Bring Back at Least 5 of the Bench Players

[LooseCannon]

Over the past few years, the Celtics have been hurt by a lack of continuity on the bench, with young players who couldn't play defense well enough to earn Doc's trust and Ainge projects.  The Celtics, with their complicated offensive and defensive schemes, could use some stability on the bench with players who know the system instead of trying to integrate new players every off-season (and trade deadline and waiver period and buy-out season).

Avery Bradley is under contract and, unless someone offers him an insane contract or a new CBA changes things drastically, Jeff Green seems likely.  Glen Davis seems to have played his way into a spot where Ainge will certainly look for a replacement, but perhaps settle on bringing back Big Baby for cheap.  Who knows what will happen with Shaq.  People here seem to like Delonte West, although his health is such a concern that maybe he should change his name to Delonte O'Neal.  There's a current thread suggesting that Von Wafer should be brought back.  Nenad Krstic has his flaws, but he's a guy who is worth more than the minimum salary and the Celtics need bigs.  Troy Murphy is still a good rebounder and it might be worth a gamble, if he is willing to come back for cheap, to see if he can rediscover his shot.  Carlos Arroyo would fill my desire to see the Celtics have a natural point guard on the bench behind Rondo so the offense doesn't stagnate when Rondo sits.  Sasha Pavlovic is theoretically useful.

I wouldn't bring them all back and you need to dump some of them to make way for new draft picks, but the Celtics should bring back at least five of them so that there is some degree of continuity and chemistry on the bench with players who have somewhat of a head start in learning the team's system over free agents signed in the summer.  I doubt Ainge will have a shot at bringing in markedly better players mid-season, and those players will be hampered by trying to fit into a new and more demanding environment.  It seemed to take Marquis Daniels a year to find his place and get comfortable.

[mostofusrsad]

if troy murphy couldn't crack the rotation for the playoffs, i question if he has ANY value for this squad....but for close to the minimum, what the heck i guess...

[Celtic#9]

The players I would keep are:

JO(under contract)                
Troy Murphy(minimum)                  
Nenad Kristic(minimum)          
Jeff Green(qualifying offer)
Delonte West(most likely part of the MLE)
Avery Bradley(under contract)

Of course one of the centers would have to start but there are the bench players that I would keep. I would rather give Bradley some burn instead of Arroyo.

[BballTim]

   I'd be fairly surprised to see Krstic and/or Murphy available for the minimum.

[Finkelskyhook]

A very revealing remark was made by Jermaine O'Neal concerning the CBO.  Upon the CBO's completion, Danny ought to have a talk with O'Neal.  If he's behind it, we'll probably get a very productive 70 games out of him in a contract year.  If he doesn't like it, Danny should cut his losses and buy him out.  Otherwise you're wasting a roster spot on the same tank job we saw last year.

Murphy is almost definitely going to land somewhere else.  Somebody is going to take at least part of the MLE flyer on him.  Green, Bradley and Krstic are staying.  Rivers has already brilliantly thrown Davis under the bus...(Rivers essentially did the same with Green and Krstic...But Danny isn't going to compound the trade fiasco by not re-signing them)  I wouldn't be surprised to see Arroyo and Pavlovic back at vets minimum.  I also think that Danny is going to find the most NBA-ready player...Regardless of position..In the draft.

[mc34]

Keep Wafer, Green, Krstic, Bradley, and West. Everyone else can go. Murphy will probably get an awful contract from someone hoping he can return to form

[Chris]

   I'd be fairly surprised to see Krstic and/or Murphy available for the minimum.

Yeah, Krstic is likely (at least) a $4-5 million per year player.  For all his faults, he is a 7 footer who started 143 games over the last two years (all but 4 games that he played in) for two very good teams.  Plus, he will only 28 years old. Guys like that are hard to come by, and teams pay a premium for them.

My guess is, unless the C's make very dramatic changes this summer (and even if they do), they will resign Krstic to a deal for something like 3 years/$15 million.  

Murphy on the other hand could potentially be a vet minimum guy.  He looked like he was absolutely cooked last season, and I have a feeling teams are going to be hesitant to give him much more than the minimum unless he is able to suddenly find the fountain of youth (HGH).

[itsthatbradguy]

I'm on board with bringing back West, Green, Krstic, and Bradley. The rest I couldn't care less about.

[LooseCannon]

if troy murphy couldn't crack the rotation for the playoffs, i question if he has ANY value for this squad....but for close to the minimum, what the heck i guess...

It's really hard to say.  He started the season with a back injury, which may have led to him being in less than ideal shape.  Some people seem to think he played less in New Jersey because the coach was being an idiot rather than because Murphy was washed up.  It's certainly plausible that an off-season to get healthy would lead to Murphy returning to at least being a solid rotation player, but there should also be a concern about recurring foot/ankle problems.

I would definitely want to explore the idea of cutting Big Baby loose and splitting his minutes between Murphy and Jeff Green.  A stretch four who can theoretically take some back-up center minutes is certainly useful if Murphy can regain some of his offense and commit to a decent level of team defense.

The options for acquiring a cheap big in the off-season aren't particular impression (although I still say Ainge should take a flyer on one of the top D-League bigs).  Murphy may look questionable, but I am not sure that there are much better choices out there, so gambling on Murphy, if the price is right, may be the slightly better choice, just because he has a few months head start on learning the Celtics system.  Especially given the possibility of a shortened preseason due to labor issues and Doc apparently taking a long time to trust new players, bringing back someone who has been with the team may be better than bringing in a new, marginally better talent, at least when looking at the short-term window of next season.

[Chris]

I'm on board with bringing back West, Green, Krstic, and Bradley. The rest I couldn't care less about.

Agree with this, and I also would look strongly at Davis.  As frustrating as he is, if the price is right, it is going to be incredibly hard to find anyone close to as good as he is to replace him, and still address the much bigger need at Center and/or get some more punch off the bench to lessen the scoring burden on the Big 3.

Of course, I have a feeling Davis has his mind set on leaving, which could make it a moot point...but they should at least try to keep him around.

[Surferdad]

The only guys I'm interested in are West, Green and Bradley.  West was perhaps the most consistent bench player in the playoffs while Green and Bradley are young with substantial upside.

If Kristic can command 3yrs/$15M then let him get it, somewhere else.  I wouldn't pay him $5M for even one year.  He's a decent role player, but this team is filled with role players.  Ainge needs to go out and get somebody better on defense and rebounding.

[Chris]

If Kristic can command 3yrs/$15M then let him get it, somewhere else.  I wouldn't pay him $5M for even one year.  He's a decent role player, but this team is filled with role players.  Ainge needs to go out and get somebody better on defense and rebounding.

While I agree with this, I think people are underestimating how hard it is to find quality centers in this league, particularly without cap space.  Now, the 3/15 was certainly generous, and I hope they can get him for much cheaper (or ideally, a one year deal, even if its more expensive).  But, if they let Krstic walk, they are going to have an even bigger gaping hole at center, and it is just going to be tough to fill. 

[kozlodoev]

If Kristic can command 3yrs/$15M then let him get it, somewhere else.  I wouldn't pay him $5M for even one year.  He's a decent role player, but this team is filled with role players.  Ainge needs to go out and get somebody better on defense and rebounding.

I don't think we'll be signing Krstic to anything more than a 1-year deal. For that matter, I don't think we'll be signing any role player past the coming season.
While I agree with this, I think people are underestimating how hard it is to find quality centers in this league, particularly without cap space.  Now, the 3/15 was certainly generous, and I hope they can get him for much cheaper (or ideally, a one year deal, even if its more expensive).  But, if they let Krstic walk, they are going to have an even bigger gaping hole at center, and it is just going to be tough to fill. 

[snively]

Assuming the cap exemptions persist in the new CBA, I'd definitely look to retain West with the BAE.  I want Jeff Green back on his QO - not on a multi-year deal unless its a great deal (a la Perkins' first contract extension).  Bradley's under contract so that's easy.  Wafer's a nice bargain for the minimum and should be attainable at that price, so keep him too. 

I'd like to cut ties with Baby and Pavlovic, but I'd be fine with everyone else on one year deals.

[Surferdad]

Assuming the cap exemptions persist in the new CBA, I'd definitely look to retain West with the BAE.  I want Jeff Green back on his QO - not on a multi-year deal unless its a great deal (a la Perkins' first contract extension).  Bradley's under contract so that's easy.  Wafer's a nice bargain for the minimum and should be attainable at that price, so keep him too. 

I'd like to cut ties with Baby and Pavlovic, but I'd be fine with everyone else on one year deals.

Hey snively, I remember you from the old Green17 board of a couple years ago.  Glad to see we're still thinking alike.