Next Year's Starting Center

[greece66]

I think koucos would be a nice choice... give them turner

maybe you meant Koufos (?)

at any rate, we cannot trade ET as he will be a free agent this July.

[strokeracevt]

As much as I like Bismack and think he is worth an ET type payday, he has another year on his contract. I am sure the Raps are not going to trade him either given his play this post season. I am sure we will see Amir back. After he recovered from his injury mid season, he played really well for us.

[greenrunsdeep41]

Bismack doesn't nessesarily have another year. He has a player option for the upcoming season.

[CoachBo]

Trade the #3 in a deal to get Okafor.

Save us from the Great Bender Mistake.

[Who]

I expect it'll be Amir.

It'll be difficult to give big minutes to an all-defense limited-offense center due to the team's limitations offensively out on the perimeter. So that reduces Ainge's options. Therefore, I expect Ainge to strike out and come back with Amir as the starting center again next season.

[LarBrd33]

Not a bad idea on the Celtics best podcast today.  They were saying kris Dunn is better than Marcus smart in most ways.   They suggested trading Marcus Smart for Nerlens Noel and drafting a guard.   We've had the Smart for Noel idea forever.  Still makes sense.

[konkmv]

Take with 3 bender  use 16 and others to move up to get skai with 23 pick maker
Keep amir and olynyc
Sign noah...
Start with noah amir and have 4 7footers fom the bench
Trade away mickey sully and jj

[PhoSita]

Personally I'm starting to rather like the idea of signing Pau to a two year deal similar to Amir last year and then maybe signing or trading for another solid big who'd work next to him eg Zach Randolph or Nene.

[hodgy03038]

Personally I'm starting to rather like the idea of signing Pau to a two year deal similar to Amir last year and then maybe signing or trading for another solid big who'd work next to him eg Zach Randolph or Nene.

Nene is terrible.

[PhoSita]

Personally I'm starting to rather like the idea of signing Pau to a two year deal similar to Amir last year and then maybe signing or trading for another solid big who'd work next to him eg Zach Randolph or Nene.

Nene is terrible.

There are still some things he can do. Certainly needs to play a bench role at this point.

But our current big men stink, to be honest. Even if it's veteran stopgaps, I'd like to see some guys with size and skill. If we are going to use guys like amir let's go all in and fill a rotation with twenty minute vets like that.

[LarBrd33]

Personally I'm starting to rather like the idea of signing Pau to a two year deal similar to Amir last year and then maybe signing or trading for another solid big who'd work next to him eg Zach Randolph or Nene.

Could Pau and Marc play together?

[billysan]

Personally I'm starting to rather like the idea of signing Pau to a two year deal similar to Amir last year and then maybe signing or trading for another solid big who'd work next to him eg Zach Randolph or Nene.

Nene is terrible.

Pau Gasol with Amir and KO, A young big to grow and learn next to them from the 16 pick in this years draft. Johnson, Davis, Ellenson or Sabonis could work as PF bench players at that spot. If Zach Randolph would sign reasonable then grab him of course. Beware his age/health and temper expectations.

Use that number 3 on Murray, Hield, Dunn or even Brown if it cant be traded for a frontline star.

If we are desparate for a center then draft Poeltl or sign Dwight Howard. Both are mistakes IMO.

Point is if the right trade or FA players arent there then draft talent you can develop.

[The Oracle]

Personally I'm starting to rather like the idea of signing Pau to a two year deal similar to Amir last year and then maybe signing or trading for another solid big who'd work next to him eg Zach Randolph or Nene.

Could Pau and Marc play together?

Pau with Marc/Randolph/Nene just won't work in today's NBA.  It is not even a question.  Ask yourself a few questions.  Who is going to defend Draymond, Olynyk, Ibaka, Bosh, Teletovic, Meyers leonard, Porzingis or even guys like Boogie, Towns or Davis?  You must have speed and mobility in your front court on the defensive end.  On the offensive end it is essential to have at least passable spacing from your big men or access to the hoop will be extremely limited.  It is almost impossible to create adequate spacing without at least 1 stretch big that can pull a big away from the paint.  Go look at the big man pairings in the league this year and you will find that lineups including stretch bigs were far far more successful versus lineups without.  The gap is only going to widen as more and more stretch guys are brought in.  You can try to fight this trend but you will be swimming up stream because it isn't going to work.

[PhoSita]

Personally I'm starting to rather like the idea of signing Pau to a two year deal similar to Amir last year and then maybe signing or trading for another solid big who'd work next to him eg Zach Randolph or Nene.

Could Pau and Marc play together?

Pau with Marc/Randolph/Nene just won't work in today's NBA.  It is not even a question.  Ask yourself a few questions.  Who is going to defend Draymond, Olynyk, Ibaka, Bosh, Teletovic, Meyers leonard, Porzingis or even guys like Boogie, Towns or Davis?  You must have speed and mobility in your front court on the defensive end.  On the offensive end it is essential to have at least passable spacing from your big men or access to the hoop will be extremely limited.  It is almost impossible to create adequate spacing without at least 1 stretch big that can pull a big away from the paint.  Go look at the big man pairings in the league this year and you will find that lineups including stretch bigs were far far more successful versus lineups without.  The gap is only going to widen as more and more stretch guys are brought in.  You can try to fight this trend but you will be swimming up stream because it isn't going to work.

I think I'm mostly in agreement with you as far as long term answers in the frontcourt.

But I'm so tired of having weak unskilled guys up there. If the Celts can't add any long term fixtures at pf and c this summer they aren't going to be contending anyway, so at least try to improve on what we had this past year. Sign or trade for some vets who can score, rebound, pass, and hit a midrange jumper.


Either that or go youth movement and give time to Mickey and whichever bigs the Celts draft. But I suspect people wouldn't be very happy with that strategy.

[Who]

Not a bad idea on the Celtics best podcast today.  They were saying kris Dunn is better than Marcus smart in most ways.   They suggested trading Marcus Smart for Nerlens Noel and drafting a guard.   We've had the Smart for Noel idea forever.  Still makes sense.

I am a fan of that. I think Ainge should consider taking Dunn and trading either Smart or IT. Smart for Noel would be a good move to re-balance the squad.