I am not suggesting the season is over, and I realize this may have been discussed before, but I think we are at a place now where we can begin to see what our team might look like next year. Here is my take:
1. Rondo, PP, Avery and assured spots
2. I think we should go ahead and try to bring back KG. Money (and more importanly years) will be a factor but I would love to have him back.
3. I go ahead and try to bring back Green and Wilcox, who hopefully we could get on short contracts based on health.
4. I think JuJuan Johnson is virtually guaranteed to come back also.
5. So that's seven. In terms of people that should definetely be gone, I'd say Williams, Ray
, Daniels, and Hollins.
6. The guys on the fence would be Bass, Pietrus, Moore, Steisma, Pavlovic, and Dooling. These guys are what Bill Parcell's used to call JAG's (short for, just another guy). Of this group, Steisma (Not Bass because I would prefer Green instead) is the one I think about keeping the most, but I would try to upgrade is possible.
7. I am going to assume that we draft two players and they both make the team.
Going forward like the OP says Rondo, PP & Avery are more than likely here next season. I also think that JuJuan Johnson and Moore will be here as well, unless they end up as trade bait in part of a deal for a more established player. Add in the fact that at least two rookies will be coming in and that leaves 8 available spots on the roster and so many questions.
1. I think if KG wants to continue playing, he's a Celtic on a one to two year deal, especially if the Celtics continue to appear be out of the running for Dwight Howard. And if no superstar is coming, I think there is nothing wrong with giving KG around 20 million over 2 years, with his play this year he's earned it. I think having him around is important to the culture of this team, especially if the C's continue to be shut out of top free agents coming to town.
2. Obviously a similar situation with Ray, if there is nothing upcoming as far as a superstar coming this summer, offer Ray 6 million (just over the mid level that maxed out conteders can offer) and a partially guaranteed 2nd year. Not sure how the CBA works on this, but since the C's will be under the cap something similar to Lamar Odom's situation seems appropriate 2.5 - 3 as a payoff giving the C's an opportunity to cut him next season if he proves that his age and ankles can't hold up. If Ray don't like that, with all due respect, tell him to take a hike
3. Does Bass opt out, and is he worthy of a long term deal? I think it's a lock that he opts out for him to get some long term security, but I also think he's not going to get any offers more than 5 mil a year & if he does, than GM's around the league really didn't learn anything after last years lockout. I think Bass would be excellent going forward as the 1st or 2nd big off the bench. I don't think having him around for another 2 to 4 years at reasonable money (4-5 mil a year) would hurt, but of course it all depends on what he get's offered on the open market.
4. Green - same situation as Bass, of course with the C's hopefully getting a little protection to get out of a contract if his heart issues flare up.
That leaves only 4 roster spots and basically no cap room. I believe having players around that know the system and have done well here for who they are deep bench players having Wilcox, Steimsma, & Peitrus around wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. For the last spot on the roster I suggest they take a flyer on players such as Michael Beasley Illyasova with the mid-level, and hope they reach their potential wearing Celtic Green.
The trade market and the availabilty of players like Josh Smith, Andre Iguadala (only a year or two left at that awful contract), or one of Utah's veteran big men Big Al or Milsap, changes everything, but as things stand now, I say bring back the band one more time and reup in the 2013 offseason or trade mid season 2012 if an opportunity presents itself.