my plan for the Center spot

[Jeff]

a. encourage Wyc to push for a long lockout without cancelling the season

b. tell the O'Neal bros. to stay at home, rehab, work out, and most of all rest (but don't file those retirement papers)

c. draft/sign as many young bigs as the roster will carry - Tiny Gallon, Chris Johnson, get Erden back from Cleveland, whatever.  Run those guys out there like hockey shifts for the first half of the shortened season.

d. the triumphant return of O'Neal and O'Neal for the playoff stretch drive!

e. just to be sure, keep other GMs on speed-dial with Jermaine's expiring salary as bait for a trade in case he gets hurt and Shaq stays retired

Note: I'm only half joking about most of this but do take with a grain of levity please.

[moiso]

I'd love to have Shaq back because he is worth the gamble based on his production when playing and his tiny salary.

I'm happy with Jermaine as a backup but his salary might keep us from signing a center that will actually stay on the court.

I'm not thrilled with the prospect of Kristic being the starter and our most reliable center.

I agree about Chris Johnson.  I really liked him and we could really use his athletism and energy.  I wouldn't even mind starting him during the regular season, to keep the Oneal's legs fresh and to give the starting lineup an energy and rebounding boost.  I think he would catch and finish a lot of easy buckets too.

[33-00-32]

a) I'm not sure I'm prepared yet for a long lockout
b) With Shaq at the vet minimum this is a no-brainer, I think JO will need to be reminded to keep in shape.
c) As long as Baby isn't 1 of them I agree.
d) Absolutely!!
e) The way the Celtics are currently structured I hope that expiring salaries still mean something when the next agreement is reached.

[mostofusrsad]

I just can't see a 40 year old shaq even worth the min salary and roster spot...although I can see how some might think he is worth the risk....

[LooseCannon]

Unfortunately, the Blazers seem to have CJ locked up in an unguaranteed contract for next season.  The Maine Red Claws traded Tiny Gallon during the season for a future draft pick.  He may have been one of the players Austin Ainge criticized for lacking mental toughness.

[Marcus13]

I feel like it's probably out best shot...but after this post-season Im clearly not comfortable with counting on Shaq to be available as he ages another year.

I hoenstly don't believe he took his rehab seriously during his time off this year which p---es me off the most about it

[Boris Badenov]

I hear that Shaq's Achilles is improving, and he's expected back at full strength soon.

Sorry. Is it too soon to joke about that?

[PortCelt]

a. encourage Wyc to push for a long lockout without cancelling the season

b. tell the O'Neal bros. to stay at home, rehab, work out, and most of all rest (but don't file those retirement papers)

c. draft/sign as many young bigs as the roster will carry - Tiny Gallon, Chris Johnson, get Erden back from Cleveland, whatever.  Run those guys out there like hockey shifts for the first half of the shortened season.

d. the triumphant return of O'Neal and O'Neal for the playoff stretch drive!

e. just to be sure, keep other GMs on speed-dial with Jermaine's expiring salary as bait for a trade in case he gets hurt and Shaq stays retired

Note: I'm only half joking about most of this but do take with a grain of levity please.

a. If Wyc and co. push for a hard cap there won't be a season.

b. agreed

c. none of aforementioned players are worth pursuing if winning a title is the main objective. Price tag for Nene and Chandler is too high. D. Jordan, and Dalembert are worth the MLE. Spliter for Kristic (S/T) is a palatable option. Do they make a run at a legit starting 5 or wait for Howard?

d. still, I do feel Shaq will retire and JO won't leave 6m on the table

e. JO's expiring contract may be needed if there's any chance of making a run at Superman

[dmopower]

I would love to have Erden back, and I think Tiny Gallon has tremendous upside. If he ever gets his BBall IQ anywhere near his tallent level and gets in shape he could be a star. I realize this rarly happens but a guy can dream anyway.

[JT11]

Part b sounds like it could be a television show... "O'Neal and O'Neal." Could definitely give Lamar a run for his money. 

[billysan]

c. draft/sign as many young bigs as the roster will carry - Tiny Gallon, Chris Johnson, get Erden back from Cleveland, whatever.  Run those guys out there like hockey shifts for the first half of the shortened season.

I love the Hockey line approach. The Bulls used it successfully with Jordan Pippen. We might be able to with some combo of Pierce, Rondo or Ray, Jeff Green.

I do not agree with some to hate Big Baby. IMO he has been played out of position these past two years. The guy is an undersized PF, has no vertical leap and should not be any teams main scoring option off the bench. We play him in a small lineup and ask ridiculous things of him. He is best suited as a 15mpg back up PF, then he will be at his most productive as an energy/effort player. Again just my opinion.

Joking or serious, we need to get longer, more athletic and more skilled at the SF, PF and C positions. Pierce/Green are good for now but Paul isnt getting any younger. KG is probably down to his last season or two physically. We dont have a suitable replacement candidate on the roster, this our greatest position of need IMO.

The hockey line approach of centers with the O Neals, Krstic and Murphy is fine with me, but Doc needs to keep them moving in and out to create matchup problems. A young fresh Athletic face at the center would of course also be most welcome.

[Celticsbloke]

A shortened 2011-12 campaign will be key for once last crack from these Celtics. I think both O'Neal's could still be useful in the playoffs in short bursts. J.O. about 20 mins and Shaq 10 to perhaps 15 on nights he's got it going.

We definitely need two more guys to hold down the position during the bulk of the regular season and possibly during the playoffs if/when the O'Neal's get injured.

I think Krstic is worth keeping around as one of those guys if we can sign him for a couple of million. IMO a training camp with the team will get more out of him.

The other guy needs to be a stronger defensive presence who can stay healthy. I think Przybilla might be the best realistic option, provided he is fully recovered from his knee injury. He is a free agent and would surely prefer to play a significant role for a contender than stick around on the Wizards.

Dalembert is a great idea if we can get him for the MLE, but I suspect that is wishful thinking.

K-Mart is also a FA (restricted?) and would be a nice backup for KG if he would play cheap.

Chuck Hayes is a FA and a good defender and rebounder.

JJ Hickson only has 2 years at $2-3 per. Don't know if we could prise him loose from the Cavs, but I guess it might be possible.   

Jason Thompson has been mentioned and has a similar contract to Hickson.

I definitely favour Przybilla, but there seems to be some options out there.



 

[Jon]

I think Shaq can work if we basically sit him for the first half of the season, even if it is strike shortened.  Maybe we trot him out for 10 minutes once per week, and certainly not on back to backs.  It'll kind of be like the treatment Roger Clemens got.

And I don't see why it's such a ludicrous idea he can be effective at 40, if he was effective at 39.  It'll simply be a matter of keeping him healthy.  It'll be very tough, but not necessarily impossible.

As for JO, he's only 32 right now.  I think there's a chance he may actually be better next year than he's been the past two years if he actually gets healthy. 

[KGs Knee]

a. encourage Wyc to push for a long lockout without cancelling the season

b. tell the O'Neal bros. to stay at home, rehab, work out, and most of all rest (but don't file those retirement papers)

c. draft/sign as many young bigs as the roster will carry - Tiny Gallon, Chris Johnson, get Erden back from Cleveland, whatever.  Run those guys out there like hockey shifts for the first half of the shortened season.

d. the triumphant return of O'Neal and O'Neal for the playoff stretch drive!

e. just to be sure, keep other GMs on speed-dial with Jermaine's expiring salary as bait for a trade in case he gets hurt and Shaq stays retired

Note: I'm only half joking about most of this but do take with a grain of levity please.

Funny thing is, this scenario you have laid out would be the best outcome for Boston.  I've actually thought this since Perk was traded (regardless of whatever the outcome was this season).  It allows us a outside chance to compete this season, if it gets played, and still have our cap flexibility going forward.

I really have to give credit to Danny, as much as it pains me, for having the team set up for the "post CBA" with what should be one of the most cap-flexible payrolls for 2012 and beyond. At least he got that right.  Just don't ruin it Danny.

[Boris Badenov]

Part b sounds like it could be a television show... "O'Neal and O'Neal." Could definitely give Lamar a run for his money. 

I would rather spend two hours watching Shaq get his Achilles stretched while JO sits in the whirlpool than spend two minutes watching anything involving a Kardashian and a Laker.