 38%. The year before he was only shooting 22% in a similar number attempts and they year before that he was at 41%, again in a similar number of attempts. I would expect him to be a solid shooter in the NBA next season. Not a marksman but solid. Is there any reason to think that expectation is too high?

A solid shooting three + a very good shooter in Nate. That is a good enough foundation for me ... if the wing is bringing in high quality rebounding (a major need) and quality defense. Can leave Tony on the bench on the nights where Boston needs more shooting and/or give James some minutes at the four and spread the floor like the C's did with Posey.

[Who]

Rather have Ty Thomas and Damion James

Just thinking about the idea of those two on this Celtics team is exciting.

A major influx of defensive ability + rebounding + speed and quickness (Tyrus) + toughness (James).

A bench unit of Nate, Tony, James, Tyrus, BBD and Sheed alongside their starters. Six legitimate rotation players who all provide a different type of skill set and several of whom (Tony/James/Tyrus) who can play multiple positions and give you a huge number of lineup choices. A coach's dream. Probably the best bench in the league.

My only problem with that is it is really missing shooting.  I think it really hurt the C's not having a wing off the bench who could shoot AND defend.  So unless James learns to shoot, I can't get too excited about that group.

How good is James' shooting? He took about more than a fifth of his shots from behind the arc last season and hit 38%. The year before he was only shooting 22% in a similar number attempts and they year before that he was at 41%, again in a similar number of attempts. I would expect him to be a solid shooter in the NBA next season. Not a marksman but solid. Is there any reason to think that expectation is too high?

A solid shooting three + a very good shooter in Nate. That is a good enough foundation for me ... if the wing is bringing in high quality rebounding (a major need) and quality defense. Can leave Tony on the bench on the nights where Boston needs more shooting and/or give James some minutes at the four and spread the floor like the C's did with Posey.

Looking at the free agent list ... the only free agents that bring good defense + very good three point shooting are:

(1) Raja Bell
(2) Rasual Butler

So those two guys appear to be the main alternatives. Both are shooting guards who don't provide much rebounding. Bell is coming off an injury, and has declined a fair bit over the past few years, and there is some uncertainty as to what level he can play at. Butler is a good but unexceptional defender and a streaky but capable perimeter shooter with unimpressive overall scoring efficiency. Question marks over both of them.

I would rather have Damion James. I'd also rather have James than Mike Miller (defense).

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Dorell Wright interests me but more as a replacement for Ray Allen than as a backup wing. I like him as a big two guard.

There is also Travis Outlaw who I am not in love with. Too susceptible to quality defensive players (good one-on-one scorer at the four but not at the three) + his defense isn't good enough on the wing. Uses his length well but his lateral quickness and effort are dodgy. I would consider Outlaw more of a backup option, a good backup plan, than a main focus.