Bring back Al Jeff (begin rolling eyes now)

[miraclejohan]

I've always thought having Garnett mentor Al Jeff on D (and O) would be an interesting scenario.  What if....

BOS
trades Ray Allen, Krstic, & picks to Memphis
receives Al Jefferson

UTAH
trades Al Jefferson to Boston
receives Rudy Gay

MEM
trades Rudy Gay to Utah
receives Ray Allen, Krstic, & picks


Can't tell if this would even work due to contracts & such, but money looks about equal.  Memphis keeps they playoff team together and adds veteran perimeter shooting, possibly pairing with OJ Mayo for a deadly shooting bench, backup big in Nenad w/ offensive capability.  Utah clears bigman logjam  and receives legit SF to pair with Harris/Millsap/Cousins, and Boston gets scoring 5 to MOVE BACK TO THE 4....Boston's future of Rondo, West, Green, Jefferson doesn't look too bad, especially having Pierce and Garnett around to make sure they all learn how to play like mature vets.

I know the Al Jeff split is pretty blatant; I'm still hanging onto the hope that he can someday learn D and KG would be the guy to teach him.

[Chris]

Find a way to get Mayo as well, and I'm in. 

Honestly, I don't know what to think about Jefferson, but quality big men are so hard to come by these days.  And honestly, if this team is going back to the lottery, at least we would get to watch Jefferson's low post game (which I personally love to watch) for the next few years. 

[Brendan]

He gets you a lot of what you are missing, basically rebounding, plus Shaq like ability to finish on offense. However you need keep Ray Allen - Jefferson is a win now move, something hard to do without Ray. I wonder if there is another way to structure it with JO and AB.

[perks-a-beast]

I like Big Al alot but he's so soft defensively which always drove me crazy...don't think that's what wee need right now.

[Brendan]

Find a way to get Mayo as well, and I'm in. 

Honestly, I don't know what to think about Jefferson, but quality big men are so hard to come by these days.  And honestly, if this team is going back to the lottery, at least we would get to watch Jefferson's low post game (which I personally love to watch) for the next few years. 

Notwithstanding what I just said, I'd be cool with a Rondo + Mayo + West rotation at guard. Mayo is a bit of a drop off from Ray, but close enough.

[miraclejohan]

However you need keep Ray Allen - Jefferson is a win now move, something hard to do without Ray. I wonder if there is another way to structure it with JO and AB.

I disagree.  I think getting Jefferson back would, assuming he could learn defensive concepts and execution from KG, solidify our young core as the big 3 ages: Rondo, West, Green, Jefferson.  Big Al could definitely help us win now, but I do think now vs. future largely depends on who we'd trade for.  I don't think any team would do this with JO and Bradley unless we give up crazy future picks which we couldn't afford to do.

[Change]

20/10 every night Celtics would that. As far as defense, Who predicated Carlos Loozer would be starting PF on DA BEST defensive team in the NBA? I bet none. Big Al will make do.

I would love if Celtics sign Samuel Dalembert for MLE. Shore up big man rotation. Giving the Celtics legit 3 man rotation Sam/KG/AL.

[pearljammer10]

Everywhere Jefferson goes, that teams loss column gets waaaay larger.

[kozlodoev]

I think getting Jefferson back would, assuming he could learn defensive concepts and execution from KG, solidify our young core as the big 3 ages: Rondo, West, Green, Jefferson.

Yeah. If Mark Blount could learn effort, and Glen Davis could learn 4 inches, they would be great players too. All of these have about the same chance of happening.

[Fafnir]

Find a way to get Mayo as well, and I'm in.  

Honestly, I don't know what to think about Jefferson, but quality big men are so hard to come by these days.  And honestly, if this team is going back to the lottery, at least we would get to watch Jefferson's low post game (which I personally love to watch) for the next few years.  

Ugh, I really don't want to see OJ Mayo in green.

Jefferson would do well to have someone like KG to play with, but I'm not sure he'll ever reach his potential. I'd stay away from him at this point.

[miraclejohan]

I think getting Jefferson back would, assuming he could learn defensive concepts and execution from KG, solidify our young core as the big 3 ages: Rondo, West, Green, Jefferson.

Yeah. If Mark Blount could learn effort, and Glen Davis could learn 4 inches, they would be great players too. All of these have about the same chance of happening.

I am skeptical, for sure, that Al could learn, but it'd be a low-risk move and KG is the only one I'd trust to mentor him defensively.  Think about what big men Al has played with to teach him D: Raef, Antione, Blount, Doleac, Ryan Hollins, Darko, Pecherov, Nathan Jawai,and Okur.  Then think about how good a defender Pierce was considered before KG and Thibodeau got here. KG and a defensively-much-imnproved-now-I-know-what-defense-is Pierce could help ANY player improve on D.  Maybe 

[Brendan]

Everywhere Jefferson goes, that teams loss column gets waaaay larger.

As others have said the same was true of Zack Randolph.

[the_Bird]

Everywhere Jefferson goes, that teams loss column gets waaaay larger.

As others have said the same was true of Zack Randolph.

Big Al has his flaws, but I think he gets a bad rap for how poorly his teams have played.  I mean, we all watched his Celtics team - was Big Al really the reason we used to suck?  More likely, we were painfully young, and were giving minutes to guys like Orien Greene.  With the Wolves...  that's another team that was incredibly young and constructed very poorly.  Utah, he hasn't been there all that long but hasn't he still been recovering from his injury?

I'm the last guy to want to make excuses for a player, but I think Big Al gets a bad rap.  We know what he can do so well, it's all a matter of whether he can learn (or get the fire to) play decent defence.  

I mean, what's the worst-case scenario for Big Al?  He's Carlos Boozer II.  Great scorer, great rebounder, terrible defender.  His upside is a lot more than that.  If he's available (and the cost isn't too dear), I'd take a chance on him.

[kozlodoev]

I think getting Jefferson back would, assuming he could learn defensive concepts and execution from KG, solidify our young core as the big 3 ages: Rondo, West, Green, Jefferson.

Yeah. If Mark Blount could learn effort, and Glen Davis could learn 4 inches, they would be great players too. All of these have about the same chance of happening.

I am skeptical, for sure, that Al could learn, but it'd be a low-risk move and KG is the only one I'd trust to mentor him defensively.

 
What's low-risk about taking up $39 million over the next 2 years? That's a pretty clear-cut statement that we won't be adding any major pieces over this period. So no, it's a pretty high-risk move, given Jefferson's track record.

Think about what big men Al has played with to teach him D: Raef, Antione, Blount, Doleac, Ryan Hollins, Darko, Pecherov, Nathan Jawai,and Okur.

KG played with worse, and was never questioned for his defense.

Then think about how good a defender Pierce was considered before KG and Thibodeau got here. KG and a defensively-much-imnproved-now-I-know-what-defense-is Pierce could help ANY player improve on D.  Maybe 

Pierce has always been an underrated defender. Jefferson, however, has always displayed matador defense at its finest. After we traded him away, Pierce went on the record to say that some players on the roster just cared about their 15 points. He's had ample opportunity to show he has put it together in Utah, and that was a major flop.

So forgive me if I am less than thrilled about how he's going to work out with us.

[Brendan]

I think in general posters on this site have over rated defense at the expense of offense. KG is one the player who is elite and sublimates his offensive game to his defensive game. Every other players that is elite, is elite on offense.

Even with mediocre defenders, the defense stays really good. On the other hand the lack of a post game has been slowing down the offense. (That and an inconsistent willingness to run.)