Contract year for Baby makes for a tough decision for the Celtics.

[JSD]

 How the Celtics handle Baby will give us insight as to how the Celtics approach 2012. Are they aiming to become major players in free agency that year? Should that be the goal?

How would you like to see this play out?

[2short]

As injuries continue to mount on bigs this season we CANNOT trade Davis unless we are getting someone in return who can do what he has done for us this year.  After season I'd rather overpay or top pay Perk, a center is more important.  Perk has shown he is starter material, Davis not so.  I just have always thought Davis is a bit more of a me guy than team.  He already shopped himself last time (to no takers).  I feel he'll go to highest bidder.  Luke has shown some signs that he could take over for davis next season.  Yes slow on defensive rotations but he rebounds like a beast and already has the jumper that doc forced davis to add to his game.

[Fafnir]

We can't trade him because we can't count on either O'Neal.  If he's looking for long term money more than the 4 million per year range we have to let him go.

[JSD]

Perkins is another player on a contract year that will give us insight into what the Celtics are looking to do future wise as well.

[pearljammer10]

I feel like Baby is going to be a guy who is going to bolt for as much money as he can while looking for a bad team to start on. Some team will pay him, and eventually regret that payment, I just dont see Baby sticking around to be our 6th man on a bargain deal.

[wdleehi]

Just wait.


I believe Davis is the type of player that is going to take the biggest financial whack in the new deal.


A good player with a flaw.  Strong contributor that is below all-star level.  Doesn't have a rare skill. 


Perk is the guy I worry about.  He has a rare skill.  Low post defensive skill with both size and strength. 

[wdleehi]

I vote other.  Play out the contract and see what the new NBA contract landscape is.


What might be a great deal in today's NBA could be a crippling deal in tomorrows NBA. 

[Fafnir]

I vote other.  Play out the contract and see what the new NBA contract landscape is.


What might be a great deal in today's NBA could be a crippling deal in tomorrows NBA. 

Neither player will sign a new deal before the new CBA is worked out.

[mmbaby]

I'm noticing it's the same fans here who always wanted to get rid of Baby. Ya'll don't know something good when you see it.

When he was a free agent before, the Celtics wanted him so bad they said they'd match any deal. That is obviously why he didn't have a number of takers. Period. Old, old, old story.

With Baby, these certain fans always bring up any little thing they can come up with FROM THE PAST. And they are small things, never really important.

There is nothing said here about Baby's amazing play (not surprisingly).

My opinion? Baby is a far better center than Perk, much faster on defense and has the ability to constantly improve. Not to mention he also plays his main position power forward. I would say to Baby thank you for being a big part of the win in the Championship win 3 yrs ago, in the finals last year and for stepping up this year and playing both positions and doing both well.

[Fafnir]

I'm noticing it's the same fans here who always wanted to get rid of Baby. Ya'll don't know something good when you see it.

When he was a free agent before, the Celtics wanted him so bad they said they'd match any deal. That is obviously why he didn't have a number of takers. Period. Old, old, old story.

With Baby, these certain fans always bring up any little thing they can come up with FROM THE PAST. And they are small things, never really important.

There is nothing said here about Baby's amazing play (not surprisingly).

My opinion? Baby is a far better center than Perk, much faster on defense and has the ability to constantly improve. Not to mention he also plays his main position power forward. I would say to Baby thank you for being a big part of the win in the Championship win 3 yrs ago, in the finals last year and for stepping up this year and playing both positions and doing both well.

Revisionist history much?

He played only during game 6 of the Finals and then only when it was a blow out. (The las 14 minutes of the game) Scored 3 points in a blow out.

He only played in three games against detroit, 6 minutes, 6 minutes and 11 minutes scoring 6 total points

He played more against Cleveland but still only averaged 7 minutes or so a game, only getting big minutes due to serious Perkins foul trouble.

He earned his ring, but he didn't play a big role in the title. Only Tony Allen played less minutes among players who suited up.

[Chris]

Its all going to depend on the market and price.  I think they would like to keep Davis for a reasonable price ($3-4 million per year), but will not pay a premium for him (and may not even pay him market value).

Personally, I think he is gone.  I think he will get a better offer from another team, plus I think he wants play a bigger role.

I think the C's will try to sign and trade him if they can, but given that he will likely be making less than the MLE, they won't have a ton of leverage.  

This is certainly going to be an interesting offseason.  

Edit: I also don't think this will tell us much about 2012.  Davis is young enough that he could be a part of the future.  I think it is going to come down to how much they think he is worth, when he is not protected by playing with so many hall of famers, as well as how concerned they are about his maturity and weight.

[2short]

I'm noticing it's the same fans here who always wanted to get rid of Baby. Ya'll don't know something good when you see it.

When he was a free agent before, the Celtics wanted him so bad they said they'd match any deal. That is obviously why he didn't have a number of takers. Period. Old, old, old story.

With Baby, these certain fans always bring up any little thing they can come up with FROM THE PAST. And they are small things, never really important.

There is nothing said here about Baby's amazing play (not surprisingly).

My opinion? Baby is a far better center than Perk, much faster on defense and has the ability to constantly improve. Not to mention he also plays his main position power forward. I would say to Baby thank you for being a big part of the win in the Championship win 3 yrs ago, in the finals last year and for stepping up this year and playing both positions and doing both well.

He is an emergency center who does a good job on low post defense against SOME guys.  He rebounds a little better than PP who generally is further away from basket on defense and davis on ft should get 2 a game easy just on posistioning.  I'm not taking away from his contributions (which are many) but he is pretty easy to replace compared to perk.  One reason why we've had issues with the lakers in when davis has to box out/defend a long pf/c he doesn't have the height to do it.  Unless he changes his rebounding he'll NEVER be a good starting pf in the nba.

[mmbaby]

I feel he's worth much more considering all he brings to the team. With all our bigs injured on and off, he's been the go-to guy for center and power forward position behind KG/Shaq.

It would be stupid for a player to not take the best offer he can get. Whom of us wouldn't quit our job for a better and better paying position?

As yet, it's still the usual people who put down Baby in this thread so far.

I'm glad I'm here to inject a little reality today.

[Chris]

I feel he's worth much more considering all he brings to the team. With all our bigs injured on and off, he's been the go-to guy for center and power forward position behind KG/Shaq.

It would be stupid for a player to not take the best offer he can get. Whom of us wouldn't quit our job for a better and better paying position?

As yet, it's still the usual people who put down Baby in this thread so far.

I'm glad I'm here to inject a little reality today.

OK, please do not suggest that others are not in touch with "reality" just because they don't agree with you.  These are all opinions, and none are more valid than others.

And this goes for everyone.  Feel free to state your opinion on Davis, but then leave it at that.

[Roy H.]

When he was a free agent before, the Celtics wanted him so bad they said they'd match any deal.

Link?  I followed the BBD negotiations pretty closely, and I'm pretty confident that that never happened.