Jeff Green - 2nd worst contract of the summer

[Interceptor]

Because his contract will stop the team from using the MLE next year, when you now we might actually need to add someone.  The Celtics will be a solid team this up coming season with a shot at the title, after that, not so much and with Green, Bass, etc. having huge money contracts, there will be no way for Boston to actually add impact players that could lead to a championship. 

You don't sign role players to massive contracts.  It is a good way to end up in perpetually mediocrity.

We don't have a shot at the title this year if we don't have a credible SF to back up Pierce. Jeff Green was the best option available for the job. This has been pointed out to you, and since you haven't responded to it, I have to assume that you are conceding the point. I personally would rather have Courtney Lee and not watch the Sasha Pavlovic Show, but maybe that's just me.

Beyond the need for a SF, we are only contenders as long as KG is playing at a high level. This means, amongst other things, that Ainge can't dance around waiting for magic to happen; he's only got 2-3 years of KG left before Father Time calls the cops and ends the party. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. We have JG now, locked up for a few years. Not the full MLE to spend on some "impact" player that may or may not materialize/sign with us, after we put another 10k miles on Garnett.

I'll take the mini-MLE.

[kozlodoev]

No.  Jeff Green is at absolute best the 5th best player on this team (rondo, kg, pierce, and bradley).  Bass is probably better than him also and frankly Terry or Lee might be better than him.  It would be one thing if he was on the bench to start the game, but was clearly a better player than many of the starters (like James Harden who is OKC's third best player).  Jeff Green is not that guy.  Jeff Green is being paid like he is the 3rd best player on the team, when he is not even close to the 3rd best player on the team.

Why do you care so much about this? There is no rule that says salaries need to match relative contribution. Is Pierce the best player on this team? Nope. Regardless of where Jeff Green fits on the pantheon of good players on this team, the value of his contract is relative to the league, not the Celtics. This is because it can be traded. Jeff Green could start for other NBA team, true story.

We're full of excellent players on bargain contracts (KG, Bradley, Rondo), which in my opinion is a problem that Doc and Ainge aren't going to be losing a lot of sleep over. Hell, that guy we used to have playing SG for us, made 10M/y and came off the bench for part of the end of the season. Were you hurling tomatoes at the organization then, too?

Because his contract will stop the team from using the MLE next year, when you now we might actually need to add someone.  The Celtics will be a solid team this up coming season with a shot at the title, after that, not so much and with Green, Bass, etc. having huge money contracts, there will be no way for Boston to actually add impact players that could lead to a championship. 

You don't sign role players to massive contracts.  It is a good way to end up in perpetually mediocrity.

Right, except MLE is not a "massive" contract for a high-end roleplayer. Jeff Green, who averaged 15 ppg in a starting role at OKC is viewed as more than a roleplayer.

Moreover, when your core is signed through three years, you can give ouy all sorts of contracts -- you're not likely to add an impact player through free agency either way.

[Moranis]

Because his contract will stop the team from using the MLE next year, when you now we might actually need to add someone.  The Celtics will be a solid team this up coming season with a shot at the title, after that, not so much and with Green, Bass, etc. having huge money contracts, there will be no way for Boston to actually add impact players that could lead to a championship. 

You don't sign role players to massive contracts.  It is a good way to end up in perpetually mediocrity.

We don't have a shot at the title this year if we don't have a credible SF to back up Pierce. Jeff Green was the best option available for the job. This has been pointed out to you, and since you haven't responded to it, I have to assume that you are conceding the point. I personally would rather have Courtney Lee and not watch the Sasha Pavlovic Show, but maybe that's just me.

Beyond the need for a SF, we are only contenders as long as KG is playing at a high level. This means, amongst other things, that Ainge can't dance around waiting for magic to happen; he's only got 2-3 years of KG left before Father Time calls the cops and ends the party. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. We have JG now, locked up for a few years. Not the full MLE to spend on some "impact" player that may or may not materialize/sign with us, after we put another 10k miles on Garnett.

I'll take the mini-MLE.

I did comment on the backup SF argument.  First, you don't give Green 4 years at 9 million a year.  Offer him one year at that money (or slightly more), or more years at smaller money.  If that isn't good enough for him, you let him walk.  You don't destroy your long term flexibility by giving a role player a gigantic contract.  Second, Pietrus is more than capable of playing backup SF.  Come playoff time, you only need 10-15 minutes from the position, of which Pietrus is perfectly fine handling, especially with guys like Lebron playing PF a lot more and teams going smaller in general.

[Chris]

You don't sign role players to massive contracts.  It is a good way to end up in perpetually mediocrity.

And Danny believes this as well.  Which is why I don't think he looks at Green as a role player in the longterm.  I think he believes (right or wrong) that Green will be an impact player going forward.

He gave Bass a pretty big contract as well.  In addition, Lee and Terry were both given full MLE's (they play the same position) and he gave KG that 3rd year (when he will likely be a shell of himself). 

Danny had one of the strangest off seasons I've ever seen from him.  I just don't get the massive contracts he gave out to what will essentially be role players.

I am still waiting to see how some of these contracts are structured, but I will give you that he was more willing to pay veterans than he had in the past.

I think a big part of it could be the stretch provision.  That provides a huge safety net with these mid range contracts that they didn't have before. 

So, a couple years ago, you sign James Posey to a 4 year, MLE deal, and he falls off a cliff, you are just stuck with him at that cap hit.  Now, with the stretch provision, you can cut him for a pretty small cap hit.

And considering 3 of the 4 guys he signed were basically at the beginning of their prime, based on their age, it is relatively minimal risk.

I can see the complaints with the Green signing.  That was a major risk, if it really is what is reported, and there are not team options there.

However, Lee, for example, has been probably a $5 million player for most of his career already, and I think he is a better fit on the C's than he was on his last 2 stops, and is just coming into his prime.  It is really a low risk move, particular with the smaller raises on MLE deals on the new CBA.

The Bass contract I am a bit less thrilled with.  Maybe they saw more in him then I did, but that just seems like a lot to give a guy that I think should not be a starter in an ideal world.  But, again, with the stretch provision the risk is smaller, and if he simply matches his season from last year, he is certainly worth what he is being paid. 

As for Terry.  I just think he is a bargain at $5 million per year, if he doesn't fall off a cliff, so I won't argue that one.

Going back to the young guys though, I also think Danny does look at them as assets.  I think he sees them as guys who will, at worst, be slightly overpaid, and with the new CBA, that does not make someone untradable.  But, all three of them are guys who could really build substantial value by playing with the Core of players already on the C's, in which case, those contracts could be very valuable assets, if Danny wants to make a bigger splash. 

[Interceptor]

I did comment on the backup SF argument.  First, you don't give Green 4 years at 9 million a year.  Offer him one year at that money (or slightly more), or more years at smaller money.  If that isn't good enough for him, you let him walk.  You don't destroy your long term flexibility by giving a role player a gigantic contract.

Our long-term flexibility is already shot because of the rest of the team. Jeff Green's impact on long-term flexibility -- his fourth contract year aside -- is the difference between the full MLE and the mini-MLE. Who do we miss with the mini-MLE that we'd get with the full?

I definitely believe that Ainge gets Green for less if he can do it. Look at Rondo's contract extension, look at KG's new deal, look at getting Bass for three years, etc. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the logical conclusion here is that this was the price of securing Green.

Second, Pietrus is more than capable of playing backup SF.  Come playoff time, you only need 10-15 minutes from the position, of which Pietrus is perfectly fine handling, especially with guys like Lebron playing PF a lot more and teams going smaller in general.

Sure, but how do we get Pietrus? He won't play for the minimum, we don't own his Bird Rights, we had to spend the MLE and use up trade assets to replace our old SG. That leaves the BAE, which is barely above the minimum for Pietrus.

This is a big thing that I think you are ignoring: Green is a good solution for us because we can actually pay him what he wants.

[Moranis]

You don't sign role players to massive contracts.  It is a good way to end up in perpetually mediocrity.

And Danny believes this as well.  Which is why I don't think he looks at Green as a role player in the longterm.  I think he believes (right or wrong) that Green will be an impact player going forward.

He gave Bass a pretty big contract as well.  In addition, Lee and Terry were both given full MLE's (they play the same position) and he gave KG that 3rd year (when he will likely be a shell of himself). 

Danny had one of the strangest off seasons I've ever seen from him.  I just don't get the massive contracts he gave out to what will essentially be role players.

I am still waiting to see how some of these contracts are structured, but I will give you that he was more willing to pay veterans than he had in the past.

I think a big part of it could be the stretch provision.  That provides a huge safety net with these mid range contracts that they didn't have before. 

So, a couple years ago, you sign James Posey to a 4 year, MLE deal, and he falls off a cliff, you are just stuck with him at that cap hit.  Now, with the stretch provision, you can cut him for a pretty small cap hit.

And considering 3 of the 4 guys he signed were basically at the beginning of their prime, based on their age, it is relatively minimal risk.

I can see the complaints with the Green signing.  That was a major risk, if it really is what is reported, and there are not team options there.

However, Lee, for example, has been probably a $5 million player for most of his career already, and I think he is a better fit on the C's than he was on his last 2 stops, and is just coming into his prime.  It is really a low risk move, particular with the smaller raises on MLE deals on the new CBA.

The Bass contract I am a bit less thrilled with.  Maybe they saw more in him then I did, but that just seems like a lot to give a guy that I think should not be a starter in an ideal world.  But, again, with the stretch provision the risk is smaller, and if he simply matches his season from last year, he is certainly worth what he is being paid. 

As for Terry.  I just think he is a bargain at $5 million per year, if he doesn't fall off a cliff, so I won't argue that one.

Going back to the young guys though, I also think Danny does look at them as assets.  I think he sees them as guys who will, at worst, be slightly overpaid, and with the new CBA, that does not make someone untradable.  But, all three of them are guys who could really build substantial value by playing with the Core of players already on the C's, in which case, those contracts could be very valuable assets, if Danny wants to make a bigger splash.

That's where I am at essentially.  I think Lee and Terry are in a vacuum worth their contracts, but ideally for the Celtics they are both going to be backups behind Bradley.  So they are redundant (both of them).

Green is a backup for at least the first two years, and that is if he can stay healthy and doesn't have any long term effects.  I think there is a very real chance that even if his heart is fine, he will need at least one full season to even get into playing shape and who knows if he will ever be the same player that he was.

I also agree that Bass should be a backup, but at least he is starting so giving him starter money isn't a huge deal.  His signing at least makes some sense especially given the makeup of the team, though again I didn't see the need for that third year.

As you say if there are a lot of team options in these things, especially after this year, then the signings make a lot more sense, but Ainge essentially is paying the backup SG's 11 million a year for three years, the backup SF 9 million a year for three years, and what should be the backup PF 8 million a year for three years.  28 million dollars for four bench players, is way too much money.

[Moranis]

I did comment on the backup SF argument.  First, you don't give Green 4 years at 9 million a year.  Offer him one year at that money (or slightly more), or more years at smaller money.  If that isn't good enough for him, you let him walk.  You don't destroy your long term flexibility by giving a role player a gigantic contract.

Our long-term flexibility is already shot because of the rest of the team. Jeff Green's impact on long-term flexibility -- his fourth contract year aside -- is the difference between the full MLE and the mini-MLE. Who do we miss with the mini-MLE that we'd get with the full?

I definitely believe that Ainge gets Green for less if he can do it. Look at Rondo's contract extension, look at KG's new deal, look at getting Bass for three years, etc. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the logical conclusion here is that this was the price of securing Green.

Second, Pietrus is more than capable of playing backup SF.  Come playoff time, you only need 10-15 minutes from the position, of which Pietrus is perfectly fine handling, especially with guys like Lebron playing PF a lot more and teams going smaller in general.

Sure, but how do we get Pietrus? He won't play for the minimum, we don't own his Bird Rights, we had to spend the MLE and use up trade assets to replace our old SG. That leaves the BAE, which is barely above the minimum for Pietrus.

This is a big thing that I think you are ignoring: Green is a good solution for us because we can actually pay him what he wants.

Entering this summer the Celtics had about 20 million in cap space.  The long term flexibility is shot because Ainge signed a bunch of role players to massive long term contracts.  He didn't need to do that.  Ainge destroyed the flexibility he spent years making, just to make one more run at the title.  Which is fine, but all he added to make that run was backups, all while 2 of the 3 best players on the team keep getting further and further from their primes.

It was a terrible off season in general for the Celtics.  This team is not going to beat the Heat (unless Lebron gets hurt - at which point they didn't need to make all of these moves) and has no real shot to get to that point at any point in time in the next 3 years unless Sullinger or Melo turn into all star level players during that span.

[SHAQATTACK]

If he an't worth the money , Danny won't even blink and Green will find himself on another team.

Pressure is on him.

[Interceptor]

Entering this summer the Celtics had about 20 million in cap space.  The long term flexibility is shot because Ainge signed a bunch of role players to massive long term contracts.  He didn't need to do that.  Ainge destroyed the flexibility he spent years making, just to make one more run at the title.  Which is fine, but all he added to make that run was backups, all while 2 of the 3 best players on the team keep getting further and further from their primes.

Glad that you agree with me that Jeff Green is not responsible for the lack of flexibility: it was the rest of the team. Ainge couldn't use that cap space without basically blowing up the team entirely, due to the need to renounce our rights to the Bird guys. I think that this would have happened had they not been able to come to terms with KG, but since they did, that's why everything fell into place the way that it did. You really need to start naming names -- actual people who were available during this offseason -- if you're going to keep hammering Ainge for not using his cap space.

Anyway, at worst we're in the wilderness for three years. Pierce is gone by then, KG/Bass/Terry/Lee are up, Green will be an expiring, and Ainge magically has all of his cap space back again. No problems.

It was a terrible off season in general for the Celtics.  This team is not going to beat the Heat (unless Lebron gets hurt - at which point they didn't need to make all of these moves) and has no real shot to get to that point at any point in time in the next 3 years unless Sullinger or Melo turn into all star level players during that span.

This is where I think you're out of your tree: we took the Heat to 7 games with a worse team than this, and three of our best weapons injured. LBJ assassinated us single-handedly in Game 6, but that aside, we've decidedly solved the scoring-drought problems that we've always had from our bench. You know, because our bench has STARTERS on it.

[BballTim]

I did comment on the backup SF argument.  First, you don't give Green 4 years at 9 million a year.  Offer him one year at that money (or slightly more), or more years at smaller money.  If that isn't good enough for him, you let him walk.  You don't destroy your long term flexibility by giving a role player a gigantic contract.

Our long-term flexibility is already shot because of the rest of the team. Jeff Green's impact on long-term flexibility -- his fourth contract year aside -- is the difference between the full MLE and the mini-MLE. Who do we miss with the mini-MLE that we'd get with the full?

I definitely believe that Ainge gets Green for less if he can do it. Look at Rondo's contract extension, look at KG's new deal, look at getting Bass for three years, etc. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the logical conclusion here is that this was the price of securing Green.

Second, Pietrus is more than capable of playing backup SF.  Come playoff time, you only need 10-15 minutes from the position, of which Pietrus is perfectly fine handling, especially with guys like Lebron playing PF a lot more and teams going smaller in general.

Sure, but how do we get Pietrus? He won't play for the minimum, we don't own his Bird Rights, we had to spend the MLE and use up trade assets to replace our old SG. That leaves the BAE, which is barely above the minimum for Pietrus.

This is a big thing that I think you are ignoring: Green is a good solution for us because we can actually pay him what he wants.

Entering this summer the Celtics had about 20 million in cap space.  The long term flexibility is shot because Ainge signed a bunch of role players to massive long term contracts.  He didn't need to do that.  Ainge destroyed the flexibility he spent years making, just to make one more run at the title.  Which is fine, but all he added to make that run was backups, all while 2 of the 3 best players on the team keep getting further and further from their primes.

It was a terrible off season in general for the Celtics.  This team is not going to beat the Heat (unless Lebron gets hurt - at which point they didn't need to make all of these moves) and has no real shot to get to that point at any point in time in the next 3 years unless Sullinger or Melo turn into all star level players during that span.

  Danny gave up his flexibility when he re-signed KG, and I think he's hoping for more than one more run. And people who think this team has no chance of beating the Heat are living in denial.

[Chris]

You don't sign role players to massive contracts.  It is a good way to end up in perpetually mediocrity.

And Danny believes this as well.  Which is why I don't think he looks at Green as a role player in the longterm.  I think he believes (right or wrong) that Green will be an impact player going forward.

He gave Bass a pretty big contract as well.  In addition, Lee and Terry were both given full MLE's (they play the same position) and he gave KG that 3rd year (when he will likely be a shell of himself). 

Danny had one of the strangest off seasons I've ever seen from him.  I just don't get the massive contracts he gave out to what will essentially be role players.

I am still waiting to see how some of these contracts are structured, but I will give you that he was more willing to pay veterans than he had in the past.

I think a big part of it could be the stretch provision.  That provides a huge safety net with these mid range contracts that they didn't have before. 

So, a couple years ago, you sign James Posey to a 4 year, MLE deal, and he falls off a cliff, you are just stuck with him at that cap hit.  Now, with the stretch provision, you can cut him for a pretty small cap hit.

And considering 3 of the 4 guys he signed were basically at the beginning of their prime, based on their age, it is relatively minimal risk.

I can see the complaints with the Green signing.  That was a major risk, if it really is what is reported, and there are not team options there.

However, Lee, for example, has been probably a $5 million player for most of his career already, and I think he is a better fit on the C's than he was on his last 2 stops, and is just coming into his prime.  It is really a low risk move, particular with the smaller raises on MLE deals on the new CBA.

The Bass contract I am a bit less thrilled with.  Maybe they saw more in him then I did, but that just seems like a lot to give a guy that I think should not be a starter in an ideal world.  But, again, with the stretch provision the risk is smaller, and if he simply matches his season from last year, he is certainly worth what he is being paid. 

As for Terry.  I just think he is a bargain at $5 million per year, if he doesn't fall off a cliff, so I won't argue that one.

Going back to the young guys though, I also think Danny does look at them as assets.  I think he sees them as guys who will, at worst, be slightly overpaid, and with the new CBA, that does not make someone untradable.  But, all three of them are guys who could really build substantial value by playing with the Core of players already on the C's, in which case, those contracts could be very valuable assets, if Danny wants to make a bigger splash.

That's where I am at essentially.  I think Lee and Terry are in a vacuum worth their contracts, but ideally for the Celtics they are both going to be backups behind Bradley.  So they are redundant (both of them).

Green is a backup for at least the first two years, and that is if he can stay healthy and doesn't have any long term effects.  I think there is a very real chance that even if his heart is fine, he will need at least one full season to even get into playing shape and who knows if he will ever be the same player that he was.

I also agree that Bass should be a backup, but at least he is starting so giving him starter money isn't a huge deal.  His signing at least makes some sense especially given the makeup of the team, though again I didn't see the need for that third year.

As you say if there are a lot of team options in these things, especially after this year, then the signings make a lot more sense, but Ainge essentially is paying the backup SG's 11 million a year for three years, the backup SF 9 million a year for three years, and what should be the backup PF 8 million a year for three years.  28 million dollars for four bench players, is way too much money.

I think we are not too far off from each other on this, but I will point out the reason why I think I don't have a problem.

First, I think you are putting too much faith in Bradley.  I am not sure he is the longterm answer as starting SG.  I think Lee is a better fit at that spot, and I think he will be that.

As far as Terry being a SG...well, I agree and disagree.  He is not a distributor, but he has had plenty of success as a backup PG in this league...or more accurately, a backup combo-guard.  He will be a good fit next to Bradley, because neither need the ball in their hands, but both can make things happen when they need to.  And they can also play off of the big men creating offense.

I just think there is a lot of versatility with a guy like Terry.  He can play off the ball with Rondo, he can handle the ball when Rondo isn't in there, and be a spot shooter if they want to run the offense through the post, or if Pierce is in there, sitting in the corner as he runs pick and rolls.

I think when you get too concerned about position, then it is easy to get down on a team like this.  But Danny has put together a team with a lot of talent, and a lot of flexibility.

As far as Green being paid a lot for a guy coming off the bench.  You are right.  But I will also point out that Manu Ginobili and Harden come off the bench as well.  While I am not confident Green is on the same level as them (and he is not being paid what they are worth anyways), I do think they envision him as that kind of 30+ minute per game, high productivity bench player.  Whether he reaches that level we will have to see.  But that is where the value is.

So basically, I think they paid the MLE for a starting SG.  Paid the MLE for a guy who has made a career as one of the best 6th men in the league.  And paid quality starters money for a guy who will play quality starters minutes, even if it is off the bench.

Bass...I am still not thrilled about, but maybe he can be traded.

[LooseCannon]

I don't feel like starting a new thread for this and I forget if anyone linked to it, but a few days ago the NBA Geek also gave his list for the ten best contracts of the summer:

10) Lavoy Allen
9) Greg Stiemsma
8 ) Elton Brand
7) Ronnie Brewer
6) JaVale McGee
5) Andrei Kirilenko
4) Jeremy Lin
3) Omer Asik
2) Ersak Ilyasova
1) Ryan Anderson

[Chris]

I don't feel like starting a new thread for this and I forget if anyone linked to it, but a few days ago the NBA Geek also gave his list for the ten best contracts of the summer:

10) Lavoy Allen
9) Greg Stiemsma
8 ) Elton Brand
7) Ronnie Brewer
6) JaVale McGee
5) Andrei Kirilenko
4) Jeremy Lin
3) Omer Asik
2) Ersak Ilyasova
1) Ryan Anderson

Much like I thought some of the best contracts were on the top 10 worst contracts list, I think this list has many of the worst contracts.

Anderson is a one dimensional player, who will really struggle when he can't feast on wide open shots because his man is doubleteaming Dwight Howard.

Ilyasova I like, although he is a tweener and still pretty unproven.  I think he may be worth his contract...but just barely.

Asik I am OK with, but again, I think he will be barely worth his contract. 

Lin, sure, will be worth it for marketing, but not basketball.

[Moranis]

Entering this summer the Celtics had about 20 million in cap space.  The long term flexibility is shot because Ainge signed a bunch of role players to massive long term contracts.  He didn't need to do that.  Ainge destroyed the flexibility he spent years making, just to make one more run at the title.  Which is fine, but all he added to make that run was backups, all while 2 of the 3 best players on the team keep getting further and further from their primes.

Glad that you agree with me that Jeff Green is not responsible for the lack of flexibility: it was the rest of the team. Ainge couldn't use that cap space without basically blowing up the team entirely, due to the need to renounce our rights to the Bird guys. I think that this would have happened had they not been able to come to terms with KG, but since they did, that's why everything fell into place the way that it did. You really need to start naming names -- actual people who were available during this offseason -- if you're going to keep hammering Ainge for not using his cap space.

Anyway, at worst we're in the wilderness for three years. Pierce is gone by then, KG/Bass/Terry/Lee are up, Green will be an expiring, and Ainge magically has all of his cap space back again. No problems.

I've said numerous times on this board, I would have offered KG a 1 year contract (I would have given him in the 12-15 range).  Take it or leave type proposition.  For the rest of the roster I would have offered 1 year contracts or low dollar longer deals.  I would not have made any major moves this off season and would have tried again next summer when better free agents are likely available (like potentially Dwight Howard and Josh Smith who are friends and also friends of Rondo).  In this day and age you either go big or go home.  Minor moves just extend the period of mediocrity. 

It was a terrible off season in general for the Celtics.  This team is not going to beat the Heat (unless Lebron gets hurt - at which point they didn't need to make all of these moves) and has no real shot to get to that point at any point in time in the next 3 years unless Sullinger or Melo turn into all star level players during that span.

This is where I think you're out of your tree: we took the Heat to 7 games with a worse team than this, and three of our best weapons injured. LBJ assassinated us single-handedly in Game 6, but that aside, we've decidedly solved the scoring-drought problems that we've always had from our bench. You know, because our bench has STARTERS on it.

Chris Bosh didn't even play in the series until game 5 and he only played 14 minutes in that one.  The two games Bosh gave the Heat any sort of minutes, the Heat won by 19 and 13.  Everyone always forgets about Bosh when they talk about that series and only focus on the Bradley, JO, and Wilcox injuries (even Wade was clearly hampered by a knee injury).  None of the injured Celtics are anywhere close to as good as Chris Bosh.  With a healthy Bosh that is a 5 game series even if Bradley plays the whole time. 

Miami this off season has added: Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis to their bench.  Boston has an outside shot at competing against Miami this year, but not as Pierce and KG get further and further away from their primes, which is two and three years from now. 

The goal in professional sports should be about winning a title and I just don't see this summer as a real great step in that direction and one that will set the team back immensely to that end going forward.  It was a terrible off season in my estimation.  I certainly hope I am wrong and only time will tell, but I would not have gone in the direction Ainge took this team.

[Interceptor]

I've said numerous times on this board, I would have offered KG a 1 year contract (I would have given him in the 12-15 range).  Take it or leave type proposition.  For the rest of the roster I would have offered 1 year contracts or low dollar longer deals.  I would not have made any major moves this off season and would have tried again next summer when better free agents are likely available (like potentially Dwight Howard and Josh Smith who are friends and also friends of Rondo).  In this day and age you either go big or go home.  Minor moves just extend the period of mediocrity.

Assuming that KG takes your insulting offer, why would the rest of the team? Once they take off for other teams that will actually give them reasonable contracts, you're left with very little money to spend on the people for whom we don't own the Bird Rights, which calls into question the notion of even re-signing KG in the first place, since that team is going nowhere unless you pull off some epic sign-and-trades.

Chris Bosh didn't even play in the series until game 5 and he only played 14 minutes in that one.  The two games Bosh gave the Heat any sort of minutes, the Heat won by 19 and 13.  Everyone always forgets about Bosh when they talk about that series and only focus on the Bradley, JO, and Wilcox injuries (even Wade was clearly hampered by a knee injury).  None of the injured Celtics are anywhere close to as good as Chris Bosh.  With a healthy Bosh that is a 5 game series even if Bradley plays the whole time.

None of the DNP Celtics are as good as Chris Bosh, but we were fielding an injured Pierce and Allen. Bosh wasn't the reason that we lost Games 6 and 7, either. Bosh isn't scary as long as KG is playing. And while we have our time machine going, I'd like to see what Bradley could have done defensively, seeing as how Allen couldn't stay in front of a chair.

No, I'm still in the corner of you being out of your tree. Celtics are not dominating the Heat by any means, but we match up very well with them, and I think that your declaration that they only have an "outside shot" really undersells, here.

The goal in professional sports should be about winning a title and I just don't see this summer as a real great step in that direction and one that will set the team back immensely to that end going forward.  It was a terrible off season in my estimation.  I certainly hope I am wrong and only time will tell, but I would not have gone in the direction Ainge took this team.

If they took a step backwards, it's not because of Jeff Green. You can't pin this one on him or his contract, he's just the natural evolution of the decision to retain KG and keep trying for another few years.