DA taking too long on the Lee trade ; cause for concern ?

[KG_ended_Bias]

Can't actually believe we want Lee this bad. Very overrated guy who put up decent numbers on a bad team. Lee will be the guy from NJ we all didn't like much here. I don't want my 2 gaurd to be the 6th best scoring option.

[tarheelsxxiii]

It would pretty much be a no lose situation for the Rockets.

Dooling ($2.5m) + Williams + Moore + $3 million + #2 for Lee

In that deal, the Rockets cut the non-guaranteed Williams and Moore, keep or cut Dooling, and have $500k extra plus a #2 for their trouble.

Why wouldn't the Rockets do that?

Just to understand this better:
They could choose to drop the Williams and Moore contracts (free up some cap space?), collect $3 million (simply a cash offering?), and Dooling (or drop to free up more cap space?), and the #2?

Guess my question is... is the benefit of picking up expiring contracts in a trade that you can essentially drop them and create more cap space for yourself? And in this case, you're also getting something more ($3 mil)?

Edit: Is Dooling going to accept a small raise?

[Cman]

If danny wanted this it would of been done already.

I don't think this is true at all.  Lee reportedly has 8+ teams interested in him.  I'm sure Lee's agent needs to gauge the interest from each team, and see what type of deal can be worked out.

This ^

Don't hold out much hope on this.  With 8 teams in the fold, acquiring him will be extremely tough.  He wants more than we can give, & that throws a wrench into things from the start.

If it's a sign and trade, we can give them any pick in the world, it still won't mean we can match the contracts up.  Picks don't count for money value, & that's where the struggle comes.

Unless Lee at 26 is more into winning than he is money.  I don't see it.  I'd love for it to happen, but its a hard one to get done.

Yes, I agree with the general sentiment.
It would be nice if it could happen (especially for a package like the one Roy describes above), but I'm not especially optimistic. Just too many variables at play.

[fandrew]

I'm not really holding my breath on the Lee S&T. It would be nice but honestly I have a hard time seeing what we would give... If we can turn Dooling and a 2nd round pick into Lee that would be great, but I have a feeling Houston wants a future first rounder-better asset to trade with, and I have a hard time seeing that happen (unless it was maybe next year's.)

[Carhole]

Idk but im gonna be extremely disappointed if we don't get him. I'm dying to see a bench of terry green LEE sullinger and hopefully MP. We will beat miami with that bench.

The one major factor that is missing from that bench is a legit backup center for KG.

Wilcox

Wilcox is ok, be he wouldn't be able to hold the fort down on defense when KG is out.

Who can?

[hpantazo]

I'm not really holding my breath on the Lee S&T. It would be nice but honestly I have a hard time seeing what we would give... If we can turn Dooling and a 2nd round pick into Lee that would be great, but I have a feeling Houston wants a future first rounder-better asset to trade with, and I have a hard time seeing that happen (unless it was maybe next year's.)

I have no problem trading Dooling, cash, and our 2013 1st rounder for Courtney Lee. We are in win now mode, our 2013 1st rounder is expendable, and if we really want a player in that range closer to the draft, I'm sure there will be chances to grab a pick in that range.

[Geo123]

Don't be shocked if Lee and his agent are waiting to see how teams use their cap room on the bigger fish out there. They might be trying to get a bigger than MLE or Celtics size S&T option thats out there.

Furthermore the pumping up the C's as an option can also be a tactic to pressure team to offer a full MLE deal, or a bigger one if they have cap room.

Exactly.  This has nothing to do with the Celtics and Ainge slowing down the process.  Lee is in control and has options and is exploring them all.  Also, Lee  has already commented in interviews how he loves the FA process.  He and his agent is looking for the best deal possible.    

[fandrew]

I'm not really holding my breath on the Lee S&T. It would be nice but honestly I have a hard time seeing what we would give... If we can turn Dooling and a 2nd round pick into Lee that would be great, but I have a feeling Houston wants a future first rounder-better asset to trade with, and I have a hard time seeing that happen (unless it was maybe next year's.)

I have no problem trading Dooling, cash, and our 2013 1st rounder for Courtney Lee. We are in win now mode, our 2013 1st rounder is expendable, and if we really want a player in that range closer to the draft, I'm sure there will be chances to grab a pick in that range.

Personally, I think it would be worth it, but Danny does not seem to like trading picks very often. And who knows if Houston wants to take Dooling.

[RIPRED]

I don't understand why everyone keeps saying that the Celtics have nothing to offer or asking why Houston would do the deal.

First of all, Houston has said that they are willing to sign and trade Camby and Lee. Guess what? Camby was signed by Houston and traded to NYK yesterday for two second rounders.(deal agreed to in principal and will be finalized tomorrow when FAs can actually sign).

Second of all, sign and trades are very common in the NBA. If Lee and his agent work something out with Boston, Houston will most likely consumate the deal. Lee will be leaving regardless. Why would Houston turn their nose at free draft picks and/or players that can be waived?

Lastly, does everyone remember how mad Dan Gilbert was at Lebron for taking his talents to South Beach? Guess what? The Cavaliers sent LBJ to Miami in a sign and trade. Bosh was also a sign and trade.

While I still don't think it will happen, it's not as crazy of a notion as some would think.

[clover]

Can't actually believe we want Lee this bad. Very overrated guy who put up decent numbers on a bad team. Lee will be the guy from NJ we all didn't like much here. I don't want my 2 gaurd to be the 6th best scoring option.

He used to come off the bench and torch the C's every game when he was in Orlando.

[Chris]

Can't actually believe we want Lee this bad. Very overrated guy who put up decent numbers on a bad team. Lee will be the guy from NJ we all didn't like much here. I don't want my 2 gaurd to be the 6th best scoring option.

I don't want Lee because he put up decent numbers on a bad team.  I want him because he was a very important cog on a team that went to the finals.

[TripleOT]

Can't actually believe we want Lee this bad. Very overrated guy who put up decent numbers on a bad team. Lee will be the guy from NJ we all didn't like much here. I don't want my 2 gaurd to be the 6th best scoring option.

Lee's career shooting percentages are right there with Ray Allen's. he's got the right size and athletic ability for a SG.  he's been to the Finals.  He's close to Doc Rivers and admires the way the Cs do things. 

What's not to like about Courtney Lee as a Ray Allen replacement?  That he played on a 12 win Nets team? Dooling was on that team and seemed to fulfill a role here on a winning team. 

[Kuberski1]

Thanks Roy...had been scratching my head wondering about what the S&T possibilities would be....I don't think there's any way Lee comes for the bi-annual. 

The more I think about it, he'd be a great addition.  The one thing we really miss with Ray is his ability to spread the defense, and hit the 3 from anywhere....only Pierce has his range.  Lee could make up for some of that, as he has good range....and apparently is a good defender.   Having a bench of Jet, Lee, Green, Sully, and whoever plays back-up 5 (Wilcox?) gives us depth, which will be much-needed over the 82 game marathon.

[oldmanspeaks]

I disagee that the 2013 1st Rd is a throwaway. 2013 will be the year of the center and there will be one who slips to the later part of the draft. With 3 "2s" and a 1, the Celtics will be able to get someone with some serious upside. Getting a Perk doesn't happen often. Melo may turn OK but there might be a guy with more upside in 2013.

[paintitgreen]

I don't think Dooling can be a key piece to this. I am not sure so I'd want some confirmation, but my understanding is that a player used in a sign and trade has to be signed for three years. So Houston would have to WANT Dooling.

That means to me the trade pieces are going to have to be Johnson, Moore, Williams and picks. Moore and Williams have non-guaranteed contracts and so could be waived by Houston (Moore has to be waived by the end of the Vegas summer league, Williams by August 1, or the contracts become guaranteed). 150% of that salary value plus $100,000 (the amount Boston could bring back in a trade) is about $4.25 million.

For what it's worth, I'd combine next year's first rounder with that offer to get Lee on a three year, $12-14 million deal. Signs point to next year being a bad draft. Yes, there could absolutely be a good player who falls, but in bad drafts, those late first rounders come cheaper so one can be acquired. Plus Boston has Charlotte's second rounder next year which won't be too far from a first rounder. It's a worthwhile sacrifice with what we'd have from this trade. Rondo, Bradley, Terry, and Lee is a very good backcourt. Pierce, Bass, Green, Sullinger is a solid forward rotation, Garnett, Melo, Stiemsma at center. Four spots remaining for potential add-ons like Joseph, Dooling, Pietrus, Hollins, Wilcox, etc.

Is Lee an adequate replacement for Ray? No. But start comparing the team that made it to Game 7 of the East Finals with what we'd have. Is Bradley, Terry, Lee and Green an upgrade on Ray and Pietrus? Yes, by a significant margin. Anything Sullinger or Melo adds becomes bonus. This team would be better than last year's team provided KG remains healthy and Rondo can maintain his level of play when it counts.