Jermaine O'Neal- "I am going to try and talk Sheed into coming back "

[LooseCannon]

Obviously, we become overloaded at the 4/5 position once Perk comes back, as there's no way we're finding minutes for KG, JO, BBD, Sheed, and Perk.  And obviously we'd be weak at the 2/3 spots with nothing but the minimum to work with. 

There's always going to be concern about KG's health.  The main problem with JO is that he is not particularly durable and a decent bet to miss a dozen games.  Perk may be at half-speed when he comes back.  I don't think it is a bad thing to have depth at the 4/5.

[guava_wrench]

If we can't trade the contract, sure.  In that instance, I'd love to agree to a full buyout of Rasheed's contract, and then maybe re-sign him after the All-star break.

Why would Rasheed do that?  If he wants to play basketball again, there is no way I see him walking away from $12 million, just to be able to work out at home, instead of with the team (if you call what he does early in the season working out).

I think there is a zero percent chance of this happening.  He is either here on his current contract, or he retires, no in between.

A buyout does the exact same thing as a retirement does for him right now; he still won't be collecting checks.

However, lots of players change their minds about retirement.  Rasheed may want a chance to refresh his batteries, and he could potentially want another chance to compete when the playoffs get closer.

What a buyout, rather than a retirement, does for the team is that it allows Rasheed to come back before sitting out an entire year.

Actually, a buyout leaves more options available for a player than outright retirement. Outright retirement when still under contract means that the teams get to vote about whether he should be allowed to un-retire and sign with the Celtics.

[guava_wrench]

If we can't trade the contract, sure.  In that instance, I'd love to agree to a full buyout of Rasheed's contract, and then maybe re-sign him after the All-star break.

Why would Rasheed do that?  If he wants to play basketball again, there is no way I see him walking away from $12 million, just to be able to work out at home, instead of with the team (if you call what he does early in the season working out).

I think there is a zero percent chance of this happening.  He is either here on his current contract, or he retires, no in between.

A buyout does the exact same thing as a retirement does for him right now; he still won't be collecting checks.

However, lots of players change their minds about retirement.  Rasheed may want a chance to refresh his batteries, and he could potentially want another chance to compete when the playoffs get closer.

What a buyout, rather than a retirement, does for the team is that it allows Rasheed to come back before sitting out an entire year.

Well, you can think that, but I will bet you anything, Sheed does not do that.  Sheed won't give up that kind of money lightly, and if he retires, he will retire completely.

Max brought up a good point about sheeds contract a few months ago. Sheed is pretty much playing for the minimum already if you consider

He will make maybe 3 mil after taxes
He had to move his family across the country and get a new place
Has to pay people to watch his other properties

So after all that he is probably making 1 or 2 mil on his contract

Wouldn't it make sense for him to get paid about 2 mil by being bought out? He could stay at home with the family and be rested for a playoff run

The tax argument doesn't make much sense since he would have to pay taxes on a minimum contract too.

The property argument also doesn't make sense since those are assets. If he doesn't want to sell his property in such a bad market, I don't see that as being relevant, unless you are saying he is paying $1m a year in rent here in Boston.

[Chris]

If we can't trade the contract, sure.  In that instance, I'd love to agree to a full buyout of Rasheed's contract, and then maybe re-sign him after the All-star break.

Why would Rasheed do that?  If he wants to play basketball again, there is no way I see him walking away from $12 million, just to be able to work out at home, instead of with the team (if you call what he does early in the season working out).

I think there is a zero percent chance of this happening.  He is either here on his current contract, or he retires, no in between.

A buyout does the exact same thing as a retirement does for him right now; he still won't be collecting checks.

However, lots of players change their minds about retirement.  Rasheed may want a chance to refresh his batteries, and he could potentially want another chance to compete when the playoffs get closer.

What a buyout, rather than a retirement, does for the team is that it allows Rasheed to come back before sitting out an entire year.

Actually, a buyout leaves more options available for a player than outright retirement. Outright retirement when still under contract means that the teams get to vote about whether he should be allowed to un-retire and sign with the Celtics.

Absolutely.  But I don't know how anyone can look at Rasheed, and his body of work, and think "there is a guy who will leave $12 million on the table to take 6 months off, and then come back to play for the vet minimum to that same team". 

I personally do not think Sheed is the type of guy who needs to get every penny, but I also think he is the type of guy who links money with respect.  And I think he would not feel respected if he walked away from $12 million, and then when he wanted to come back, all they gave him was the minimum.

...well, and I also think he is the type of guy who will not want to ever run again, once he finds that comfy spot on the couch with his funyans in one hand, and his Miller light in the other.

[Jon]

Obviously, we become overloaded at the 4/5 position once Perk comes back, as there's no way we're finding minutes for KG, JO, BBD, Sheed, and Perk.  And obviously we'd be weak at the 2/3 spots with nothing but the minimum to work with. 

There's always going to be concern about KG's health.  The main problem with JO is that he is not particularly durable and a decent bet to miss a dozen games.  Perk may be at half-speed when he comes back.  I don't think it is a bad thing to have depth at the 4/5.

But it's a bad thing to have depth at the 4/5 if it's at the expense of the 2/3.

As for KG, you're right, he is fragile.  But as far as I'm concerned, if KG goes down, we're not winning #18.  So having BBD and Perk around isn't going to change that.  And if KG simply goes down for 10-15 games, we'll still make the playoffs regardless of who is backing him up. 

[GreenEnvy]

If we really can't get anything of value for his contract, then I like it.

It is insurance as to whether Perk will come back strong and ready.

I guess I won't mind:

Rondo/Robinson
Allen/Bradley
Pierce/Barnes(?)
Garnett/Davis
O'Neal/Wallace/Perkins

One more vet min at SG would be nice, but I haven't the faintest clue who.

[17wasEZ]

Jermaine should try to talk his mid-range jumper into coming back. That would help the Celtics more than anything.

[ForexPirate]

that would be great if sheed came back - then i would trade bbd who won't be with us next year for a back-up 3.   

[xmuscularghandix]

I thought Danny killed this this morning with his unequivocal statement that Sheed is retiring.  But JO has to revive it, so the conversation will continue until Sheed is finally traded.  JO just lost some points with me. 

What minimum big man is better than Rasheed?

KG/Baby/Scal
O’Neal/Wallace/(Perkins)

I don’t see this as a log jam, i don’t see this as a bad thing... i’d much rather have our strength be Miami’s weakness than to be throwing money against the wall with mediocre wings.

Bosh will be a defensive hole in the post against KG, Sheed, and J.O. This will create double teams and allow us to get good looks. This is how we’ll beat them in the playoffs. EXPLOIT Bosh. EXPLOIT Wade. EXPLOIT ANY PG that they sign.

[xmuscularghandix]

that would be great if sheed came back - then i would trade bbd who won't be with us next year for a back-up 3.   

No way... you don’t trade your young player who has a very good contract and keep all 32+ players to hold down the position. I think Baby is more valuable than any Wings.

Although i understand we need depth at wing.

[Chris]

I thought Danny killed this this morning with his unequivocal statement that Sheed is retiring.  But JO has to revive it, so the conversation will continue until Sheed is finally traded.  JO just lost some points with me. 

What minimum big man is better than Rasheed?

KG/Baby/Scal
O’Neal/Wallace/(Perkins)

I don’t see this as a log jam, i don’t see this as a bad thing... i’d much rather have our strength be Miami’s weakness than to be throwing money against the wall with mediocre wings.

Bosh will be a defensive hole in the post against KG, Sheed, and J.O. This will create double teams and allow us to get good looks. This is how we’ll beat them in the playoffs. EXPLOIT Bosh. EXPLOIT Wade. EXPLOIT ANY PG that they sign.

No vet minimum bigs are as good as Sheed, but I strongly feel this team will be in better shape if they could use Sheed to get a third wing, rather than having him be the 5th big.

[GreenEnvy]

I thought Danny killed this this morning with his unequivocal statement that Sheed is retiring.  But JO has to revive it, so the conversation will continue until Sheed is finally traded.  JO just lost some points with me. 

What minimum big man is better than Rasheed?

KG/Baby/Scal
O’Neal/Wallace/(Perkins)

I don’t see this as a log jam, i don’t see this as a bad thing... i’d much rather have our strength be Miami’s weakness than to be throwing money against the wall with mediocre wings.

Bosh will be a defensive hole in the post against KG, Sheed, and J.O. This will create double teams and allow us to get good looks. This is how we’ll beat them in the playoffs. EXPLOIT Bosh. EXPLOIT Wade. EXPLOIT ANY PG that they sign.

Ya think?

[More Banners]

I'd rather just let Sheed retire and get nothing in return than watch him half-ass it through the regular season again.

As for filling out the roster, if we go with a running lineup, BBD and KG can share time at the 5 with JO; we would need an athleticish PF in that case (such as James Singleton), or one with some versatility on the perimeter and passing ability(such as Scal).  It's plausible, and with Rondo, the smaller option might work, going with more talented mobility vs. less talented length?  I would sign both guys and give Doc more options.

[manl_lui]

as everyone in the above said, we do not know Perkin's timetable so as of right now, we need to load up the 4/5 as well

however i do agree the 3 is the most important now since we lost TA

I'm going to say it, Barnes might be a nice addition to our team. Dude plays decent defense and can shoot the 3...

but since Perk our defensive anchor is out til february or even early March, i do not think KG, BBD, and JO is enough...need one more

too bad we do not know exactly if Sheed is 100% on retiring cuz we could use his contract to get one more big or a combo trade

[alley oop]

Another big is also needed to deal with a Lakers team with a healthy Bynum.