Realistic Bigs: Biedrins, Blatche

[Vermont Green]

There are tons of trade possibilities but getting a Center is a real need.  JO may at best be playing out the year with a sore wrist.  At this point, I don't think we can expect to get anyone that is a "for sure" so we are going to have to take a chance on an underperforming big who a team is looking to dump.  The two obvious are Biedrins and Blatche.  I am assuming we could get either for JO plus maybe Marquis Daniels in the case of Biedrins (both expiring).

Of these two, I say take a chance on Blatche.  His salary is $6.4M this year, $7.1 next, and a TO for $7.4M in 2013/14.  That is managable.  Even though he is really off this year, he is still averaging 10 pts and 7 Rebs.  That is about double Wilcox.  I think a change of scenery would result in at least a temporary improvement to something more along the lines of his previous few years (15'ish points, 7'ish rebs)

Biedrins has 2 more full seasons after this at $9M, the last being a PO.  2 points and 4 rebs though for him, him must be just completely cooked.

No one wants to be on the hook for bad salary but I think this one is worth the risk on balance.

[lon3lytoaster]

Adding a guy like Biedrins is exactly what you don't want to do when building a team.

Terrible contract, terrible production. If people didn't like having Raef LaFrentz, they'd hate Biedrins. Not comparing their games, just the absolute absurdity of their contracts.

[Vermont Green]

Adding a guy like Biedrins is exactly what you don't want to do when building a team.

Terrible contract, terrible production. If people didn't like having Raef LaFrentz, they'd hate Biedrins. Not comparing their games, just the absolute absurdity of their contracts.

That is why I said that of the two, it would be Blatche that I would take a chance on.  No comment on Blatche?

[Who]

Andray Blatche is semi-useful player which is a lot more than can be said about Andris Biedrins.

Easy choice -- Blatche

[PosImpos]

Bad contracts, not very good players.

STAY AWAY.

[LooseCannon]

My idea of a realistic center is one who is not a starter, not in any team's long-term plans, and making no more than around $3m/year.  So, basically Johan Petro territory.

[Shots]

I have actually been contemplating whether or not adding Blatche to the Celtics team would be a good idea. As he is currently, he is an absolute black-hole and all-in-all a terrible basketball player. But, he is also on one of the lowest basketball IQ teams I have ever seen (something he indeed is contributing to). That being said, Blatche to me seems to have all the tools to be at the very least a solid rotation player (think Pistons era Antonio McDyess).

With the proper coaching and mentoring I am certain he could be a sixth man player on a very good team - but with that being said, anyone willing to take on his contract currently, would also run a significant risk. However, if he is available for Jermaine O'Neal's expiring contract (which I would assume he is), I think the Celtics should consider pulling the trigger.

This would mean a big-man rotation would be with Garnett at the five, given neither Blatche nor Bass can play the 4. Bass moves into the starting five, while Blatche would be the first big off the bench, pairing with Wilcox predominantly. Stiesma/JJJ are third tier.

It probably would not increase contention chances significantly, but if Blatche picks himself up, I could see him pay returns on his rather significant salary - and potentially end up as a bargain.

[Change]

Think about how terrible Al Jefferson on defense, Andre Blatche is homeless man Al Jefferson on defense. Celtics defense will suffer majorly. His low BBIQ will cripple this team. An all around horrible player.

Bad contracts, not very good players.

STAY AWAY.

Nailed it!

[clover]

Adding a guy like Biedrins is exactly what you don't want to do when building a team.

Terrible contract, terrible production. If people didn't like having Raef LaFrentz, they'd hate Biedrins. Not comparing their games, just the absolute absurdity of their contracts.

Yep, they'd be better off limping through the season with KG, Wilcox and Stiemer than taking on a bad center and contract for an upcoming year or two.

I do expect they'll come up with another big body for this season, however, probably by March 15.

[wdleehi]

Just say no.

[LooseCannon]

I do expect they'll come up with another big body for this season, however, probably by March 15.

A realistic option would probably be signing Dan Gadzuric.  He can block shots and rebound (especially offensive).  He's old but athletic and runs the floor well.  He's, at best, a back-up center in the NBA and not a particularly good one.  Except for being a zero on offense and old, he has a lot of the traits that people here are clamoring for in a big.

[Evantime34]

Just say no.

The only way I'm taking on a contract like that for expirings (jo, dooling) is if they send us a first too

[Lioney]

My first choice; Diaw
My second choice; Ersan Ilyasova
My last choice; Tolliver

High basketball IQ; Diaw, Ersan
Team play; Diaw, Ersan, Tolliver
Good Defense; Diaw, Tolliver
Rebounds; Ersan, Diaw, Tolliver
Middle range shot; Ersan, Tolliver, Diaw
Behind the arc; Ersan, Diaw, Tolliver
Expiring contract; Diaw, Ersan, Tolliver
Play well together(in the future-Dwihgt Howard); Ersan, Diaw, Tolliver

But;

Diaw; Huge Contract-tax
Ersan; Bogot injury and play well
Tolliver; Actually Posibble

[Inside-Out]

If they decide they need a center for short but regular minutes because JO can't perform, I could see them trying to breathe a few minutes into Gazuric or old pal Tony Battie, while starting KG at C next to Wilcox.  Bass subs at PF as 3rd big, and Battie/Gadzuric are 4th bigs ahead of JJJ/Steimsma.

6th man is the guy we get for JO's contract and the lower of the two 1sts this year, perhaps Mayo, Beasley, or someone from Portland or GS?

[jdz101]

If those two are our options I'd rather lose and just wait for a better option than lose with those guys....