Celtics Sign C Jason Collins (merged threads)

[j804]

Yuck not this bum Tiger Woods stunt double

[chambers]

I like it.
Collins looks like a 4.0 college student/monster.
In reality he's a street thug on the floor and will be bringing the pain to Wade and Lebron when they enter the paint come playoffs time.
I'm being 100% serious too, he's a badass. I just wish he could play basketball too.

[fitzhickey]

Bye Hollins, welome Collins, we are only missing Henry Rollins and the party can begin

nah, bring back tree rollins

Hmmmm Tree is cheaper, but Henry is younger 

Tree is 6 years older but still 7 ft lol 

[P2]

Why not Darko or Blatche?

[mctyson]

He is signed to a vet min deal and will either be an end of the bench/we need fouls/everyone is fouled out - guy or he will be cut.

[Celtics4ever]

Why not Darko or Blatche?

One has chronically underperformed and the other is headcase of sorts who thinks he is a SF.

Collins is underwhelming but at least he has some playoff experience.

[greg_kite]

Why not Darko or Blatche?

One has chronically underperformed and the other is headcase of sorts who thinks he is a SF.

Collins is underwhelming but at least he has some playoff experience.

Plus they both probably want a lot more than the vet min.

I like this signing.  I don't think you'll ge much better out of the vet min for a 7 footer at this point.  Steamer got $3 mil.  Young, skilled 7 footers are going to get at least that.

I think Darko and Blatche will each get at least $3 mil.  Neither seems to be the "unselfish" type that just wants to play for a winner.

[boscel33]

i like it.  just another piece of the puzzle, albeit a small one.  danny has done a good job putting this roster together and kind of rebuilding on the fly.

[xmuscularghandix]

I LOVE this singing.

http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/daily_dime_hollinger_jason_collins_the_superman_stopper/4478695

Hollinger:

Collins started all four meetings this season, and the Hawks held Orlando to an average of 82.5 points in those games. The key was not just that he limited Howard's points and periodically got him out of the game entirely with his penchant for drawing charging fouls, but that his single coverage took away Orlando's 3-point game. Orlando made only 19 of 84 3-point attempts in the four meetings; that's obviously a lower rate of accuracy than the Magic's norm, but perhaps more notably a lower frequency of attempts.

Normally, Collins' glaring deficiencies on offense make it too expensive to leave him on the court for his defense, but normally, the Hawks aren't playing the game's most dominant big man. On this night, Collins swung the game to the Hawks' advantage early by drawing two quick fouls on Howard, one on the offensive boards and the other with one of his patented flops in the low post. That sent Howard to the bench just four minutes into the game, and he struggled with fouls all night.

...

[T]his might come as shocking news to those who saw Orlando brutalize the Hawks in four lopsided games a year ago, but a lot has changed for both teams since then. Collins, who sat at the end of the bench a year ago, got himself in much better shape. Mike Bibby, torched by Jameer Nelson last spring, was exchanged for the defensively solid Kirk Hinrich. And Josh Smith (26 points) improved his shaky jumper juuuuuuust enough to provide a plausible answer at small forward, enabling the Hawks to use the "big" lineup with Collins at center and Horford and Smith at the forwards.

None of this means the Hawks will prevail when these two teams renew acquaintances in two weeks. (Although neither team has technically clinched its position in the standings, a Hawks-Magic matchup is virtually assured). Orlando might shoot 3s more accurately, might figure out how to get Howard easier touches against Collins and, barring that, might still shut down the Hawks' sputtering offense enough to prevail anyway.

But unlike a year ago, we're looking at a genuinely competitive series. For that, you can thank the guy with three points and five rebounds.

[Chief]

Decent signing. Clear upgrade over Steamer.

Ha!!!!

[celtsfan84]

I LOVE this singing.

http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/daily_dime_hollinger_jason_collins_the_superman_stopper/4478695

Hollinger:

Collins started all four meetings this season, and the Hawks held Orlando to an average of 82.5 points in those games. The key was not just that he limited Howard's points and periodically got him out of the game entirely with his penchant for drawing charging fouls, but that his single coverage took away Orlando's 3-point game. Orlando made only 19 of 84 3-point attempts in the four meetings; that's obviously a lower rate of accuracy than the Magic's norm, but perhaps more notably a lower frequency of attempts.

Normally, Collins' glaring deficiencies on offense make it too expensive to leave him on the court for his defense, but normally, the Hawks aren't playing the game's most dominant big man. On this night, Collins swung the game to the Hawks' advantage early by drawing two quick fouls on Howard, one on the offensive boards and the other with one of his patented flops in the low post. That sent Howard to the bench just four minutes into the game, and he struggled with fouls all night.

...

[T]his might come as shocking news to those who saw Orlando brutalize the Hawks in four lopsided games a year ago, but a lot has changed for both teams since then. Collins, who sat at the end of the bench a year ago, got himself in much better shape. Mike Bibby, torched by Jameer Nelson last spring, was exchanged for the defensively solid Kirk Hinrich. And Josh Smith (26 points) improved his shaky jumper juuuuuuust enough to provide a plausible answer at small forward, enabling the Hawks to use the "big" lineup with Collins at center and Horford and Smith at the forwards.

None of this means the Hawks will prevail when these two teams renew acquaintances in two weeks. (Although neither team has technically clinched its position in the standings, a Hawks-Magic matchup is virtually assured). Orlando might shoot 3s more accurately, might figure out how to get Howard easier touches against Collins and, barring that, might still shut down the Hawks' sputtering offense enough to prevail anyway.

But unlike a year ago, we're looking at a genuinely competitive series. For that, you can thank the guy with three points and five rebounds.

Great post, TP.

Most importantly, Atlanta won their eventual series. Strong post defense in limited minutes from a guy with playoff experience sounds like it is worth the minimum to me.

[henr1k]

I think Darko and Blatche will each get at least $3 mil.  Neither seems to be the "unselfish" type that just wants to play for a winner.

Darko will earn 5.2M this year regardless.

Lets say he signs with contender for 1M, that means Minnesota will pay 4.2M and his new team 1M. He can't earn more than 5.2M so only thing he cares is to find the best situation for him.

Same thing with Blatche.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I think Darko and Blatche will each get at least $3 mil.  Neither seems to be the "unselfish" type that just wants to play for a winner.

Darko will earn 5.2M this year regardless.

Lets say he signs with contender for 1M, that means Minnesota will pay 4.2M and his new team 1M. He can't earn more than 5.2M so only thing he cares is to find the best situation for him.

Same thing with Blatche.

I think since they cleared waivers, the waiving teams pay the full guaranteed salary regardless of what contract they find in the open market.

[the_Bird]

I think Darko and Blatche will each get at least $3 mil.  Neither seems to be the "unselfish" type that just wants to play for a winner.

Darko will earn 5.2M this year regardless.

Lets say he signs with contender for 1M, that means Minnesota will pay 4.2M and his new team 1M. He can't earn more than 5.2M so only thing he cares is to find the best situation for him.

Same thing with Blatche.

I think since they cleared waivers, the waiving teams pay the full guaranteed salary regardless of what contract they find in the open market.

That's my understanding.  Had another team put in a waiver claim, Minny would have saved some money but as it stands now, Darko will end up making MORE money this season (full salary from the Wolves, plus whatever new contract he signs). 

Still surprised no one put in a claim, even for ~$2M or so.  Darko's flawed and never lived up to expectations, but he'd still help a lot of teams in the league (including us).  Could teams only make waiver claims with cap space, not with exemptions?  Did we have the option of "bidding the BAE" for Darko?

[CelticsFan9]

Why are people upset?  He's our backup/ 3rd string center.  It's not like Doc going to expect much from him except effort on defense.

And when he's played for a mediocre can't-get-past-the-second-round Atlanta team, I'm sure he'll be fine playing limited minutes for a championship contending team.