Ben Wallace free agent, no Detroit return.

[wdleehi]

Rondo, Dooling, Terry
AB, Lee, Terry, Pierce


I have no issue dropping the guard after that if it can help the Celtics with a existing weakness from the season before.  (and yes, I listed Terry twice because he will and can play both positions)

Garnett, Bass, Wilcox, Collins, Green, Sullinger, Melo (applying your method of counting, if I wanted to be _really_ liberal I could also list Pierce for his ability to take spot PF miniutes).

I absolutely have an issue with cutting what I consider the third-string SG to go five deep at center. Even more so when it involves signing someone who can barely play anymore.

So, two rookies, two guys coming off heart conditions and Collins.


I want more depth there if they can add someone like Wallace.  He is the type of vet I want around Melo and Sullinger.  Rookies that have a real future on this team. 

[kozlodoev]

So, two rookies, two guys coming off heart conditions and Collins.

Right, as opposed to the guard position, where you have a 35-year old, and a guy who is _still_ out with a double shoulder surgery. And Keyon Dooling. That's just so much better.

Also, if you insist listing Pierce at SG, don't forget about his knee issue -- doesn't make it any easier to stay with quicker guards.

[Boris Badenov]

So, two rookies, two guys coming off heart conditions and Collins.

Right, as opposed to the guard position, where you have a 35-year old, and a guy who is _still_ out with a double shoulder surgery. And Keyon Dooling. That's just so much better.

Also, if you insist listing Pierce at SG, don't forget about his knee issue -- doesn't make it any easier to stay with quicker guards.

Our other "healthy" big is someone who is entering his 18th year, and is almost a lock to miss 10 games or more (in his first four full seasons with Boston, he missed 11, 14, 12 and 11).

Terry, while 35, is one of the most durable players in the league, averaging around 80 games played per full season for his career. Lee is 26 and has no major injury history. Rondo is 26 with only minor injury history. Bradley - who knows, but there's no reason to believe he can't get healthy again.

I feel much better about our guard depth.

[Chris]

So, two rookies, two guys coming off heart conditions and Collins.

Right, as opposed to the guard position, where you have a 35-year old, and a guy who is _still_ out with a double shoulder surgery. And Keyon Dooling. That's just so much better.

Also, if you insist listing Pierce at SG, don't forget about his knee issue -- doesn't make it any easier to stay with quicker guards.

If we were talking about cutting a proven, reliable guard, then I would be with you.  The problem is, Christmas is still a HUGE questionmark.  There is no evidence he is even an NBA player, let alone someone who could step in and hold down the fort if those guys go down.

So, I see no reason to hand him a spot, just because of his position (and I feel the same way about Wallace). 

If the guard position is really as shallow as you suggest, then they need to replace Christmas with someone who is more likely to be a reliable piece, anyways.

[SHAQATTACK]

Ruther have Chris Anderson , I suppose Ben would be a good player to have on the bench and could school Fab & Sully some .

Would be a ruff and tuff team for Sully and Fab to grow up on ... 

[kozlodoev]

So, two rookies, two guys coming off heart conditions and Collins.

Right, as opposed to the guard position, where you have a 35-year old, and a guy who is _still_ out with a double shoulder surgery. And Keyon Dooling. That's just so much better.

Also, if you insist listing Pierce at SG, don't forget about his knee issue -- doesn't make it any easier to stay with quicker guards.

If we were talking about cutting a proven, reliable guard, then I would be with you.  The problem is, Christmas is still a HUGE questionmark.  There is no evidence he is even an NBA player, let alone someone who could step in and hold down the fort if those guys go down.

So, I see no reason to hand him a spot, just because of his position (and I feel the same way about Wallace). 

If the guard position is really as shallow as you suggest, then they need to replace Christmas with someone who is more likely to be a reliable piece, anyways.

Yeah, and if we were talking about a real big man, I'd cut Christmas before you could say, "Ho-ho-ho". But it's Ben Wallace. Thanks, but no thanks.

Also, noone is handing Christmas a spot. For starters, there are three players competing for the final two spots, so we don't even know whether Christmas will be on the roster.

Also, I don't quite understand the "there is no reason to hand him a spot because of his position". We should carry an obscene and unnecessary amount of centers just because they may be better, relative to the field in their position, than any guards we can sign?

This isn't making any sense -- if we need extra guards for depth (and we do), we'll sign the ones that we think best address our need. Even if it is Dionte Christmas. Not Ben Wallace.