Nate Close to Signing with the C's

[CelticsWhat35]

If we're counting on Avery Bradley to be a rotation player next season, we're in trouble.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't think of any 20 yr old rookies that ever played a major part on a championship team.

Magic Johnson

Well played sir.  I guess I should've added mid-first rounder.

[wiley]

I definitely like this signing. I like Nate's shooting, his instant energy, and his athleticism.

Still don't understand not bringing back TA because of the extra year he wanted, but this reduces the sting some.

Not signing Tony only makes sense to me if Danny ends up paying a signifigant amount for another back up wing. If he doesn't, ugh.....

The only explanation I can think of is that Danny is comfortable that Bradley can replicate Tony's defense. 

I feel better relying on Bradley for defense at the point rather than on the wing.

I am uncomfortable with the thought of him defending wing players. An unproven undersized tweener.

I think, based on reports, that he'll defend the 2 quite well right off the bat.  Defending the 3?  That would be weird.  I think Tony Allen's wing defense will be Bradley at the 2 and a Free Agent at the 3.

6 foot 3 and 180lbs

That looks like a big risk to me. A big leap to assume he can defend the two guard position at a high level as a rookie.

Standing reach is only 8 foot 2.5 inches. That's good for a point guard but small for a two guard. Same size as Luther Head or Jeff Teague. He is Ben Gordon's size (a bit smaller even). Big leap, big leap.

I am uncomfortable entering the season with those types of expectations on Bradley.

But bench defense at the 2 is a lower expectation than any minutes at all at PG imo.  Also think as a bench defender his defensive talent will outweigh is lack of size.

[bagleybeard]

If we're counting on Avery Bradley to be a rotation player next season, we're in trouble.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't think of any 20 yr old rookies that ever played a major part on a championship team.

Magic Johnson

Well played sir.  I guess I should've added mid-first rounder.

Tony Parker

[rondohondo]

If we're counting on Avery Bradley to be a rotation player next season, we're in trouble.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't think of any 20 yr old rookies that ever played a major part on a championship team.

Magic Johnson

Well played sir.  I guess I should've added mid-first rounder.

Tony Parker

Manu Ginobali was a late 2nd round pick and I think they won the title that year...

[Jeff]

Rondo might as well have been a rookie in 08 - the 07 team was pretty much D-League

[Cman]

Welcome back Nate!

He'll play some PG, some SG off the bench.  I like him, I still think he can be a diamond in the rough player, and he fills a need.

Next up, use Sheeds contract to address the backup wing position!

[CelticsWhat35]

If we're counting on Avery Bradley to be a rotation player next season, we're in trouble.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't think of any 20 yr old rookies that ever played a major part on a championship team.

Magic Johnson

Well played sir.  I guess I should've added mid-first rounder.

Tony Parker

Yeah, I thought of Parker too.  Although they didn't win it until his second year, and he also played 2 seasons professionally before coming to the NBA.  But he did play a sizable role on a 58 win team as a rookie, so I'll give ya that one.

[CelticsWhat35]

If we're counting on Avery Bradley to be a rotation player next season, we're in trouble.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't think of any 20 yr old rookies that ever played a major part on a championship team.

Magic Johnson

Well played sir.  I guess I should've added mid-first rounder.

Tony Parker

Manu Ginobali was a late 2nd round pick and I think they won the title that year...

I'm pretty sure Ginobili was already in his mid-20's by the time he joined the Spurs.

[wiley]

I definitely like this signing. I like Nate's shooting, his instant energy, and his athleticism.

Still don't understand not bringing back TA because of the extra year he wanted, but this reduces the sting some.

Not signing Tony only makes sense to me if Danny ends up paying a signifigant amount for another back up wing. If he doesn't, ugh.....

The only explanation I can think of is that Danny is comfortable that Bradley can replicate Tony's defense. 

I feel better relying on Bradley for defense at the point rather than on the wing.

I am uncomfortable with the thought of him defending wing players. An unproven undersized tweener.

I think, based on reports, that he'll defend the 2 quite well right off the bat.  Defending the 3?  That would be weird.  I think Tony Allen's wing defense will be Bradley at the 2 and a Free Agent at the 3.

6 foot 3 and 180lbs

That looks like a big risk to me. A big leap to assume he can defend the two guard position at a high level as a rookie.

Standing reach is only 8 foot 2.5 inches. That's good for a point guard but small for a two guard. Same size as Luther Head or Jeff Teague. He is Ben Gordon's size (a bit smaller even). Big leap, big leap.

I am uncomfortable entering the season with those types of expectations on Bradley.

But bench defense at the 2 is a lower expectation than any minutes at all at PG imo.  Also think as a bench defender his defensive talent will outweigh is lack of size.

On the other hand, they did say they want to see him at PG.  If Nate signs, we could see a Bradely at PG Nate at 2 guard on offense experiment, where they switch roles on defense.  Nate hasn't yet totally proven himself at PG (offense) either......though we saw some good signs.  This is all assuming Bradley is ready to give them minutes.  If he his, we'll probably see plenty of both of them bringing the ball up....

If we land an excellent backup wing who can play both SG and SF, then Nate and Bradley will end up competing for PG minutes, with Nate surely winning early on.....not sure for how long...

[moiso]

Very happy Nate may be back.  We are old and slow at many positions, but Rondo, Bradley, and Nate is a nice athletic trio of midgets.  If we ended up losing TA and Nate, it wouldn't have been good as far as energy is concerned.

[Eddie20]

I definitely like this signing. I like Nate's shooting, his instant energy, and his athleticism.

Still don't understand not bringing back TA because of the extra year he wanted, but this reduces the sting some.

Not signing Tony only makes sense to me if Danny ends up paying a signifigant amount for another back up wing. If he doesn't, ugh.....

The only explanation I can think of is that Danny is comfortable that Bradley can replicate Tony's defense. 

That's exactly it. Another thing that likely impacted the TA decision was his inability to shoot. If he were paired with a good shooting PG it would be a non-issue. However, having TA and Rondo together made Rondo's job increasingly difficult

[Bankshot]

I definitely like this signing. I like Nate's shooting, his instant energy, and his athleticism.

Still don't understand not bringing back TA because of the extra year he wanted, but this reduces the sting some.

Not signing Tony only makes sense to me if Danny ends up paying a signifigant amount for another back up wing. If he doesn't, ugh.....

The only explanation I can think of is that Danny is comfortable that Bradley can replicate Tony's defense.  

That's exactly it. Another thing that likely impacted the TA decision was his inability to shoot. If he were paired with a good shooting PG it would be a non-issue. However, having TA and Rondo together made Rondo's job increasingly difficult

Frankly, I think that Ainge wanted Tony back, but misjudged the situation.  I don't think for a minute that he is comfortable with Bradley defending Wade, Lebron or Kobe. Might as well let Rondo try to defend them, he's about the same weight.

[clover]

Very happy Nate may be back.  We are old and slow at many positions, but Rondo, Bradley, and Nate is a nice athletic trio of midgets.  If we ended up losing TA and Nate, it wouldn't have been good as far as energy is concerned.

So true, re: athletic midgets!  Too bad it wouldn't help to tie some dictionaries to their feet.

[erisred]

I keep coming back to Rasheed Wallace for Marvin Williams. This trade makes all the sense in the world to me.

It did before the Hawks let Childress leave in that S&T. Now they will probably want to keep Williams.

[xmuscularghandix]

I keep coming back to Rasheed Wallace for Marvin Williams. This trade makes all the sense in the world to me.

It did before the Hawks let Childress leave in that S&T. Now they will probably want to keep Williams.

This would allow Atlanta to get their man in Shaq. And save their MLE to get a winger.


Three way trade.

Cleveland gives- Shaq (s/t)
Cleveland gets- ATL 2nd round pick, Bos 2nd round pick

Boston gives- Rasheed Wallace
Boston gets- Marvin Williams

Atlanta gives- Marvin Williams
Atlanta gets- Shaquille O’Neal