Ainge on WEEI right now

[Chris]

http://www.weei.com/shows/dennis-callahan/home#

I like that Ainge came out and said they see him as a 4 rather than a 5.

The guy's a pogo stick. Hard to see him as a 5. On the other hand, you never know how things will pan out. Camby and Noah have pretty much his build and look just fine at the center position.

I fear Camby and Noah both have broad shoulders compared to Johnson.  He's got the great leaps, but you're right--he's built like dental floss.

Body wise, he kind of reminds me of Chris Johnson.  Maybe a bit more filled out, but not by much.

Look at video of KG when he was younger, I feel like they have similar bodies. KG bulked up considerably since he came into the league. People are wary of Johnson comparisons because Johnson wasn't strong enough to guard anyone who posted him up.

Well, the obvious difference is that those videos (at least the ones I have seen posted here) of KG were when he was 18...Johnson is 22.  

Also, I think KG is an outlier when it comes to guys succeeding as low post players with such small frames.  So, I find it hard to use him as a basis for argument.

[Eddie20]

The thing about the JJ is that he actually has wide shoulders. Usually that's a good indicator as to the ability to put on weight. Chris Johnson on the other hand, has a very narrow frame and will always struggle to add quality weight.

[jasail]

If someone wants to over pay for Green so be it.  In his short stint last season, his ceiling is likely a 6th man on a championship team.  He can't rebound well enough to be a 4 and doesn't shoot well enough to be a 3, but is a guy that can defend both positions and create mismatches off the bench.  

So to that point, the C's are going to "try" to win again, before they begin rebuilding in 2012.  Green may help them win this year, but he is not a piece to rebuild around moving forward unless his game improves enough at the 3 to be a legitimate starter once PP retires or moves to a reduced bench role.  

[clover]

http://www.weei.com/shows/dennis-callahan/home#

I like that Ainge came out and said they see him as a 4 rather than a 5.

The guy's a pogo stick. Hard to see him as a 5. On the other hand, you never know how things will pan out. Camby and Noah have pretty much his build and look just fine at the center position.

I fear Camby and Noah both have broad shoulders compared to Johnson.  He's got the great leaps, but you're right--he's built like dental floss.

Body wise, he kind of reminds me of Chris Johnson.  Maybe a bit more filled out, but not by much.

Look at video of KG when he was younger, I feel like they have similar bodies. KG bulked up considerably since he came into the league. People are wary of Johnson comparisons because Johnson wasn't strong enough to guard anyone who posted him up.

KG measured out 2" taller and 3 lbs lighter--when he was 4 years younger.

[Fafnir]

Also, I think KG is an outlier when it comes to guys succeeding as low post players with such small frames.  So, I find it hard to use him as a basis for argument.

Plus KG was much more athletic, which accounts for much of his post ability. (that and his ability to hit that turn around fade away)

[the_Bird]

I turned it on to late, but when they were recapping what he said they made it seem like Ainge will not do anything to ruin the Celtics cap flexibility in 2012. Hopefully this doesn't prevent us from using the MLE this year.

I was surprised how adamant he was about that.  Obviously, its all going to depend on the new CBA, but I can't imagine Danny won't use the MLE...the question is who they can get to sign to a 1 year deal.

It also did not sound good for resigning Green.  If he doesn't take the QO, then I get the feeling Danny may be letting him walk.

See, I think that's a bad plan.  The only FA that's worth blowing up the team for (or not maximizing our chance to compete next season) is Dwight, and you've got to figure at BEST there's a 5% - 10% chance we can sign him.

Figure there's still a 20% chance the Magic sign him to an extension.  Bump that up if they trade for his buddy Josh Smith.

Figure there's at least a 25% - 30% chance that LA come calling with an offer centered around Bynum, or the Nets with an offer centered around Brook Lopez.  Teams will be calling, and we don't have much to offer. 

So, figure at best a 50% chance he makes it to free agency.  Given how badly we'd have to blow up the team just to have cap space (no KG, no Ray, no Jeff Green, no Baby Davis)....  why would he sign here?  It'd be him, Pierce, and Rondo. 

I'd much rather forgo that small chance of a miracle signing, since I don't really see anyone else that's going to be a free agent that would be worth fighting for if Dwight goes elsewhere.  I'd rather use the MLE, use the LLE, bring in guys like K-Mart and (gulp) Kwame, flesh out the roster with some bigs and let's go to war. 

[clover]

I turned it on to late, but when they were recapping what he said they made it seem like Ainge will not do anything to ruin the Celtics cap flexibility in 2012. Hopefully this doesn't prevent us from using the MLE this year.

I was surprised how adamant he was about that.  Obviously, its all going to depend on the new CBA, but I can't imagine Danny won't use the MLE...the question is who they can get to sign to a 1 year deal.

It also did not sound good for resigning Green.  If he doesn't take the QO, then I get the feeling Danny may be letting him walk.

See, I think that's a bad plan.  The only FA that's worth blowing up the team for (or not maximizing our chance to compete next season) is Dwight, and you've got to figure at BEST there's a 5% - 10% chance we can sign him.

Figure there's still a 20% chance the Magic sign him to an extension.  Bump that up if they trade for his buddy Josh Smith.

Figure there's at least a 25% - 30% chance that LA come calling with an offer centered around Bynum, or the Nets with an offer centered around Brook Lopez.  Teams will be calling, and we don't have much to offer.  

So, figure at best a 50% chance he makes it to free agency.  Given how badly we'd have to blow up the team just to have cap space (no KG, no Ray, no Jeff Green, no Baby Davis)....  why would he sign here?  It'd be him, Pierce, and Rondo.  

I'd much rather forgo that small chance of a miracle signing, since I don't really see anyone else that's going to be a free agent that would be worth fighting for if Dwight goes elsewhere.  I'd rather use the MLE, use the LLE, bring in guys like K-Mart and (gulp) Kwame, flesh out the roster with some bigs and let's go to war.  

It seems I usually agree with what you post on the board, but I'm all for protecting the cap space at this point.  My guess is that Boston does have at least half an inside track on Howard and their overall chances are more like 30%.  Also, Kevin Love and the Lopezes are among the restricted FA's next year. 

Dwight or not, the last thing I want to see them do is rush to fill in with middling players so as to get stuck as a middling team.

[Change]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Celtics wanted Reggie Jackson.   go figure OKC snatches him the pick prior. The Thunder literally stole Celtics thunder and took their guy. sam presti must have a spy inside the Celtics.

[timepiece33]

See, I think that's a bad plan.  The only FA that's worth blowing up the team for (or not maximizing our chance to compete next season) is Dwight, and you've got to figure at BEST there's a 5% - 10% chance we can sign him.

IMO, our major free agent move will be based on "trading for a player".  The interesting aspect is if we can keep enough room over the MLE to get the right players into support that major "free agent".  

I do believe we will be able to get a player with our MLE, but it will be a later in FA.  

[KCattheStripe]

I'm going to going out on a limb and say the Celtics wanted Reggie Jackson.   go figure OKC snatches him. The Thunder literally stole Celtics thunder and took their guy. sam presti must have a spy inside the Celtics.

Reggie Jackson: Because Westbrook Can't Stop The Offense For All 48 Minutes.

[Cman]

I turned it on to late, but when they were recapping what he said they made it seem like Ainge will not do anything to ruin the Celtics cap flexibility in 2012. Hopefully this doesn't prevent us from using the MLE this year.

I was surprised how adamant he was about that.  Obviously, its all going to depend on the new CBA, but I can't imagine Danny won't use the MLE...the question is who they can get to sign to a 1 year deal.

It also did not sound good for resigning Green.  If he doesn't take the QO, then I get the feeling Danny may be letting him walk.

See, I think that's a bad plan.  The only FA that's worth blowing up the team for (or not maximizing our chance to compete next season) is Dwight, and you've got to figure at BEST there's a 5% - 10% chance we can sign him.

Figure there's still a 20% chance the Magic sign him to an extension.  Bump that up if they trade for his buddy Josh Smith.

Figure there's at least a 25% - 30% chance that LA come calling with an offer centered around Bynum, or the Nets with an offer centered around Brook Lopez.  Teams will be calling, and we don't have much to offer. 

So, figure at best a 50% chance he makes it to free agency.  Given how badly we'd have to blow up the team just to have cap space (no KG, no Ray, no Jeff Green, no Baby Davis)....  why would he sign here?  It'd be him, Pierce, and Rondo. 

I'd much rather forgo that small chance of a miracle signing, since I don't really see anyone else that's going to be a free agent that would be worth fighting for if Dwight goes elsewhere.  I'd rather use the MLE, use the LLE, bring in guys like K-Mart and (gulp) Kwame, flesh out the roster with some bigs and let's go to war. 

I agree with your assessment of the likelihood of obtaining Dwight Howard, and with the conclusion you draw that we shouldn't let Dwight Howards free agency affect how we structure our roster now.  But I do think there is something to be said for mainting cap flexibility.  That said, I don't think using the full MLE and LLE will damage our flexibility that much (especially if the MLE is split between two players).

[Change]

I'm going to going out on a limb and say the Celtics wanted Reggie Jackson.   go figure OKC snatches him. The Thunder literally stole Celtics thunder and took their guy. sam presti must have a spy inside the Celtics.

Reggie Jackson: Because Westbrook Can't Stop The Offense For All 48 Minutes.

The little I've seen of him, Reggie Jackosn likes to pass more than he does scoring. His teammates sucked majorly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj0mup_UnDM

[Chris]

I turned it on to late, but when they were recapping what he said they made it seem like Ainge will not do anything to ruin the Celtics cap flexibility in 2012. Hopefully this doesn't prevent us from using the MLE this year.

I was surprised how adamant he was about that.  Obviously, its all going to depend on the new CBA, but I can't imagine Danny won't use the MLE...the question is who they can get to sign to a 1 year deal.

It also did not sound good for resigning Green.  If he doesn't take the QO, then I get the feeling Danny may be letting him walk.

See, I think that's a bad plan.  The only FA that's worth blowing up the team for (or not maximizing our chance to compete next season) is Dwight, and you've got to figure at BEST there's a 5% - 10% chance we can sign him.

Figure there's still a 20% chance the Magic sign him to an extension.  Bump that up if they trade for his buddy Josh Smith.

Figure there's at least a 25% - 30% chance that LA come calling with an offer centered around Bynum, or the Nets with an offer centered around Brook Lopez.  Teams will be calling, and we don't have much to offer. 

So, figure at best a 50% chance he makes it to free agency.  Given how badly we'd have to blow up the team just to have cap space (no KG, no Ray, no Jeff Green, no Baby Davis)....  why would he sign here?  It'd be him, Pierce, and Rondo. 

I'd much rather forgo that small chance of a miracle signing, since I don't really see anyone else that's going to be a free agent that would be worth fighting for if Dwight goes elsewhere.  I'd rather use the MLE, use the LLE, bring in guys like K-Mart and (gulp) Kwame, flesh out the roster with some bigs and let's go to war. 

Well, I don't think its necessarily about free agents as much as its about flexibility.  I don't think Danny is saying Dwight or bust, I just think he sees (and he said this morning) that this year is the end of the road for this core as contenders.  So, no matter what, they will be rebuilding next year.  And he (rightfully so) sees it a much easier chore to rebuild (reload, whatever) if they have as much roster and cap flexibility as possible.

Obviously all of this could change depending on the CBA, but chances are, the new CBA is going to be even more restrictive, which makes it even more vital not to tie your hands with longterm deals to non-core players for the future.

Now, there is certainly some gray area there.  I think if he sees a guy being a good value going forward, he won't hesitate to sign them beyond next year.  So, for example, if Kwame was willing to sign for 3 years/$9 million (or whatever the equivalent of that would be in the new market), and he sees him as being a high quality backup for the life of that contract, I think he would do it.  What I don't think he would do, is give a guy like Kenyon Martin, a player with major health questions, a 3 or 4 year deal at the full MLE (which could be what it would take to sign him).

[Sizzlack]

Also, I think KG is an outlier when it comes to guys succeeding as low post players with such small frames.  So, I find it hard to use him as a basis for argument.

Plus KG was much more athletic, which accounts for much of his post ability. (that and his ability to hit that turn around fade away)

Uh dude... not that I disagree with you that KG was crazy athletic... but Johnson is every bit the athlete KG was in his younger days... dudes got a 40 inch vertical and 7'4 wingspan... that's insane.

[Chris]

My other concern with this kid is his footwork.  From the little I have seen, he doesn't seem to have much.  Now, he can still learn this, but this is a big difference between an 18 year old KG going to work with Kevin McHale, and a 22 year old Johnson going to work with the C's staff. 

Even if the kid can hang in the NBA physically, this is going to be the key to him being significantly better than the other skinny pogo-sticks in the league.