If DH reaches free agency, why not Boston?

[snively]

The Celtics potentially have a very attractive offer.

It'll be a tough sell if they are coming off a .500 season and a first round playoff exit though. They need to show more than that to convince Dwight that this is the right place for him.

Yeah, Rondo and Pierce need to play at an all-star level and the team as a whole has to "overachive" for it to happen.

Even then it'll be a tough sell, and this is predicated on Howard not being traded.

I agree, but considering the standards we're trying to reach (two bonafide all-stars going forward, contender status) don't you find it odd that Howard is so eager to play for New Jersey?  Deron Williams is a great player, but how is D-Will + a very poor supporting cast of Farmar, Morrow, Petro & Shawne Williams (making a combined $15 mil in 2012/2013) + a youth contingent of Brooks and James more enticing right now than Rondo & Pierce (making a combined $28 mil) + a youth contingent of Bradley and Jajuan Johnson?

[Who]

The Celtics potentially have a very attractive offer.

It'll be a tough sell if they are coming off a .500 season and a first round playoff exit though. They need to show more than that to convince Dwight that this is the right place for him.

Yeah, Rondo and Pierce need to play at an all-star level and the team as a whole has to "overachive" for it to happen.

Even then it'll be a tough sell, and this is predicated on Howard not being traded.

I agree, but considering the standards we're trying to reach (two bonafide all-stars going forward, contender status) don't you find it odd that Howard is so eager to play for New Jersey?  Deron Williams is a great player, but how is D-Will + a very poor supporting cast of Farmar, Morrow, Petro & Shawne Williams (making a combined $15 mil in 2012/2013) + a youth contingent of Brooks and James more enticing right now than Rondo & Pierce (making a combined $28 mil) + a youth contingent of Bradley and Jajuan Johnson?

It's Deron Williams. Difference maker.

[saltlover]

People keep discounting Ray coming back. He's not moving his family and he doesn't care about money. He will stay here for any money the Celtics can afford without sacrificing their ability to retool. Ray is perfect with Dwight.

I mean, it's nice to think, but if the Celtics can only offer him the veteran minimum, and someone else can offer him $5 million, it's tough to believe he'd turn that down.  Maybe he doesn't care as much about money as some players, but I'm sure, like all of us, he has his price.

[snively]

The Celtics potentially have a very attractive offer.

It'll be a tough sell if they are coming off a .500 season and a first round playoff exit though. They need to show more than that to convince Dwight that this is the right place for him.

Yeah, Rondo and Pierce need to play at an all-star level and the team as a whole has to "overachive" for it to happen.

Even then it'll be a tough sell, and this is predicated on Howard not being traded.

I agree, but considering the standards we're trying to reach (two bonafide all-stars going forward, contender status) don't you find it odd that Howard is so eager to play for New Jersey?  Deron Williams is a great player, but how is D-Will + a very poor supporting cast of Farmar, Morrow, Petro & Shawne Williams (making a combined $15 mil in 2012/2013) + a youth contingent of Brooks and James more enticing right now than Rondo & Pierce (making a combined $28 mil) + a youth contingent of Bradley and Jajuan Johnson?

It's Deron Williams. Difference maker.

Hmmm... quality over quantity I guess.

[KY Celts fan]

5. We have a reputation for being cheap.  It is leage-wide known that we lost the 2010 Finals because ownership didn't want to spend the MLE on a player taller than 6'6

I already refuted this claim in the other thread and you didn't reply.

For the 2009-2010 season, Boston spent the MLE on Rasheed Wallace, whose 6'11". So what you say is simply not true. Also, Boston has had one of the highest payrolls over the past five years, as well as gave KG a contract extension making him the 2nd highest paid player in the NBA after Kobe Bryant. Wyc is more than willing to spend money.

I'll agree with you about the income tax and superstar teammates. It's just as cold in Chicago and NYC, so I don't think that would be a big deal. I don't live in Boston so I have no idea about the nightlife. But your 5th claim is completely false.

[ScoobyDoo]

I understand we may have been perceived as cheap until Wyc, Ainge and Doc arrived. I think there is a difference between spending your money foolishly and being willing to spend money when the talent merits it - and I think this ownership falls into the latter category.

If Wyc says we'll have enough money to sign two max free agents in the off season, I'll take his word on it. He's a pretty smart guy and either they have it now, or will make the moves required "to" have it.

KG: $21.2 Mil
Ray: $10 Mil
Jermaine: $6.2 Mil
Dooling: $2.1 Mil
Marquis: 1.2 Mil
Sasha: $1.2 Mil
Sub Total: $41.9 Mil coming off the books
Bass: $4 Mil ( If he opts out, which he may)
Grand Total: $45.9 Mil coming off the books.

Not bad, we should be in position to make a run at whatever players are available, if it's the right fit.

So even if it's not Howard, the guy on everyone's radar, I still think we're in a very, very good position to rebuild quickly if we have some luck in free agency over the next 2-3 seasons - that and possibly some decent draft picks.

I think we will end up making a very solid run this year as well. And if Ainge does hit pay dirt in the off season, we basically don't skip a beat. If he doesn't, we have a good young core of players, two solid picks this year and a ton of cap space.

Great management, great position.

[ScoobyDoo]

Also wanted to say completely understand re taxes and night life. But if a guy is "also" serious about his business and about having the opps to win rings and build a legacy, Boston has to be on the radar, along with LA, Chicago and possibly NY, the historical Meccas of the NBA. 

[KY Celts fan]

Also wanted to say completely understand re taxes and night life. But if a guy is "also" serious about his business and about having the opps to win rings and build a legacy, Boston has to be on the radar, along with LA, Chicago and possibly NY, the historical Meccas of the NBA. 

If we're talking about historical meccas of the NBA, I think Philly needs to be included on that list as well. Barkely, Moses Malone, Dr. J., AI, Wilt. They've certainly been a league staple since the 60's and are doing very, very good this year. Plus they're owned by Will Smith! Can you imagine getting paid by the Fresh Prince?

[ScoobyDoo]

Both good points re Smith and Philly...true

[CeltsAcumen]

Well, he has stated he wants to play in a warm weather city, but I really dont know how solid he is on that statement.

DH wants to be a movie or TV star.  If the guy worked on his game as much as he does trying to be in crappy commercials he would be Wilt Chamberlain 2.0.

I expect him to be a Laker and Orlando to take Bynum bc its the best they are gonna get.

[Marcus13]

5. We have a reputation for being cheap.  It is leage-wide known that we lost the 2010 Finals because ownership didn't want to spend the MLE on a player taller than 6'6

I already refuted this claim in the other thread and you didn't reply.

For the 2009-2010 season, Boston spent the MLE on Rasheed Wallace, whose 6'11". So what you say is simply not true. Also, Boston has had one of the highest payrolls over the past five years, as well as gave KG a contract extension making him the 2nd highest paid player in the NBA after Kobe Bryant. Wyc is more than willing to spend money.

I'll agree with you about the income tax and superstar teammates. It's just as cold in Chicago and NYC, so I don't think that would be a big deal. I don't live in Boston so I have no idea about the nightlife. But your 5th claim is completely false.

I apologize for not answering you previously, I honestly must've missed your post.  The statement was my fault because I meant 09 and not 10.

They didn't replace PJ Brown and went into the '09 season with two players taller than 6'6", one of whom had a large bone chip in the back of his knee that needed to be removed. And they elected to let him play out the season instead. Had Garnett had the surgery in October he would have been back for the playoffs, and in much better health in '10 (because the damage to the popliteus tendon would have been minimised).

I mean how much bank did they need to sign a guy taller than 6'6" to play the 4/5 going into the 2009 season? They didn't sign anyone because the owners weren't even interested in spending part of the MLE on the problem. And when they got to camp and realised that Garnett was injured they were ****ed nine ways from nowhere, because they couldn't go into their title defense season with a 3rd year, defensively challenged, 6'6" PF taking over for Garnett. So they made the epically bad decision to let Garnett play out the year and broke him as a result. And, yes, that was because the owners went cheap and elected to not spend an extra $3-$4 million to address the weakness on the roster.

[Sketch5]

I'd rather throw the kitchen sink at Love first, see if Minny mathch's. They probably will, but you can always hope management is really dumb over there.

DH would be my second choice, as long as they can get some one to teach him how to play in the post. Ewing was a good player, but it doesn't look like he can teach very well.

Hire Hakeem for the summer, get that foot work down. Look at Bynum and what Kareem did for him in the off season.

So first go at Love, then Howard, after that maybe Lopez. But I have a feeling we'll have to wait till the 2013 FA.

[snively]

They didn't replace PJ Brown and went into the '09 season with two players taller than 6'6"

How tall were Patrick O'Bryant, Scalabrine, Big Baby and Leon Powe?

[kozlodoev]

So the Celtics spent their MLE every year but one since the Big 3 was put together, and that makes them a cheap team?  

[kozlodoev]

They didn't replace PJ Brown and went into the '09 season with two players taller than 6'6"

How tall were Patrick O'Bryant, Scalabrine, Big Baby and Leon Powe?

Later on, we also added Mikki Moore, who's 6'11. Overall, the claim of obviously grossly exaggerated, since it has to support a statement which is equally ludicrous