Options left at Center?

[raynman]

Our roster is almost full after all the signings and deals the past five days, and with our limited resources, it has been a pretty good haul for Danny Ainge. Solid vets and rooks who provide us with scoring, rebounding, athleticism and most importantly, cap flexibility! But of course, there is still one glaring need we need to address - the center position! But with limited options in free agency especially with some of the prized centers already having signed, what's left for us?
Nene, Marc Gasol, Chandler, Foster, Aaron Gray, even Kwame is gone.

So which FA centers are left?
Mbenga , Dampier, Elson, Gadzuric, Ajinca... - ugh.
Fesenko, Thabeet(amnesty'd?) - nice to have but quite slow and inexperienced.
Przybilla, Landry, Dalembert are most notable, but we only have the vet's min to give and I doubt any of these would accept.

So what else can we do? Barring any miracle that lands us Dwight Howard, I say we just try to trade for some serviceable centers with expiring contracts. My top choices:

Jason Thompson 3M (RFA next year)
Turiaf - 4M
Okur - 10M
Kaman - 12M
I suppose we can trade a pick , Bradley and probably JO to get one of these guys. If DA really wants to win this year, he should really get a good center. Remember how good we were when our centers were clicking (esp. Shaq) last year? Some players also perform better in their natural position (Green, Bass, Wilcox). So banner#18 doesn't really hinge on Rondo's improvement or Green's breaking out, but on a reliable and dependable center!

[The Fawb]

we still have the mini-MLE too (3 million)

[j804]

Fesenko as a extra body for practice and insurance if JO goes down? If he'll take it why not

[j804]

we still have the mini-MLE too (3 million)

Nope from what I believe we used it on Wilcox...

[raynman]

we still have the mini-MLE too (3 million)

Nope from what I believe we used it on Wilcox...

Yup. too bad. I think Danny should've explored more options before giving it to Wilcox. it's not like he's going anywhere anyway.

[Who]

Eric Dampier looks the best bet. A big body would be great as a third string center. Need that physical presence in the paint when it's required.

All our other options off the bench are undersized big men.

[Cman]

we still have the mini-MLE too (3 million)

Nope from what I believe we used it on Wilcox...

Yup. too bad. I think Danny should've explored more options before giving it to Wilcox. it's not like he's going anywhere anyway.

I disagree. I think that was an excellent use of the mini MLE.

Mbenga , Dampier, Elson, Gadzuric, Ajinca... - ugh.

I'd be fine with any of these, as they would come cheap and with a bit of experience.

Other Centers available: Troy Murphy
If he's healed, he wouldn't be a bad pickup for the 15th spot. He'd come cheap and he knows the system.

[hwangjini_1]

another factor to consider is that ainge is NOT going to sign players for more than one year, unless they are the exact kind he wants to help rebuild the celtics into the future - ala david west.

ainge will not give away money to mediocrities beyond one year. he is positioning this team for a rebuild/restock next year based around rondo, pierce, and green. he thinks those three can play credibly for at least 2-3 years and still give him the money to bring in 1 star at max salary.

he would still have money then to bring in a supporting cast of 1-2 good players.

ainge will not waste this opportunity just so he can sign centers such as landry for 2-3 years.

[Cman]

another factor to consider is that ainge is NOT going to sign players for more than one year, unless they are the exact kind he wants to help rebuild the celtics into the future - ala david west.

ainge will not give away money to mediocrities beyond one year. he is positioning this team for a rebuild/restock next year based around rondo, pierce, and green. he thinks those three can play credibly for at least 2-3 years and still give him the money to bring in 1 star at max salary.

he would still have money then to bring in a supporting cast of 1-2 good players.

ainge will not waste this opportunity just so he can sign centers such as landry for 2-3 years.

Good point, and I think this is the right strategy.
Basically, at this point the Cs are looking at who might be available for a one year vet min deal.

[toneskeet]

Stiemsma is under contract. It's partially garunteed. So I'm nor sure Danny is really looking for a third center. I think he's looking for a 2 or 3 we won't sign anyone unless they are very talented and on a one year deal. (Maybe when players start to get bought out). But right now I'm afraid thus is the team were starting the season with.

[Q_FBE]

Our roster is almost full after all the signings and deals the past five days, and with our limited resources, it has been a pretty good haul for Danny Ainge. Solid vets and rooks who provide us with scoring, rebounding, athleticism and most importantly, cap flexibility! But of course, there is still one glaring need we need to address - the center position! But with limited options in free agency especially with some of the prized centers already having signed, what's left for us?
Nene, Marc Gasol, Chandler, Foster, Aaron Gray, even Kwame is gone.

So which FA centers are left?
Mbenga , Dampier, Elson, Gadzuric, Ajinca... - ugh.
Fesenko, Thabeet(amnesty'd?) - nice to have but quite slow and inexperienced.
Przybilla, Landry, Dalembert are most notable, but we only have the vet's min to give and I doubt any of these would accept.

So what else can we do? Barring any miracle that lands us Dwight Howard, I say we just try to trade for some serviceable centers with expiring contracts. My top choices:

Jason Thompson 3M (RFA next year)
Turiaf - 4M
Okur - 10M
Kaman - 12M
I suppose we can trade a pick , Bradley and probably JO to get one of these guys. If DA really wants to win this year, he should really get a good center. Remember how good we were when our centers were clicking (esp. Shaq) last year? Some players also perform better in their natural position (Green, Bass, Wilcox). So banner#18 doesn't really hinge on Rondo's improvement or Green's breaking out, but on a reliable and dependable center!

My favorite affordable center is probably Rony Turiaf who plays with a lot of passion and energy and can get the Boston crowd fired up. Unfortunately he is under contract for one more year with the Knicks I believe.

[bfrombleacher]

Our roster is almost full after all the signings and deals the past five days, and with our limited resources, it has been a pretty good haul for Danny Ainge. Solid vets and rooks who provide us with scoring, rebounding, athleticism and most importantly, cap flexibility! But of course, there is still one glaring need we need to address - the center position! But with limited options in free agency especially with some of the prized centers already having signed, what's left for us?
Nene, Marc Gasol, Chandler, Foster, Aaron Gray, even Kwame is gone.

So which FA centers are left?
Mbenga , Dampier, Elson, Gadzuric, Ajinca... - ugh.
Fesenko, Thabeet(amnesty'd?) - nice to have but quite slow and inexperienced.
Przybilla, Landry, Dalembert are most notable, but we only have the vet's min to give and I doubt any of these would accept.

So what else can we do? Barring any miracle that lands us Dwight Howard, I say we just try to trade for some serviceable centers with expiring contracts. My top choices:

Jason Thompson 3M (RFA next year)
Turiaf - 4M
Okur - 10M
Kaman - 12M
I suppose we can trade a pick , Bradley and probably JO to get one of these guys. If DA really wants to win this year, he should really get a good center. Remember how good we were when our centers were clicking (esp. Shaq) last year? Some players also perform better in their natural position (Green, Bass, Wilcox). So banner#18 doesn't really hinge on Rondo's improvement or Green's breaking out, but on a reliable and dependable center!

My favorite affordable center is probably Rony Turiaf who plays with a lot of passion and energy and can get the Boston crowd fired up. Unfortunately he is under contract for one more year with the Knicks I believe.

JO for Turiaf? More defense for them, more health for us. JO goes to a contender. Everybody wins?

[PosImpos]

Our roster is almost full after all the signings and deals the past five days, and with our limited resources, it has been a pretty good haul for Danny Ainge. Solid vets and rooks who provide us with scoring, rebounding, athleticism and most importantly, cap flexibility! But of course, there is still one glaring need we need to address - the center position! But with limited options in free agency especially with some of the prized centers already having signed, what's left for us?
Nene, Marc Gasol, Chandler, Foster, Aaron Gray, even Kwame is gone.

So which FA centers are left?
Mbenga , Dampier, Elson, Gadzuric, Ajinca... - ugh.
Fesenko, Thabeet(amnesty'd?) - nice to have but quite slow and inexperienced.
Przybilla, Landry, Dalembert are most notable, but we only have the vet's min to give and I doubt any of these would accept.

So what else can we do? Barring any miracle that lands us Dwight Howard, I say we just try to trade for some serviceable centers with expiring contracts. My top choices:

Jason Thompson 3M (RFA next year)
Turiaf - 4M
Okur - 10M
Kaman - 12M
I suppose we can trade a pick , Bradley and probably JO to get one of these guys. If DA really wants to win this year, he should really get a good center. Remember how good we were when our centers were clicking (esp. Shaq) last year? Some players also perform better in their natural position (Green, Bass, Wilcox). So banner#18 doesn't really hinge on Rondo's improvement or Green's breaking out, but on a reliable and dependable center!

My favorite affordable center is probably Rony Turiaf who plays with a lot of passion and energy and can get the Boston crowd fired up. Unfortunately he is under contract for one more year with the Knicks I believe.

JO for Turiaf? More defense for them, more health for us. JO goes to a contender. Everybody wins?

i say no thank you to ronny turiaf.  ive read that he's an awful rebounder and not a very good defender.  the knicks had to pay the wizards to take him off their hands when they were just trying to dump him from their roster to make cap room.

[HUD4]

Turiaf was traded to the Wizards and they want to keep him. I would have liked him too. Right now, our options are limited. There are bodies out there, but will they take the vet minimum with our mini mid-level gone.

Alexis Ajinca
Erik Dampier
Francisco Elson
Melvin Ely
Dan Gadzuric
Ryan Hollins
DJ Mbenga
Troy Murphy
Joe Pryz (apparently retired)
Etan Thomas

[Moreover]

Turiaf was traded to the Wizards and they want to keep him. I would have liked him too. Right now, our options are limited. There are bodies out there, but will they take the vet minimum with our mini mid-level gone.

Alexis Ajinca
Erik Dampier
Francisco Elson
Melvin Ely
Dan Gadzuric
Ryan Hollins
DJ Mbenga
Troy Murphy
Joe Pryz (apparently retired)
Etan Thomas

Disregarding Przybilla, I think Dampier and Gadzuric are the best options. Good rebounding and shot blocking, Dampier brings more size and post defense, Gadzuric more speed and rim-protection. Better hands too.