For the Celtics -- Is this a lost season no matter what?

[JSD]

The Celtics situation under the current CBA leaves them with very little money to spend on the market and with a lot of holes to fill. In addition, signing anyone beyond this upcoming season cuts into the ability for a max signing next offseason. So I'm convinced that this is basically a lost season for the Celtics regardless if the players and owners work things out because  a 1 year MLE and LLE won't give us the depth we need to compete. I mean, am I missing something? Is Ainge forshadowing more flexibility under a new CBA? The Celtics brass has some major decisions to make that a lot of us will probably disagree with.

[BballTim]

  We've got the big four and can bring back West, Green, Davis, Bradley and JO (and possibly Wafer if desired) and have Johnson and possibly Moore. It might not be ideal but I don't think it's a crisis.

[action781]

You've pretty clearly stated the problematic juxtaposition that the celtics face when making signings this offseason.  It's going to force Danny to be very savvy with his signings this offseason.  My guess is that his mind is already made up and he will think like this:

1.  If a possible signing comes along that can make us a serious contender for this year (e.g. Tyson Chandler 4 years of MLE), then I hope he takes it.  I highly doubt any offers like that are going to be an option, but if so, I hope he jumps on it even if it compromises '12 cap room because there are no guarantees in free agency.

2.  If there are not any players, or combinations of players, that could make us favorites for a title, I hope he simply does his best to offer as many one-year contracts as possible and if he does offer any multi-year deals I hope they are small in $$ whereas their affect on future cap space would be small and the contracts would be tradeable if necessary.

Say a max contract offer is $17M per year for Dwight Howard in the new CBA.  If we have only $14-15 available, I don't think he's going to turn that down in order to get $17 from a crappy team.  My reasoning is because that kind of decision would imply that a new contract is all about the money for him.  And if that is truly the case, then he would just stay in Orlando who can pay him the most.  So if he isn't all about the money and really does want to win, I'm sure he'd rather have 14-15M per year plus some good role players than 17M on a team that's bare in depth.

[JSD]

Say a max contract offer is $17M per year for Dwight Howard in the new CBA.  If we have only $14-15 available, I don't think he's going to turn that down in order to get $17 from a crappy team.  My reasoning is because that kind of decision would imply that a new contract is all about the money for him.  And if that is truly the case, then he would just stay in Orlando who can pay him the most.  So if he isn't all about the money and really does want to win, I'm sure he'd rather have 14-15M per year plus some good role players than 17M on a team that's bare in depth.

I agree with what you say here but I dont the team at the present will be attractive enough for him even at absolute max. Pierce and Rondo is not enough. However, I think we are still in position to make our team more attractive:

- Trade Rondo for Nash and a 1st rounder or two.
- Sign KG, Jeff Green, D. West up to 2014 at combined close to Rondo money.
- Renounce all expired deals and rookie contracts after the 2012 season.
- Offer Howard a max deal with KG, Green, Peirce and D. West under contract.

I really think KG, even at his age, is a better sell to Dwight Howard than Rondo. KG's tenacity is infectious and Howard would thrive with it, even if KG is growling and yelling from the bench most of the time. In addition, 2014 becomes another year the Celtics can add a max contract or even possibly two. At that point the  Celtics would have Howard and some lottory picks to sell to major free agents. I know most will hate this idea but I truely think it would be the fastest route back to title contention right away and still be set up for later.

[JSD]

  We've got the big four and can bring back West, Green, Davis, Bradley and JO (and possibly Wafer if desired) and have Johnson and possibly Moore. It might not be ideal but I don't think it's a crisis.

None of those players will want a 1 year deal.

[BballTim]

  We've got the big four and can bring back West, Green, Davis, Bradley and JO (and possibly Wafer if desired) and have Johnson and possibly Moore. It might not be ideal but I don't think it's a crisis.

None of those players will want a 1 year deal.

  "Those players" are Baby, Delonte and Green. Jeff could take the QO if he doesn't get a better deal, Glen might take a one year deal if he doesn't get a decent long term offer. West won't get a ton of interest on the market.

[JSD]

  We've got the big four and can bring back West, Green, Davis, Bradley and JO (and possibly Wafer if desired) and have Johnson and possibly Moore. It might not be ideal but I don't think it's a crisis.

None of those players will want a 1 year deal.

  "Those players" are Baby, Delonte and Green. Jeff could take the QO if he doesn't get a better deal, Glen might take a one year deal if he doesn't get a decent long term offer. West won't get a ton of interest on the market.

Even if they all stay, the depth at the center position is still a big concern. Who do the Celtics even target for what they have to offer? Kwame Brown? Theo Ratliff?

[bfrombleacher]

If you're a Celtics fan, you should be hoping there will be no season. Dwight can't be traded. Rookies seem to be getting their dose of basketball despite the lockout (J.J.J. also gets a year to bulk up). Rondo: that arm and those feet. Ray and KG come off the books (with both expressing interest in retiring in green, so potentially we could sign them real cheap). Vets don't need basketball, they need rest and conditioning. Perfect.

If the season does commence then we hope for the best. Take solace in the fact that there was we had no center last year when it counted. Our team may do good with just an under the radar center. Ubuntu.

[Chris]

If you're a Celtics fan, you should be hoping there will be no season. Dwight can't be traded. Rookies seem to be getting their dose of basketball despite the lockout (J.J.J. also gets a year to bulk up). Rondo: that arm and those feet. Ray and KG come off the books (with both expressing interest in retiring in green, so potentially we could sign them real cheap). Vets don't need basketball, they need rest and conditioning. Perfect.

If the season does commence then we hope for the best. Take solace in the fact that there was we had no center last year when it counted. Our team may do good with just an under the radar center. Ubuntu.

No way.  Give up a year of quality basketball (it could be the last time we see basketball at such a high level in Boston for a long time), for the remote chance Dwight Howard wants to freeze in Boston for the next 5 years? 

There is NO brightside to losing a season of basketball, particularly when the C's are still built to win, like they are.

[bfrombleacher]

If you're a Celtics fan, you should be hoping there will be no season. Dwight can't be traded. Rookies seem to be getting their dose of basketball despite the lockout (J.J.J. also gets a year to bulk up). Rondo: that arm and those feet. Ray and KG come off the books (with both expressing interest in retiring in green, so potentially we could sign them real cheap). Vets don't need basketball, they need rest and conditioning. Perfect.

If the season does commence then we hope for the best. Take solace in the fact that there was we had no center last year when it counted. Our team may do good with just an under the radar center. Ubuntu.

No way.  Give up a year of quality basketball (it could be the last time we see basketball at such a high level in Boston for a long time), for the remote chance Dwight Howard wants to freeze in Boston for the next 5 years?  

There is NO brightside to losing a season of basketball, particularly when the C's are still built to win, like they are.

The chances of winning a championship has decreased from last year. We would not be the worst playoff team but we certainly have faltered. Our cap space is very restrictive and we all saw last season that you get what you pay for. Half a Shaq and a pinch of JO. It's going to be really really tough to watch but of course if the season does happen, I'd be looking forward to exerting revenge on a certain trio of jackasses who hurt our best PG. But hey, we came close to beating them 3-4 times last year without a center. I think with a sub-par decent center, we'd go pretty far.

I don't really like the chances or the idea of signing Dwight either. But that's to appeal to the CB fans, who just won't stop about Chris Paul and Dwight, Chris Paul and Dwight, Chris Paul and Dwight. I'd rather they sign a solid center(s) (which there are a few) and have a wing capable of finishing with Rondo (blasphemy! A PG without a J?). With Ray and KG coming off the bench with much more accommodating contracts and lots of money to spend, we'd be steamrolling the league once again.