I love Big Baby but... [looking ahead]

[Jeff]

I'm a BIG big fan of Big Baby and I'll be so bold as to predict that he'll win us a few games in the playoffs with inspired play (because that's what he does, step up in big situations).  He's been a revelation this year (despite recent struggles) and I have enjoyed watching him develop.

With all that said, if we reach the free agent period and we have to chose between Davis and say Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic, I say re-sign the new guys and let Davis walk (or sign and trade him).

I think Davis is about peaked out with his potential.  He's done enough in his career to deserve a starting spot but I don't think he's the kind of guy you build around.  I also have worries about his emotional stability once the Old 3 are on the decline or retired.  And yes, I'll say it, I'm still concerned about his weight.  He's kept it off (in part motivated by a weight clause in his contract) but I worry about him as he grows older.

Bottom line, I think he's finally earned a bigger contract but I'd like to see someone else pay him that contract because I think there's inherent risk involved in him with little chance of him exceeding the contract's value (as he has for the last year or so).

This might be another post, but I think Green and Krstic have every opportunity to exceed the value they could be signed at this offseason.

Big caveats to all this:

1. We don't know what the offseason CBA negotiations will bring.
2. The playoffs could change things for all the free agents.

p.s. I also want Arroyo back on a short term deal.

[elcotte]

I think with Perkins gone his value here just went up. They need some beef up front and Baby certainly delivers it. I think it depends upon what happens with the O'neals.

[Cman]

This is a good topic to have.
I agree with you on all points.  The big issue is how much flexibility the Cs want to maintain with regards to salary.  I do agree that resigning the two "new" guys is a priority over BBD.  After resigning Jeff Green and Krstic, there is less incentive to keep BBD (or do a S&T) because it will just get very expensive. 

[clover]

I saw this thread title and thought, this could have been stickied as a general topic the past few years.

I'd pick the new pair too, though I'm not sure it'll be a 2-for-1 option.  Still, I wouldn't mind seeing Baby sign-and-traded.

[P2]

Is this a discussion about the expenses or the possibility? Because we have full Bird Rights on all three of them, so the salary cap is not an issue. And since we pay over $80M excl. taxes this season, I assume we will do the same next year if the team feels we have another shot at a ring (or let's say, a shot to repeat ).

[Cman]

Is this a discussion about the expenses or the possibility? Because we have full Bird Rights on all three of them, so the salary cap is not an issue. And since we pay over $80M excl. taxes this season, I assume we will do the same next year if the team feels we have another shot at a ring (or let's say, a shot to repeat ).

Cs definitely "can" resign him.  But I view the issue as one of costs/ expenses.  

Cs are on tap to pay $72M next year, before resigning any of the current FAs or draft picks, or using the MLE.  Thats a strike against the Celtics resigning all three of Krstic, Green and BBD.  

In addition, the Cs are in a nice salary situation for the summer of 2012.  Signing more players this offseason will hurt the flexibility that the Cs currently have in 2012.  That's another strike agains the Celtics resigning all three of those guys.

Hence, I think the most likely scenario is that Krstic and Green are resigned, BBD walks (no S&T), Cs sign two draft picks, and sign a few cheap FAs (which might include Arroyo) to one year deals.

[Jeff]

Is this a discussion about the expenses or the possibility? Because we have full Bird Rights on all three of them, so the salary cap is not an issue. And since we pay over $80M excl. taxes this season, I assume we will do the same next year if the team feels we have another shot at a ring (or let's say, a shot to repeat ).

no, I know we could re-sign everyone but should we?

a) is that really the best roster we can put on the floor going forward?  can you picture this core unit being a contender minus KG/Ray/Paul 3 years from now?

b) do we really intend to give up all the rest of the cap space that is coming up in 2012?  I do NOT think we'll make a run at Dwight, but having some flexibility will be key going forward

I guess there's a lot going on in this discussion - including the option of trading Ray or KG in the last year of their deal for a Granger type player that might be too expensive for his current team to carry.  But again, I guess we'll just have to see how the CBA works out.

[Bankshot]

Yes he should be re-signed.  He's probably one of the healthiest in the bunch (I know he just came back from injury, but he's been pretty healthy in his short career).  We need players that can stay healthy.  Now Delonte, I wouldn't resign the guy because he seems to be hurt more than he's healthy.

[jdub1660]

Offseason will be S/T to another team for a SG. Jeff Green is here to stay, and a big man could be brought in long term with the MLE(if there is one next season)

MLE targets:
Kenyon Martin
DeAndre Jordan
Ronny Turiaf
Gred Oden

Another player I would like to target is Michael Redd. I think given his injuries in past 2-3 seasons will cause the Bucks to move on, and him to take a MLE type contract to earn him keep again before 1 more last payday. Redd could fit right into the Ray spot, hit 3's and play team D

[Roy H.]

It's hard to say without knowing what everybody is asking for. 

I'm hopeful that Green takes his qualifying offer.  If he signs an offer sheet with another team, though, I'd be reluctant to match if it's anywhere near the range he was asking for previously (5 years, $50 million.)

I have no idea what Krstic is looking for.  I'd be okay with two or three year deal around $4 - $5 million, but I wouldn't want to exceed that by too much.  I don't know how realistic that is, though.

With BBD, in an ideal world we'd sign him to a one year deal with team options thereafter, to allow us to keep some flexibility.  I would let him walk rather thn give him a full-MLE type deal, though.

[Chris]

I think its tough to make too strong a prediction not knowing the new CBA and what that will do with the market this summer, but in general, I am very worried about giving him a long contract.  

I think he is pretty close to his ceiling already, and I am afraid he will want more money than his production and role entails.  More importantly though, guys carrying that much weight scare me as they get older.  Particularly guys who are effective largely because they are just a tiny bit quicker than other big men.  

As he gets into his later 20s, it is going to be harder for him to keep that weight off, and carrying that extra weight is also going to take its toll, both on his body itself, and on that quickness.  

I think a good comparison is Antoine Walker, who was a very effective player inside in his early years, despite the fact that he played below the rim, and used quickness to sneak the ball up to the basket.  But, as he got into his upper 20's, that quickness advantage diminished, and those shots became blocked more, and he was no longer beating guys to the rebounds, which ultimately drove him more and more to the perimeter.

Regardless of how hard Davis works at keeping the weight off, I am afraid this is pretty innevitable, and given his lack of length, it might not be long before he is struggling to be a productive NBA player.

I think, if they can get him for maybe 2-3 years, at a reasonable price (in todays market, I would say about $4 million per year, but that will change depending on the CBA), then I certainly sign him.  Anything more than that, and I think I would have to let him walk.

[Greenbean]

I would let him walk unless he would agree to playing off of the bench and being paid like a bench player.

I am going to assume that some poorly run team team will offer him a starting role and starting money in which case I say pass.

[P2]

I would let him walk unless he would agree to playing off of the bench and being paid like a bench player.

I am going to assume that some poorly run team team will offer him a starting role and starting money in which case I say pass.

Besides, building aroung Rondo/Green sounds a little better than building around Rondo/Baby. He is good, but really just a borderline starter.

[2short]

I would let him walk unless he would agree to playing off of the bench and being paid like a bench player.

I am going to assume that some poorly run team team will offer him a starting role and starting money in which case I say pass.

agree, but we have seen him as a starter and we know the team suffers
I'd make a priority to sign the okc boys then look hard at murphy.  Murphy doesn't offer us the defensive foot speed that davis has but he is a better rebounder (taller!) and can hit the outside shot with more range and finally should be cheaper.  We will have jermaine for next year unless he can be traded or retires and shaq will hopefully retire with a championship this year. 

[Cman]

I would let him walk unless he would agree to playing off of the bench and being paid like a bench player.

I am going to assume that some poorly run team team will offer him a starting role and starting money in which case I say pass.

Memphis maybe?