Would you consider this if Ray Allen signs elsewhere?

[KG_ended_Bias]

Although it will make our overall team age a little older. Would you consider signing Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady together for our LLE exception or the veterans minimum and have the 2 battle it out for the starting 2 guard role in camp. And have the loser become our super 6th or 7th man off the bench. I mention Iverson because he said he is willing now to make up to his longtime supporters and play any role a team offers to him, and he is finally ready to buy into being the perfect TEAMMATE. Along with this move I would definitely give Shaq the Mid level exception for 2years being Perks out until Dec-Jan. With those 3 guys our TEAM would become the best in the NBA I believe because would be so deep. Starting SHAQ, Garnett, Pierce, McGrady and Rondo would be Terrific. The energy guys like Iverson, T. Allen or Nate Robinson, Big Baby, Harangody and Perk would be a freat productive bench. We would still need a cheap intagible SF to fill in somewhere. Cough, Cough Gerald Green back form Russia. Im sure he would play for peanuts at a chance for redemption or Tony Gaffney. But all in all We have lots of scoring off of that bench and the toughness and rebounding we lacked in the Finals. Baby, Haragody and Perk would have ownership on the backboards offensively and defensively while Perk could be the glue that makes that 2nd unit buy into defense like the 1st unit. Those are my thoughts anybody else buy into this notion?

[Kiorrik]

I think it sounds good, but I know zilch about basketball :p

[GreenEnvy]

I wouldn't be opposed to signing McGrady for the vet's minimum, but I heard he was making noise that he still believes he's a starter (which is pretty crazy). I don't see the need for Iverson, because regardless of his new attitude torwards the game (which is about a decade too late), the ONLY thing he does well is score at a very inefficient rate. He can't defend or rebound, while McGrady has length to succeed at both (can play the 2 and the 3).

I don't see Ray not coming back, but I would still like McGrady if we don't land someone big like Miller or Morrow, but we don't have the LLE this season (Daniels last year), and he's not worth using part of the MLE on and possibly missing out on a better player.

As for Shaq, ehhhh.... I don't know about the MLE on him for two seasons (he'd be a $6 million 350 lb 40-year-old center). I'd rather get a quality backup wing (assuming Ray does indeed come back) and have someone like Ben Wallace (vet min) hold down the fort until the All-Star Break.

And I don't like Perk with the second unit for offensive reasons. What he lacks on offense is masked by the other 4 starters. If it's Shaq we do land, all you have to do is let him get position and feed him, he can still take care of that if he catches it deep in the post. If we nab Ben, scoring again will be a problem, unless of course we can also get Miller/Morrow and TMac, with possibly Nate.

[thedawg]

Although this was a nice try I would suggest we looked elsewhere if Ray signs with another team. Iverson doesnt know what the word "Team" means and McGrady is like a cat without the 9 lives. Besides, Pierce and KG are both close to running on an empty tank (1/5th left for Pierce) and we need to upgrade the team with youth now in my opinion.

[GreenEnvy]

Although this was a nice try I would suggest we looked elsewhere if Ray signs with another team. Iverson doesnt know what the word "Team" means and McGrady is like a cat without the 9 lives. Besides, Pierce and KG are both close to running on an empty tank (1/5th left for Pierce) and we need to upgrade the team with youth now in my opinion.

I don't get the negativity. Pierce is running on E? Did you see him come up huge several times in the playoffs? He had to guard/be guarded by Lebron in one series and be guarded by Artest in the Finals. I think he played rather well, maybe not 2008 well, but he's not exactly the shell of his former self that some make him out to be. He came up huge against Miami, owned Orlando, and had some good games against LA. His regular season was plagued by freak injuries, nothing worrisome.

And although KG will be another year older, he should have better mobility in that knee after a full offseason of his usual regimen and a training camp with no limitations. Look for a decrease in his regular season minutes with some games off in 2011 before the playoffs begin. Add to it maybe the most important thing, confidence (See; Allen, Tony: 2007-08/09).

[nickagneta]

I don't get the love for Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson. Never have, never will. I have always despised the "it's all about me" style of basketball that became so pervasive once Michael Jordan started winning titles. All kids who feel in love with him saw was the scoring and one on one moves. They never saw the great passing, the great defense, the great leadership or the great decision making.

So what happened. We saw a generation of "me" basketball, "me" NBA marketing and "me" fans.

The NBA Dunk Contest, the NBA Three Point Contest, the scoring point guard, jersey sales geared towards the name on the back not on the front, Ricky Davis shooting at his own basket to get a triple double, Shawn Marion saying he would rather be a 30 point scoring MVP of a bad team than a star among many on the Suns, Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Stephon Marbury, Gilbert Arenas, LeBron James. The list goes on and on of players that are more concerned with getting their's than they are about being one of 15 on a championship team.

No, to TMac. No, Iverson. No to those losers that think more about their stat sheets and paycheck than they do the team winning.

[GreenEnvy]

I don't get the love for Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson. Never have, never will. I have always despised the "it's all about me" style of basketball that became so pervasive once Michael Jordan started winning titles. All kids who feel in love with him saw was the scoring and one on one moves. They never saw the great passing, the great defense, the great leadership or the great decision making.

So what happened. We saw a generation of "me" basketball, "me" NBA marketing and "me" fans.

The NBA Dunk Contest, the NBA Three Point Contest, the scoring point guard, jersey sales geared towards the name on the back not on the front, Ricky Davis shooting at his own basket to get a triple double, Shawn Marion saying he would rather be a 30 point scoring MVP of a bad team than a star among many on the Suns, Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Stephon Marbury, Gilbert Arenas, LeBron James. The list goes on and on of players that are more concerned with getting their's than they are about being one of 15 on a championship team.

No, to TMac. No, Iverson. No to those losers that think more about their stat sheets and paycheck than they do the team winning.

I think you have a problem with the state of the league, not TMac/Iverson.

Players CAN change. I have more (but not a whole lot) faith in TMac to sacrifice for the team than Iverson solely because he is more capable at this point in time. Neither has anything to gain by going out there and scoring 20ppg on 40% shooting. Both can elevate their "legacy" by being a solid role player and winning a championship.

For these Celtics, for their needs, TMac can fit. TMac and Yao worked for a while, but I don't know exactly what went wrong so quickly. He was a pretty good passer and rebounder and decent defender, so I think you are wrong on that account (unless you were referring to AI, you didn't make it clear).

But like I said, if TMac is still looking to start, let him go start for a lottery bound team. If he can swallow his pride and put all his energy into 10-15 minutes a game, there may be a spot on this team for him. He can still score, find the open man, grab weak-side rebounds, etc. He just can't carry a team anymore (debatable if he ever could, but that's besides the point).


And BTW, with this core, and the coaching staff, every ego brought in was held in check. From Marbury to Nate to Rasheed. Regardless of how they played, their were no character issues whatsoever while employed by the C's.

[2short]

I don't get the love for Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson. Never have, never will. I have always despised the "it's all about me" style of basketball that became so pervasive once Michael Jordan started winning titles. All kids who feel in love with him saw was the scoring and one on one moves. They never saw the great passing, the great defense, the great leadership or the great decision making.

So what happened. We saw a generation of "me" basketball, "me" NBA marketing and "me" fans.

The NBA Dunk Contest, the NBA Three Point Contest, the scoring point guard, jersey sales geared towards the name on the back not on the front, Ricky Davis shooting at his own basket to get a triple double, Shawn Marion saying he would rather be a 30 point scoring MVP of a bad team than a star among many on the Suns, Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Stephon Marbury, Gilbert Arenas, LeBron James. The list goes on and on of players that are more concerned with getting their's than they are about being one of 15 on a championship team.

No, to TMac. No, Iverson. No to those losers that think more about their stat sheets and paycheck than they do the team winning.

tp
wow
but also no tmac, no iverson

[Cman]

I don't get the love for Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson. Never have, never will. I have always despised the "it's all about me" style of basketball that became so pervasive once Michael Jordan started winning titles. All kids who feel in love with him saw was the scoring and one on one moves. They never saw the great passing, the great defense, the great leadership or the great decision making.

So what happened. We saw a generation of "me" basketball, "me" NBA marketing and "me" fans.

The NBA Dunk Contest, the NBA Three Point Contest, the scoring point guard, jersey sales geared towards the name on the back not on the front, Ricky Davis shooting at his own basket to get a triple double, Shawn Marion saying he would rather be a 30 point scoring MVP of a bad team than a star among many on the Suns, Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Stephon Marbury, Gilbert Arenas, LeBron James. The list goes on and on of players that are more concerned with getting their's than they are about being one of 15 on a championship team.

No, to TMac. No, Iverson. No to those losers that think more about their stat sheets and paycheck than they do the team winning.

Wonderfully stated.  I feel like mailing a copy to David Stern as well.

[Celtics Insider]

Both are washed up, but to even call either of them vet. min. players is insulting.

[KG_ended_Bias]

Both are washed up, but to even call either of them vet. min. players is insulting.

Half the league is washed up! But roles have to be filled and I trust someone who has done great things and knows how to play than scrubs who has never done it. We employed alot of bums in our day, I'm sure they could help if their attitudes are indeed in check. 75-80 Percent of those guys are better than anything else we could get off the street trust me!

[GreenEnvy]

Both are washed up, but to even call either of them vet. min. players is insulting.

Their play and attitudes have been insulting to their respective teams and fans the last couple years.

The vet minimum is $1.35 million this season. If two career losers want a chance at winning, they need to accept that salary (both made 9 figures easy in their careers, not even including endorsements). Otherwise go play for $2-4 million a year more and take a nice long vacation the middle of April.

Easy choice IMO.

[boscel33]

personally, i don't believe it's if, but when.  james resigns with cleveland and gets ray to join him there.  that's my thoughts.  we should have traded ray at the deadline!  who's to say that we don't go that far with what we got for him?

[Evantime34]

With how many roster spots we have to fill out it couldn't hurt. If we are to bring them in, it should be on non guaranteed contracts. Them signing deals like that would show that they are committed to doing whatever the team needs to win.

I think people are too hard on T-Mac. He came off Micro fracture surgery and was not 100% at all last year. After the season he said he is going to train hard (I know the standard party line) but if he didn't feel he was ready he would retire. NBA players especially former star players are proud, so if he's not ready I bet he does retire.

AI's problem is that he has trouble with the idea that he's not the best player on his team anymore. His statement would indicate that he realizes he needs to be a bench player but we wouldn't be able to see until he comes into training camp. If we signed him to a vet min deal and he acted up we simply cut him.

[GreenEnvy]

personally, i don't believe it's if, but when.  james resigns with cleveland and gets ray to join him there.  that's my thoughts.  we should have traded ray at the deadline!  who's to say that we don't go that far with what we got for him?

0% chance of that happening.

He could only take the MLE from Cleveland, so unless they lose their minds and give him a 5 year deal (still only worth like 30-32 million), Celtics can easily give him the 3rd year.

Not happening unless a S&T, which Boston definitely would not do.

NO WAY.....

LBJ and Ray in NYC, maybe (if they could both sign now with STAT's contract)