Dooling out, how about Derek Fisher or Pietrus?

[bfrombleacher]

another option for me would be Gilbert Arenas.

Oh please, please, pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaasssseeee god no!!!!

Seconded.

Although he's only a couple years removed from his golden years, we've had enough "if only he wasn't such a headcase" players (half of one in Darko Milicic and maybe a tenth of one in Fab Melo). We have young ones whom we don't want spoiled.

[moiso]

another option for me would be Gilbert Arenas.

Oh please, please, pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaasssseeee god no!!!!

Seconded.

Although he's only a couple years removed from his golden years, we've had enough "if only he wasn't such a headcase" players (half of one in Darko Milicic and maybe a tenth of one in Fab Melo). We have young ones whom we don't want spoiled.

Arenas has been absolutely horrible for years.  Never mind the head case aspect.  He just can't play anymore.
I'd take Fisher in a Jason Collins end of the bench role.  That's about it. 

[gpap]

I don't get why we cant just roll with what we have now and worry later about getting someone if we need them. I think Xmas and KJ is okay for now, neither (or any other player we bring in) will see much time (if any), anyway! I mean, if someone gets hurt, it's not like we are stuck with who we have, we can cut Darko, Collins, and the rookies if need be! I say, stand pat now. Let's build chemistry with who we have now... let the rookies get those minutes when we blow teams out. If there was someone out there worth giving up Xmas and KJ, I'd be all for it... right now, there is no one good enough to fill the positions they do (1 and 3)... unless you guys know some player I'm overlooking. You can just name guys that will warm the same bench as the rookies, I mean someone who will command time b/c they can beat out someone ahead of them... if there is no one out there like that, let's just go with what we have and get what we need when/if we need them.

Xmas is pretty good, though I am kinda partial to Thanksgiving.

[gpap]

Fisher is still a great defender. He did a good job on Allen every time we played to Lakers.

Agreed, I think Fisher would be a good player to have on a championship contending team. Though he doesn't do anything breathtaking, I remember he hit a pretty clutch 3 in game 7 of the '10 finals.

[Chris]

If I'm Ainge, I hold onto Dooling's phone number and drunk-dial him in March.

Well, I have a feeling Dooling already has a coaching job lined up, which spurred the retirement.  But its not a bad idea.

I think the C's will go into the season giving Christmas a chance to hold down the fort as the 3rd string PG/SG, and then cut him before his contract is fully guaranteed if he doesn't pan out, to bring in a veteran, whether it is Dooling, or someone else.

[Cman]

Too bad. I think Dooling brought us some nice depth at the PG.

It would be great to sign Derek Fisher. A ton of experience and a great locker room guy. I'd bet he still has enough left in the tank to be a bench guy on a championship team. But I doubt he wants to uproot family from the Bay Area to move to Boston (doesn't his daughter have medical issues?).

Another one to consider would be Baron Davis. Health issues are really big there, but I've always wanted to see Davis and Pierce on the same team (I understand they are best buddies).

At the end of the day, we'll end up with someone like Carlos Arroyo. Wouldn't be a bad pickup, as he's been here before....

[kozlodoev]

I'm curious why there is speculation that he was cut and retired because of it, rather than the other way round.

True, we don't have to pay him if he retires. However, we also don't have to cut him at this point even if we signed Milicic -- rosters don't have to be finalized before the end of camp, and we have two non-guaranteed deals we could have cut instead.

Confusing.

[CelticG1]

Its not exactly a gaping hole. Bradley and Terry are just as much of a point guard as dooling. Dooling was basically Eddie House with worse 3 point shooting and better defense

[Cman]

Its not exactly a gaping hole. Bradley and Terry are just as much of a point guard as dooling. Dooling was basically Eddie House with worse 3 point shooting and better defense

Yes, although when will Bradley be back and contributing at close to 100%? I agree that longer term the Cs are okay, but the issue is this year, which is why I think it makes sense to bring in a vet on a one year deal. Nice insurance policy IMHO.

[CelticG1]

Its not exactly a gaping hole. Bradley and Terry are just as much of a point guard as dooling. Dooling was basically Eddie House with worse 3 point shooting and better defense

Yes, although when will Bradley be back and contributing at close to 100%? I agree that longer term the Cs are okay, but the issue is this year, which is why I think it makes sense to bring in a vet on a one year deal. Nice insurance policy IMHO.

Can Terry fill that role in the short term? Conservatively Rondo will play 33 min a game and I think Terry could fill in 15 min a game easily there.

Bradley was our back up last year early in the year lasts year and was terrible and im sure terry would be a lot better.

I don't really think Dooling was gonna get burn even with Bradley out. Id rather just wait and see if a need comes, injury happens, set back occurs cause that's bound to happen.

[Chris]

Its not exactly a gaping hole. Bradley and Terry are just as much of a point guard as dooling. Dooling was basically Eddie House with worse 3 point shooting and better defense

While I am not sure I agree about Bradley (who I think has real mental issues playing the point), I agree to the overall point.  And I also think Christmas is very possibly able to replace everything Dooling brought on the floor, other than the leadership.  So, I am more than happy to give him a shot for a couple months to prove he belongs.

[kozlodoev]

Its not exactly a gaping hole. Bradley and Terry are just as much of a point guard as dooling. Dooling was basically Eddie House with worse 3 point shooting and better defense

Oh, but it _is_ a gaping hole. Not because we don't have PGs, but because we don't have enough bodies. At least not enough to start the season.

On opening day, your backcourt consists of Rondo, Terry, and Courtney Lee.

Your third string PG/SG is either Smith or Christmas. And then you have no-one. This is simply not enough. Especially given we have no solid grasp of how long Bradley will be out, or what he will look like when he's finally back.

[angryguy77]

Not Fisher. DA, please don't bring one my most hated players to Boston.

[nickagneta]

I think Fisher would have a great influence on Rondo, quite honestly. I wouldn't mind him here if Dooling is gone.

[CelticG1]

Its not exactly a gaping hole. Bradley and Terry are just as much of a point guard as dooling. Dooling was basically Eddie House with worse 3 point shooting and better defense

Oh, but it _is_ a gaping hole. Not because we don't have PGs, but because we don't have enough bodies. At least not enough to start the season.

On opening day, your backcourt consists of Rondo, Terry, and Courtney Lee.

Your third string PG/SG is either Smith or Christmas. And then you have no-one. This is simply not enough. Especially given we have no solid grasp of how long Bradley will be out, or what he will look like when he's finally back.

Yeah I guess that is a short rotation and projects Lee and Terry averaging 30+ a game which might not be ideal to start the season.

Wish we had a better grasp on Bradley situation. No idea when he will be able to come back and how much rust he will have. We (including me) are putting a lot of weight into a very young guy coming back from injury who is still fairly unproven