Rumor: Celtics targeting Chuck Hayes

[snively]

I like Chuck and I think he'd be good for the Cs - they need some grit and rebounding - but I don't think he's the answer at the 5. They need a real big man, someone who can protect the paint and handle (I use this term loosely) the Howards and Bynums of the league.

Hayes is not the guy to "protect the paint," in the manner that Perkins and Garnett have done for us, but he's capable of keeping guys like Howard and Bynum out of the paint.  He has fantastic lower-body strength and works very hard to deny good post position.

We've had surprising defensive success with the KG/Baby pairing in the past, with the primary drawbacks being Baby's terrible rebounding, mediocre defense against quicker bigs and, IMHO, over-aggressive offensive play.  Hayes is better in all of those categories.

[dmny5000]

Chuck Hayes is a surprisingly good defender despite being only 6'6 at the C position. Much, much better than Glen Davis. On top of that, he's actually an efficient scorer and a good rebounder. I'd take him in a second. I think Ainge should also be taking a look at Kris Humphries.

The Celtics cant afford Kris Humphries and he's going to be overpaid anyways.

As for Chuck Hayes I'm pretty happy with him at the 5. I've watched him play it effectively for a while now. He plays solid D and he rebounds. Yes I would prefer a 7 footer at the 5 but Chuck Hayes fits better than the 7 footers available in our price range.

I would rather someone that can play than a 7 footer just cause he's tall.

[Evantime34]

Also, regarding play at center, Hayes spent over 80% of his minutes there last year.  Again, I understand the concern, but at least he's played the position at a moderately high level.

I strongly disagree with this.

Chuck Hayes inability to play the center position effectively hurt Houston throughout the season. His inability to provide a deterrent at the basket allowed the opposition to create high percentage shots at the rim all season long.

Houston being forced to play Hayes out of position, where he is far less effective, was one of the main reasons they fielded a below average defense last season.

For whatever it's worth, Houston's defense was significantly better when Hayes was on the floor.  His individual defense was very good, and the team defense was better with him than it was without him.  

Usually as a 5 to be a good help defender you need to either take charges or block shots. Does he do either of those things?

He's a pretty mediocre shot-blocker; I don't know much about his charges.

I would disagree with your premise, though.  KG doesn't take a lot of charges, and he's not a very good shot-blocker, either.  He is, however, an extremely good team defender.  Granted, he's not a center, but I don't think centers absolutely need to create turnovers or block shots to be valuable defensive players.

Kg is a great help defender but he blitzes on screens so he's rarely the last line of defense in front of the hoop. I guess he could just hold his ground and challenge shots.

[PosImpos]

bleh, just what we need, to get smaller at the center position.

[dmny5000]

bleh, just what we need, to get smaller at the center position.

Size doesn't matter, at least that's what I'm told. 

But really if the guy rebounds and holds his own defensively against centers why does it matter how tall he is?

[Liam W]

Were getting Kwame Brown so just be happy with him 

[dmny5000]

Were getting Kwame Brown so just be happy with him 

Kwame is alright but he's out of our price range. The Celtics cant offer much. Assuming they keep Green and sign or sign and trade Baby they only have 3 mil for 3 years from my understanding. The rest would be minimum deals and rookies.

[Smartacus]

“We feel comfortable with Chuck on anybody,” F Shane Battier said. “Three-fourths of the world is covered by water. The rest is covered by Chuck Hayes.”

Shane Battier is a man who knows his defense.

[Cman]

Rumor from the Sporting News' Sean Deveney.

Celtics are obviously looking for a low-cost, banger to put at center. Top target, I am told: Houston's Chuck Hayes. Would be a good fit.

I'm immediately on board. I don't care if he's shorter than Pierce.

Nice find. I'm on board with this as well.

[Interceptor]

I seem to recall another "Chuck" that didn't seem to get the memo that 6'6" wasn't tall enough.

[BballTim]

I seem to recall another "Chuck" that didn't seem to get the memo that 6'6" wasn't tall enough.

  That other Chuck probably wishes he'd been 6'6...

[PosImpos]

I seem to recall another "Chuck" that didn't seem to get the memo that 6'6" wasn't tall enough.

That other "Chuck," if I'm not mistaken, was also one of the most athletic players in the league in his prime.

“We feel comfortable with Chuck on anybody,” F Shane Battier said. “Three-fourths of the world is covered by water. The rest is covered by Chuck Hayes.”

Shane Battier is a man who knows his defense.

That's a great quote from Battier.


Still, Chuck may be capable on defense, but he's a virtual non-factor on offense.  I maintain that inside scoring is the biggest hole on this team.  Adding Chuck Hayes is a downgrade in that area over what we had at the end of last season.

[dmny5000]

I seem to recall another "Chuck" that didn't seem to get the memo that 6'6" wasn't tall enough.

That other "Chuck," if I'm not mistaken, was also one of the most athletic players in the league in his prime.

“We feel comfortable with Chuck on anybody,” F Shane Battier said. “Three-fourths of the world is covered by water. The rest is covered by Chuck Hayes.”

Shane Battier is a man who knows his defense.

That's a great quote from Battier.


Still, Chuck may be capable on defense, but he's a virtual non-factor on offense.  I maintain that inside scoring is the biggest hole on this team.  Adding Chuck Hayes is a downgrade in that area over what we had at the end of last season.

The problem is who's a FA center that scores a lot inside that can be had for 3 mil. I cant think of one so I think going for a guy that at least plays well defensively is the best we can do. Rebounding has been an issue for the Celtics too and I think Hayes will help out a bit in that area as well.

We have very few options and Chuck Hayes is a good one. You cant get the perfect guy unless you have the money to spend.

[snively]

I seem to recall another "Chuck" that didn't seem to get the memo that 6'6" wasn't tall enough.

That other "Chuck," if I'm not mistaken, was also one of the most athletic players in the league in his prime.

“We feel comfortable with Chuck on anybody,” F Shane Battier said. “Three-fourths of the world is covered by water. The rest is covered by Chuck Hayes.”

Shane Battier is a man who knows his defense.

That's a great quote from Battier.


Still, Chuck may be capable on defense, but he's a virtual non-factor on offense.  I maintain that inside scoring is the biggest hole on this team.  Adding Chuck Hayes is a downgrade in that area over what we had at the end of last season.

Hayes is actually about as good as Baby as an inside scorer (he has some decent post moves and good touch around the basket).  The downgrade is in the jumper and at the free throw line.  He's also brings some offensive skills we didn't have at the center position for much of last year: excellent passing (3.5 assists per 36 vs. 1.5 turnovers; those are better passing stats than KG much less Shaq, Semih, JO, Perkins, Krstic and Baby) and offensive rebounding (top 10 in offensive rebounding rate last season). 

[RAcker]

I seem to recall another "Chuck" that didn't seem to get the memo that 6'6" wasn't tall enough.

That other "Chuck," if I'm not mistaken, was also one of the most athletic players in the league in his prime.

“We feel comfortable with Chuck on anybody,” F Shane Battier said. “Three-fourths of the world is covered by water. The rest is covered by Chuck Hayes.”

Shane Battier is a man who knows his defense.

That's a great quote from Battier.


Still, Chuck may be capable on defense, but he's a virtual non-factor on offense.  I maintain that inside scoring is the biggest hole on this team.  Adding Chuck Hayes is a downgrade in that area over what we had at the end of last season.

Nicely put.  I too am worried about inside scoring on this team.