While I would like Ray back, Jeff Green should be priority 1

[wdleehi]

Ray was and still is the better player. 



He is the one teams are actually chasing.



He can stretch the floor (something the Celtics still need)


He is the one that has hit the big shot.

He hits 3's better... That's about it. That's what he brings to the table.

He hits all his shots better.


He fits into the offense better.


He can make the last shot. 


He is solid in the team defense. 


He actually fills a bigger need. 

[colincb]

Jeff Green, along with Avery Bradley, Rajon Rondo, and Jared Sullinger, is a HUGE part of the Celtics' future, post big-3 era. If we focus too much on Ray and Jeff slips through our fingers, we're in for a rough few years after Ray, Paul, and KG call it a career.

How likely is he to return? When will we know?

Discuss

Jeff Green is a pretty good player.  If he's a huge part of our future, we're doomed.

[AB_Celtic]

Ray was and still is the better player. 



He is the one teams are actually chasing.
He can stretch the floor (something the Celtics still need)
He is the one that has hit the big shot.

He hits 3's better... That's about it. That's what he brings to the table.

He hits all his shots better.
He fits into the offense better.
He can make the last shot. 
He is solid in the team defense. 
He actually fills a bigger need. 

Jeff also does stuff like this (just an example)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_mGic0nwr0

Sometimes youth and energy is the answer. That youth and energy could prevent you from even needing to take a clutch shot.

Not many people have the size and athleticism combo that Jeff does. It's what allows him to shut down athletes like Lebron. This is some of the best defense I've ever seen on LBJ

[Senninsage]

Let's put it like this: For Jeff NOT to return after how well the Celtics have treated him, would be beyond disappointing. Jeff knows from the contract we offered him last time that the Celtics feel he is very important to the team's future.

He should be willing to sign with the Celtics and show that he can be the player we all know he can be. It can't just be about money with Jeff. Jeff Green should be our top priority AFTER Ray. I'll never understand what the infatuation is with youth over proven veterans.

[Stig]

Jeff Green will be a huge gamble, because:
1). the heart issue was very serious and he may never recover from it
2). i do hope he does recover, even so he'll need a season or so to get back to his previous condition, so he won't be the Jeff Green we knew until near playoff time.
3). if he recovers to last year's level before playoff, we know it's not enough, he must improve massively from there, but he won't have the time.

Having said that, I'd still keep him for one more year, but no more than a 5m/year contract. He'll help us this year, but not as much as AB did last year.

[Change]

I disagree. Our starting power forward, Brandon Bass, is #1 priority.

[cman88]

I think danny can(and probably is) working with other teams agents on getting them signed at the same time.

But, Ray's ego may be hurt and danny needs to coddle him to keep him from going to Miami...jeff Green/bass are alot more likely(in my eyes) to resigning with the celtics

[AB_Celtic]

Jeff Green will be a huge gamble, because:
1). the heart issue was very serious and he may never recover from it
2). i do hope he does recover, even so he'll need a season or so to get back to his previous condition, so he won't be the Jeff Green we knew until near playoff time.
3). if he recovers to last year's level before playoff, we know it's not enough, he must improve massively from there, but he won't have the time.

Having said that, I'd still keep him for one more year, but no more than a 5m/year contract. He'll help us this year, but not as much as AB did last year.

Actually, it's a fairly routine surgery that went very well. At least two different medical opinions say he will make a full recovery and be the old Jeff Green. Not sure where you're getting your info from, but he's already practicing 5v5 with the team...

[moiso]

I disagree. Our starting power forward, Brandon Bass, is #1 priority.

I have to agree.  For all of Jeff Green's tools, Bass is far more consistent.  You know what you are going to get with Bass.  He's simply a better player at this point.

[bucknersrevenge]

Ray was and still is the better player. 



He is the one teams are actually chasing.



He can stretch the floor (something the Celtics still need)


He is the one that has hit the big shot.

He hits 3's better... That's about it. That's what he brings to the table.

He hits all his shots better.


He fits into the offense better.


He can make the last shot. 


He is solid in the team defense. 


He actually fills a bigger need. 

I'm going off the assumption the bolded statements were jokes. Ray fits into an offense were half the shot clock is spent waiting for him to come off screens which happens some of the time. The rest Rondo ends up forcing up a late 3. I don't know about some of you but I'm tired of running that set all the time. Fact is, Ray is a specialist now. That's it. His job is come off the bench and hit 3's. A job you can pay most shooters at a fraction of the price to do.

And let's be clear, we didn't lose in the playoffs because we needed more 3-point shooting. We lost because we were atrocious defensively on the perimeter and allowed WAY too much penetration which broke down the defense. Exhibit A- Ray Allen who was just embarrassingly out of his depth attempting to guard Wade unless Wade was doubled. A younger, more athletic, better defender is much more a primary need. In fact, say what you want about their defense but Mayo and Jeff Green are worth 5 Ray Allens on defense now. Ray has negative lateral quickness. That's just how bad it is for Ray now.

[bucknersrevenge]

I disagree. Our starting power forward, Brandon Bass, is #1 priority.

I say "Yuck" on Brandon Bass. He wants starter money when he should be a backup. He has no post game and we need another post option beside KG(hence Sullinger who can also rebound). Money will be better used elsewhere on Green and others.

[AB_Celtic]

Put it to a vote then...

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=57755.0

[coco]

100% Agree.  JGreen is an absolute MUST.  Got to start thinking post PP Celtics.

Must have: KG, RA, RR, PP, JGreen, ABradley, Stiesma

On the fence:  BBass

Not necessarily a keeper:  MPietrus, KDooling, MDaniels, Sasha, SWilliams

By default(rookie contract):  JJJ, EMoore, JSullinger, FMelo

[JOMVP]

I dont understand why people dont think Jeff Green should be the teams top priority. A young athletic wing to stop players from driving on the perimeter is exactly what we were lacking, Jeff Green brings that.

Brandon Bass is a nice player, but he hits shots, thats about it. His defense is suspect, he cant really drive, he has horrible post moves. How many players in the NBA can you get that do the same thing? Specially for the money he wants to command. That money is better used on a perimeter defender, cause Bass did amazing job at stopping Lebron getting to the hoop...

[Change]

I disagree. Our starting power forward, Brandon Bass, is #1 priority.

I say "Yuck" on Brandon Bass. He wants starter money when he should be a backup. He has no post game and we need another post option beside KG(hence Sullinger who can also rebound). Money will be better used elsewhere on Green and others.

All Brandon Bass did while in Green is produce. He fits the system. The team made conscious effort to spread the floor for Rondo, and it worked. Slow footed Sully is a project. He won't see the floor if he doesn't improve atrocious defense.