2010/11 MLE options

[Who]

Not sure where you got 22% from.  According to DX, James shot 41%, 33% and 38% from the college 3 in his past 3 seasons.

Sorry, my mistake. Misread the line. Thought it was a two not a three (22.6% vs 32.6%).

That is good news. He is a more consistent shooter than I thought.

The great thing about James is that he can fit with either of my preferred MLE choices: Mike Miller or Tyrus Thomas.  The Miller/James combo greatly boosts our offensive potency while significantly bolstering our defensive rebounding.  James/Thomas provides a massive boost to our latent transition game, rebounding and defensive pressure/endurance.

Do you think there is any playing time for James if the Celtics sign Mike Miller?

It's hard to see James getting any court time once Ray, Paul and Miller get theirs ... 5-10 minutes in the regular season but once the playoffs begins it's hard to see James getting on the court.

On another note, it would be interesting to let Ray leave and go big on the wing with Miller, Pierce and James. That would be a big boost to the club's rebounding. An excellent rebounding PG + excellent rebounding SG + excellent rebounding backup wing + a good rebounding backup PG (Nate) and excellent rebounding backup guard (TA). That would be a huge amount of rebounding help from the perimeter players.

Good shooting (Miller, Pierce, James, Nate = 4/6 of the main rotation players) and defensive contributions too (Rondo, Pierce, James, TA = 4/6ths). Although, Pierce would have to take more defensive responsibilities to make for Mike Miller's lack of defensive play which would tire him out more than with Ray(dodgy stamina already). Still, it is a very interesting balance of skills (without Ray Allen).

[Shots]

Honestly.. I'd say my favourite for the MLE Contract, who's perhaps not going to command MLE money, would definitely be Anthony Morrow. He's not as experienced and perhaps not as 'guaranteed' as Mike Miller would be, but he's also got potential to become much more than he is today. He seems like a player who could grow alot under the tuturoing of Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. He's got the shoot, decent 'off the ball' player, and he's also quite athletic with the ability to take it to the basket.

At 6'5 I guess he'd be a sligthly undersized SF, at least if he's expected to guard players like LeBron. However as a long-term replacement for Ray Allen I'd have no one else than Morrow, who when looking isolated at just shooting, is right up there around the best in the league (47% FG, 46% 3PT, 89% FT career numbers).

[gpap]

I'd prefer Al Harrington. A big who can play the PF and C position.

He can also score and rebound. Basically another Perk but better offensively. Plus isn't he friends with Pierce? If they were able to court Sheed last year, I can't imagine doing the same with Harrington would be difficult.

[Eddie20]

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....

Morrow isn't an athletic player by any means. I truly question if he is quicker than Miller and he's primarily a 2. Which versatility being something I really love about Miller. He can come off the bench and play both the 2/3, but also has the ballhandling ability to play the 1 for stretches. Also, everyone knows he can shoot, but the guy is an excellent rebounder for his position. He's averaged no less than 6 board per game over the last 3 seasons, while basically playing no more than in the low 30's mpg. He just solves too many of our needs to pass up.

[wiley]

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....

Morrow isn't an athletic player by any means. I truly question if he is quicker than Miller and he's primarily a 2. Which versatility being something I really love about Miller. He can come off the bench and play both the 2/3, but also has the ballhandling ability to play the 1 for stretches. Also, everyone knows he can shoot, but the guy is an excellent rebounder for his position. He's averaged no less than 6 board per game over the last 3 seasons, while basically playing no more than in the low 30's mpg. He just solves too many of our needs to pass up.

I'm okay with Miller....I excluded him in a couple of scenarios where we get ready to play players (Damion James) to back up Pierce via the draft.  But, as much as I like James, I don't know how his first year will go.  Ready to play doesn't always mean ready to play serious playoff minutes in rookie year. 

I hope Miller is fast enough as you say.....and that we could play defense at a high level with him on the floor....No problem with Miller, but I think if we had to choose between him and Ty Thomas, my gut would take Thomas....

[wiley]

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....

Morrow isn't an athletic player by any means. I truly question if he is quicker than Miller and he's primarily a 2. Which versatility being something I really love about Miller. He can come off the bench and play both the 2/3, but also has the ballhandling ability to play the 1 for stretches. Also, everyone knows he can shoot, but the guy is an excellent rebounder for his position. He's averaged no less than 6 board per game over the last 3 seasons, while basically playing no more than in the low 30's mpg. He just solves too many of our needs to pass up.

I'm okay with Miller....I excluded him in a couple of scenarios where we get ready to play players (Damion James) to back up Pierce via the draft.  But, as much as I like James, I don't know how his first year will go.  Ready to play doesn't always mean ready to play serious playoff minutes in rookie year. 

I hope Miller is fast enough as you say.....and that we could play defense at a high level with him on the floor....No problem with Miller, but I think if we had to choose between him and Ty Thomas, my gut would take Thomas....

Oh, Morrow over Miller I agree might be a gamble with an eye toward the future.....and would mean either Tony or Nate leaves (I'd keep Tony if keeping Nate or Tony but not both).
I suppose with Miller we could keep Tony and Nate....hmmmmm.  Should be an interesting week....

[arctic 3.0]

if we draft a big I say go after a morrow. kid is going to be a star.
if we draft a wing, we will have to pick up a fa big.

[Who]

Anthony Morrow is the better long term replacement for Ray Allen.

Mike Miller is the better player + backup wing + current replacement for Ray Allen.

[Chris]

Anthony Morrow is the better long term replacement for Ray Allen.

Mike Miller is the better player + backup wing + current replacement for Ray Allen.

I agree.  I don't see why GS would let Morrow go though.  I don't think they are that strapped for cash, and he is one of the best young players they have.  I think they will resign him, and then use Randolph to move a bad salary or two.

[jdub1660]

Mike Miller is a fav of mine for the MLE BUT I'd rather try and work a sign and trade with Daniels or Tony to get him. Hakim Warrick would be a good target IMO. He can rebound, block shots, and has a great post game(great face-to-face dunker)

[Evantime34]

I also wouldn't mind JJ Reddick, in the series against us he looked like he was ready for the prime time.

I would like to sign both Miller and Reddick with the MLE but I know this simply is not going to happen.

[snively]

The great thing about James is that he can fit with either of my preferred MLE choices: Mike Miller or Tyrus Thomas.  The Miller/James combo greatly boosts our offensive potency while significantly bolstering our defensive rebounding.  James/Thomas provides a massive boost to our latent transition game, rebounding and defensive pressure/endurance.

Do you think there is any playing time for James if the Celtics sign Mike Miller?

It's hard to see James getting any court time once Ray, Paul and Miller get theirs ... 5-10 minutes in the regular season but once the playoffs begins it's hard to see James getting on the court.

On another note, it would be interesting to let Ray leave and go big on the wing with Miller, Pierce and James. That would be a big boost to the club's rebounding. An excellent rebounding PG + excellent rebounding SG + excellent rebounding backup wing + a good rebounding backup PG (Nate) and excellent rebounding backup guard (TA). That would be a huge amount of rebounding help from the perimeter players.

Good shooting (Miller, Pierce, James, Nate = 4/6 of the main rotation players) and defensive contributions too (Rondo, Pierce, James, TA = 4/6ths). Although, Pierce would have to take more defensive responsibilities to make for Mike Miller's lack of defensive play which would tire him out more than with Ray(dodgy stamina already). Still, it is a very interesting balance of skills (without Ray Allen).

I think of James as more of a 4 with Mike Miller and more of a 3 with Ty Thomas.

He has the capability of earning minutes at either position.  His length (his standing reach is comparable to those of the "legit" 4s in the draft: Ed Davis, Patrick Patterson and Ekpe Udoh), hops and rebounding ability make him a better option at the 4 than Sheed or Baby, who are better suited to playing the 5 anyway.  I think the rotation could evolve into something similar to what we saw in 08/09, where Posey, Powe, Davis and Scal all got minutes at the 4 depending on the match-up.  I'm confident that James would rise to pre-eminence at the back-up 4 spot by the playoffs, thanks to his transition game, his range shooting and his general hustle.


My ideal rotation would be the existing starting 5, with 6 bench roles: scoring from the point (Nate), lockdown defense from the wing (TA), shooting from the wing (either Miller or James), athleticism/rebounding at the 4 (James or Thomas), perimeter shooting from the 4/5 (Sheed) and extra beef, i.e. an additional capable 4/5 available in times of injury or foul trouble (Baby).

So essentially, James would get Baby's (or I guess Sheed's) minutes in the Miller scenario and Finley's minutes plus some of Ray/Pierce's in the Thomas scenario.

Of final note, I agree it would be interesting to outright replace Ray Allen with Miller, but as long as ownership is willing to spend on both, I'd much rather have both.  The combination of Ray and Miller would propel us back to the heights our offense achieved in 2009 with Ray and Eddie as two game-changers from deep.

[wiley]

The great thing about James is that he can fit with either of my preferred MLE choices: Mike Miller or Tyrus Thomas.  The Miller/James combo greatly boosts our offensive potency while significantly bolstering our defensive rebounding.  James/Thomas provides a massive boost to our latent transition game, rebounding and defensive pressure/endurance.

Do you think there is any playing time for James if the Celtics sign Mike Miller?

It's hard to see James getting any court time once Ray, Paul and Miller get theirs ... 5-10 minutes in the regular season but once the playoffs begins it's hard to see James getting on the court.

On another note, it would be interesting to let Ray leave and go big on the wing with Miller, Pierce and James. That would be a big boost to the club's rebounding. An excellent rebounding PG + excellent rebounding SG + excellent rebounding backup wing + a good rebounding backup PG (Nate) and excellent rebounding backup guard (TA). That would be a huge amount of rebounding help from the perimeter players.

Good shooting (Miller, Pierce, James, Nate = 4/6 of the main rotation players) and defensive contributions too (Rondo, Pierce, James, TA = 4/6ths). Although, Pierce would have to take more defensive responsibilities to make for Mike Miller's lack of defensive play which would tire him out more than with Ray(dodgy stamina already). Still, it is a very interesting balance of skills (without Ray Allen).

I think of James as more of a 4 with Mike Miller and more of a 3 with Ty Thomas.

He has the capability of earning minutes at either position.  His length (his standing reach is comparable to those of the "legit" 4s in the draft: Ed Davis, Patrick Patterson and Ekpe Udoh), hops and rebounding ability make him a better option at the 4 than Sheed or Baby, who are better suited to playing the 5 anyway.  I think the rotation could evolve into something similar to what we saw in 08/09, where Posey, Powe, Davis and Scal all got minutes at the 4 depending on the match-up.  I'm confident that James would rise to pre-eminence at the back-up 4 spot by the playoffs, thanks to his transition game, his range shooting and his general hustle.


My ideal rotation would be the existing starting 5, with 6 bench roles: scoring from the point (Nate), lockdown defense from the wing (TA), shooting from the wing (either Miller or James), athleticism/rebounding at the 4 (James or Thomas), perimeter shooting from the 4/5 (Sheed) and extra beef, i.e. an additional capable 4/5 available in times of injury or foul trouble (Baby).

So essentially, James would get Baby's (or I guess Sheed's) minutes in the Miller scenario and Finley's minutes plus some of Ray/Pierce's in the Thomas scenario.

Of final note, I agree it would be interesting to outright replace Ray Allen with Miller, but as long as ownership is willing to spend on both, I'd much rather have both.  The combination of Ray and Miller would propel us back to the heights our offense achieved in 2009 with Ray and Eddie as two game-changers from deep.

Completely agree.  In theory, If we added Miller and Damion James, James becomes the explosive 4 who hopefully hits from outside.  At some point there will be minutes at the 3 as well.

[xmuscularghandix]

I'd prefer Al Harrington. A big who can play the PF and C position.

He can also score and rebound. Basically another Perk but better offensively. Plus isn't he friends with Pierce? If they were able to court Sheed last year, I can't imagine doing the same with Harrington would be difficult.

Al Harrington is actually more of a PF/SF ‘tweener.

I’d compare him to a poor man’s Pierce. Differences is he isn’t as good a scorer, and his handle isn’t as good.

[JSD]

I'm confused. Why are we to conclude that Tyrus thomas can be had for the MLE? I don't believe that to be the case...