So... what do we do for a center?

[Fafnir]

If we do indeed sign and trade for lee we will probably use our bi annual on steamer. Who else is worthy of it? And he already said he would probably accept it from Boston...

“Just because Greg would get an offer more than the biannual doesn’t mean he would take it,” Naiditch said. “If the Celtics were to offer him the biannual, and he had a choice between the biannual with the Celtics and may a little bit more with another team, I’m quite certain he would still go with the Celtics.”

I don't understand what Danny is waiting for. Stiemsma is needed.

If you want someone to bang down low, Stiemsma is not your guy -- he gets pushed around as often as Hollins.

I still want a Magloire-type if Stiemsma is re-signed.

I don't think we'll carry 4 centers, even if Melo is not expected to play a lot. Seems like a bit of a lavish use of roster spots, especially given we already have 3 PFs as well.

Also, there may be an expectation that Sullinger can bang inside in stretches, Glen-Davis style.

He was shoving Aldrich around when he played C in the summer league, I'll be curious how he handles other big bodies of more quality in summer league.

[kozlodoev]

He was shoving Aldrich around when he played C in the summer league, I'll be curious how he handles other big bodies of more quality in summer league.

If he can show he can guard taller post players, he'll be an asset. Time will tell.

[the_Bird]

If we do indeed sign and trade for lee we will probably use our bi annual on steamer. Who else is worthy of it? And he already said he would probably accept it from Boston...

“Just because Greg would get an offer more than the biannual doesn’t mean he would take it,” Naiditch said. “If the Celtics were to offer him the biannual, and he had a choice between the biannual with the Celtics and may a little bit more with another team, I’m quite certain he would still go with the Celtics.”

I don't understand what Danny is waiting for. Stiemsma is needed.

If you want someone to bang down low, Stiemsma is not your guy -- he gets pushed around as often as Hollins.

I still want a Magloire-type if Stiemsma is re-signed.

I don't think we'll carry 4 centers, even if Melo is not expected to play a lot. Seems like a bit of a lavish use of roster spots, especially given we already have 3 PFs as well.

Also, there may be an expectation that Sullinger can bang inside in stretches, Glen-Davis style.

I absolutely agree re: Sully; he's auditioning right now for a spot in the fringe-rotation at the 5.  We did OK with Baby at the 5, most of the time.  If Sully can do that for us, I still think we need someone else for depth, someone who's proven they can play D - someone who's better than Sean Williams and Hollins.

[arambone]

sully is a better center than all the other guys mentioned, and if he's not on the court 30+ minutes a night, the celtics are worse off.

You'll figure it out

[Who]

If we do indeed sign and trade for lee we will probably use our bi annual on steamer. Who else is worthy of it? And he already said he would probably accept it from Boston...

“Just because Greg would get an offer more than the biannual doesn’t mean he would take it,” Naiditch said. “If the Celtics were to offer him the biannual, and he had a choice between the biannual with the Celtics and may a little bit more with another team, I’m quite certain he would still go with the Celtics.”

I don't understand what Danny is waiting for. Stiemsma is needed.

If you want someone to bang down low, Stiemsma is not your guy -- he gets pushed around as often as Hollins.

I still want a Magloire-type if Stiemsma is re-signed.

I don't think we'll carry 4 centers, even if Melo is not expected to play a lot. Seems like a bit of a lavish use of roster spots, especially given we already have 3 PFs as well.

Also, there may be an expectation that Sullinger can bang inside in stretches, Glen-Davis style.

I would go with three PGs, five wings, three PFs and four Cs.

---------------------------------------------

PG: Rajon Rondo, Jason Terry, (Keyon Dooling)
SG: Avery Bradley, (Courtney Lee?), (minimum contract wing)
SF: Paul Pierce, Jeff Green
PF: Brandon Bass, Jared Sullinger, JaJuan Johnson
C:  Kevin Garnett, (Greg Stiemsma or maybe Ryan Hollins), (Magloire type), Fab Melo


--------------------------------------

If Wilcox considered coming back for the minimum, I may drop one of those perimeter players to fit him in at power forward.

Both Avery Bradley and Jason Terry are combo guards. They can give Boston two PGs behind Rondo as well as depth at the SG position. Have to loose Dooling though. Say those three guys at guard, then Pierce + Green at SF + another two guard + another wing. Seven perimeter guys instead of eight to free up the additional roster spot for Wilcox.

[AB_Celtic]

I would go with three PGs, five wings, three PFs and four Cs.

---------------------------------------------

PG: Rajon Rondo, Jason Terry, (Keyon Dooling)
SG: Avery Bradley, (Courtney Lee?), (minimum contract wing)
SF: Paul Pierce, Jeff Green
PF: Brandon Bass, Jared Sullinger, JaJuan Johnson
C:  Kevin Garnett, (Greg Stiemsma or maybe Ryan Hollins), (Magloire type), Fab Melo


--------------------------------------

If Wilcox considered coming back for the minimum, I may drop one of those perimeter players to fit him in at power forward.

Could Peaches fit the min wing bill?

[Cman]

If we do indeed sign and trade for lee we will probably use our bi annual on steamer. Who else is worthy of it? And he already said he would probably accept it from Boston...

“Just because Greg would get an offer more than the biannual doesn’t mean he would take it,” Naiditch said. “If the Celtics were to offer him the biannual, and he had a choice between the biannual with the Celtics and may a little bit more with another team, I’m quite certain he would still go with the Celtics.”

I don't understand what Danny is waiting for. Stiemsma is needed.

Danny might not be the one waiting, I'm guessing Stiemsma is waiting to see if he can get more from Minny or one of his others suitors.

From the reports, it sounds like Danny hasn't made Stiemsma an offer yet.

Just keeping the dialogue open (Danny). No contract offers.

He put in a QO on Steemer, I believe.

[Who]

I would go with three PGs, five wings, three PFs and four Cs.

---------------------------------------------

PG: Rajon Rondo, Jason Terry, (Keyon Dooling)
SG: Avery Bradley, (Courtney Lee?), (minimum contract wing)
SF: Paul Pierce, Jeff Green
PF: Brandon Bass, Jared Sullinger, JaJuan Johnson
C:  Kevin Garnett, (Greg Stiemsma or maybe Ryan Hollins), (Magloire type), Fab Melo


--------------------------------------

If Wilcox considered coming back for the minimum, I may drop one of those perimeter players to fit him in at power forward.

Could Peaches fit the min wing bill?

I don't think he'll come back for the minimum. It would be great if he did.

[kozlodoev]

I would go with three PGs, five wings, three PFs and four Cs.

---------------------------------------------

PG: Rajon Rondo, Jason Terry, (Keyon Dooling)
SG: Avery Bradley, (Courtney Lee?), (minimum contract wing)
SF: Paul Pierce, Jeff Green
PF: Brandon Bass, Jared Sullinger, JaJuan Johnson
C:  Kevin Garnett, (Greg Stiemsma or maybe Ryan Hollins), (Magloire type), Fab Melo


--------------------------------------

If Wilcox considered coming back for the minimum, I may drop one of those perimeter players to fit him in at power forward.

Both Avery Bradley and Jason Terry are combo guards. They can give Boston two PGs behind Rondo as well as depth at the SG position. Have to loose Dooling though. Say those three guys at guard, then Pierce + Green at SF + another two guard + another wing. Seven perimeter guys instead of eight to free up the additional roster spot for Wilcox.

This may be ok. Joseph looks like he's going to make himself hard to cut, and I'm fine with him being the third SF. However, I'd much rather sign someone like Pietrus for insurance at the SG position than carry a 4th center, given that we have various solutions in the big man department, but may be 1 injury away from playing with 3 rotation-caliber guards.

[Junkyard Dawg]

at the very least we need Wilcox back, and ideally we'd have someone better in the mix.

as far as the yearly big man "flyer", i wonder what danny thinks about keeping Melo, who is still extremely raw, in portland and bringing sean williams back.  I was at BC when he was there so I know all about his attitude issues, but something about how during the playoffs he was always up clapping and high-fiving guys as they came off the floor makes me think he might have grown up a bit in the past few years.  hey, if Gerald Green finally got regular NBA mins this past season, anything is possible.

[eugen]

Stiemsma: Likely leaving Boston
Krstic: International
Camby: NYK

Can we sign Wilcox? Do we trust Melo? Is there somebody else?

I was really counting on Camby or Krstic...

Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers – $2.6 million – Restricted ($3.7 million Qualifying Offer)
Brook Lopez, Brooklyn Nets – $3.1 million – Restricted ($4.2 million Qualifying Offer)
Chris Kaman, New Orleans Hornets – $12.7 million – Unrestricted
JaVale McGee, Denver Nuggets – $2.5 million – Restricted ($3.5 million Qualifying Offer)
Kwame Brown, Milwaukee Bucks – $6.8 million – Unrestricted
Aaron Gray, Toronto Raptors – $2.5 million – Unrestricted
Robin Lopez, Phoenix Suns – $2.8 million – Restricted ($4.0 million Qualifying Offer)
Jermaine O’Neal, Boston Celtics – $6.2 million – Unrestricted
Nazr Mohammed, Oklahoma City Thunder – $3.8 million – Unrestricted
Semih Erden, Cleveland Cavaliers – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*
Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons – $2.2 million – Unrestricted
Hamed Haddadi, Memphis Grizzlies – $1.3 million – Unrestricted
Mehmet Okur, Portland Trail Blazers – $10.9 million – Unrestricted
Greg Stiemsma, Boston Celtics – $0.5 million – Unrestricted*
Daniel Orton, Orlando Magic – $1.1 million – Unrestricted
Solomon Alabi, Toronto Raptors – $0.8 million – Team Option ($0.9 million)
Hasheem Thabeet, Portland Trail Blazers – $5.1 million – Unrestricted
DeSagana Diop, Charlotte Bobcats – $6.9 million – Player Option ($7.4 million)
Ryan Hollins, Boston Celtics – $0.3 million – Unrestricted
Jason Collins, Atlanta Hawks – $1.3 million – Unrestricted
Joel Przybilla, Portland Trail Blazers – $0.7 million – Unrestricted
Eddy Curry, Miami HEAT – $1.2 million – Unrestricted
Tony Battie, Philadelphia 76ers – $1.3 million – Unrestricted
Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers – $1.5 million – Unrestricted
Jamaal Magloire, Toronto Raptors – $1.3 million – Unrestricted
Kyrylo Fesenko, Indiana Pacers – $0.3 million – Unrestricted
Mickell Gladness, Golden State Warriors – $0.1 million – Unrestricted*
Mikki Moore, Golden State Warriors – $0.1 million – Unrestricted
Dan Gadzuric, New York Knicks – $0.1 million – Unrestricted

[the_Bird]

I would go with three PGs, five wings, three PFs and four Cs.

---------------------------------------------

PG: Rajon Rondo, Jason Terry, (Keyon Dooling)
SG: Avery Bradley, (Courtney Lee?), (minimum contract wing)
SF: Paul Pierce, Jeff Green
PF: Brandon Bass, Jared Sullinger, JaJuan Johnson
C:  Kevin Garnett, (Greg Stiemsma or maybe Ryan Hollins), (Magloire type), Fab Melo


--------------------------------------

If Wilcox considered coming back for the minimum, I may drop one of those perimeter players to fit him in at power forward.

Both Avery Bradley and Jason Terry are combo guards. They can give Boston two PGs behind Rondo as well as depth at the SG position. Have to loose Dooling though. Say those three guys at guard, then Pierce + Green at SF + another two guard + another wing. Seven perimeter guys instead of eight to free up the additional roster spot for Wilcox.

This may be ok. Joseph looks like he's going to make himself hard to cut, and I'm fine with him being the third SF. However, I'd much rather sign someone like Pietrus for insurance at the SG position than carry a 4th center, given that we have various solutions in the big man department, but may be 1 injury away from playing with 3 rotation-caliber guards.

Terry's going to play a lot of SG, though.  Even if AB is out for a while, the SG rotation would be Terry (part-time), Courtney Lee, and Pietrus (with Rondo and Dooling handling the point, helped out as well with Terry).  That's five guys that I'd be comfortable with - it's five guys that are making each position three-deep.  Once Bradley returns, he can back up Rondo a little as well, so you'll basically have six players making the guard rotations four-deep each.

Rondo/Terry/Bradley/Dooling
AB/Terry/Lee/Pietrus

That's deep enough.  I'd rather have a fourth center, especially since Fab Melo is doubtful to see the court at all this year.

[saltlover]

I would go with three PGs, five wings, three PFs and four Cs.

---------------------------------------------

PG: Rajon Rondo, Jason Terry, (Keyon Dooling)
SG: Avery Bradley, (Courtney Lee?), (minimum contract wing)
SF: Paul Pierce, Jeff Green
PF: Brandon Bass, Jared Sullinger, JaJuan Johnson
C:  Kevin Garnett, (Greg Stiemsma or maybe Ryan Hollins), (Magloire type), Fab Melo


--------------------------------------

If Wilcox considered coming back for the minimum, I may drop one of those perimeter players to fit him in at power forward.

Both Avery Bradley and Jason Terry are combo guards. They can give Boston two PGs behind Rondo as well as depth at the SG position. Have to loose Dooling though. Say those three guys at guard, then Pierce + Green at SF + another two guard + another wing. Seven perimeter guys instead of eight to free up the additional roster spot for Wilcox.

This may be ok. Joseph looks like he's going to make himself hard to cut, and I'm fine with him being the third SF. However, I'd much rather sign someone like Pietrus for insurance at the SG position than carry a 4th center, given that we have various solutions in the big man department, but may be 1 injury away from playing with 3 rotation-caliber guards.

Assuming we can get Lee or Mayo, I'd like to make certain we have another PG instead of SG.  Terry can play on or off the ball, but if Rondo goes down, we can't play JET for 48 minutes.  I suppose AB can sort of, but he's already hurt and will have no training camp, so I'd like someone else who can run an offense, at least in a pinch.  (Of course, my best candidate for that job is Delonte.  Sigh.)

I see people mentioning Dooling, but I think the only way we get Lee or Mayo is by S&T Dooling, in order to make the salaries work, so I fear he's not a likely option.

[TripleOT]

Nazr Mohammed would be my choice for a third center.  Tough guy, championship experience at the college and pro level, and he should be a good mentor to Melo.  

[eugen]

From free agents, Stemsma, Mcgee, Przbylla or Niki Moore