Can Danny?

It's two games. Two embarrassing games in which the Celtics were outplayed, outhustled, and without focus. Of course, that means it's time to sharpen the knives against Doc Rivers but this happens to the best teams. The Pistons faced a similar challenge from the young 76ers team.

While this team needs to play with more urgency, I'm not about to get nervous. I've been a huge Josh Smith fan over the years but even I'll admit that he's playing out of his mind right now. The C's need to refocus on the defensive end and build from there. While I like a lot of the talent on the Hawks, most of it is young and Smith especially is prone to get down when things aren't going his way.

It hasn't been pretty but let's not get crazy here. The Celtics are still IMO the best team in the East and arguably the best team in the NBA.

Posted by SoulHonky at 04:06 AM | Permalink

I'm sorry but anyone who doesn't vote for Danny Ainge as Exec of the Year is out of their mind. While I have argued that some of Danny's success stemmed from good luck, there's no way to deny that he did a masterful job this offseason in turning an absolute disaster of a team into a favorite to win it all. Look at the timeline of the Garnett deal: Ainge looked like he had a deal but KG said he didn't want to go to Boston, Ainge then rolled the dice and acquired Ray Allen, he then went back and got the KG deal done.

And let's not gloss over that last one: he got the KG deal done. The Boston Celtics did not have the best offer on the table for Kevin Garnett. At least four or five teams likely had better shots at getting KG but none of them were willing to pull the trigger. While other teams haggled over stumbling blocks like Luol Deng or Andris Biedrins, the Celtics were willing to make a deal that sent a likely future All-Star talent to get the Big Ticket.

The main rival for the crown is, fittingly, the Lakers' Mitch Kupchak. If Ainge's success hinged on some lucky breaks, Kupchak's was divined by the hand of God. His first key acquisition literally walked in on his own. Unless Kupchak had something to do with building great hospitals in the Los Angeles area, you can't give him any credit for bringing Derek Fisher in. The next move, Pau Gasol, fell into his lap. I really can't imagine that Kupchak initiated that call. If he did somehow talk Chris Wallace into giving away Pau then OK, give him the award but really all Kupchak did was have an expiring contract (which he had acquired years earlier for Caron Butler) and an owner who was willing to take on a max contract. So basically, the reason people would be voting for Kupchak is because he knew how to answer a phone.

Of course, some people then argue that he should win for the trades that he didn't make. In hindsight, Kupchak did the right thing by not trading Bynum because the Gasol deal fell in his lap. But without the ridiculous Gasol deal, I'd still argue that he made a major mistake by not dealing Kwame and Bynum for Garnett.  Could you imagine Kobe, KG and Odom together? They could stick Ronny Turiaf at center and race to the NBA title. As for not trading Kobe, most rumors had him going to Chicago if The Bean himself didn't put the kibosh on it, demanding that Deng not be part of the deal. Also, you could make the exact same arguments for Ainge. He could have traded Pierce a few times and he could have dealt Big Al for Iverson or a few other aging superstars. Crediting GM's on the trades they didn't make is like crediting George Bush for the countries he didn't invade.

In the end, Danny took a team that almost everyone said was dead in the water after not getting a top #2 pick and turned them into the top team in the league. Ainge wheeled and dealed his way into contention, Kupchak's team basically fell into his lap. Danny Ainge is the Executive of the Year. No doubt about it.

Posted by SoulHonky at 10:44 AM | Permalink

10. Stephon Marbury: He's the motor that makes the Knicks run and he's got more talent to deal with this year.  Can he run the team so the offense runs fluidly? With age catching up with him, this might be the last chance he has to show off his talents and salvage his reputation.

Yeah, Steph didn't do much to salvage the ol' rep. Fair or not, his reputation is down at Stephen Jackson after the Palace fight low. I still think he's going to bounce back and have a solid year next year if he's traded but this year has pretty much ruined him.

9. Andrea Bargnani: The Atlantic Division just got a whole lot tougher so Bargnani needs to step up his game if the Raptors are going to hold onto their division title. Also, with other Class of '06ers looking better by the day, Bargnani needs to prove that he was worth the #1 pick.

Andrea indeed. Bargnani was charmin soft this year and got to watch as Rudy Gay emerged as another guy who Toronto could have had. My man Leon Powe even started to look like more of a threat in the paint than Andrea. Bargnani basically has set himself up for a top 5, if not #1, spot in next year's Proving Ground.

8. Kevin Garnett: He's never had teammates like Paul Pierce and Ray Allen so the excuses are gone.  Then again, he has had teammates like Brian Scalabrine, Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, and Leon Powe so some of the excuses are still there. 

Leon, I'm sorry! KG proved himself beyond a shadow of a doubt in the regular season. The only thing that could put a damper on it is if he somehow choked in the playoffs. Oh, and apologies to Rajon Rondo who also proved himself as a legit starter this season. Tony Allen? Eh. He still makes me nervous whenever he has the ball. 

7. Greg Oden: He's coming in billed as the next championship-level big man.  Anything less will be a disappointment and it seems like countless people are waiting for him to fail.

Incomplete. Although one story really bothered me. Oden was recently admonished by the Blazers staff for playing two games of pick-up ball at a neighborhood gym. That fact doesn't seem like much but his quote kind of irked me, "I was going to play one, but I lost the first one." He lost the first one? I hope he was in Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood Gym or something.

6. Kevin Durant: While Durant went after Oden the pressure is higher because he's basically all the Sonics have got.  They dumped Ray Allen and put the mantle of leadership in Durant's hands.  He can't just score points, he has to do it effeciently AND rebound in order to match expectations.

Durant didn't live up to the expecations but there was really no way he was going to because the expecations were extreme. His first half of the season was disappointing but he really proved himself in the second half of the season by hitting his shots at a higher clip. Still, his three point numbers were still low (31% in the second half, 28% overall) so he definitely needs to work on that, along with his rebounding and dribble drive. I still see him as a Rashard Lewis-type player (as opposed to a LeBron or even 'Melo) but he'll be one hell of a second star if the Sonics can land Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley.

5. Luol Deng: The Bulls love him but they held onto him instead of dealing for some elite level players.  If Deng doesn't emerge as a superstar, the love affair in Chi-town may be over.

And how. The Deng Situation could go down in NBA history as one of the most mismanged off-seasons. Not only did Deng turn down a good deal but the Bulls missed out on some top notch players in order to have to haggle with Luol this offseason. I can't imagine it won't work out for Luol since someone will offer him decent money on potential alone, but the Bulls really screwed the pooch on this one. (How did "screw the pooch" become a phrase? I mean, I don't think I've ever messed up something so badly that I thought, "Man, that mistake was like fucking a dog." It probably should be screwed by the pooch since I can only imagine that's how Chicago fans feel right now.) 

4. Andrew Bogut: The #1 pick has been solid but unspectacular and needs to step and show that he was not only worth his #1 slot but also is good enough to man the middle for a legit playoff team. Plus, his new haircut is ridiculous and he is outspoken.  You can't be outspoken off the court if you are outplayed on it.

This video says it all about Andrew. He could be a good player (not Chris Paul/Deron Williams good) but it's not like he's on a team that's going to help him reach those heights.

3. Rashard Lewis: Personally, I don't think that there is any way he can truly earn the money he's making but that doesn't mean that the people in Orlando won't be expecting it to happen. Lewis is going to have to emerge as a superstar and lead Orlando to a home berth in the playoffs to live up to the contract he signed.

Luckily for Rashard, Hedo Turkoglu stepped up and helped the Magic become a top team in the East. Rashard did what he does and helped as well but I have a feeling his contract is going to become an issue after next season when Hedo can opt out of his contract and test the waters. I still don't believe there is any way that he deserves the contract that he received.

2. Al Jefferson: Big Al was so upset about hearing his name in trade offers for Allen Iverson last year that he recommitted himself.  He improved to a point where he was impressive enough to get traded for Kevin Garnett.  Funny how things work.  Still, Big Al is the face of the deal that sent the best player in franchise history out of town so he has some huge shoes to fill (not to mention that he bad mouthed once and future teammate Mark Blount after Blount was shipped out of Boston.)

To start off, thank God Billy King is an idiot and turned down Danny Ainge's Everything And the Kitchen Sink deal for Allen Iverson.  Big Al stepped up this season. "The Unstoppable", as some have begun to call him, is the centerpiece of the Wolves rebuilding process. He still needs to work on his defense and his passing (hey, even Zach Randolph looked great for a few years) but it seems like Big Al is well on his way to earning that max contract and possibly a second one after that.

1. Andrew Bynum: Jason Kidd. Kevin Garnett. Possibly Pau Gasol.  When a team holds onto you instead of dealing for players of that caliber, you better pan out.  Especially when the Black Mamba is looming.

I still would have traded him for Kevin Garnett but besides that Bynum has stepped up his game to a point where people are comparing him to Big Al and Laker fans are very happy that they didn't dump him in a Jason Kidd trade. Hopefully the knee injury won't be a recurring issue. Oh, and it also helps when Chris Wallace decides to just fork over Pau Gasol for Javarris Crittenton. I'm VERY high on Crittenton has a prospect but an All-Star for a late first round pick is highway robbery any way you slice it.

Posted by SoulHonky at 10:28 AM | Permalink

First Round
Boston vs. Atlanta: I think Atlanta could steal one game but right now I have to go with the C's in a sweep.

Detroit vs. Philly: The great run of the Sixers comes to a screeching halt against the Pistons. Again, the Sixers could steal a game but I'm calling for a sweep.

Orlando vs. Toronto: Personally, I feel like both of these teams are overrated but the Raptors are especially troubling since Chris Bosh keeps speaking out saying he doesn't have enough trust in his teammates and that the home fans aren't loud enough. Not that I can blame him. Toronto home games are eerily quiet at times and the Raptors roster isn't that impressive. TJ Ford and Jose Calderon will have to raise their game another level for the Raptor to have a chance and I don't see that happening. Orlando in 5.

Cleveland vs. Washington: LeBron can try as hard as he can but the Cavs just don't have enough to make it out of the first round this year. Danny Ferry immediately starts working the phones, trying to find what he can get for the expiring contracts of Wally Szczerbiak, Eric Snow, and Damon Jones. Wizards in 6.

Second Round
Boston vs. Washington: This is the series that make me nervous. I think the C's will have enough to beat the Pistons but the Wizards, if hitting on all cylanders, could knock us off. This is the type of series in which hometown legends are made and I'm hoping someone will step up for the C's. The Wizards bench is just too thin and should anything go wrong for the starters, I can't see any cavalry on the horizon. Celtics in 6. (Should the Cavs win, I'll take Boston in a sweep)

Detroit vs. Orlando: I could see Detroit manhandling Orlando in some of these games. The Magic defense needs to step up a notch to hold down the Pistons and I don't see it happening. The Magic could win one of these games in a blowout but I can't see them more than two. In fact, I'm betting they only get one: Pistons in 6.

East Championship
Boston vs. Detroit: This should be a great matchup and the only thing that really scares me is if the ghost of Pitino rises up and Chauncey Billups has a monster series. I could see him having his way with Rondo and Cassell and I could even see Rodney Stuckey coming in and being effective. Still, I just can't bet against the Celtics so I'm taking the C's in 7.
----- 

West First Round
LA Lakers vs. Denver: Denver takes one of the first two games in LA and makes a series out of it. Still, they just don't have the defense to beat the Lakers and end up losing in 6 games.

New Orleans vs. Dallas: The best matchup of the first round, this one should come down to the wire. I'm gonna go with the Mavs in 7 with Peja coming up small while Jason Terry earns his paycheck.

San Antonio vs. Phoenix: The Spurs are the worst best team I've ever seen. I really have no idea how they are so successful this year. Any team that has Jacque Vaughn getting serious minutes shouldn't be so good. I'd have had a lot more faith in the Spurs had they held onto Luis Scola and Beno Udrih. I just don't see  the Spurs having enough fire power to hang with the Suns nor enough defense to slow then down. Phoenix in 6.

Utah vs. Houston: The Rockets were a great storyline but when all else fails, bet on McGrady failing to make it to the second round. Utah in 6.

Second Round
LA vs. Utah: It seems to me like the Jazz are destined to be the team that is always one player away. I just can't see Okur, AK-47, or Korver being the guys to step up to beat the Lake Show.

Phoenix v. Dallas: Honestly, either team that takes on the Suns will likely struggle. I think the Suns would rather deal with Jason Kidd than Chris Paul but either way they are taking this series in 6.

West Championship
LA vs. Phoenix: Kobe vs. Shaq. ESPN goes nuts with countless stories and 24 hour coverage of this but both players take the high road, praising one another while throwing jabs at former teammates like Ricky Davis, Smush Parker, and Kwame Brown.  I'm not sure if Bynum will be able to go much against Shaq and I think Gasol vs. Amare should be a battle but the key player in this will be Lamar Odom. Lamar Odom at his peak is going to be too much for the Suns to handle. I also wouldn't be stunned if Jordan Farmar made a name for himself in this series, taking it to Steve Nash a few times. It will be a battle but I saw the Lakers in 7.

NBA CHAMPIONSHIP
It's back! Lakers vs. Celtics. People dust off their old game consoles and remember the days of Tom Chambers drunking from the three point line while ESPN Classic becomes the most watched ESPN channel during the days before tip-off. The C's never faced the Gasol version of the Lakers but I just don't think the Lake Show is going to have enough. I'm going the Celtics in 5.

Posted by SoulHonky at 06:09 AM | Permalink

MVP: Kevin Garnett  (Pre-season pick: Kevin Garnett)
The Celtics simply wouldn't be this good without Kevin Garnett. They'd be a playoff team with Al Jefferson but they wouldn't be legit contenders without Garnett. My second vote would go to Kobe Bryant. He's been a beast this year but I don't think you can give him the MVP simply because his teammates aren't as good as Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. That being said, if Andrew Bynum didn't emerge, Derek Fisher wasn't around as a steadying force, and Smush Parker was still on the team, the Lakers aren't #1 in the West. #3 is LeBron and #4 is Chris Paul. Those are the definite top four and after that it's a wide open field.  Some people try to add Dwight Howard but that team isn't doing nearly as well without Hedo Turkoglu.

Defensive Player of the Year: Kevin Garnett  (Pre-season pick: Kevin Garnett)
The Celtics wouldn't be nearly as good on the defensive end without KG. I can see giving the MVP to Kobe but I think this award HAS to go to Garnett.

Rookie of the Year: Kevin Durant (Pre-season pick: Al Horford)
You can make a case for Horford but Durant had a very good second half of the season and was the go-to guy on his team.  Some people might say that's why he shouldn't win (good stats on a bad team) but I think Durant would put up some great numbers if he was on another team like Atlanta or the Clippers or Houston. 

The All-Rookie Team: Kevin Durant, Al Horford, Al Thornton, Thad Young, Louis Scola.
Honorable Mention goes to Rodney Stuckey who didn't get a ton of playing time until the end of the year but he definitely looks like he'll be a key player in the playoffs and in the Pistons future. 

The All-Bust Team: Mike Conley, Corey Brewer, Acie Law, Jeff Green, Josh McRoberts
Mike Conley wasn't terrible but he wasn't worth a #4 pick and he might not even be the best rookie PG on his team. Javarris Crittenton showed as many signs of being a breakout player as Conley did. Corey Brewer is going to be a great defensive player but I'm not sure you can get excited about taking a role player at #7. I didn't expect him to be a great offensive player but he wasn't even servicable this year. Acie Law is going to be a solid backup but he definitely isn't better than Thad Young, Al Thornton, Julian Wright and Rodney Stuckey (and maybe not even as good as Nick Young, Javarris Crittenton, and Sean Williams. Jeff Green is solid but, like Brewer, he's a role player who was taken with a top pick. And while I know it's hard to call a second round draftee a bust, McRoberts earns this because of just how bad he was both as a player and as a person. He had a lousy attitude for most of the season while the guys who teams opted for instead of him (Carl Landry, Big Baby) had great rookie seasons. As for Yi Jianlian, he didn't make the list because I had zero expectations and he actually showed some signs of life during the season. He's a tweener and probably two years away from really being a legit player but he could pan out.

Comeback Player of the Year: Kenyon Martin (Pre-season pick: Jamaal Tinsley)
So much for Mel-Mel making a leap. Tinsley is possibly the hardest player in the league to move right now. He's got a bad contract, bad attitude, and is almost never healthy. As for Kenyon, I wasn't really expecting much of anything from him after his second injury but he's become a solid contributor on a playoff team. I wouldn't be surprised if a number of teams called the Nuggets about him this offseason. Granted, his contract is still huge so he won't be getting an expiring contract in return but he has value. The question is: would the Nuggets be willing to deal him? This is a discussion nobody expected to be having before the season.

Most Improved Player: Hedo Turkoglu (Pre-season pick: LaMarcus Aldridge)
Aldrige definitely improved but if you give this award to a big man, it would be Andrew Bynum. Still, Hedo Turkoglu went from being a role player/journeymen to a player who has been getting MVP votes. While he probably shouldn't get any votes for the MOST improved player, Rajon Rondo deserves a lot of credit for improving his game and becoming a legit starting point guard.

The Bust Label Cometh: Gerald Green (Pre-season pick: Gerald Green)
Needless to say, Green is garbage. He'll probably find his way onto a roster next season but the odds of him turning his career around are worse than Darius Miles making a comeback. The rest of my picks were: Andrew Bogut*,  Marvin Williams, Robert Swift, Shelden Williams, Randy Foye. I didn't think Bogut was a bum but given the players taken after him, he definitely isn't living up to expecations. The disappointment continues however he wasn't the most disappointing #1 pick. Andrea Bargnani, a pre-season CanDanny Most Improved Candidate, fell apart and added next to nothing for the Raptors. The first half of the season was bad but at least he was hitting 40% of his threes. That dropped to 27% after the All-Star break. I still have no faith in Foye and Robert Swift, Shelden Williams is a scrub, and Marvin Williams, for all of his improvement, is still a fifth starter and inconsistent.

The KG in Minny Memorial (Player Most in Need of a Trade): Michael Redd  (Pre-season pick: Kobe Bryant)
Hmmm, maybe I should reconsider my MVP vote... Nah. As for Redd, he needs to go and the Bucks need to get rid of him. He could be a great fit in a place like Toronto or Houston where he could do what he does best: stand around and shoot. He's just a terrible fit in Milwaukee and is overpaid.


The Good Players on Bad Teams (Stats will jump, skills will stay the same): Chris Kaman (Pre-season pick: Delonte West)
Delonte looked like he could get this award but then couldn't find his way into the rotation in Seattle. After being shipped to Cleveland, fans quickly learned what many Boston fans now know: Delonte can look great one game and then look like he doesn't know what point guard means the next.  Don't get me wrong, I'd welcome him back as a backup guard in a heartbeat but it's time that everyone realize that he has no business starting or playing anything more than spot minutes at the point.

As for Kaman, I've never been a fan and this year is why. He'll get his point, make people think he's earned his contract, but he will have little impact on whether a team wins or loses. When the defenses clamp down, he can be stopped and he is rarely able to step up and make a key defensive play himself. The fact that people think his play is a sign that the Clippers can move Elton Brand is beyond ridiculous (which means it's probably what the Clippers will do).  Chris Kaman isn't a bad player but he's definitely not the impressive big man that people think he is.

Coach of the Year: Byron Scott (Pre-season pick Nate McMillan)
Doc Rivers definitely deserves a mention here but I have to go with Scott, not just for taking the Hornets to the next level but also for designing an offense in which the alley-oop is a key weapon.  

First Team All-NBA: Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul
Second Team All-NBA: Tim Duncan, Amare Stoudemire, Paul Pierce, Tracy McGrady, Deron Williams
Third Team All-NBA: Dirk Nowitzki, Carlos Boozer, Andre Iguodala, Manu Ginobili, Steve Nash

Posted by SoulHonky at 12:49 AM | Permalink

Tony Allen: Allen is a good defender who is a threat on offense. Unfortunately, he's often more of a threat to self-destruct than to actually do much damage against the opponent. I'm a fan of Tony Allen but personally, I think it may be time to bid him adieu if the right replacement comes along.

Replacements:
Kelenna Azubuike - I've been hyping up Buike for over a year now and I think the C's should go after him. He's been completely misused by Don Nelson (who's misused a lot of his bench this season) and he could use a change of scenery.

Devin Brown: I've always liked Devin Brown. What's not to love? He's solid, he's cheap, he's effective.

Antoine Wright: Wright was a draft bust who started to show some signs of life but he's still a huge question mark. While his play picked up with more playing time, his shooting dropped and he managed a woeful 26% from three point land. I'd rather have Tony than this 'Toine.

J.R. Smith: I'd think he'd stay in Denver, which is a shame because I don't think it's the right place for him if he's ever going to blossom into the star he should be. He might be a little pricey but Smith is a monster talent who might just blossom on the Celtics. I'm sure someone will make a run at him and overpay him but I'd love to see if we couldn't lure him to Beantown.

Fred Jones: Jones, like Antoine Wright, is another solid player who is the victim of wild expectations. I'm not sure why the Raptors thought he'd be good enough to warrant the contract they gave him but that doesn't mean he isn't a servicable player. That being said, like Wright, he's not someone I'd be willing to lose Tony Allen for.

Maurice Evans: Mo Evans is about equal to Tony Allen. He's steadier than Tony but he doesn't have Tony's upside or defensive skills. He's someone you settle for, not someone you target.

James Posey: Posey has a player option on his contract that I hope he won't use but this is a business and he probably could squeeze out one more solid contract from someone. While I like Posey, if someone offers him MLE money or a deal longer than two years, I'd have to let him go.

Replacements:
I'd include Azubuike and Devin Brown to this list. I'd consider keeping J.R. Smith in mind as well but he doesn't help defensively and part of me would be nervous with TA and J.R..

Mickael Pietrus: If the C's could get Pietrus for the MLE, I'd probably go for him over Posey. Pietrus has been lost in the shuffle in Golden State but he's the type of guy that I think could blossom in the Posey role on a veteran team like Boston. He'll never be a star and could flame out if someone signs him and expects too much out of him but he'd be a great fit for the C's.

Josh Childress: Childress is likely going to cost a good chunk of change so the odds of us getting J-Chill are slim-to-none. Of course, I wouldn't be that upset since then I wouldn't have to root for someone nicknamed J-Chill.

Michael Finley: I'm not sure if he's leave Texas but Finley has shown that he still has some life left in him and he wouldn't be a bad replacement should we lose Posey.

Devean George: George has a recognizable name but his game has really declined. I'd almost rather roll the dice and rely on our late first round pick to help us out here than George. Still, if the C's are in a bind, he's worth a look.

Quinton Ross: Ross strikes me as a plan C. He's gotten more minutes than he probably should because the Clippers are terrible but he's a solid defensive player who could help the Celtics off of the bench. 

Jarvis Hayes: If Ross is plan C, then Hayes is plan D. He's the epitome of average.

Dorrell Wright: Wright is a restricted free agent which could ruin any hopes of him becoming a Celtic. At 22, he's still young and has improved his game over the years. That being said, he's still unproven and offering him anything more than three million dollars a year is probably too big of a risk for a team that already has three max contracts on its ledger.

Gordon Giricek: I had no idea what team Giricek was on and I'd like to keep it that way.

Eddie House/Sam Cassell:
Back up PG seems like a key need but it's not as bad as I had once thought. To start, Rondo has been amazing this season and the backup role isn't going to be nearly as influential as I'd expected. Also, Gabe Pruitt seems to be coming along and he might be able to get some spot minutes in the third guard role next season. I'd love to see him get some minutes at the end of the season but we might have to wait to see what he can bring. That being said, The Alien hasn't exactly lived up to the hype and he might not even be playing next year. If we lose Cassell, I'd think we'd want to find a more "pure" backup than House.

Replacements:
Salim Stoudamire: He's basically a young version of Eddie House. That being said, House's veteran attitude and locker room presence is probably worth more than most people give him credit. If for some reason House decides to leave, I'd dial up Salim in a heartbeat.

Jason Williams: He'd be a great replacement if Cassell decided to leave. He doesn't do much on the defensive end but then again neither does Sam.

Louis Williams: This will never happen but I really like Williams and think he's a year or two away from becoming a real impact player. Maybe not a star but a poor man's Barbosa. I can't imagine the Sixers let him go, especially to Boston.

Chris Duhon: I'm not sure if Duhon would be willing to resign himself to backup status (and backup money) without looking around at teams that could use him as a starter but he'd be a great candidate to back up Rondo.

Delonte West: We all know what he can and can't do. He wouldn't be a bad option as a back-up at the 1 and 2.

Carlos Arroyo: Arroyo, like Duhon, is probably looking for a place where he might be able to earn some more minutes and that isn't Boston. Still, it's worth sending out the feelers to see if he'd be up for backing up Rondo.

Sebastian Telfair: Obviously this will never happen but I really do think that Telfair is going to become a nice little backup point guard in this league. I wouldn't mind welcoming him back, especially if Sam stays on as a coach and helps tutor Bassy.

Earl Boykins: Nothing special but he's a solid option for backup to Rondo.

Anthony Johnson: He's a lot like Cassell. A solid point guard who is getting up there and might not have much left in the tank. Still, he can run the point and handle backup minutes and after dealing with Josh Smith for a few years (and then losing in Sac-town), I'm sure he'd jump at the chance to play for a veteran winning team.

Keyon Dooling: He's not a terrible last resort but he's not a good backup option.

Ty Lue: I've always liked Lue but he's more of a third guard than actual backup. Pruitt would have to be ready for some heavy lifting if we sign Lue. 

Juan Dixon: I'm not a huge fan of Dixon but he seems to have carved out a niche in the NBA. If he costs just the vet minimum and there's no other options... Did I mention I'm not a huge fan of Dixon?

Janerro Pargo: While I'm not a fan of Dixon, I simply don't like Pargo. He's one step above Smush Parker (and one below Jason Hart) on the list of point guards I'd hate to see on the Celtics.  

PJ Brown: PJ hasn't done too much but thankfully the C's haven't needed it. PF/C isn't a high priority IMO because I'm a big fan of Powe and Big Baby. Still, it's always good to have 6 more fouls and a legit backup big.

Replacements:
Brian Skinner: I've always been a fan of Skinner and think he'd fit in well off the bench.

Kurt Thomas: Most people would probably put Thomas as #1 on their list but I prefer Skinner. Still, you can't go wrong with either guy.

Kwame Brown: After suffering through a career of getting yelled at by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, one can only imagine that Kwame watches Kevin Garnett cursing up a storm and thinks, "Man, I hope I never have to play there." Kwame is more effective than he gets credit for (although not nearly as effective as he could and should be) and wouldn't be a bad fit but I just can't imagine it happening.

Desagana Diop: Diop doesn't have the offensive game of PJ Brown, or PJ O'Rourke for that matter, but he'd be worth a spot on the bench. He's a solid defensive player and could help rest Perkins.

Juwan Howard: Howard was supposed to team up with KG this year but we all know what happened. There's not much left in the tank but he's a good emergency backup.

Scot Pollard: I never liked the Pollard signing and hope that he's gone. Odds are this spot will be taken by our draft pick but if it is left open...

Replacements:
Patrick O'Bryant: O'Bryant might be a complete bust but I'll roll the dice on him than settle another year of Pollard.

Randolph Morris: Morris has been one big disappointment but he's still big so maybe playing on the Celtics could help him grow as it did with fellow Kentucky disappointment Rajon Rondo. I wouldn't hold my breath but this is Scot Pollard's roster spot we're talking about.

Chris Anderson: Pollard said "Hey kids, do drugs." Chris Anderson actually did drugs. I think it's time we had someone who actually walked the walk and didn't just talk the talk.

So in the end, I wouldn't mind seeing these spots filled next year by: Kelenna Azubuike, James Posey, Eddie House, Jason Williams, Brian Skinner, 1st round draft pick.
  

Posted by SoulHonky at 04:59 AM | Permalink

With Danny Ainge building a dominant team in Boston, I can now sit back and enjoy Celtics game and waste my free time making up trades for other franchises.  Unfortunately, the next Boston opponent might be one of the hardest teams to figure out.

The Charlotte Bobcats are problematic because they aren't really that problematic. Most of their players are solid and they have a little bit of cap space. The issue, however, is that nobody is really that great, the team simply isn't working together, and they aren't a franchise that is really on the top of any elite free agents wish list.

Issue #1: Emeka Okafor
On the bright side, Emeka Okafor had a solid but not spectacular season which could limit how much he can demand in a contract extension. On the downside, Okafor hasn't been spectacular and he isn't the answer in the paint for the 'Cats. He's a great defensive player but the team could still use a better offensive threat in the frontcourt. The Cats should look to re-sign Okafor for maybe 10 million a year; a deal similar to the one that Gerald Wallace signed.

Issue #2: Head Coach
Nothing against Sam Vincent but this team just hasn't looked that good this year and I really don't see him somehow flipping a switch to make things better. It's not like he has some system that the players haven't figured out yet. To me, the obvious choice as next head coach, if he'd take the job, is Larry Brown. Brown is a defense-first kind of guy and the duo of Okafor and Wallace should keep him happy. Can one city survive the egos of Brown and Michael Jordan? Who knows? But both men are focused on winning now and I think their competitive drives could help smooth over their problems.

Issue #3: The draft pick
The Bobcats are likely going to have the 8th pick in the draft. I really doubt Jordan (or Brown, if they hire him) would want to get any younger. The best possible move the team could make would be: Jason Richardson and #8 for Elton Brand. Of course, to make it work the Bobcats would need to add another salary but I think either the overpaid Matt Carroll or overrated Adam Morrison can be thrown in. Depending on who comes out, the 'Cats could ask for more in return but I think any coach, even Larry Brown, would be happy with a Okafor/Brand/Wallace frontcourt. Another option could be to drop down in the draft and swap Nazr Mohammed, Matt Carroll, and Adam Morrison for Kenyon Martin. Depending on where the Nuggets end up, they might have to add in a future pick but that deal could work. Any way you slice it, the Bobcats are likely going to need to use the pick and/or Jason Richardson in hopes of bringing in some help to get them into the playoff picture.

Issue #3: Free Agency
I doubt the 'Cats are really going to be able to snag any big ticket free agents so they should really look for some lower level guys like Bonzi Wells, Matt Barnes, Eduardo Najero, Delonte West or Ryan Gomes. The key, of couse, is not to make the same mistake they made with Matt Carroll, which was to give a role player an MLE type contract. While I know that the 'Cats might want to make a splashy signing, it's better to show some financial responsibility and save the cash for future free agent classes which will likely be much better than this offseason's.

The odds of the Bobcats turning things around in one fell swoop this offseason seems slim. Still, with a few slight chances and an upgrade at head coach, there's no reason to think that they could improve ala the Hawks and make a run at the playoffs. One move can make all the difference. If they listened to me (and pretty much anyone who watched college hoops) two years ago, they'd be sitting pretty with Brandon Roy instead of Adam Morrison.

Posted by SoulHonky at 02:55 AM | Permalink