go crowder--keep crowder should be chanted at games-just to remind danny

[rollie mass]

TP to gandhi-----what does finding franchise players have to do with crowder,you could root for the philly tank--

[PickNRoll]

I think a deal similar to the one Kostas Papanikolaou just signed would be ideal. $5 million per with the 2nd year being both fully non-guaranteed as well as a team option.

Hopefully, its more salary than he'll be offered, but it'll keep his bird rights with us if he stays in Boston, and if not it gives us a quasi-talented player on an amazing contract to work with.

would be better to trade him for a pick than lose 5 mil in cap space to retain a backup.

Useful role players cost $5M these days.  Every legitimate team has 5M role players, bare minimum.

This team doesn't need useful role players.  If we needed useful role players we would have hung onto the half dozen useful role players we dumped over the past two years. 

What's more important is finding franchise pieces.  Crowder isn't that.  He's a useful role player.

Is the order in which you obtain them that important?  You're going to need franchise pieces and role players.  Do you have to reduce the roster to zero useful players before obtaining a franchise player?

[fairweatherfan]

Some other suggestions for keeping Crowdie (I call him Crowdie) here:


- The dreads are a good start, but Crowdie should be Rastafied by about 10%.  You've heard the expression, "let's get busy"? Well, this is a player who gets "biz-zay!" Consistently and thoroughly.

- Crowdie needs to be louder, angrier, and have access to a time machine.

- whenever Crowdie's not on the court, Tommy and Mike should be asking "Where's Crowdie"?

[KingofDaPlayazBall]

Yall act like good role players are easy to find, its true that there are plenty of role players, but they are not all just generic 2nd tier players, some does their job a lot better than others.  If the Celtics is a team full of role players like some of you said, then Crowder has stood out as one of the best and most valuable. I think danny understood crowder's value before he came here, as it becomes more apparent he is the center piece for the celtics from the Rondo trade.  Along with his team friendly contract, he also has very good synergy with Smart, I think its a no brainer he will be part of this team for the foreseeable future

[Future Celtics Owner]

I think a deal similar to the one Kostas Papanikolaou just signed would be ideal. $5 million per with the 2nd year being both fully non-guaranteed as well as a team option.

Hopefully, its more salary than he'll be offered, but it'll keep his bird rights with us if he stays in Boston, and if not it gives us a quasi-talented player on an amazing contract to work with.

would be better to trade him for a pick than lose 5 mil in cap space to retain a backup.

Useful role players cost $5M these days.  Every legitimate team has 5M role players, bare minimum.

This team doesn't need useful role players.  If we needed useful role players we would have hung onto the half dozen useful role players we dumped over the past two years. 

What's more important is finding franchise pieces.  Crowder isn't that.  He's a useful role player.

Is the order in which you obtain them that important?  You're going to need franchise pieces and role players.  Do you have to reduce the roster to zero useful players before obtaining a franchise player?

I agree with LarBrd.

[JBcat]

If we have Crowder and say if we can get T Harris from the Magic who I think will be a RFA that would make a tough minded SF core for our team.

The SF position is somewhat weak around the league as even Jeff Green is one of the better ones.  The elite ones I don't see leaving their teams for at least a year or 2.  Maybe then someone like Paul George will become available.

I also don't see an elite SF prospect in this years draft.

So I wouldn't mind at all if we went after someone like Harris, and at very least they both will still be good assets in a couple years.

[Chris22]

Crowder is ranked 14th in the league in PER for small forwards.

He is a very good player.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics/_/position/sf

[aingeforthree]

Danny doesn't need reminders. He knows who to keep, who to ship out.

[bostonsportsforlife]

Danny doesn't need reminders. He knows who to keep, who to ship out.

Yep, it's silly to assume Ainge is gonna get rid of Crowder when he has been playing so well.

[D.o.s.]

Crowder is ranked 14th in the league in PER for small forwards.

He is a very good player.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics/_/position/sf

[ViolentGhandi]

there is a ton of roleplayers the C's could have for their team - but unlike most of them Crowder has the upside that if he isnt able to score he still brings instant hustle and good D. That makes up for off nights. See Thornton at the other hand - right after his injury the 2 games he couldnt find the hole - so when he was in play he not only didnt score but also couldnt make much of an impact on D. Crowder is the type of player that even with limited minutes allways has the ability to help the team in some way.

In pther words he is a bad player for a ton of ppl on this board since he will never make a good target for complains - there will allways be somethin positiv to say about him. Even trolls figure that out.

I can hardly wait for the trade deadline - multible new threats about who to dump next, who to keep, who will have a future on this team are starting to bore me - none of the guys we have right now will net us a future cornerstone

we aim for a rebuild - trading for a guy close to 30 or abouve will not help us much - there are very few possible fits for that plan - I don't see a team dumping one of those in midseason - it  will be hard enough to get one of those in offseason via FA as the team is not very attractive for a guy who will look to win many games and reach the playoff. That will change once a core is assambled that has made it into the playoffs on its own. At that point players might see a potential to compete with the C's. For that to happen Ainge has to keep young players with positiv impact like Crowder (who also happens to be cheap to keep around as of now) and make draft picks who turn into players with impact before their rookie contracts expire.

Bass & Thornton will be gone pretty soon, hopefully Walace too and Presey can be cut if needed as well and its not clear if Randoph and Prince will even come to join the roster. Thats 6 guys/spots that will become an issue before Crowder case becomes attention from Ainge imo. I don't think there will be a reason to add him into a bundle with other guys in order to net a first round pick. If Wright gets us one why shouldnt Bass get us the same and we will not find takers for Bass + something among the lottery bound teams.

Imo chances are not bad that Crowder will be with the Celtics even after this season but also that Ainge is pulling somethin unexpected out of his hat again.

[ssspence]

I think a deal similar to the one Kostas Papanikolaou just signed would be ideal. $5 million per with the 2nd year being both fully non-guaranteed as well as a team option.

Hopefully, its more salary than he'll be offered, but it'll keep his bird rights with us if he stays in Boston, and if not it gives us a quasi-talented player on an amazing contract to work with.

would be better to trade him for a pick than lose 5 mil in cap space to retain a backup.

Useful role players cost $5M these days.  Every legitimate team has 5M role players, bare minimum.

This team doesn't need useful role players.  If we needed useful role players we would have hung onto the half dozen useful role players we dumped over the past two years. 

What's more important is finding franchise pieces.  Crowder isn't that.  He's a useful role player.

Is the order in which you obtain them that important?  You're going to need franchise pieces and role players.  Do you have to reduce the roster to zero useful players before obtaining a franchise player?

Yes, it is. You're assuming they'll draft a franchise player, but the reality is you need the flexibility to exhaust all options to get foundation guys first and foremost -- FAs, trades, etc. Then role guys will line up, often at a discount.

I like Crowder, but only at a price.

[PickNRoll]

I think a deal similar to the one Kostas Papanikolaou just signed would be ideal. $5 million per with the 2nd year being both fully non-guaranteed as well as a team option.

Hopefully, its more salary than he'll be offered, but it'll keep his bird rights with us if he stays in Boston, and if not it gives us a quasi-talented player on an amazing contract to work with.

would be better to trade him for a pick than lose 5 mil in cap space to retain a backup.

Useful role players cost $5M these days.  Every legitimate team has 5M role players, bare minimum.

This team doesn't need useful role players.  If we needed useful role players we would have hung onto the half dozen useful role players we dumped over the past two years. 

What's more important is finding franchise pieces.  Crowder isn't that.  He's a useful role player.

Is the order in which you obtain them that important?  You're going to need franchise pieces and role players.  Do you have to reduce the roster to zero useful players before obtaining a franchise player?

Yes, it is. You're assuming they'll draft a franchise player, but the reality is you need the flexibility to exhaust all options to get foundation guys first and foremost -- FAs, trades, etc. Then role guys will line up, often at a discount.

I like Crowder, but only at a price.

So, you strip the roster down to 13 veteran minimum contracts.  Then what?  Play the lotto and hope some ping pong balls bounce your way? 

I don't buy the Hinkie approach.  We've sold so many assets that we're sitting on a historic pile of draft picks.  I commend Danny for getting good value. But if a guy like Crowder comes around and earns a roster spot and wants to sign a really reasonable contract that will have no negative impact on our rebuild, you do it.  We're still going to have 30M (~50 after the new CBA) in cap space and ~25 draft picks.  Not only that, but if Crowder keeps playing like this for the remainder of the year, he'd be easy to move on a cheap contract.  Crowder isn't going to restrict our choices.

[LarBrd33]

I think a deal similar to the one Kostas Papanikolaou just signed would be ideal. $5 million per with the 2nd year being both fully non-guaranteed as well as a team option.

Hopefully, its more salary than he'll be offered, but it'll keep his bird rights with us if he stays in Boston, and if not it gives us a quasi-talented player on an amazing contract to work with.

would be better to trade him for a pick than lose 5 mil in cap space to retain a backup.

Useful role players cost $5M these days.  Every legitimate team has 5M role players, bare minimum.

This team doesn't need useful role players.  If we needed useful role players we would have hung onto the half dozen useful role players we dumped over the past two years. 

What's more important is finding franchise pieces.  Crowder isn't that.  He's a useful role player.

Is the order in which you obtain them that important?  You're going to need franchise pieces and role players.  Do you have to reduce the roster to zero useful players before obtaining a franchise player?

Yes, it is. You're assuming they'll draft a franchise player, but the reality is you need the flexibility to exhaust all options to get foundation guys first and foremost -- FAs, trades, etc. Then role guys will line up, often at a discount.

I like Crowder, but only at a price.

So, you strip the roster down to 13 veteran minimum contracts.  Then what?  Play the lotto and hope some ping pong balls bounce your way? 

I don't buy the Hinkie approach.  We've sold so many assets that we're sitting on a historic pile of draft picks.  I commend Danny for getting good value. But if a guy like Crowder comes around and earns a roster spot and wants to sign a really reasonable contract that will have no negative impact on our rebuild, you do it.  We're still going to have 30M (~50 after the new CBA) in cap space and ~25 draft picks.  Not only that, but if Crowder keeps playing like this for the remainder of the year, he'd be easy to move on a cheap contract.  Crowder isn't going to restrict our choices.

Not the Hinkie approach...  you need to free up as much cap space as possible to have flexibility to add star talent.  There will always be mediocre players like Crowder to be had for the MLE or something.  Keeping him isn't a priority. 

[PickNRoll]

I think a deal similar to the one Kostas Papanikolaou just signed would be ideal. $5 million per with the 2nd year being both fully non-guaranteed as well as a team option.

Hopefully, its more salary than he'll be offered, but it'll keep his bird rights with us if he stays in Boston, and if not it gives us a quasi-talented player on an amazing contract to work with.

would be better to trade him for a pick than lose 5 mil in cap space to retain a backup.

Useful role players cost $5M these days.  Every legitimate team has 5M role players, bare minimum.

This team doesn't need useful role players.  If we needed useful role players we would have hung onto the half dozen useful role players we dumped over the past two years. 

What's more important is finding franchise pieces.  Crowder isn't that.  He's a useful role player.

Is the order in which you obtain them that important?  You're going to need franchise pieces and role players.  Do you have to reduce the roster to zero useful players before obtaining a franchise player?

Yes, it is. You're assuming they'll draft a franchise player, but the reality is you need the flexibility to exhaust all options to get foundation guys first and foremost -- FAs, trades, etc. Then role guys will line up, often at a discount.

I like Crowder, but only at a price.

So, you strip the roster down to 13 veteran minimum contracts.  Then what?  Play the lotto and hope some ping pong balls bounce your way? 

I don't buy the Hinkie approach.  We've sold so many assets that we're sitting on a historic pile of draft picks.  I commend Danny for getting good value. But if a guy like Crowder comes around and earns a roster spot and wants to sign a really reasonable contract that will have no negative impact on our rebuild, you do it.  We're still going to have 30M (~50 after the new CBA) in cap space and ~25 draft picks.  Not only that, but if Crowder keeps playing like this for the remainder of the year, he'd be easy to move on a cheap contract.  Crowder isn't going to restrict our choices.

Not the Hinkie approach...  you need to free up as much cap space as possible to have flexibility to add star talent.  There will always be mediocre players like Crowder to be had for the MLE or something.  Keeping him isn't a priority.

You free up as much cap space AS YOU NEED.  Not as much as possible.  What's the sense in being at the cap minimum.  Why not add reasonable contracts as they come available and keep warm bodies that contribute.  Wouldn't you rather be the Hawks with

Teague - 8M
Korver - 6
Millsap - 8
Carroll - peanuts
Horford - 12

rather than gut it down to zero and pray for 2 max salary guys, then try to find role players like Crowder.  If Crowder is too big a commitment, then you are talking about the Hinkie approach.