Looking ahead. Which FA's on this years class should the Celtics pursue?

[snively]

KG, Ray, Pietrus and Bass are some of the best free agents on the market, so we're going to be hard-pressed to retain them and have any cap space (or cap exemptions) to throw at other teams' guys. 

Our best value option might be to give up on cap space for 2012, use our rights to retain KG, Ray, Green, Stiemsma and Bass (preferably on one year deals - in Bass's case, I don't think we could offer him enough of a salary bump to make it worth his while unfortunately) and then spend the full MLE on a big man.

In that scenario Lamar Odom would probably be the best free agent target (assuming he gets bought out).  He's the only guy available who can rebound, defend and bring multiple offensive skills (passing, slashing, occasional jump-shooting) to the table. 

Rondo/Bradley/Pierce/Odom/KG with Ray/Green/Bass/Stiemsma off the bench looks pretty good. 

[alajet]

Deron Williams is the only free agent worth pursuing for this team.  No one else is or has a shot at being a difference maker and you don't sign role players when you don't have a championship quality team.

Can Deron play the 2, and more importantly can he play off-the-ball? Everything about his personality suggests he wouldn't be content to play in a system where the ball isn't always going through him.

Remember him play catch-and-shoot occasionally during his tenure with Jazz. But would he really like to do it?
Desire over ability in this situation. That's what matters.

[paintitgreen]

Humphries, ilyasova, beasley, anthony randolph, hibbert, mcgee, gordon, oj mayo, cj miles, lou williams.

Those are guys I would like to look into but I think realistically we end up signing our own guys then filling up our cap space with traded players from teams looking to shed salary.possible options: lamar odom, shawn marion, josh smith, kevin martin.

Depending on how many of our own guys we sign, I doubt we'll have much additional cap space to look at adding guys other teams want to shed. KG at 2 and $24, Green at 3 and $18, Bass at 4 and $20 would pretty much fill the cap space and start you off with a roster of Rondo, Bradley, Pierce, Bass, KG, Moore, Green, Johnson, two first rounders and a second. They could keep Allen without needing cap space or an exception. No Bird rights for Pietrus and Stiemsma, so you have to see what they'd sign for. If Stiemsma would do something like 2 years, $2.5 mil, they might not have to use a cap exception. I'd like to try to do that, then they're left with the full midlevel.

So I think we're looking at midlevel alternatives. I'd try to get Ilyasova for 3 years at the full midlevel, but he'll likely get better options. Maybe the same for Humphries. If you could somehow split the midlevel between Pietrus and Randolph, you get another tall (won't say big) body and you maybe don't have as much a need for Allen, or an alternative if Allen decides he wants to leave.

[jr_3421]

What about Jason Kidd as a minor addition?

He says that he wants to play 1 more year and if there are no big money free agents out there, why not overpay him on a one year deal?

I think that it would greatly benefit Rondo as they are both different than the prototypical PG and also Bradley. Especially if we bring back KG and Ray, I think the veteran locker room would definitely appeal to him. Plus a second unit of Kidd, Allen, and Peitrus would be amazing. Finally we would have a back to Rondo who actually plays PG.

(Btw I know Dallas would like to resign him and he likes it in Dallas even if they do get Deron Williams but it's just a thought)

[Army_of_One_Nation]

Kaman,Humpheries or Camby on one year deals(to keep max cap space for the big free agents of 2013)

Illiasova on a 3yr/8 mil per(Rondo would make this kid a stud)

I wouldn't offer long term contracts to too many of the free agents this year, 2013 free agent list is much better .

Tommy Point! I like to see the Celtics try to sign Humphries and or the Bucks' Ilyasova. There are some point guards that could be had for a bargain price. With Humphries, he could be teamed up with KG or come off the bench to spell either KG or BB. He should be able to solve the rebounding woes the C's are suffering from.

As for their own free agents, forget re-signing JO and Ryan Hollins and bring back the rest. I hope Ray Allen comes back even if he doesn't start anymore. Pietrus is a good addition, he is funny off the court and has a lot of confidence. Sasha and Dooling has been decent, albeit not spectacular. But, they are familiar with Doc's system.

The team also has a qualifying offer for Jeff Green, if his doctors give him the green light (no pun intended). Wilcox was getting the feel of the game with Rondo before his heart diagnosis came out. I hope he gets to play again and re-sign with the C's.  

[slamtheking]

I think we'll most likely spend it on several of our own FA's for 1 year deals.  
-We might try to keep Pie over Ray for D and $ reasons.  
-Bass might get an offer over of Danny's limit.  
-Steimsma should be brought back.  
-Green should be signed.
-KG too.
-Not sure if we can get Wilcox back but he's not bad as another big off the bench.  Brought energy and hustle for the right $.
-Daniels, JO, Dooling and probably Sasha are gone.

Ideally, if there's enough cap $ after handling our FA's, I'd go after Kaman as option 1 and Camby as option 2 in terms of realistic centers that might take a 1-year deal to get a title.  center is the position we really need to shore up for next year and not have to rely on a rookie or KG to fill it.

[jpd985]

I think we'll most likely spend it on several of our own FA's for 1 year deals.  
-We might try to keep Pie over Ray for D and $ reasons.  
-Bass might get an offer over of Danny's limit.  
-Steimsma should be brought back.  
-Green should be signed.
-KG too.
-Not sure if we can get Wilcox back but he's not bad as another big off the bench.  Brought energy and hustle for the right $.
-Daniels, JO, Dooling and probably Sasha are gone.

Ideally, if there's enough cap $ after handling our FA's, I'd go after Kaman as option 1 and Camby as option 2 in terms of realistic centers that might take a 1-year deal to get a title.  center is the position we really need to shore up for next year and not have to rely on a rookie or KG to fill it.

I am worried some team throwing more money at Steimsma that Danny would feel comfortable, like 8-9 million.

[Mr October]

IF KG wants to keep playing with the C's, he might be the most valuable free agent to sign. Suddenly the cap space will be small enough, that it makes more sense to bring back just about everyone on short deals and then target a MLE big.

MLE: Kaman (although he might be worth more), Camby, Hawes, or bring back Wilcox and a raw prospect like Orton.

If KG retires/leaves, then the full rebuild will begin. This free agent class doesn't seem to have anyone worthy of a max building block deal. (I'm not convinced Deron Williams is going to be that big an upgrade over Rondo).

I would then see if you can steal Asik, McGee, Hibbert, Mayo, Lopez, Fields, Batum, etc for something in the 6-9 per year range (certain guys listed are more valued than others for sure, bu ultimately probably matched by their current teams.)

[Mr October]

I think we'll most likely spend it on several of our own FA's for 1 year deals.  
-We might try to keep Pie over Ray for D and $ reasons.  
-Bass might get an offer over of Danny's limit.  
-Steimsma should be brought back.  
-Green should be signed.
-KG too.
-Not sure if we can get Wilcox back but he's not bad as another big off the bench.  Brought energy and hustle for the right $.
-Daniels, JO, Dooling and probably Sasha are gone.

Ideally, if there's enough cap $ after handling our FA's, I'd go after Kaman as option 1 and Camby as option 2 in terms of realistic centers that might take a 1-year deal to get a title.  center is the position we really need to shore up for next year and not have to rely on a rookie or KG to fill it.

I am worried some team throwing more money at Steimsma that Danny would feel comfortable, like 8-9 million.

The Gilbert Arenas rule will prevent anyone from exceeding 5 mil in the first year. I think I might be tempted to give Steamer 10 / 2 years. Size with quality skills are that hard to find.

[goCeltics]

i would offer bass 4 years 5-6 mill
same with ray for 3 years
then sign garnett for 8-9 million for 2 years
and then sign green for 1 year 4-5 million, 1 year contract might appeal to green as may see himself as being able to score a big contract after the one year

then use the MLE to sign hawes or jordan hill for 3-4 years, these two can play the five, unlike humphries, and camby and kaman are too old(don't need another wallace or jermaine), plus kaman is horrid, he shoots a low percentage and is turnover prone. Anthony randolph may be another target if he doesn't get a qualfying offer, like beasley

I wouldn't bother offering any free agent more than the MLE.


btw i thought we had a team option for the vet min for steamboat
 

[Mr October]

btw i thought we had a team option for the vet min for steamboat
 

As far as I know the C's only have a qualifying offer option for his restricted free agent status.

[goCeltics]

btw i thought we had a team option for the vet min for steamboat
 

As far as I know the C's only have a qualifying offer option for his restricted free agent status.

i was misreading the info at shamsports, ainge screwed that up then

[Moranis]

i would offer bass 4 years 5-6 mill
same with ray for 3 years
then sign garnett for 8-9 million for 2 years
and then sign green for 1 year 4-5 million, 1 year contract might appeal to green as may see himself as being able to score a big contract after the one year

then use the MLE to sign hawes or jordan hill for 3-4 years, these two can play the five, unlike humphries, and camby and kaman are too old(don't need another wallace or jermaine), plus kaman is horrid, he shoots a low percentage and is turnover prone. Anthony randolph may be another target if he doesn't get a qualfying offer, like beasley

I wouldn't bother offering any free agent more than the MLE.


btw i thought we had a team option for the vet min for steamboat
 

what is the point of all those moves?  I see nothing but mediocrity and no cap space, which is a bad place to be.

[ausbacker]

i would offer bass 4 years 5-6 mill
same with ray for 3 years
then sign garnett for 8-9 million for 2 years
and then sign green for 1 year 4-5 million, 1 year contract might appeal to green as may see himself as being able to score a big contract after the one year

then use the MLE to sign hawes or jordan hill for 3-4 years, these two can play the five, unlike humphries, and camby and kaman are too old(don't need another wallace or jermaine), plus kaman is horrid, he shoots a low percentage and is turnover prone. Anthony randolph may be another target if he doesn't get a qualfying offer, like beasley

I wouldn't bother offering any free agent more than the MLE.


btw i thought we had a team option for the vet min for steamboat
 

what is the point of all those moves?  I see nothing but mediocrity and no cap space, which is a bad place to be.

The board is always in need of someone providing comic relief .

[LooseCannon]

I am worried some team throwing more money at Steimsma that Danny would feel comfortable, like 8-9 million.

The Gilbert Arenas rule will prevent anyone from exceeding 5 mil in the first year. I think I might be tempted to give Steamer 10 / 2 years. Size with quality skills are that hard to find.

If Stiemsma puts together multiple double-doubles off the bench in the playoffs, I can certainly see a poorly-run team like Golden State or Sacramento offering him a ridiculous four-year deal.