Should the Celtics Sign DeShawn Sims?

[LooseCannon]

After scoring 23.9 ppg, good for fifth in the Korean Basketball League while under contract to Jeonju KCC Egis, former University of Michigan standout DeShawn Sims came back to the US, playing a few games off the bench this March for the Maine Red Claws.

Sure, he was undrafted, but so was Jeremy Lin.  (In fact, he was on the same Mavericks 2010 Vegas Summer League team that Lin played on to earn a contract.   Sims had a good summer league, which led to a training camp invite from the Celtics.)  Although he passed that up for a contract in Greece, he soon returned to America and signed with the Celtics' D-League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws.  He ended up as the 2010-2011 D-League Rookie of the Year.  The award has had a good track record of going to talent that can play in the NBA.  Four of the last five winners are Will Bynum, Louis Amundson, Othyus Jeffers, and Alonzo Gee, who have all contributed to an NBA team.  The fifth is Blake Ahearn, who arguably should be given a shot by some team that needs a scoring point guard off the bench.

Sims is a 6'8" (maybe more like 6'7") power forward who has both a post game and mid-range jump shot.  He can make up for his lack of height a bit with a long wingspan.  His upside is probably something like 8th or 9th man.  At worst, maybe a more athletic Luke Harangody with an inside game and a better chance of being an acceptable defender.

Sure, Doc may not play him, but perhaps Doc will be less likely to not play him than JuJuan Johnson, depending on if the can show some defensive intensity.

[Celtics18]

Put him on the list of candidates.

[Celtics4ever]

Not sure if the Korean league is a predicator to NBA success.  He is a very short big too at 6'7".  That might work in Korea but not in the NBA except rarely.

[greenhead85]

Gadzuric, Keith Benson and Fesenko if there is no good big after the buyout.

[MosheP]

Sims has been around the Celtics for a couple of years now and they never called him up. Has he learned to shoot? He's the type of player that thrives in second tier international leagues - a 5 with the size of a NBA 3. Unless he's improved dramatically, there are better guys out there.

[LooseCannon]

I'm actually not convinced there are significantly better options out there currently available (so no anticipation of players being bought out) and Sims at least has the possibility of being a cheap, young player who over-performs and becomes a trade asset who gets over-valued by another team as a useful throw-in for a trade.  If Sims is anywhere close to a veteran player in likely usefulness for this season, that possibility should make Sims easily the better choice.

I like Gadzuric and Chris Johnson better than Sims but Sims better than bringing back Sheed.  I'd like to clear the roster spots of both Wilcox and O'Neal and would probably be satisfied with filling those spots with Sims and Gadzuric and not waiting for who gets bought out.  The team could use another big warm body right now instead of waiting more than a week.

[aporel#18]

If the Celtics are going to sign someone, they must waive a player (Quisy? Wilcox? both?)

Out there, the best option seems to be Gadzuric. Sign him on a 10-day contract and see if he can share backup duties with Steamer.

Behind Gadzuric, there's Fesenko, and another D-Leaguer in Keith Benson, who might be Mikki Moore 2.0, or be a decent third stringer big man.

I'm intrigued about Eric Dawson, though. He was signed by the Spurs to a 10-day contract, only played 2 games. He's listed at 6-9 and is averaging 16ppg/10rpg, is reliable at the free throw line and it seems he's playing very well this month:

http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/eric_dawson/

[henr1k]

If no other big is bought out maybe this guy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Johnson_%28basketball%29

Portland waived him today. He was here last year and did a decent job.

[Celtics4ever]

Decent is stretching it.   I hope he has put on some weight.

[CFAN38]

I like the idea of Sims or any other undersized post player coming to the Cs. True centers are so hard to find that the chances of finding a guy who is over 6'10 and can actually contribute are slim to none. I would give Brian Butch a shot at a 10 day just to see how he compares to Steimsma but any real talent if going to come from an undersized player. Even with potential buyouts there will be alot of teams with better championship chances fighting for a player like a Chris Kaman. Our best value is going to be an undersized 4/5 who has skill.

[GreenFaith1819]

I'd rather have Chris Johnson..I thought he was just released by POR?

6'11" shotblocker..played decent for us in limited min. last year - right after the Perk trade. A bit more experience than JJ?

[CFAN38]

Chris Johnson is so similar to JJJ that I wouldn't bother with him. He are in need of a player capable of banging in the paint.

[MosheP]

There are plenty of guys better than Sims (again, I haven't seen him in a bit). Sims can't defend and rebound his position in the NBA. Even if he wanted to bang, he wouldn't have the size. He's a smaller, poor man's Bass.

Gadzuric is probably the best D-League player but he was injured and I haven't seen him playing yet.

Chris Johnson everybody knows what he can do. He's a worse Greg Stiemsma IMO.

Eric Dawson is finally healthy this season for the first time since joining the D-League and he's playing well. He's an undersized center with subpar athleticism - but he's strong, solid rebounding, mediocre defense with some shot blocking and a jump-shot from the key. I think he can be a decent signing.

Malcolm Thomas is my favorite player to call-up as he's basically the one who may have a NBA career ahead of him - but he's a project who will take time to develop.

Marcus Lewis and Keith Benson are similar prospects. Developing players who may become 3rd strings in the NBA some day.

And then you have Mikki Moore who, in all honesty, is the best player of the bunch.

As Doc said a few days ago, "usually there's not a lot of bigs floating around the D-League". Very true.