Big Baby Must Stay!

[LilRip]

BBD is probably worth around the MLE or maybe even less. i think playing with players they have in the Celtics is a huge boon. If our starting 5 were indeed Erden, BBD, Daniels, Nate and Rondo (a lineup we've seen), then he doesn't seem all that impressive. as another poster has brought up Big Al, i know i'd rather have him in that lineup than BBD.

he's a great guy to have off the bench. but i don't know why we'd be willing to pay a guy 8mil to be in that role. remember when Ariza was playing hardball with the Lakers and wouldn't sign the MLE coz he wanted around 6-8 mil or something? we all thought that Ariza was indispensible as a role player, but the Lakers went and did the right thing and declined signing Ariza for the 6-8mil he was looking for and instead signed Artest. they still won a championship!

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BBD is probably worth around the MLE or maybe even less. i think playing with players they have in the Celtics is a huge boon. If our starting 5 were indeed Erden, BBD, Daniels, Nate and Rondo (a lineup we've seen), then he doesn't seem all that impressive. as another poster has brought up Big Al, i know i'd rather have him in that lineup than BBD.

he's a great guy to have off the bench. but i don't know why we'd be willing to pay a guy 8mil to be in that role. remember when Ariza was playing hardball with the Lakers and wouldn't sign the MLE coz he wanted around 6-8 mil or something? we all thought that Ariza was indispensible as a role player, but the Lakers went and did the right thing and declined signing Ariza for the 6-8mil he was looking for and instead signed Artest. they still won a championship!

Well, I suppose there's a good case that can be made that a 1st big off the bench can be worth the MLE at least.  If Al Harrington and Gooden can each get the MLE just this past summer, I'd say that BBD has upside at least as high as Al Harrington and Gooden played last year:  Borderline starter-level role players who have a decent enough level of versatility to be useful to many teams.

Of course, I wouldn't really want either guy on my team, and wouldn't want to tie up that kind of money in a borderline starter/role player longer than I had the stars locked up for, so I'd say BBD's days in Boston are numbered, one way or another.

[Jon]

But again, it's not just about what he's worth.  It's about what he does to our salary cap during the transition years.  We're going to need at least one other stud via free agency, if not more, to get back to contending after Ray and KG go. 

If BBD prevents us from obtaining a big name star, it's not worth keeping him. 

[Bankshot]

But again, it's not just about what he's worth.  It's about what he does to our salary cap during the transition years.  We're going to need at least one other stud via free agency, if not more, to get back to contending after Ray and KG go. 

If BBD prevents us from obtaining a big name star, it's not worth keeping him. 

But you still have to have a bench and having a guy like Big Baby is nothing but a plus.  I don't think an MLE contract will prevent the Celtics from getting a big star, especially after KG, Ray and Paul are gone.

[KGs Knee]

This season seems to be proving Glen is really good at what he does.  Energy, hustle, decent offense, and decent defense.  He is exactly the type of player a good to excellent team needs, a sixth man type of player.  Davis can fill in occasionally as a starter, and can give you 30 minutes as a bench player.

This is almost square in MLE or slightly higher range as far a money.  I could see a team like Chicago, maybe even Orlando offering him multiple years in this range.  Unfortunately for Davis, who knows what is going to happen with the new CBA.  Bad year to be a free agent.

As far as the Celtics are concerned, a lot will depend on the new CBA (I know, not breaking news).  Under the current CBA, we could always give him a 1 year deal worth well more than any other team if we won't give him multiple years.  I feel the Celtics would be ok paying Davis anything any other team would, but probably not for multiple seasons.

[thirstyboots18]

The way I see it is the choice is Glen's.  Should he stay on the bench for the Celtics, or should he go for possibly more money as a starter on a different team.  (That depends on the lock out and whether our starters will be back, too.)

[snively]

Glen Davis continues to be unimpressive in big minutes.

He is an end of bench player and I would be very reluctant to give him a large/long contract.

Agreed.  Baby is too much of a liability on the boards and too vulnerable defensively to lock in as a 25-30 minute player. 

His versatility and intelligence on both sides of the ball make him a great fill-in player for a frontcourt as injury-ravaged as ours has been, but I think his skill level and flair for the dramatic can blind people to his weaknesses. 

For every charge taken, hustle board and clutch J, there's an easy big man score, easy offensive board and bricked J.  Baby at his best is often a net 0, giving and taking away in equal quantities.  That's actually something of a compliment, as so many back-up bigs are consistent net negatives (Erden, Sheed last year), but it certainly doesn't make him building block material.

[Jon]

But again, it's not just about what he's worth.  It's about what he does to our salary cap during the transition years.  We're going to need at least one other stud via free agency, if not more, to get back to contending after Ray and KG go. 

If BBD prevents us from obtaining a big name star, it's not worth keeping him. 

But you still have to have a bench and having a guy like Big Baby is nothing but a plus.  I don't think an MLE contract will prevent the Celtics from getting a big star, especially after KG, Ray and Paul are gone.

But the thing about MLE guys is that (assuming the MLE stays), the MLE is something you can use after you go over the cap.  The problem with BBD isn't so much the money, but when we have to spend it: before we sign a big name free agent. 

[Fafnir]

But again, it's not just about what he's worth.  It's about what he does to our salary cap during the transition years.  We're going to need at least one other stud via free agency, if not more, to get back to contending after Ray and KG go. 

If BBD prevents us from obtaining a big name star, it's not worth keeping him. 

But you still have to have a bench and having a guy like Big Baby is nothing but a plus.  I don't think an MLE contract will prevent the Celtics from getting a big star, especially after KG, Ray and Paul are gone.

It easily could, especially since Danny also has to consider Perkins and his contract situation.

Rondo
Pierce (he's on a 4 year deal remember)
Perkins
Davis

Easily will tie up enough money to prevent the C's from having much freedom, if we keep everyone.

[LB3533]

4-2 when Davis plays 30+ minutes.

2-0 when he plays 37+ minutes.

[Fafnir]

4-2 when Davis plays 30+ minutes.

2-0 when he plays 37+ minutes.

That tells us what exactly? Those 37+ minute games were OT games anyways.

[Jon]

But again, it's not just about what he's worth.  It's about what he does to our salary cap during the transition years.  We're going to need at least one other stud via free agency, if not more, to get back to contending after Ray and KG go. 

If BBD prevents us from obtaining a big name star, it's not worth keeping him. 

But you still have to have a bench and having a guy like Big Baby is nothing but a plus.  I don't think an MLE contract will prevent the Celtics from getting a big star, especially after KG, Ray and Paul are gone.

It easily could, especially since Danny also has to consider Perkins and his contract situation.

Rondo
Pierce (he's on a 4 year deal remember)
Perkins
Davis

Easily will tie up enough money to prevent the C's from having much freedom, if we keep everyone.

And of course to compound matters, if Danny does think he won't be able to hold on to Baby, does he consider trading him at the deadline? 

I lean towards no, since the health of our big men is very questionable.  I'd rather Baby help us win a title this year and walk for nothing, than be caught shorthanded in the Finals and lose out on #18. 

Still, if Marquis goes down or a top-notch SF becomes available, it could happen. 

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Let's not forget the lesson of Scal:

Role players look as good or bad as the players around them.

It is very risky to commit money to role players long-term.


I wouldn't commit money to BBD beyond what Pierce is signed for, which would limit his deal to 3 years (to expire with Pierce).  Will someone else go longer?  Probably.  It could be a TA and Posey situationa all over--Danny not being willing to give the extra year.

[snowball]

Baby for 7-9 million/yr
@ 3-5 yrs is fine with me.

[Jon]

The big key is that we can't let a future contract for Perk or Baby mire us into perpetual mediocrity.  Rondo is going to need at least 1, if not 2, more big name stars.  We're likely not going to get that through the draft.  So if we do sign Perk and Baby, we need to at least make sure the contracts are palatable enough that we can trade them if need be.