build next year's Celtics team here

[Who]

I see no reason to believe JO will retire. Have you heard anything legit that he is contemplating it?

There was an article in the Herald which claimed it was a possibility

Link

O’Neal wasn’t prepared to make a decision about his future immediately after the Celtics were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat on Wednesday. But O’Neal indicated the desire to spend more time with his family — he also has an 11-year-old daughter, Asjia — makes retirement a possibility.

This season, O’Neal missed 58 games with left knee and left wrist injuries. He’s confident he’ll return to full health over the summer, but isn’t sure he’s ready for the grind of another season.

“Your body tends to tell you what time it is,” O’Neal said. “I missed so much of this year, it would be inappropriate for me to even make a decision. Not when it’s an emotional decision. I’m going to take a couple days off and stay on the program with our strength-and-conditioning guy and stick around Boston for another month and then gauge it after the month is over and see where the collective bargaining agreement is going.”

I still think it's far more likely that he returns for another go ... but his words, about the grind of another season, do sound a lot like the words you hear from NBA players before they retire. He sounds like a man who is coming close to his end.

The injuries seem to be weighing heavily on him.

Anyway, a lot more likely that he returns than retires ... but there does seem to be a chance that he'll walk away.

[Who]

Ainge has every intent of keeping Green, but who knows who will offer him what. If it's a reasonable offer, offer, Ainge matches. If someone wants to play games and throw an insane amount at him (doesn't Portland like to do this?), I see Ainge letting him go.

For some reason, I think Green wants to be here, and I think he will be.

I don't know.

Even an MLE type offer drastically effects the Celtics cap space in 2012. Probably, but not definitely, Danny matches a reasonable offer.

If he doesn't, acquiring a new wing player becomes very important and there is good talent available on the wing in this free agent class too. So the decision about what to do with the MLE may change.

[birdwatcher]

I do like the idea of adding Carl Landry, and I still like signing Reggie Evans. We do need a back up PG, and I don't see a lot of reasonable suggestions so far. Even my TJ Ford idea may not be possible. Any thoughts on PGs?

[Who]

There are only two big men that I'd spent the whole MLE on -- (1) Kenyon Martin (2) Carl Landry.

If either of those two were acquired, I'd let BBD leave. If not, I'd probably keep Davis around for another year. Give him $4-5 million for one season.

In terms of wing players, I'd be willing to give Shane Battier or Tayshaun Prince the whole MLE. Maybe JR Smith as well. Also Kirilenko ... but as with the others, only if Jeff Green left. Not enough playing time to go around otherwise.

So if Jeff Green stayed + the C's struck out on the two big men noted at the top, I think I'd try to split the MLE between two players or maybe just spend a small chunk of it. Not a lot of other players out there that justify spending that type of money. There looks to be just as much value / talent out there on cheaper deals.

[GreenEnvy]

Ainge has every intent of keeping Green, but who knows who will offer him what. If it's a reasonable offer, offer, Ainge matches. If someone wants to play games and throw an insane amount at him (doesn't Portland like to do this?), I see Ainge letting him go.

For some reason, I think Green wants to be here, and I think he will be.

I don't know.

Even an MLE type offer drastically effects the Celtics cap space in 2012. Probably, but not definitely, Danny matches a reasonable offer.

If he doesn't, acquiring a new wing player becomes very important and there is good talent available on the wing in this free agent class too. So the decision about what to do with the MLE may change.

If we let him go because he gets an MLE offer and we want to keep our cap space, what for? D12 isn't coming to play with a 35-year-old Pierce, 36-year-old KG, and 37-year-old Ray. ANd D12 is the only guy worth it.

Rondo (or CP3) AND Green with those veterans is appealing though.

If we are going to use the MLE on a wing, who out there offers more than Green (that isn't a RFA)? Green is not only a talented player, but keeps our MLE available. The only way Green isn't in green next season is via a S&T IMO.

[Who]

Ainge has every intent of keeping Green, but who knows who will offer him what. If it's a reasonable offer, offer, Ainge matches. If someone wants to play games and throw an insane amount at him (doesn't Portland like to do this?), I see Ainge letting him go.

For some reason, I think Green wants to be here, and I think he will be.

I don't know.

Even an MLE type offer drastically effects the Celtics cap space in 2012. Probably, but not definitely, Danny matches a reasonable offer.

If he doesn't, acquiring a new wing player becomes very important and there is good talent available on the wing in this free agent class too. So the decision about what to do with the MLE may change.

If we let him go because he gets an MLE offer and we want to keep our cap space, what for? D12 isn't coming to play with a 35-year-old Pierce, 36-year-old KG, and 37-year-old Ray. ANd D12 is the only guy worth it.

Rondo (or CP3) AND Green with those veterans is appealing though.

If we are going to use the MLE on a wing, who out there offers more than Green (that isn't a RFA)? Green is not only a talented player, but keeps our MLE available. The only way Green isn't in green next season is via a S&T IMO.

Shane Battier and Tayshaun Prince.

Kirilenko as a combo forward.

[GreenEnvy]

I see no reason to believe JO will retire. Have you heard anything legit that he is contemplating it?

There was an article in the Herald which claimed it was a possibility

Link

O’Neal wasn’t prepared to make a decision about his future immediately after the Celtics were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat on Wednesday. But O’Neal indicated the desire to spend more time with his family — he also has an 11-year-old daughter, Asjia — makes retirement a possibility.

This season, O’Neal missed 58 games with left knee and left wrist injuries. He’s confident he’ll return to full health over the summer, but isn’t sure he’s ready for the grind of another season.

“Your body tends to tell you what time it is,” O’Neal said. “I missed so much of this year, it would be inappropriate for me to even make a decision. Not when it’s an emotional decision. I’m going to take a couple days off and stay on the program with our strength-and-conditioning guy and stick around Boston for another month and then gauge it after the month is over and see where the collective bargaining agreement is going.”

I still think it's far more likely that he returns for another go ... but his words, about the grind of another season, do sound a lot like the words you hear from NBA players before they retire. He sounds like a man who is coming close to his end.

The injuries seem to be weighing heavily on him.

Anyway, a lot more likely that he returns than retires ... but there does seem to be a chance that he'll walk away.

Nice find.

I think (or should I say hope) that this was his emotions getting the best of him. Nobody knew how injured he was while playing, and hopefully a summer of rest makes his hunger take over.

However, that's not good having that hang over us the entire summer, so he has to make a decision within the next month or two IMO.


I will say Ainge has to take some flack if he has two straight MLE's retire after a disappointing season. That's our biggest asset, and he hasn't gotten much out of it since he used part of it on Posey in 2007.

[GreenEnvy]

Ainge has every intent of keeping Green, but who knows who will offer him what. If it's a reasonable offer, offer, Ainge matches. If someone wants to play games and throw an insane amount at him (doesn't Portland like to do this?), I see Ainge letting him go.

For some reason, I think Green wants to be here, and I think he will be.

I don't know.

Even an MLE type offer drastically effects the Celtics cap space in 2012. Probably, but not definitely, Danny matches a reasonable offer.

If he doesn't, acquiring a new wing player becomes very important and there is good talent available on the wing in this free agent class too. So the decision about what to do with the MLE may change.

If we let him go because he gets an MLE offer and we want to keep our cap space, what for? D12 isn't coming to play with a 35-year-old Pierce, 36-year-old KG, and 37-year-old Ray. ANd D12 is the only guy worth it.

Rondo (or CP3) AND Green with those veterans is appealing though.

If we are going to use the MLE on a wing, who out there offers more than Green (that isn't a RFA)? Green is not only a talented player, but keeps our MLE available. The only way Green isn't in green next season is via a S&T IMO.

Shane Battier and Tayshaun Prince.

Kirilenko as a combo forward.

You really think any of those are better players than Green anymore? Or more importantly, more appealing to a big FA D12?

I don't.

I'd take Green + an MLE big over any of those guys. If we S&T Green for a big, it better be a [dang] good big. I liked AK47 in 2004, but no more. I never really like Prince. Battier fits the C's mold.

[Who]

Shane Battier and Tayshaun Prince.

Kirilenko as a combo forward.

You really think any of those are better players than Green anymore? Or more importantly, more appealing to a big FA D12?

I don't.

I'd take Green + an MLE big over any of those guys. If we S&T Green for a big, it better be a [dang] good big. I liked AK47 in 2004, but no more. I never really like Prince. Battier fits the C's mold.

I thought that Tayshaun Prince and Shane Battier were both superior players last season.

I feel pretty good about them maintaining their performance level next year too.

As for Green, I've never been all that high on his potential, always consider him more of a future high level role player than a future star. An above average defender / rebounder + 12-14ppg scorer offensively. Which is along the lines of where Shane Battier and Tayshaun Prince are now.

So whether J.Green can make enough progress to close the gap as quickly as next season ... I don't know. Maybe. I hope so.

Beyond that, long term, Jeff Green is the better player to hold onto. Younger. Offers far more years than either of them do. 

----------------------------------------

I like AK-47 as an undersized power forward.

Not so much as a SF. A very good team defender but a mediocre man-to-man defender. A plus rebounder. Unfortunately, a limited offensive player.

Unlike Green, Kirilenko can actually defend the PF position at an above average level and is also a superior (but below average) rebounder at the four. A pretty good offensive player too with his ball-handling, passing and quickness.

At the SF position, I prefer J.Green over AK-47. At the PF spot, I take AK-47 ahead of J.Green.

-----------------------------------------

In terms of Dwight Howard, I don't think Jeff Green matters one way or the other.

You don't join teams because of a role player. You join for the stars.

[clover]

I see no reason to believe JO will retire. Have you heard anything legit that he is contemplating it?

There was an article in the Herald which claimed it was a possibility

Link

O’Neal wasn’t prepared to make a decision about his future immediately after the Celtics were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat on Wednesday. But O’Neal indicated the desire to spend more time with his family — he also has an 11-year-old daughter, Asjia — makes retirement a possibility.

This season, O’Neal missed 58 games with left knee and left wrist injuries. He’s confident he’ll return to full health over the summer, but isn’t sure he’s ready for the grind of another season.

“Your body tends to tell you what time it is,” O’Neal said. “I missed so much of this year, it would be inappropriate for me to even make a decision. Not when it’s an emotional decision. I’m going to take a couple days off and stay on the program with our strength-and-conditioning guy and stick around Boston for another month and then gauge it after the month is over and see where the collective bargaining agreement is going.”

I still think it's far more likely that he returns for another go ... but his words, about the grind of another season, do sound a lot like the words you hear from NBA players before they retire. He sounds like a man who is coming close to his end.

The injuries seem to be weighing heavily on him.

Anyway, a lot more likely that he returns than retires ... but there does seem to be a chance that he'll walk away.

Interesting that JO rehabs in Chicago midseason, but spends a month post-season decompressing and deciding his future in Boston.  I think he stays.

[clover]

I would like to see us have more of a set identity.

This years' team could be big or small, but didn't really have the pieces to excel either way without Perk.

I would build this thing around Rondo and assume that we are moving towards being a smaller, athletic team.

PG-Rondo
SG-Allen
SF-Pierce
PF-Green
C-Garnett

Bench PG/SG- West
Bench C- J ONeal OR if JO retires, Tyson Chandler
Bench PF/SF- James Posey (if bought out) OR Shane Battier
Bench SG Jamal Crawford- unconscious shooter to spell Ray

Reserve PG/SG- Avery Bradley- in serious need of offensive composure
Reserve PF/SF- JaJuan Johnson- let him learn behind Posey/Battier for the future
Reserve C- Kristic- there are worse 3rd string centers

With this lineup we could get up and down the floor more without worrying about the ball stalling on offense.

Its not flawless but I would say its the best option in the future if you want to build around JGreen and Rondo (I do).

Doesn't work to have three of your five starters be ancient--and go for an 'athletic' identity.

This is true, but in all fairness, my ideal would have been to keep Perk in the first place and not go for the athleticism angle.

If we had kept the beast and picked up a guy like Corey Brewer at the deadline then we could have slowly pieced things together around Rondo and Perk.

Now I don't know what to do with the big 3.

I would defend my athleticism point by saying just chop the mins down to 20/25 and if they can't keep up the pace then they ride the pine.

I would also add that JO and Posey/Battier don't really fit the equation, but I don't know of better options.

I actually think Danny's onto something in having Green run with Rondo.  I say one of the Ancient Three comes off the bench and if he can get anything decent for him, another one gets traded.

Danny's got liquid nitrogen in his veins.

[homericepisode]

I would like to see us have more of a set identity.

This years' team could be big or small, but didn't really have the pieces to excel either way without Perk.

I would build this thing around Rondo and assume that we are moving towards being a smaller, athletic team.

PG-Rondo
SG-Allen
SF-Pierce
PF-Green
C-Garnett

Bench PG/SG- West
Bench C- J ONeal OR if JO retires, Tyson Chandler
Bench PF/SF- James Posey (if bought out) OR Shane Battier
Bench SG Jamal Crawford- unconscious shooter to spell Ray

Reserve PG/SG- Avery Bradley- in serious need of offensive composure
Reserve PF/SF- JaJuan Johnson- let him learn behind Posey/Battier for the future
Reserve C- Kristic- there are worse 3rd string centers

With this lineup we could get up and down the floor more without worrying about the ball stalling on offense.

Its not flawless but I would say its the best option in the future if you want to build around JGreen and Rondo (I do).

Doesn't work to have three of your five starters be ancient--and go for an 'athletic' identity.

This is true, but in all fairness, my ideal would have been to keep Perk in the first place and not go for the athleticism angle.

If we had kept the beast and picked up a guy like Corey Brewer at the deadline then we could have slowly pieced things together around Rondo and Perk.

Now I don't know what to do with the big 3.

I would defend my athleticism point by saying just chop the mins down to 20/25 and if they can't keep up the pace then they ride the pine.

I would also add that JO and Posey/Battier don't really fit the equation, but I don't know of better options.

I actually think Danny's onto something in having Green run with Rondo.  I say one of the Ancient Three comes off the bench and if he can get anything decent for him, another one gets traded.

Danny's got liquid nitrogen in his veins.

It's still too early to tell, but I'm thinking the big 3 starts until they are gone--they will just get subbed out early and for longer stretches depending on match ups. But overall, yeah, Green having a training camp with the team and getting major run with Rondo and some of the others will certainly help. I know people are down on Green, but I watched him for his three years at Georgetown and followed his progress in OKC (I had him on my fantasy teams the last couple of years) and I have seen what he can do. Unfortunately, not many people here have. Time will tell.

[bfrombleacher]

Nice how so many of you think they should keep the core!

There are a few questionable players on the roster.

Big Baby - I'm leaning towards keep and review in the next trade deadline.

Krstic - I also think he's a keeper.

Murphy - Dump.

Jermaine O'Neal - He's ancient but the league needs centers. He has value but he's unreliable. Should we keep him?

Pavlovic and Arroyo - They're actually fairly usable players. I think, like Krstic and JG, they're not fully utilized yet. They're really cheap and fairly solid and are bodies that can be thrown in during the regular season. Pavlovic is more useful than Arroyo since he can back up Ray and P234, while at PG Avery is up and coming and needs the minutes. So I think

Shaq - I agree with the general consensus here. He's so cheap but so so good. Re-sign him and treat him as the 39 year old center that he is, not a reliable starter.

[JOMVP]

Starters:
1. Rondo
2. Allen
3. Pierce
4. Garnett
5. Dalembert

Reserves:
6. Jeff Green
7. West
8. J.Crawford
9. K.Martin or C. Landry
10.T.Murphy
11.M.Redd
12.Hassan Whiteside  (trade A.Bradley to Sac)
13.Ronnie Price
14.#1 Draft pick
15. Reserved for Danny annual mid-season pickup (Sheed/Shaq)? (joking)

I actually like this, if at all possible. What we could do is actually slide Jeff Green into the starting lineup for Pierce. Pierce and Crawford coming off the bench would be dangerous.

[JBcat]

I'd let Baby walk, S&T if possible, but if he would consider a 1 year 4 mil deal I'd think about it.

I'd still like to go after a center even if JO, Shaq, and Krstic (I'd like to see him back) returns.  At the top end with our full MLE I'd look at Delambert, Chamdler, and Jordan.   I feel like we won't be able get any of those 3.  As a result I'd take a flyer or vet min guy or use our BLE.   Someone like Ming, Kwame Brown, Mohammed, Przybilla, Kurt Thomas.  With 4 centers and KG able to play center at times it will be center by committee. 

Then I'd S&T Jeff Green to a team looking for more young players and has a veteran power forward. Marcus Camby would be great who can also play a little center.  I think he still has a couple solid years left (10 boards a game still) and you might be able to get a draft pick in return in this deal.   I'd also bring Murphy back only a season removed from a very solid year. 

Then I'd throw our whole MLE at either Jason Richardson, Prince, Battier, Caron Butler, or Kirlenko (maybe Grant Hill if he can play like last year).   I think we would have a good shot at getting one of those guys.   With a vet min or BLE contract I'd go after another wing player either keeping Pavlovic or taking a flyer or Michael Redd, Tracy McGrady, or Josh Howard.

  I'd like both West and Wafer to return. 

So the reshaped roster even though not really younger but it would be deeper.  Maybe you get another draft pick with the S&T with Green.

Centers Shaq, JO, Krtstic, vet min or BLE guy, Camby, KG
Power forwards KG, Camby, Murphy
Wings Pierce, Allen, full MLE guy, vet min or BLE guy, Wafer, West
Point Guards Rondo, West, Bradley

Trade our #1 pick or send him oversees as we wouldn't have a roster spot.