Avery Bradley = End of Nate Robinson

[gar]

Agree, Nate brought energy; but Bradley has the complete package. The key is you can pair him with Rondo for a very quick back court and even play Tony at SF. I also like AB and TA better that Nate and TA. So think the guards are in good shape. Need a SF and PF/C. Gaffney and Hangordy together won't cut it; but one may stick.

[Kane3387]

I don't think we have two mle holes... Look at our rotation last year in the playoffs:

Starters - Rondo, Ray, Pierce, KG, Perk
Bench - Sheed, Baby, TA, Nate

This year we will have more than likely:

Starters - Rondo, Ray, Pierce, KG, Perk
Bench - MLE, Baby, TA, Avery, and maybe Erden for foul trouble

Maybe we use Sheed's contract... There has been no word as of late that the C's are even considering that. The MLE will definitely be used on a big guy to replace Sheed and fill in for Perk at the beginning of the year.

As for Avery I don't see Monte, but I do see George Hill. I think Rondo and Avery definitely have the potential to be a Tony Parker/George Hill combination where Rondo starts like Parker does. Avery backs up Rondo like Hill does Parker and then there are times they play together. The Spurs this year played Hill and Parker a lot during crunch time together.

The pick is a good move because Rondo will suffer injury at some point with the way he throws his body around and having Avery could prove very important if that were to happen.

[Drucci]

I loved Nate's tenure as a Celtic but it seems it has come to an end already with Bradley's arrival, indeed.

[Kane3387]

Also another note. I think Ta is back since we have bird rights. Just because Avery supposedly can D up does not mean he can guard guys like Kobe and Lebron. He doesn't have the size or strength to do that.

TA wants to stay and I think he proved enough in the playoffs with his defense that we will keep him. I just can't see a team giving him anything better then a last season-like, Dahnty Jones, Indiana Pacer's, type Contract. Not with a new CBA right around the corner and the fact he is 28 and has probably peaked already.

[the_Bird]

Also another note. I think Ta is back since we have bird rights. Just because Avery supposedly can D up does not mean he can guard guys like Kobe and Lebron. He doesn't have the size or strength to do that.

TA wants to stay and I think he proved enough in the playoffs with his defense that we will keep him. I just can't see a team giving him anything better then a last season-like, Dahnty Jones, Indiana Pacer's, type Contract. Not with a new CBA right around the corner and the fact he is 28 and has probably peaked already.

It's not just that we now have Avery.  I'm assuming that they'll use the MLE to bring aboard a better, bigger wing player (Mike Miller, Outlaw, etc).  Tony Allen, right now, is the third wing; he really ought to be the fourth wing in next year's rotation, behind Paul, Ray, and MLE-player-TBD. 

You aren't going to pay too much for the guy you expect to only play 10 minutes a game, especially when you'd like some of those minutes to go to the kid you just drafted.

[mafalda.vamos]

don't know what to say
i love Nate
hope Avery suits our team

[Mr October]

Yup I think Nate is gone. Even if the Celtics find a veteran backup 1 for this coming season, they only need said veteran for 1 year. Nate's going to be looking for more years.

I'm not convinced Bradley will be able to crack the rotation on a contender right away, but we'll see. I haven't seen him play yet. A year from now, I would think he'd be ready.

[SalmonAndMashedPotatoes]

I think Nate is gone. With the addition of Bradley it seems highly unlikely we use some or all of the mle to bring him back, which we would have to do be he has no bird rights and we are over the cap.

I think most of us realized that we were only bringing one of Nate and TA back if we brought back either. Since we actually have TA's bird rights and he plays the wing position I think he stays and Nate is gone.

No way the team uses the mle on Nate when they desperately need a quality big to replace Sheed and fill in for Perk.

Avery Bradley impacts the Nate Robinson situation very little if at all.

First things first, we can resign Nate without using the MLE.  It's true we don't have his "Bird Rights," but we can still sign him without the MLE to a contract worth 120% of his 2009-2010 salary, meaning we could offer him a 2010-2011 salary of at least 4.8 million dollars.  I doubt he garners that much on the open market.

Second, Bradley is 19 years old, and I dare you to name me the last championship caliber team who had a 19 year old contributor coming off their bench.  Outside of Magic Johnson, they don't come around often.  Best case scenario, Bradley is a situational player who can come in and play good defense for 5 minute stretches.  But we'll still need veteran backups at the 1 and 2. 

Third, Danny rarely lets assets walk away.  Nate is an asset and assuming he can't get a better deal elsewhere, I expect Danny to sign him to a 2-year contract, let him absorb the Celtic way, build up his trade value, and then use him down the line to improve the team via trade.

Personally, I expect Ray, Tony, and Nate to all be back, assuming some team doesn't come in and overpay them.  I expect Sheed to be traded to some team looking to clear cap space, and I expect us to use the full MLE on a veteran free agent.

[birdwatcher]

Nate definitely out. Rondo and Bradley playing at the same time is a terrible idea though, IMO. One guy can't shoot, one guy can't drive, they're both short and neither can hit FT.

[LarBrd33]

Nate Robinson = End of Nate Robinson

The guy is a bum.

Bradley will get no playing time either, though.  Dleaguer for sure.

[Jon]

I think Nate is gone. With the addition of Bradley it seems highly unlikely we use some or all of the mle to bring him back, which we would have to do be he has no bird rights and we are over the cap.

I think most of us realized that we were only bringing one of Nate and TA back if we brought back either. Since we actually have TA's bird rights and he plays the wing position I think he stays and Nate is gone.

No way the team uses the mle on Nate when they desperately need a quality big to replace Sheed and fill in for Perk.

Second, Bradley is 19 years old, and I dare you to name me the last championship caliber team who had a 19 year old contributor coming off their bench.  Outside of Magic Johnson, they don't come around often.  Best case scenario, Bradley is a situational player who can come in and play good defense for 5 minute stretches.  But we'll still need veteran backups at the 1 and 2. 

True.  But do we need any more than 1 or 2 5-minute stretches of good defense from our backup PG in a playoff game?  That's all Nate got to play on a good day anyway.  

And aren't we good enough to afford him more minutes during the regular season to give Rondo a few more minutes of rest?

I hear you, but backing up Rondo is a pretty limited job.  I think Bradley can do it.  Though I wouldn't count on him to be a combo guard dynamo who can spell Rondo and Ray and put up 15 ppg this season, I don't think it's unreasonable for him to bring the ball up the court, hit some shots, and play killer D.    

[Kane3387]

I think Nate is gone. With the addition of Bradley it seems highly unlikely we use some or all of the mle to bring him back, which we would have to do be he has no bird rights and we are over the cap.

I think most of us realized that we were only bringing one of Nate and TA back if we brought back either. Since we actually have TA's bird rights and he plays the wing position I think he stays and Nate is gone.

No way the team uses the mle on Nate when they desperately need a quality big to replace Sheed and fill in for Perk.

Avery Bradley impacts the Nate Robinson situation very little if at all.

First things first, we can resign Nate without using the MLE.  It's true we don't have his "Bird Rights," but we can still sign him without the MLE to a contract worth 120% of his 2009-2010 salary, meaning we could offer him a 2010-2011 salary of at least 4.8 million dollars.  I doubt he garners that much on the open market.

Second, Bradley is 19 years old, and I dare you to name me the last championship caliber team who had a 19 year old contributor coming off their bench.  Outside of Magic Johnson, they don't come around often.  Best case scenario, Bradley is a situational player who can come in and play good defense for 5 minute stretches.  But we'll still need veteran backups at the 1 and 2. 

Third, Danny rarely lets assets walk away.  Nate is an asset and assuming he can't get a better deal elsewhere, I expect Danny to sign him to a 2-year contract, let him absorb the Celtic way, build up his trade value, and then use him down the line to improve the team via trade.

Personally, I expect Ray, Tony, and Nate to all be back, assuming some team doesn't come in and overpay them.  I expect Sheed to be traded to some team looking to clear cap space, and I expect us to use the full MLE on a veteran free agent.

Can you please post a link to give credence to this statement? I might have to change my tune if there is truth to this.

[Kane3387]

I think Nate is gone. With the addition of Bradley it seems highly unlikely we use some or all of the mle to bring him back, which we would have to do be he has no bird rights and we are over the cap.

I think most of us realized that we were only bringing one of Nate and TA back if we brought back either. Since we actually have TA's bird rights and he plays the wing position I think he stays and Nate is gone.

No way the team uses the mle on Nate when they desperately need a quality big to replace Sheed and fill in for Perk.

Second, Bradley is 19 years old, and I dare you to name me the last championship caliber team who had a 19 year old contributor coming off their bench.  Outside of Magic Johnson, they don't come around often.  Best case scenario, Bradley is a situational player who can come in and play good defense for 5 minute stretches.  But we'll still need veteran backups at the 1 and 2. 

True.  But do we need any more than 1 or 2 5-minute stretches of good defense from our backup PG in a playoff game?  That's all Nate got to play on a good day anyway.  

And aren't we good enough to afford him more minutes during the regular season to give Rondo a few more minutes of rest?

I hear you, but backing up Rondo is a pretty limited job.  I think Bradley can do it.  Though I wouldn't count on him to be a combo guard dynamo who can spell Rondo and Ray and put up 15 ppg this season, I don't think it's unreasonable for him to bring the ball up the court, hit some shots, and play killer D.    

Definitely do not think Bradley will be a stud right out of the gate, but I do think his career could be very similar to George Hill's career. His first year he showed plenty of flashes and this year he became a solid contributor - talking of Hill. I don't think Bradley will be a game changer overnight but I expect to see progress from him sooner than later. The fact he has the mid range game is big because it will open the court so much for him. We are lucky he slipped to us and I think he will have a spot in our rotation before the year is done.

[birdwatcher]

Yes, he needs to play more than 5 minutes! Rondo was GASSED at the end of game 7. Nate had limited minutes because he just doesn't make the best decisions and tends to over play people, gamble on d or just miss rotations all together. Luckily he didn't chuck up too many ill advised threes...

[Jon]

Yes, he needs to play more than 5 minutes! Rondo was GASSED at the end of game 7. Nate had limited minutes because he just doesn't make the best decisions and tends to over play people, gamble on d or just miss rotations all together. Luckily he didn't chuck up too many ill advised threes...

Don't know if you were talking to me, but I said 1-2 5 minute spurts, which could be up to 10 mpg.  There's really no reason why Rondo can't play 38 mpg in a playoff game.  And there's really no reason Bradley can't play 10 mpg.