How Celtics can reload in 2013? (insider article)

[j804]

I saw this on espn just now but don't have Insider...does anybody have it  and can post the article or some excerpts?

http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=8031966

[antapolar]

So, what now?

That's the question on everyone's mind after the Boston Celtics bowed out to the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals. Heading into the postseason, it was a foregone conclusion that this might be the last hurrah for the Big Three (or Big Four, if you prefer). And what a last hurrah it would be. Giving the Heat everything they could handle in seven games. If it is indeed the end of an era for the old guard in Boston, it was by natural causes. The contracts have run their course, which will free up gobs of cash for the Celtics to make some free-agent deals. Kevin Garnett is 36 years old and his $21 million will come off the books as a free agent this summer. Ray Allen will be 37 years old in July and his $10 million will also evaporate when he hits the market. The expiring contracts of Jermaine O'Neal, Chris Wilcox and Keyon Dooling will also relieve another $11.5 million.

Sum it up and the Celtics have $42 million worth of expiring deals that will fly off the books. You know when executives talk about the value of cap flexibility? The Celtics will be more flexible than a body contortionist this summer. But will they spend it all this summer or maintain some flexibility for the future?

That's a question that only general manager Danny Ainge can answer, but the suspicion here is that they will reload rather than rebuild from scratch. An altruistic basketball maestro like Rajon Rondo is wasted if he's not surrounded with loads of talent. Paul Pierce, who's entering his final fully guaranteed season in 2012-13, isn't a long-term option, even if he's still an elite player at his position.

The Celtics need more able bodies and they will have options.

Here's one man's opinion of Boston's wish list:

1. Re-sign Garnett to a one-year deal

This makes a ton of sense from both sides. The Celtics are paper-thin (not in the literal sense, of course) with Brandon Bass, Greg Steimsma and JaJuan Johnson as the only bigs set to return next season. They don't have any tradable assets outside of Avery Bradley and Rondo, so the most logical avenue for improvement is via free agency. And Garnett might be the best big man on the market. Luckily for Boston, they have the inside track to sign him because of his expressed preference to return. Of course, there's plenty of risk involved when you ink a player approaching his 40th birthday, but no one knows Garnett's physical needs and limitations than the Celtics. If there's a team that has the wherewithal to gamble, it's Boston.

Signing Garnett for a one-year deal also maintains the Celtics' long-term flexibility in case they whiff on landing a score-first wing player this offseason. Looking at all of Garnett's options, ending his career in Boston alongside Pierce in front of a worshiping fanbase may be the best fit. A one-year deal for $8 million seems like a fair compromise. Although he might receive more money elsewhere, the Celtics can offer him more non-monetary value most teams: a chance at another ring, comfort and security of legacy.

2. Land O.J. Mayo in free agency

So here's the big dilemma for the Celtics. They have the cash to offer a max-level deal, but there's no one on the market worth the jackpot money. They had one of the least efficient offenses last season and their biggest demand -- an athletic wing scorer -- isn't exactly flush with supply. Sure, they could try to court restricted free agent Eric Gordon all they want, but there's no way that the New Orleans Hornets will let Gordon walk with Anthony Davis on the way. There's a better chance that Boston mayor Tommy Menino correctly pronounces Sasha Pavlovic than Gordon ending up with Boston. If Gordon is out of the question, then they need a Plan B. Or should we say, a Plan O.J.

Now, O.J. Mayo isn't an ideal situation, but this would be a reclamation project for someone who was once considered a top prospect out of high school. A lot of time has passed since Mayo's on-court production came anywhere close to his hype, but Boston doesn't have many options to get younger and more talented. Mayo has been an abysmal shooter for two seasons now, but Rondo's table-setting powers could be a perfect antidote to his shooting ills. And remember, Mayo is just two years removed from putting up 46 percent/38 percent/81 percent splits in the field-goal, 3-point and free-throw columns.

There are other options but they seem more problematic than Mayo. Can you see the black hole that is Nick Young fly in Doc Rivers' pass-happy system? Is Courtney Lee or C.J. Miles dynamic enough offensively to give them what they need? After Gordon, the talent pool drops off dramatically. Of course, they could always wait and join the James Harden sweepstakes in 2014 when he can become a free agent.

3. Sign Carl Landry

Take a guess who was the best post-up player in the NBA last season. It's not Pau Gasol, Luis Scola, Al Jefferson or Tim Duncan.

It was Carl Landry. According to SynergySports, no one registered a better efficiency on post-up plays than the Hornets power forward (minimum 100 plays). And that's exactly what the Celtics need. Landry is set to become a free agent after posting probably the quietest 18.2 PER ever recorded. Landry isn't an All-Star by any stretch of the means but pair him with Garnett and you have quite the inside-out combo. Bass looks like a bruiser but he's more of a perimeter threat.

Would a starting five of Rondo, Mayo, Pierce, Landry and Garnett be a title contender? Maybe not, but they could do far worse. This isn't the best free-agent market to be a buyer but the Celtics could be right back in the Eastern Conference finals if they find a team that can outscore the opponent in its most literal sense. Mayo and Landry might be their best options.

there ya go

[j804]

TP not sure I see Danny throwing big money at Mayo we will probably try and reload on the fly though without compromising anything for the following year, would love Landry

and oh yea add this guy to the list of KG's preference is to return

[Atzar]

Not particularly interested in Mayo.  I think a healthy Ray Allen has a high chance of being better than Mayo on both sides of the ball for at least another year or two. 

I'm not sure about Landry.  I do agree that we badly need a post presence, but Bass is likely to fill the 'undersized power forward' role at a much cheaper cost than what Landry will demand.  Landry will also likely demand years, and are we willing to give a three- or four-year deal to a player who won't fit into the rebuilding plan?  I doubt it. 

[colincb]

If Bass doesn't opt out, this is pretty much impossible and if he did opt out, it would be possible, but by no means certain. You'd have the full MLE to try to keep one or two of Allen-Bass-Dooling-Green-Pietrus-Wilcox around.  7-8 man team with the rest being unproven rookies and sophs or vetmin scrubs. Oh yeah, Mayo supposedly nixed the deadline deal to come to Boston for Ray Allen and his numbers were a shade less than Ray's during the season and playoffs.  Mayo's nothing special defensively and Ray would be a better bargain at the same number if healthy.

[drax]

Mayo is defently not better then Ray on either end of the floor. But you have to see it from the future perspective, O.J. enters his prime, is not known as a injury prone, is a running complement to Rondo and can creat his own shot. Is he that (!!) much worse then a future hall of famer?
 

[LarBrd33]

Article sounds like they are trolling us (maybe unintentionally).  They have us replacing Ray Allen, Brandon Bass and Jeff Green with OJ Mayo (who has been garbage) and Carl Landry.  Seems like a wash to me.  I'd rather have Allen, Bass and Jeff Green for a couple years.

[celty86]

I'd rather go after Ilyasova than Landry. Rather add Jason Thompson than Mayo. Find a 3rd guard somewhere (Bradley would start with Rondo).

[clover]

TP not sure I see Danny throwing big money at Mayo we will probably try and reload on the fly though without compromising anything for the following year, would love Landry

and oh yea add this guy to the list of KG's preference is to return

Yeah, I don't see the fascination with Mayo at this point, certainly not to tie up long-term.

Landry would be great.

[Roy H.]

Signing O.J. Mayo + Carl Landry = Detroit Pistons' method of rebuilding.

No thanks.

[chambers]

I'm glad I don't pay for insider.
What a pathetic article.

OJ Mayo as our future? Vomit.

[CFAN38]

If Bass is willing to pick up his player option this is how I foresee the off season going.

Resign

Bass 1yr player option
KG 2 yr deal( make him a FA with pierce)
J Green 1-2 year deal
Ray 1 yr deal (if he wants to play he stays, cant see him wanted to up root his family at this point)
Wilcox 1 yr deal (if healthy)
Steimsma 2 yr deal
Pietrus 1 yr
Dooling 1 yr

Then using the draft picks add more youth to go along with AB, JJJ and Moore. I wouldn't be shocked if they try to trade one pick for a young (under 26) vet. This team could really use an athletic scoring 2/3 along with obvious 4/5 depth. Either either position can be filled through this draft it would be a huge plus for the Cs in the future

I expect this to be our roster for 2013, this team will obviously still struggle on the boards and with creating offense in isolation. However as this past season has shown they will be a threat come playoff time. A health Green, AB, and Wilcox give this team above average depth, which will help counter the aging processes effect on the big 3.
 

[BballTim]

  Even if we got Mayo I'd probably start Bradley.

[wdleehi]

Signing O.J. Mayo + Carl Landry = Detroit Pistons' method of rebuilding.

No thanks.

Agreed.


If the Celtics had two stars already in place long term, maybe.


But with just Rondo, the Celtics can not throw away cap space for good role players.

[csfansince60s]

I liked Mayo at the deadline...he would've been useful in our playoff run..not so much now...

The second round of the draft is LOADED with shooters who can fill it up.