Source: Celtics Step up Pursuit of OJ Mayo

[KCattheStripe]

Courtney Lee please!

[Eddie20]

If the C's sign Krstic, it could be tough for him to get as much playing time here this year, however.

Once again, why does anyone think we're even entertaining the idea of signing Krstic?

This is what Ainge said following the 2010-11 season:

“So here’s what happened with Krstic,” Danny Ainge said. “Krstic played great when he first got here, and then he hit a slump. He wasn’t playing well for a while, and then he got hurt,” Ainge said after the season. “He had the bruised knee — we were worried that it (was) something worse. With all of the injuries, it seemed like whoever was playing center for us this year got hurt. So he got hurt and he never really got his starting job back after he got hurt, and then he got hurt again on a different knee. He had two bruised knees.”

Plus, like others have said we have his Bird Rights. We could sign him to a 6m 1 yr deal and if he doesn't produce we can trade him at the deadline, along with draft picks and/or cash, for a piece on a non-contender (think Varejao). It would work out well for Krstic as he gets a nice 1 yr deal, more than anyone is likely willing to offer, and he could showcase himself for a longterm deal.

Once again, zero indication that we're interested in signing Nenad Krstic in 2012-13. How does a two-year old quote about Krstic's injuries have anything to do with our current personnel decisions?!

Danny did mention Kristin on WEEI following the celts loss to the heat as a possibility.  Definitely on Danny's radar

Correct. He specifically mentioned us having Bird Rights to both Krstic and Green. If he had no interest in him, I doubt he would've even mentioned his name. In fact, I believe he was answering a question on what next for the team.

Why so pessimistic? Would it really be so shocking that the C's have interest in Krstic? A player that was actually starting for them, ahead of Baby, following the Perk trade. Especially when they have his Bird Rights and need a center.

And to be exact, Ainge's quote was roughly 12 months ago, not 2 yrs.

[Eddie20]

Sorry-double post

[ScottHow]

Krstic was pretty solid for us offensively before the knee issue. I'd welcome him back so we don't have to rely on Melo playing an important role at C.

[hondotorondo]

OJ Mayo is redundant with Jason Terry here. I'd rather sign a defensive SG.

defense is the only consistancy in basketball. we already have rondo, bradley, maybe pavlovic and pietrus as defenders. what you always can use more of is shooters. and mayo can shoot and create his own shot. that would have been nice this past season when we go 5+mins against miami without scoring.

[TheTruth34]

There is no redundancy with Mayo and Terry.  If we sign Mayo, it is to take over the starting SG slot.  Mayo is talented young wing with high upside.  Terry is your veteran combo guard who provides points off the bench.

Mayo's defense is also underrated.  He did a very good job on Chris Paul (when he was assigned to him) in the Clippers series.

[ManUp]

Pure made up garbage as far as I'm concerned. First off, we only have the BAE(A little under 2million I believe) to sign Mayo he's going for at least double that. Second there's no trade going to happen with Memphis because they gave up their bird rights to Mayo who's now an unrestricted free agent. Simply put, Memphis doesn't have the cap space to sign and trade him. Thanks Amico for clarifying which Sam Amic was full of it.

[TheTruth34]

Pure made up garbage as far as I'm concerned. First off, we only have the BAE(A little under 2million I believe) to sign Mayo he's going for at least double that. Second there's no trade going to happen with Memphis because they gave up their bird rights to Mayo who's now an unrestricted free agent. Simply put, Memphis doesn't have the cap space to sign and trade him. Thanks Amico for clarifying which Sam Amic was full of it.

The Grizzlies gave up their right to match any offers, but they still retain his Bird rights and still can arrange sign-and-trades with him.

[chambers]

Pure made up garbage as far as I'm concerned. First off, we only have the BAE(A little under 2million I believe) to sign Mayo he's going for at least double that. Second there's no trade going to happen with Memphis because they gave up their bird rights to Mayo who's now an unrestricted free agent. Simply put, Memphis doesn't have the cap space to sign and trade him. Thanks Amico for clarifying which Sam Amic was full of it.

I think we have 7 million to sign Mayo with.
I'm not sure, but why would Krstic still be being discussed when we don't have his bird rights? Krstic's going for at least 6 million.

[MBunge]

If the C's sign Krstic, it could be tough for him to get as much playing time here this year, however.

Once again, why does anyone think we're even entertaining the idea of signing Krstic?

This is what Ainge said following the 2010-11 season:

“So here’s what happened with Krstic,” Danny Ainge said. “Krstic played great when he first got here, and then he hit a slump. He wasn’t playing well for a while, and then he got hurt,” Ainge said after the season. “He had the bruised knee — we were worried that it (was) something worse. With all of the injuries, it seemed like whoever was playing center for us this year got hurt. So he got hurt and he never really got his starting job back after he got hurt, and then he got hurt again on a different knee. He had two bruised knees.”

Plus, like others have said we have his Bird Rights. We could sign him to a 6m 1 yr deal and if he doesn't produce we can trade him at the deadline, along with draft picks and/or cash, for a piece on a non-contender (think Varejao). It would work out well for Krstic as he gets a nice 1 yr deal, more than anyone is likely willing to offer, and he could showcase himself for a longterm deal.

Once again, zero indication that we're interested in signing Nenad Krstic in 2012-13. How does a two-year old quote about Krstic's injuries have anything to do with our current personnel decisions?!

1.  Krstic is a player Boston can easily sign with the least impact on other roster/salary cap decisions.  Someone else put it perfectly in that, because we have his Bird rights, the choice isn't really between Krstic and another player.  It's Krstic or no Krstic.

2.  With the Celtics, Krstic put up 9.1 pts and 5.3 rebs in 23 minutes.  In the same minutes per game, Jermaine O'Neal put up 5 pts and 5.4 rebs.  Chris Wilcox put up 5.4 and 4.4 in 17.2 minutes and Steamer was 2.9 pts and 3.2 rebs in 14 minutes.  So, while Krstic likely won't be an all star, his rebounding isn't much worse than any other center we had last year and he's a much better offensive player.

3.  While Krstic's defense did leave something to be desired, his problems there have been vastly overrated.

4.  Ainge traded for him, so he clearly liked him in the past.

Put it all together and signing Krstic is one of those things that's obvious, even if no one is officially talking about it.

Mike

[Prof. Clutch]

Take it for what it's worth (as this appears to be coming from A. Sherrod Blakely)

http://www.nesn.com/2012/07/report-celtics-still-interested-in-acquiring-oj-mayo.html

"The Celtics still have interest in O.J. Mayo, and right now they are not [in] the position to give O.J. the kind of money he's looking for," CSNNE's A. Sherrod Blakely said. "But certainly with sign-and-trade possibilities, then all of a sudden O.J. becomes a player the Celtics might make a run at."

[esel1000]

I'd honestly rather have Courtney Lee

[j804]

Take it for what it's worth (as this appears to be coming from A. Sherrod Blakely)

http://www.nesn.com/2012/07/report-celtics-still-interested-in-acquiring-oj-mayo.html

"The Celtics still have interest in O.J. Mayo, and right now they are not [in] the position to give O.J. the kind of money he's looking for," CSNNE's A. Sherrod Blakely said. "But certainly with sign-and-trade possibilities, then all of a sudden O.J. becomes a player the Celtics might make a run at."

sheesh Sherrod is bad

[LooseCannon]

I'd still rather have Wilcox + Stiemsma, but the possibility of getting both of those guys is looking slim lately.  Hell to be honest, I'd rather have eiher one of those guys ofer Krstic...

I think it is more a matter of whether or not you prefer Krstic to Ryan Hollins or any journeyman center who is not taking a pay cut in accepting a minimum salary contract.

[Q_FBE]

Unless we are awarded with a trade exception for losing Ray Allen this could be a challenge.