"Speculation" Monroe to sign with either Boston or NY (update on 1st page)

[heyvik]

Update:

I contacted Woelfel on the speculation and he was kind enough to respond saying,

I’ve been hearing those teams for more than a month. The general consensus is he’ll end up in New York.

I would love him in Boston, but he has been linked to PJax in NY for a while now.

[TheFlex]

It seems like the popular sentiment around here is to send our PFs off for a perimeter upgrade and draft an athletic shot blocker like Harrell. This seems to ignore what we've seen the Pistons do with Monroe/Drummond. Sure, Brandon Jennings had a stretch earlier this year when he was on fire, as did Reggie Jackson later in the season, but the statistics seem to suggest that both guards did better with just one big on the floor.

While Monroe was helped defensively by Drummond and would be by a guy like Harrell, he's solid enough defensively defending back to the basket isos that his lack of shot blocking athleticism does not necessitate sacrificing a roster that maximizes his offensive skills for a roster that hides his defensive deficiencies.

In other words, Smart/Bradley/Crowder is such a dominant perimeter defense and Monroe is a good enough defender that we'd be better suited keeping guys that can shoot from outside - at various ranges - and pass better than most bigs in the league to pair with Monroe, positioning him in an offense where he could really dominate, over drafting a guy that will improve our currently above average defense but likely be a career-long offensive liability.

[DraftSmart33]

So we could possibly get a player who is essentially everything we hoped Sullinger could turn into (+ taller, better athlete, more durable) and some would rather pass to get.....No One?  He, with out question, would be an upgrade in low post scoring, rebounding and ball movement.  He's younger than Tyler Zeller, and could definitely play the center position in the east.

I'm not saying that Monroe is an answer to our need for Elite players but he could be a nice piece to draw more talent, to progress as a team, and to retain assets until the right move is available.  Also remember the cap is going up..so even if he gets a max deal it won't be a cap breaker in coming years.

So why would we pass again?

[PhoSita]

New York makes the most sense for Monroe.  Good for the triangle, nice inside out combo with Melo.  Lots of endorsement possibilities.

I'd like to see the Celts add a talented big man, but I won't get my hopes up on Monroe.

[csfansince60s]

New York makes the most sense for Monroe.  Good for the triangle, nice inside out combo with Melo.  Lots of endorsement possibilities.

I'd like to see the Celts add a talented big man, but I won't get my hopes up on Monroe.

Hopefully that Zen crap doesn't work with the younger players. PJax is a dinosaur.

Stevens is a great draw for the younger players. I'm keeping my hopes up.

Melo is on the downslope. Hopefully Monroe is smart enough to see the possibilities here.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Monroe has some real flaws in his game, but he can score down low.  I'd gladly take him.

I think he's a lock to go to the Knicks, though.

Over the Celtics who made the playoffs?

Yes, I can see a point in Roy's post, but we probably have different reason as to why.

Carmelo Anthony is there, and he will be the second star of that team. They have the #4 pick which could be a very good player. They would still have a ton of room to add another high caliber player. 

And then the triangle offense.

And it's New York city. Bigger market, more exposure. The room for improvement, play style and the big market pull makes New York more attractive than Boston.

[Rondo9]

Monroe has some real flaws in his game, but he can score down low.  I'd gladly take him.

I think he's a lock to go to the Knicks, though.

Over the Celtics who made the playoffs?

Yes, I can see a point in Roy's post, but we probably have different reason as to why.

Carmelo Anthony is there, and he will be the second star of that team. They have the #4 pick which could be a very good player. They would still have a ton of room to add another high caliber player. 

And then the triangle offense.

And it's New York city. Bigger market, more exposure. The room for improvement, play style and the big market pull makes New York more attractive than Boston.

Other than the market and the exposure and Carmelo, I don't see what New York has to offer that Boston can't match.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Monroe has some real flaws in his game, but he can score down low.  I'd gladly take him.

I think he's a lock to go to the Knicks, though.

Over the Celtics who made the playoffs?

Yes, I can see a point in Roy's post, but we probably have different reason as to why.

Carmelo Anthony is there, and he will be the second star of that team. They have the #4 pick which could be a very good player. They would still have a ton of room to add another high caliber player. 

And then the triangle offense.

And it's New York city. Bigger market, more exposure. The room for improvement, play style and the big market pull makes New York more attractive than Boston.

Other than the market and the exposure and Carmelo, I don't see what New York has to offer that Boston can't match.

But that's the thing, though. We don't have the exposure, the market and we don't have a Carmelo Anthony. That's why New York is more probable than Boston.

[Rondo9]

Monroe has some real flaws in his game, but he can score down low.  I'd gladly take him.

I think he's a lock to go to the Knicks, though.

Over the Celtics who made the playoffs?

Yes, I can see a point in Roy's post, but we probably have different reason as to why.

Carmelo Anthony is there, and he will be the second star of that team. They have the #4 pick which could be a very good player. They would still have a ton of room to add another high caliber player. 

And then the triangle offense.

And it's New York city. Bigger market, more exposure. The room for improvement, play style and the big market pull makes New York more attractive than Boston.

Other than the market and the exposure and Carmelo, I don't see what New York has to offer that Boston can't match.

But that's the thing, though. We don't have the exposure, the market and we don't have a Carmelo Anthony. That's why New York is more probable than Boston.

But the Knicks were completely awful in a bad Eastern Conference team and Carmelo isn't any younger.

[Vermont Green]

Update:

I contacted Woelfel on the speculation and he was kind enough to respond saying,

I’ve been hearing those teams for more than a month. The general consensus is he’ll end up in New York.

If I was Monroe's agent, I would tell him to go to the Knicks.  He will play with Anthony and whatever supporting cast they can scrape together.  It will be years before the Celtics will have that much to put with Monroe.

If you follow the "he will likely go to the Knicks" logic, then this takes me to how would this affect their desire to trade the #4 pick.  Would they be more interested in our players such as Bradley, Turner, Thomas plus some of our future picks?  It seems to me it would be smart for the Knicks to sign Monroe and then cash in the #4 pick for some players that can help now.  They don't necessarily need to put stars around Anthony and Monroe to instantly become competitive but one promising rookie isn't going to help much.

[More Banners]

Update:

I contacted Woelfel on the speculation and he was kind enough to respond saying,

I’ve been hearing those teams for more than a month. The general consensus is he’ll end up in New York.

If I was Monroe's agent, I would tell him to go to the Knicks.  He will play with Anthony and whatever supporting cast they can scrape together.  It will be years before the Celtics will have that much to put with Monroe.

If you follow the "he will likely go to the Knicks" logic, then this takes me to how would this affect their desire to trade the #4 pick.  Would they be more interested in our players such as Bradley, Turner, Thomas plus some of our future picks?  It seems to me it would be smart for the Knicks to sign Monroe and then cash in the #4 pick for some players that can help now.  They don't necessarily need to put stars around Anthony and Monroe to instantly become competitive but one promising rookie isn't going to help much.

NYK is in a weird spot. Do they go for it with Melo, and trade down/out to pick up win now players and hope for another star in FA?

Can they snag a star with #4 pick, and still get another in FA?

Or keep the pick, and trade Melo for more or younger pieces?

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Monroe has some real flaws in his game, but he can score down low.  I'd gladly take him.

I think he's a lock to go to the Knicks, though.

Over the Celtics who made the playoffs?

Yes, I can see a point in Roy's post, but we probably have different reason as to why.

Carmelo Anthony is there, and he will be the second star of that team. They have the #4 pick which could be a very good player. They would still have a ton of room to add another high caliber player. 

And then the triangle offense.

And it's New York city. Bigger market, more exposure. The room for improvement, play style and the big market pull makes New York more attractive than Boston.

Other than the market and the exposure and Carmelo, I don't see what New York has to offer that Boston can't match.

But that's the thing, though. We don't have the exposure, the market and we don't have a Carmelo Anthony. That's why New York is more probable than Boston.

But the Knicks were completely awful in a bad Eastern Conference team and Carmelo isn't any younger.

With a bunch of nobodies on that roster. With a #4 pick coming in, and cap room to add a solid player or two, that's going to be a very competitive team with Monroe.

[MBunge]

If Monroe gets the max from NY, their team will essentially be Melo, Monroe, Calderon and scraps for $45.  That leaves them with about 22 million under the projected salary cap.

If Monroe gets the max from Boston, that will put the Celtics at about $55 million and about 12 million under the cap.

Is that $10 million difference going to be enough to fill the huge talent  hole remaining in NY?

Mike

[jambr380]

Update:

I contacted Woelfel on the speculation and he was kind enough to respond saying,

I’ve been hearing those teams for more than a month. The general consensus is he’ll end up in New York.

If I was Monroe's agent, I would tell him to go to the Knicks.  He will play with Anthony and whatever supporting cast they can scrape together.  It will be years before the Celtics will have that much to put with Monroe.

If you follow the "he will likely go to the Knicks" logic, then this takes me to how would this affect their desire to trade the #4 pick.  Would they be more interested in our players such as Bradley, Turner, Thomas plus some of our future picks?  It seems to me it would be smart for the Knicks to sign Monroe and then cash in the #4 pick for some players that can help now.  They don't necessarily need to put stars around Anthony and Monroe to instantly become competitive but one promising rookie isn't going to help much.

I don't know - if the Cs simply sign Monroe, they have oodles of other assets and picks to add another star level player or two. The Knicks have an aging Carmelo and are in a position to add a Marcus Smart level prospect this year. If I'm Monroe, I like what the Cs organization has going a lot more than NYK. He would also get to be a part of the start of our movement, rather than stepping into Carmelo's shadow.

[PhoSita]

If Monroe gets the max from NY, their team will essentially be Melo, Monroe, Calderon and scraps for $45.  That leaves them with about 22 million under the projected salary cap.

If Monroe gets the max from Boston, that will put the Celtics at about $55 million and about 12 million under the cap.

Is that $10 million difference going to be enough to fill the huge talent  hole remaining in NY?

Mike

Russell, Melo, and Monroe is already enough talent to compete in the East.



Russell - Hardaway - Melo - Acy - Monroe

That's already a far better starting lineup than any the Celts put out there last season, provided Russell comes close to living up to his draft status.