Free agents to think about in summer of 2016

[Evantime34]

My favorite targets
Horford
Batum
Al Jefferson
Marvin Williams
Noah
Parsons (if healthy)
Harrison Barnes
Dwight Howard
Whiteside (although I worry about how he behaves once he gets paid)
Ryan Anderson (if healthy)
Eric Gordon
DeMar DeRozan
Jared Dudley

[DarkAzcura]

My favorite targets
Horford
Batum
Al Jefferson
Marvin Williams
Noah
Parsons (if healthy)
Harrison Barnes
Dwight Howard
Whiteside (although I worry about how he behaves once he gets paid)
Ryan Anderson (if healthy)
Eric Gordon
DeMar DeRozan
Jared Dudley

If the Celtics don't manage a complete blockbuster trade, Batum and Horford would be my targets. They both fit what the Celtics want to do to a T. Add them two and a top draft pick from BKN, and the Celtics will be at the top of the East pretty easily, imo. Easier said than done, though, haha.

[Evantime34]

My favorite targets
Horford
Batum
Al Jefferson
Marvin Williams
Noah
Parsons (if healthy)
Harrison Barnes
Dwight Howard
Whiteside (although I worry about how he behaves once he gets paid)
Ryan Anderson (if healthy)
Eric Gordon
DeMar DeRozan
Jared Dudley

If the Celtics don't manage a complete blockbuster trade, Batum and Horford would be my targets. They both fit what the Celtics want to do to a T. Add them two and a top draft pick from BKN, and the Celtics will be at the top of the East pretty easily, imo. Easier said than done, though, haha.

I think Horford is probably the best case scenario, I don't see him leaving Atlanta unless we finish better than them this year making it an upgrade for him.

[Big333223]

Horford is great but he'll be 30 years old by the start of next season and might not fit the timeline of the rest of the Celtics.

Or maybe he's the perfect veteran to spend money on while we've got young guys on affordable contracts. Realistically, there aren't going to be many gettable all star level guys in free agency who are younger than that. Maybe Horford isn't even gettable. We'll see.

[PhoSita]

Howard actually seems like a minor possibility if things continue to go south in Houston.

I think Batum is the most sensible target.  He would work really well in Brad's system, I think.

[Moranis]

Howard actually seems like a minor possibility if things continue to go south in Houston.

I think Batum is the most sensible target.  He would work really well in Brad's system, I think.

Even though he is a total headcase and past his prime, I think I would go hard after Howard.  I think he can still be a game changing player defensively and he would fit well next to Sully and Olynyk (who provide solid spacing).  If you sign Howard, I think that would open the door to players that otherwise might not be possible or make sense (like Horford and Batum).

[jmen788]

UFA Hassan Whiteside center Miami - The Heat's core is aging, he may want to partner up with a young group of guys on the up swing.  He will get the max where ever he goes.  I know he has had some maturity issues, but is he coming around?  Worth making a pitch to?

UFA Nicolas Batum SG/SF Hornets listed at 6-8 200 lbs - same thing may want to move from MJ's house of cards to a more well run competitive team.

RFA Evan Fournier Orlando - probably a long shot, Magic has plenty of $ to match any offers.


Does Hassan scare you off?     What do you think about Nick's game?

I'm so confused-- no one wants Whiteside? Why? Isn't he exactly what the team needs? A strong interior presence, with tons of rebounds and blocks... not sure what I'm missing.

[pearljammer10]

1. We arent going to improve through free agency.

2. These are all mid level players that are pieces to a contender...They aren't going to be studs who can lead you to contention. I'd rather spend the money elsewhere.

[Evantime34]

1. We arent going to improve through free agency.

2. These are all mid level players that are pieces to a contender...They aren't going to be studs who can lead you to contention. I'd rather spend the money elsewhere.

We might not take a leap via a free agent signing, but it is very that we sign a guy or two that upgrade the 10 man rotation. One upgrade in the starting lineup and another off the bench really helps the win total.

[Moranis]

UFA Hassan Whiteside center Miami - The Heat's core is aging, he may want to partner up with a young group of guys on the up swing.  He will get the max where ever he goes.  I know he has had some maturity issues, but is he coming around?  Worth making a pitch to?

UFA Nicolas Batum SG/SF Hornets listed at 6-8 200 lbs - same thing may want to move from MJ's house of cards to a more well run competitive team.

RFA Evan Fournier Orlando - probably a long shot, Magic has plenty of $ to match any offers.


Does Hassan scare you off?     What do you think about Nick's game?

I'm so confused-- no one wants Whiteside? Why? Isn't he exactly what the team needs? A strong interior presence, with tons of rebounds and blocks... not sure what I'm missing.

I think it is more if you think he is worth the max

[Jon]

Super vague response here, but Danny needs to be really careful with what he does this summer.  He either needs to stay put and not destroy flexibility or sign players who he thinks can still be useful trade trips and/or still give us flexibility down the road (like the Johnson and Jerbenko contracts this past year). 

I had no problem with him signing a guy like Whiteside even though he himself wouldn't make us a contender AS LONG AS Danny still thinks he could move Whiteside later on in a deal to net a guy who could make us a contender. 

[chambers]

Harrison Barnes is someone Danny Ainge has always loved.
I'd prefer Barnes over Batum too as a long term piece.

[ssspence]

If you can convince Whiteside -- you do it. I also agree Batum would be an excellent get. We're going to have enough room for both, I believe, if we wish.

[GetLucky]

The problem with Whiteside is the fact that he NEVER passes. I read an article (on BleacherReport I believe) that used GIFs to illustrate his lack of passing. I couldn't find it, but I did find this: https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/3tckic/hassan_whiteside_had_more_blocks_last_night_10/

Whiteside has 9 career assists! I looked it up, and it's true. In 78 games over 4 years he has only 9 assists, in garbage time or actual game action. That would absolutely kill the good Celtics ball movement, and it would give me hesitation to sign him if I was Danny, despite everything else that he does well.

[chambers]

The problem with Whiteside is the fact that he NEVER passes. I read an article (on BleacherReport I believe) that used GIFs to illustrate his lack of passing. I couldn't find it, but I did find this: https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/3tckic/hassan_whiteside_had_more_blocks_last_night_10/

Whiteside has 9 career assists! I looked it up, and it's true. In 78 games over 4 years he has only 9 assists, in garbage time or actual game action. That would absolutely kill the good Celtics ball movement, and it would give me hesitation to sign him if I was Danny, despite everything else that he does well.

The Heat just won't let him go if he really is the franchise big man we'd want him to be.
They'll tell Wade he needs to sign for the MLE and then sign Whiteside to the max. If Wade says no, then it's adiós Dywane.
This is Pat Riley. Takes no prisoners just like Ainge.