News flash: New Celtics trade idea that is awesome.

[Army_of_One_Nation]

First of all, some of the trade ideas we all throw around are unrealistic. Sure, it makes the Celtics better, but the trading partner seems to always end up with players that are past their prime or would otherwise be bench players. So, here is a trade idea that I have:

How about we don't trade anyone? How about we sign some significant role players that would help for 2-3 years until the Celtics develop their young players? Avery Bradley could turn out to be special, yet. How about the players who will be drafted between this year and 2014? They could be of considerable help in the future.

As far as the free agents that Boston have, they could very well sign Green to a 3-5 year deal; Davis, Troy Murphy and Delonte West to a 2 year contract; Von Wafer for 1 year. That will give the Celtics roster, so far, at:

Rondo, Rayray, PP, KG and O'Neal as the starting 5. Green, Davis, West, Wafer, Murphy and Bradley coming off the bench.

Add one or two free agent signings and one draft pick plus the 2nd round draft pick sent out to Euro league for a year or two. I think that will be a pretty decent line up. If Davis doesn't resign, the Celtics can find a decent replacement via the free agency route.

let's rule out the top free agents and top restricted free agents and hypothetically name the free agents who the team might be able to sign, such as:

Marquis Daniels, if healthy. If not, Roger Mason. Mason will be 31 at the beginning of the season (if there will be one) and is a good shooter. Could be a good option at the 2. If DeAndre Jordan will sign for the MLE, then Boston should do so. And, if Davis doesn't re-sign, try Shawne Williams of the Knicks. Add the 1st round draft pick for this year and that completes the 15 man roster. If DeAndre Jordan signs long term, they don't need to draft a 5. They could go for either a 2 or a 4, with Green going 3 full time. This will only work if Jordan somehow decides to play for Boston.

Thank you for reading this and I appreciate your comments.

[paulcowens]

Yup, best trade idea so far.   But I don't know about Danny, if he can resist the lure of magical, shiney trades offered to him by other GMs.   Sometimes a cat will ignore a shiny, feathery cat toy being dangled for them, but sooner or later, it just HAS to take a swat...

[cman88]

if we keep Green, delonte and BBD(for 1 year), resign Troy murphy for VM(why not, if he can get back in game shape we could use his shooting/11rebounds a game)just as another big...all we have to shore up is using the MLE to sign a backup-5 in the event JO gets hurt, and then use the veterans minimum to fill out the roster...if you keep those 3 bench players. 8 of your 9man rotation for the playoffs is already built...

our bench last year really wasnt that bad...its just lack of cohesion meant that doc really couldnt/wouldnt play them in the playoffs..

I mean our 3rd string in the playoffs was arroyo, Von wafer, Sasha, Troy murphy....not bad..

honestly, when baby was playing bad why Doc didn't go to Kristic etc. im not sure

[Roy H.]

Unfortunately, there's absolutely no way that DeAndre Jordan is available for the MLE.  The Clippers have the right to match salaries, and they've already mentioned him as a building block.

As for what to do in free agency, here's the problem I see with your plan:  it doesn't make us much better in the short-term, and it handcuffs our free agent plans in the long term.

We can't tie up future cap space on guys like Troy Murphy, Glen Davis, and Delonte West in my eyes.  On a one year deal, sure, or maybe on a partially guaranteed multi-year deal.  However, if our ability to sign free agents in 2012 is jeopardized because we've got Troy Murphy and BBD on the roster, I think it's a failure.  Those aren't the type of guys a team can build around.

With our free agency plans, the team needs to target two types of players:  guys who help us "win now" and who will take one year deals, and those guys who are potential building blocks.  I don't think we can sign mediocre guys for anything longer than one year.

[pearljammer10]

Dont like it. Jordan is going ot get a deal that might be double the MLE. Why give out 2 year deals to insignificant role players when we are trying to save cap space after this year?

[Neurotic Guy]

I think Danny needs to go 'all in' on 1 of 2 strategies:
1) Go for a championship in 2011-2012.
2) Start the rebuilding process.


If #1, I don't know how he'll be able to strengthen this team enough without risking financial flexibility going forward.  Meaning a multi-year MLE and trades (not much bait here, but have Green, Bradley, S&T Baby, Clips pick, and RA if the return is right) that will yield help-now  players who will come with salaries beyond 2012.

If #2, then put KG and RA on the market for prospects who can be packaged with expiring deals.  Get 3 or 4 legit prospects to go along with RR, PP, Green, the C's 2012 pick (lottery), the Clippers pick (hopefully 11-15), a top 2012 FA and a 2nd tier 2012 FA. Build from there.

I don't think they can position themselves for the future AND win next year.   Danny should move hard in one direction or the other.

[manl_lui]

actually that might not be such a bad idea...

Troy never played in the playoffs and he was rusty...he used to be a double double guy in Indiana, if he worked out this summer, get in shape and prepare for training camp...i dont see why not...we need rebounding

I say also resign sasha paplovic for his defense ability. I say a full training camp and pre-season together, this team can potentially compete for another run...whats our percentage...idk but its ok, we can always play the underdogs again

remember beginning of the season, it was the Lakers, Celtics, Heat or Orlando being champions...looked how that turned out

Us and the Lakers lost in the 2nd round, Orlando lost in the first to the hawks (i was really surprised!), and Heat lost to the Mavs

I mean who counted the Mavs??, they were underdogs...it wasn't until midway through the season that people started mentioning the Mavs, and the Bulls

we can surprise everyone

[cman88]

im not saying we sign someone like Troy Murphy long term...but on a one year deal he's not bad to sign....he could definitely play at least as well as Kristic if he gets back into game shape...just a big body who can hit the jumper...and after his lack of play this past year, I think he should be available to us(we can promise him playing time, and he can get that "big contract" next year)..he could also back up KG for some minutes and is a good rebounder..just 2 years ago he was averaging a double double with Indiana

build the bench with Vets looking for a last shot and maybe some young players..and focus on retaining Delonte/Green. over any other team, we can promise playing time with our age/propensity for injuries for anyone looking to want to boost their stats to get that "last big contract"

maybe we should just split up the MLE and sign a mediocre Big/wing player....Semih erden/Kristic showed that pretty much anyone can be decent at the 5

[celty86]

See if a deal could be worked out with the Clippers revolving around Chris Kaman and Jeff Green. We would have to add additional salary to make it match. Kaman has one year left at 12.7 million so he wouldn't hurt our cap space going forward. He has had injury issues in the past but hopefully that could be put behind him. If the deal could be worked out and he had a great year for us, Ainge may want use some of his cap space to resign the guy. 

[jdz101]

If deandre Jordan goes for more than the MLE he's over-valued anyway. Not worth the money or the trouble.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Yup, best trade idea so far.   But I don't know about Danny, if he can resist the lure of magical, shiney trades offered to him by other GMs.   Sometimes a cat will ignore a shiny, feathery cat toy being dangled for them, but sooner or later, it just HAS to take a swat...

exactly. if there's gonna be something he think will be a better fit he will pull a trade. but I'm kinda alright with not trading anyone.

[Kuberski1]

I would bet we don't do any trades this summer.  Of course the new CBA overhangs everything, including free agents and renewals.  

Depending on how things pan out, I could see them signing Von Wafer and possibly Murphy to 1 year deals.  They'll offer Green the Qualifying, or something slightly above.  I assuming (hoping) Krstic has an out clause in his Russian deal, if there is a relatively quick resolution for a new NBA deal.  We'll need help at the 5 under just about any scenario, so if there is such a thing as the MLE, I would think this is where it gets used.  That would leave Vet Min type deals for the remaining spots, and possibly the first round pick.

The interesting part will be what they offer Baby.  He will generate interest, based on his play last year, at least through Feb.  I think the Cs do like him, despite the increasingly negative press as the year wore on.  I think the Cs would possibly do a multi-year deal, but the price has to be right.  He is worth "solid back-up 4" money, whatever that may be, but not more than that.

[Celtic#9]

This will only work if Jordan somehow decides to play for Boston.

This right here is the problem. It's not gonna happen.

[Army_of_One_Nation]

I have to agree. It's all about the money now. Players that know they don't have a slim chance to go to the HOF will instead opt for the money rather than championships.

In 2012 when KG's and Rayray's contract are up, if they do not sign some of their bench players a two year deal, the team will end up like the Heat: scrambling to sign some players from the bottom of the heap. 

[Celtic#9]

This gives a line up of:

Rondo/West/Bradley
Allen/West/Wafer
Pierce/Green/Quis
Garnett/Davis/Green
JO/Murphy/Davis

Our line-up this year was:

Rondo/West/Bradley
Allen/West/Wafer
Pierce/Green
Garnett/Davis/Green
JO/Shaq/Murphy/Davis

Hmm lets see...Almost the same line-up except we don't have Shaq and instead we have Quis. We couldn't get it done last time why will it be different this time?