[Allen_Iverson_3Participant]

With Shaq retiring and so many players being unrestricted FA this summer (Arroyo, Big Baby, Krstic, Murphy, Pavlovic, Wafer, West), what will the Celtics do this offseason? It has been thought earlier on that they would let Big Baby and West walk away, and rumors have Krstic going back to Europe (Olympiakos) whereas it appeared clear enough that they would not resign Arroyo, Murphy, Pavlovic or Wafer… The  biggest blow for them, though very unprobable, is if Ray Allen picks up his player option and leaves too.

With Shaq retiring, what will they do? Will they try to keep players like Big Baby in town? What kind of players will they draft? What will they do with their limited resources on the FA market? Will they trade anybody? I think they might try to resign Davis or else draft big (Vucevic if available) because right now it appears to be their deepest hole with Perkins traded away earlier on.  This said, I think Danny Ainge has a lot of work to do this summer.

Thoughts?

[omphalosParticipant]

If he’s available I think they should draft Jeremy Tyler as a big body to replace Shaq/Big Baby/Krstic. If West leaves I can see Wafer sticking around because he’ll get more minutes, but the Celtics need to get younger and start using their veterans to mentor their young talent before they retire. This means more minutes for Bradley, Tyler (if they get him) and Wafer, who is still young enough.

[nath09Participant]

When you look at the age of their stars and the free agents they have its hard to know where to start. You have to ask this question. Can my big 3 get me a title a year older than they are now? If the answer is no, then you almost hope Allen walks so you can start to develop talent while Garnet and Pierca are their for leadership. If the answer is yes, then you need Allen, you need Davis and you somehow need to find an athletic centre. The big 3 haven’t got an athletic advantage over competitors any more and your never gonna be able to bench them and keep them happy.

I don’t have any idea of who and how but if they want to contend again they need an athletic starting C and some bench players with good D, health and speed to complement them.

Could JR Smith learn teamwork from the other 2 if Allen left, Could J smooth com off the bench and get solid minutes behind Pierce and Garnett,  could they even get their hands on a suitable centre?

You could throw up 1001 scenarios and maybe only 1 works. I think it is something we will ponder and then second guess for the next 12 months.

[mj23mj23besteverParticipant]

he pulls of the genuis moves getting kg and ray too boston leading too a championship then he does imo one of the dumbest trades in recent memory trading perkins for green this day and age u dont trade young bigs heck even getting rid of erden imo was a bad move he played very servicable ball when he played this year and o did i metnion u dont trade young bigs heck luke h even showed signs with the cavs good job danny boy good job

[jricha06Participant]

Great post, big celtics fan.

Looking at the contracts we have 3 talented players locked up after the end of next year (rondo, green and pierce). With allen and KG off the books we have some money to offer a max deal (and some additional signing). I have said this time and time again but I believe the perkins trade was completed to make a run at howard. After next year, what team with cap space to sign a player to a max deal has the most talent? The celtics with rondo, green and pierce are near the top of that list (if not the most attractive). Most other teams like the lakers for example would have to trade their talent to aquire howard thru a sign and trade. This reduces their talent level. The nets have talent but they have lopez. This would hurt his supporting cast. I believe this was thier main motive in the deal; aquire a talent (green althou they have to sign him) and think of life after the big 3. I am not going say howard will come but it def is an option for him.

At this point they need to draft a replacement for KG who can play in their 2nd yr (tompkins or jordan williams come to mind). Another option would be to trade their pick this year perhaps to aquire a first rder for next yr. Malcolm lee is also a very good prospect (look how UCLA PGs have faired in the NBA).

IF howard signs think of rondo, pierce (at SG), Green (at SF) and howard. That team has scoring and defense built in. Lets also not forget Avery Bradley was once rated high as a high school product than Wall. He has potential and got burried at Texas. Rondo has already stated that he is a really good defender, his offense just needs to catch up, but he is young and it can happen.

The bottom line is that the celtics need to be patient and not try to win now. Plan for life after the big three.

[suddsParticipant]

I agree with all of you guys and I think they draft best player available thinking that two years from now the youth on this team will be handed the reins…which hopefully is a C/PF who can also help out now with quality minutes there.

I like Tyler, Thompkins, Benson, Bryan-Amanning, Jajuan as first round targets unless they find a way to move up a few picks to grab someone else. At least one of those guys should be available anyways.

Rd two who do you guys see them targeting though?

[rvan14Participant]

 I think the Celtics need to target a scorer that can come off the bench. Bradley has not shown that yet maybe with more minutes he could. West has spurts of a great jump shooter, but he is a free agent and Boston needs the money elsewhere say Big Baby? I think they should target Scotty Hopson or Ben Hansbrough. Hopson was is a scorer that can play both the 2 and 3. Hansbrough has a very high bball IQ and can stroke the ball. Either would be a good pick with their late 2nd round pick.

[omphalosParticipant]

If they were after a scorer I’d rather take Marshon Brooks than Hopson, just a question of whether he’s available.

[rvan14Participant]

 Absolutely agree. Brooks is one of the best pure scorers in the draft, but I figured he would be long gone by the Celtics pick.

[PlatypusParticipant]

 draft a big man like tyler in the first round and in the 2nd round draft I. Thomas to be a scorer off the bench and sign an undrafted free agent or a veteran who can play the 2/3

resign baby, and Kristic

Rondo – Thomas

Allen – Bradley

Pierce – Green

KG – baby

O’neill – Tyler / Kristic

[Author]

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