Lets look for a PF/C

[birdwatcher]

How about Lamar Odom?

After his season last year he could fall to us cheap... I would absolutely love to have Odom here off the bench in a 20 to 25 minutes a game role. He could be a perfect compliment to our end of game "small ball" line up and give us extra length.

He would give us the same offensive element that KG does, but the jury would be out on his defense. But yes, it was rumored he was interested in coming here if he got bought out by the Mavs before the playoff deadline, so maybe we could get him here.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Looking at the list at hoopsworld, most of the PF's that I would like the C's should have are Restricted FA's but I hope they'd go  and at least give a look for these names.

Jason Thompson
Marreese Speights
Anthony Randolph
Darrel Arthur
JJ Hickson

Humphries is available, suspect on defense but does not fail to give effort. Might ask for a ton though.

Ilyasova is on the record that he wants to be paid and whoever pays him the most is the team he goes to. Boston don't want to be stuck on that bargain.

Then that leaves the draft.

Personally I'd like Marreese Speights or Jason Thompson. Or if we could somehow trade for Jason Smith from NO.

[thestackshow]

We need to get the top rebounder in the draft if hes available.

[clover]

Below is a breakdown of how Ainge might go about the off-season.

The first thing that we have to remember is that while Ainge has freed up some cap space, this is not like, for example, the 2010 Miami Heat, who had virtually no committed salary that summer. Boston has Pierce ($16.8 million) and Rondo ($11 million) on the books for next season, so the Celtics wouldn't be starting from scratch. Basically, Ainge is starting with the same foundation he had in the summer of 2007, just five years older.

Ainge has two players operating on first-round rookie contracts, Bradley and Johnson, who are locks to return. Moore and Stiemsma are on nonguaranteed deals, but they provide quite a bit of production (or potential production) for very little remuneration, so pencil them in as well. Then you've got the two first-rounders and a second-rounder, the No. 51 pick of the draft. The second-rounder could be traded or used to speculate on an overseas talent. Leaving that out, we're already accounting for eight roster spots.

The wild card in Ainge's plans is Bass, who is coming off a solid season. Statistically, he's had better seasons, but the Celtics took off when he moved into the starting lineup and Garnett began playing center. Bass has a player option for $4 million that will also likely include an extra $250,000 in easily reached contract bonuses. What is Bass worth on the open market? At $4.25 million, he's a solid value. In terms of perceived value around the league, it seems likely he could get more. From Bass' standpoint, there is little financial downside in becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Leaving Bass out, then, we've got this eight-man roster, which includes Chad Ford's latest draft projections

CENTER: Greg Stiemsma, Fab Melo
GUARDS: Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, E'Twaun Moore
FORWARDS: Paul Pierce, JaJuan Johnson, Royce White

This octet plus five minimum-salary roster holds would cost about $38.6 million, leaving Ainge with around $22 million in cap space given a 2012-13 salary cap of $60.5 million. (We won't know the exact figure until July 1.)

The first thing this group screams for is a starting center. Who is on the free-agent market? You've got Roy Hibbert, JaVale McGee and Brook Lopez hitting the market as restricted free agents. Chris Kaman and Spencer Hawes top the unrestricted market. To get one of the restricted guys, you're going to have to offer a poor-value deal. McGee is too undependable for that, while Lopez and Hibbert are probably going to be retained by the Nets and Pacers, respectively, who also have plenty of flexibility. Hawes is an intriguing possibility and will have a lot of suitors this summer, including his current team, the Sixers.

However, the best option might be simply to bring back Garnett. It worked awfully well this season, and playing center could prove to be the key to KG's lasting another 2-3 years. He's well-known as a loyal player, and coach Doc Rivers would love to have him back, of course. While Garnett is not going to get max dollars, you still have to think that eight figures per season is likely.

If Allen got two years, $20 million from Ainge in 2010, Garnett could probably get something like two years, $30 million plus a player option on the open market if every team had cap space to spend. Garnett might have 17 years of NBA mileage behind him and may not be the player he once was, but the late-career plateau he's established over the past three years still mark him as a very valuable player.

However, every team doesn't have cash to spend. It's inconceivable that Garnett would go to a noncontender, so the list of teams that might want to pursue him would be the likes of the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat -- teams that aren't going to be able to offer more than the midlevel exemption. If Garnett wants to max out on dollars, he would have to go to somewhere where he'd rather not play. Chances are, he'd rather retire. No, the Celtics still make the most sense for Garnett, and vice versa, especially since Ainge can draft a young center like Fab Melo to groom. If Garnett is willing to sign a two-year, $25 million deal plus a player option, Ainge would still have about $10 million to spend.

Most of that money could be used to retain Bass because of his fit alongside Rondo and Garnett. The ideal scenario for Boston would be for Bass to exercise his player option, but if he doesn't, it would likely cost the Celtics somewhere around $6-7 million next season to keep him around.

After that, you have scraps left for the shooter our projected roster screams for. And guess who's the best fit there? Allen, of course. Allen probably wouldn't be able to land more than a full midlevel exception on the open market, not with a title contender anyway, so Ainge might have to spend only another $5-6 million. When you consider the possible free-agent options -- O.J. Mayo, Nick Young, Jamal Crawford, J.R. Smith -- it's tough to see a better fit at that salary level than Allen, especially now that he's shown the ability to come off the bench. However, Ainge will surely hope to spread his resources around to retain Green, so Allen could prove to be the most expendable of the Big Three.

In the end, we may be looking at basically the same roster for the Celtics, with two rookies, a different cast of minimum-salaried veterans to fill out the depth chart, and some wannabe version of Allen, if not Allen himself. If Ainge is forced to hit the free-agent market to build his team for next season, he's going to find that this route makes the most sense. It's not ideal by any stretch, because the gap between Miami and Boston is only going to keep growing. You're basically hoping for a repeat of this year's injury epidemic in order to escape the East in the next two seasons.

Ainge could elect to shake things up via the trade route. Pierce could be dealt , for example, to his hometown Lakers for Pau Gasol. Rondo has been the subject of many trade rumors over the years and has a lot of value in a league short of pure playmakers. Garnett could be included in a sign-and-trade. But is Ainge going to be able to construct a new core that can compete with Miami over the next two seasons, given what's going to be available? It's asking a lot. If Ainge can't find suitable trade partners and doesn't want to do a complete tear-down, then treading water via the status quo is really the only option he has left.

Two years isn't such a long time, though, and Ainge's fan base would be pacified with more of the Big Three plus Rondo, especially if it seems that a promising group of young players is developing behind them. By the summer of 2014, the landscape in the Eastern Conference could dramatically change, and Ainge would still be in position to strike, while Pierce, Garnett and Allen ride off together into the sunset. That's the thing about flexibility -- it gives you the option not to act.

What's Fab Melo doing on Danny's roster?

[rondohondo]

We need to get the top rebounder in the draft if hes available.

Would love to move up in the second round to get this guy

Drew Gordon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwqrywVJ9ms

he averaged 11 rpg last year and seems to be a very good finisher and solid low post player. This also gives us insurance in case Bass opts out . Let him compete with Jujuan Johnson for future backup PF.

Also sign Humpheries,Kaman or Camby on a 1 year deal

[snively]

When Paul Pierce says stuff like "We're going to ride KG till his wheels fall off" and the whole organization marvels over what he has to do before every game, it makes me worry that we won't even have KG next year.

That said, if he does return, I think Ersan Ilyasova is the best Bass upgrade.  Good offensive rebounder, more range on his J and a quicker decision maker.

Not a 4/5 though.

[Evantime34]

Looking at the list at hoopsworld, most of the PF's that I would like the C's should have are Restricted FA's but I hope they'd go  and at least give a look for these names.

Jason Thompson
Marreese Speights
Anthony Randolph
Darrel Arthur
JJ Hickson

Humphries is available, suspect on defense but does not fail to give effort. Might ask for a ton though.

Ilyasova is on the record that he wants to be paid and whoever pays him the most is the team he goes to. Boston don't want to be stuck on that bargain.

Then that leaves the draft.

Personally I'd like Marreese Speights or Jason Thompson. Or if we could somehow trade for Jason Smith from NO.

Is Hickson still a restricted free agent even though he got cut? Since Anthony Randolph never plays in Mn I don't see them even extending him the Qualifying offer.I'm not sure Arthur will get the QO either since he was out the entire year.

[Mr October]

How about Lamar Odom?

After his season last year he could fall to us cheap... I would absolutely love to have Odom here off the bench in a 20 to 25 minutes a game role. He could be a perfect compliment to our end of game "small ball" line up and give us extra length.

He would give us the same offensive element that KG does, but the jury would be out on his defense. But yes, it was rumored he was interested in coming here if he got bought out by the Mavs before the playoff deadline, so maybe we could get him here.

My guess is that KG and Odom would clash. Odom's sometime this sometimes that approach to the game might be too much. Ultimately if He, KG, Pierce, Rondo, Doc and Danny are all in, then yeah, his versatility could be killer at the 4.

[Evantime34]

How about Lamar Odom?

After his season last year he could fall to us cheap... I would absolutely love to have Odom here off the bench in a 20 to 25 minutes a game role. He could be a perfect compliment to our end of game "small ball" line up and give us extra length.

He would give us the same offensive element that KG does, but the jury would be out on his defense. But yes, it was rumored he was interested in coming here if he got bought out by the Mavs before the playoff deadline, so maybe we could get him here.

My guess is that KG and Odom would clash. Odom's sometime this sometimes that approach to the game might be too much. Ultimately if He, KG, Pierce, Rondo, Doc and Danny are all in, then yeah, his versatility could be killer at the 4.

I think Odom would be the perfect fit. If you think about it he can do everything Bass can do, except he's an excellent rebounder and a very good passer.

[Tr1boy]

I still think we need a center though..

We have one and for the future and his name is Stiesma. Have you not watched the 2nd half of the season?

I know he is not as effective in the playoffs, bc this is his first, plus he is prob not 100 percent and has a nagging small injury.

In addition I have warmed up to Hollins, whose athleticism is top notch and does all the little things to help out. Once he gets more experience and strength, we might of stealed away a weak man version of Tyson Chandler from the league.

Wilcox is another option , if he stays healthy to backup kg. And Johnson is still a project who has potential.

[Tr1boy]

delete

[Tr1boy]

delete

[CFAN38]

We have one and for the future and his name is Stiesma. Have you not watched the 2nd half of the season?

I know he is not as effective in the playoffs, bc this is his first, plus he is prob not 100 percent and has a nagging small injury.

I agree that Steimsma should be a long term member of the celtics. However I don't think he is an effective enough man defender to be a 30+min starting caliber guy.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

As long as Odom can regain his focus and not cause problems, I think he'd be a great addition—rebounds better than anyone on our current roster with the possible exception of KG, can play the 4 and the 5, great ball-handler with good range. Though he can be maddeningly inconsistent, I'd take the risk if the price is right.

I'd also like to have Wilcox back. I think he was just starting to hit his stride when he learned of his heart ailment; he's a pretty good rebounder and runs the floor well, giving Rondo another above-the-rim option.

[ManUp]

Looking at the list at hoopsworld, most of the PF's that I would like the C's should have are Restricted FA's but I hope they'd go  and at least give a look for these names.

Jason Thompson
Marreese Speights
Anthony Randolph
Darrel Arthur
JJ Hickson

Humphries is available, suspect on defense but does not fail to give effort. Might ask for a ton though.

Ilyasova is on the record that he wants to be paid and whoever pays him the most is the team he goes to. Boston don't want to be stuck on that bargain.

Then that leaves the draft.

Personally I'd like Marreese Speights or Jason Thompson. Or if we could somehow trade for Jason Smith from NO.

Very nice list. I would love Speights or Thompson. Speights is a big body great rebounder and has some nice offensive potential. I think his deal is that he doesn't defend, but I think we could fix that. Thompson is a bit of a mystery he's got great numbers when he plays, but they still have him off the bench in Sac. I think he can be another mismanaged player like Hawes. Production wise he was starter material in his rookie and sophmore season.