Celtics trade for Lee.
I really love what the Celtics have done this offseason. They've added some young pieces but also are going to remain at the top of the East. Making the eventual rebuilding process when Pierce and Garnett retire that much easier.
Everyone said we'd fall off after this year but I think we can make it back to the Conference Finals for an epic matchup with the Heat and their new addition (He Who Must Not Be Named).
Terrence Jones and Royce White each have some interesting skill sets so that makes more sense then I originally thought. White is much more of a point forward with greating passing skills and Jones is pretty versatile with his shooting ability and ability to handle the ball.
Adding JaJuan Johnson though to the group that includes Patrick Patterson, Jones, and White doesn't make a lot of sense. Although Johnson being 6'10" might be looked at as a back up center to Motiejunas or third string if the Rockets get Asik as well.
I don't see how Chicago didn't just work out a deal with the Rockets. The Rockets wanted Asik, Chicago has a hole at SG and if I remember correctly, Lee visited with the Bulls.
I can't wait to see the Rockets trot out their all forward 2nd team with Royce White leading the point. As long as you have forwards you don't need anything else.
As for Celtics, will there be enough minutes for Lee, Terry and Bradley? Terry can play both spots, but Rondo will play a huge chunk of the game and Bradley was also a starter. I'm not sure why Lee didn't find a good team that he could start with unless they are willing to play Lee occassionally at the 3 behind Pierce to get him some extra minutes.
Motiejunas is almost assuredly going to play center and if the Rockets don't get Asik he will start at center. In summer league at least the Rockets were using Marcus Morris at the 3 mostly. Johnson is 6'10" and he could play backup center.
That still leaves three guys within their first 3 years playing power forward two of which are rookies.Jones could be used at the 3 depending on the matchup, but I doubt White plays anything because I don't know if he could defend many small forwards.
Hey all I can say is it could be worse...you could be the 76ers and they could be stock piling small forwards. At least power forwards have better trade value.
Great pickup by the Celtics.
Now they can go with a full second unit.
Starters:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Avery Bradley
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Brandon Bass
C: Kevin Garnett
2nd unit:
PG: Jason Terry
SG: Courtney Lee
SF: Jeff Green
PF: Jared Sullinger
C: Fab Melo
This gives them two full teams and they still might resign one of their backup centers. Kris Joseph is also there. I can see the C's going small off the bench with Green at the 4 and Courtney Lee at the 3 and Jet at the 2 with Rondo at point (the only Celtics starter) with Fab Melo or someone else at center.
I guess the Rockets plan to keep Kevin Martin and his shooting/scoring/$12 million expiring deal. In that case they don't really need Courtney Lee as a third shooting guard and got a young, cheap asset in return. Although they probably could have also gotten E'twuan Moore and/or a 2013 second round pick also out of the deal. JuJuan Johnson just adds to the FORWARDSANITY in Houston. I don't see him getting many minutes for the Rockets.
As a Griz fan I would like to do a Jeremy Pargo-JaJuan Johnson swap with Houston. The Rockets could use some young, cheap depth at point guard and we could use a young, cheap stretch four in JaJuan Johnson (with Dante Cunningham being traded for Wayne Ellington).
Rondo, Bradley, Terry and Lee will be a great guard rotation.
I think signing Lee is great. For one, Bradley is coming off of a shoulder injury and that takes time to heal physically and mentally. Terry is still a very good player, but he's older. There will be minutes for Lee.
I really like what the Celtics have done. IF they can stay healthy, they're a legit championship contender. They lost Ray Allen, yet upgraded the two guard position.
They have so many guys who can play the PF or C or both -- Patrick Patterson,Terrence Jones, Royce White, Dontas Motaijunas, Marcus Morris, Josh Harrelson, Jordan Williams, Jon Brockman,Jon Luer,Furkan Aldemir.
Thats 10!
Jones and Royce White have more potential at the 3, Morris was a bust for a lottery pick, Aldemir will probably stay in Europe, Brockman, Harrelson and Williams are all unreliable. I heard they're gonna cut Luer, who is actually more productive than Morris, Harrelson, Williams and Brockman.
After all these big men they still only have one solid PF (Patterson) who is still by far below the NBA averages as far as starting PFs go, and Motai seems to be looking good but will have to play a lot of minutes and will be essentially learning on the job and playing against much stronger Cs.
It doesn't look good for the Rockets; they have some nice pieces (Lin, Martin, Lamb, Parsons, Patterson, White, Jones & Motaijunas) but have some player redundancy and a weak frontline.
Aldemir will be playing in Europe for a while. Marcus Morris was hurt last year so I wouldn't close the book on him yet. Morris played small forward in summer league so I don't think he'll see any minutes at power forward with the number of guys they have available. I think you mean Jerome Jordan rather than Jordan Williams who is on the Hawks as he was in the deal for Joe Johnson. Jordan was cut today with Leuer. You have to think some of these guys like Harrelson and Brockman won't make the team.
If I'm correct the Rockets have 20 guys give or take under contract (ie not just training camp contract like Macahado)
1. Jeremy Lin
2. Donatas Motiejunas
3. Chandler Parsons
4. Kevin Martin
5. Jeremy Lamb
6. Royce White
7. Terrence Jones
8. Marcus Morris
9. Patrick Patterson
10. Courtney Fortson
11. JaJuan Johnson
12. E'twaun Moore
13. Sean Williams
14. Toney Douglas
15. Gary Forbes
16. Josh Harrelson
17. Diamon Simpson
18. Greg Smith
19. Shaun Livingston
20. John Brockman
Let me know if I missed anyone. That's a ton of guys under non training camp contracts. I don't know if all the contracts are fully guaranteed, but if they are, Houston will either be eating some money cutting guys or they'll need to make a deal and package a few guys for someone more useful. Houston just today cut Jon Leuer and Jerome Jordan who would've made it 22 guys under non training camp contracts.
I forgot about Jeff Green getting re-signed. I more I think about it, I think the Celtics will play small a lot. I see Green playing some 3 and 4. I'm not saying they are going to do it all year, but we just saw two teams in the finals that could play really well small. Chicago won't be full strength this year even if Rose is back and I expect Miami to play a lot of small lineups in the playoffs. Miami is going to be their team to beat in the East. This is a great move no matter what, but I think it will help with matching up with Miami and getting younger going forward.
...The big man is on the endangered list and I think a few of these teams have realized it. Maybe you keep a couple like a spare tire in the trunk...just in case, but you hope to never have to use it.
My Celtics are stacked this year!
PG: Rondo, Terry, Moore
SG: Bradley, Lee
SF: Pierce, Green, Joseph
PF: Brandon Bass, Sully
C: Garnett, Wilcox
That's a good line-up! Im stoked for the season, if this team can stay healthy they very well could beat the Heat and get into the Finals. Good day to be a C's fan!
Celtics F/C Sean Williams was sent to the Rockets as part of the Courtney Lee deal on Thursday.
Williams was signed at the end of the season by the Celtics because they were depleted at center, but there's a decent chance he won't be on Houston's opening-night roster.
Celtics shooting guard E'Twaun Moore was traded to the Rockets in the Courtney Lee deal on Thursday.
He is expected to be waived by Houston, making him an unrestricted free agent. Moore averaged just 2.9 points in 38 games for Boston as a rookie.
the celtics have really quietly reloaded this past season, even with losing ray allen they now brought in jason terry and courtney lee. jason terry gives the celtic bench some offensive firepower and courtney lee can defend and shoot and is a very good role player. now with avery bradley and jeff green back, those guys are both young and provide defense, athleticism and green is a good stretch forward. the celtics are still in the championship mix, if KG can retain his playoff form from this prior season or even close to it, the celtics should give any team they face in the playoffs a run for their money.
Celtics trade for Courtney Lee..
Sign and trade sending JaJuan Johnson to the Rockets.