• As you know by now, the Celtics have had preliminary talks with Eddie House’s agent. This is a very smart move. The Celtics have 9 players currently under contract, and only two of them have any capacity to shoot three-pointers. One of those two (Paul Pierce) isn’t a truly threatening three-point shooter in the sense that you can’t build a half court set around his ability to shoot from deep. His release isn’t quick enough, and he isn’t comfortable shooting from that distance on the move or off the dribble. Pierce gets his threes off of drive-and-kicks and in delayed transition.
The Celtics badly need another three-point shooter. Their offense scored just 107.7 points per 100 possessions in 2010 (15th in the league), down from 110.5 points/100 possessions in 2009 (tied-5th), according to Basketball-Reference. Among the most important reasons (if not the most important reason): They shot 39.7 percent from three in ’09 (tops in the league) but just 34.8 percent (17th) last season. Not only that, but as I wrote here, the C’s struggled more than most teams (relative to their overall winning percentage) to win games in which they hit few three-pointers.
Bad news: There aren’t many shooters on the open market.
The C’s have only the veteran’s minimum to offer free agents. That (obviously) isn’t nearly enough to lure guys like Anthony Morrow, J.J. Redick, Luke Ridnour or Al Harrington, meaning Boston would have to use some sign-and-trade gambit to get any of them. Redick and Morrow are restricted free agents anyway, so they’re not going anywhere unless a suitor bowls Golden State or Orlando over with a trade offer.
Kyle Korver is off the market, to the tune of $5 million per season in Chicago. The Spurs just gave Matt Bonner a four-year extension that will pay him somewhere north of $3.2 million per season. Before you laugh, consider that the guys at 48 Minutes of Hell have written several times that advanced plus/minus statistics absolutely love Bonner, which means his ability to space the floor likely helps the Spurs in some way that is hard to quantify.
And please remember neither Allen Iverson nor Tracy McGrady are even average three-point shooters. Steve Novak can shoot better than all of them but lacks a second NBA skill.
Given all this, it makes perfect sense for the C’s to try and leverage whatever good will House might feel toward the organization into a bargain contract. If they can do that, I’d expect them to let Nate Robinson walk if they cannot use him in a sign-and-trade. Robinson will likely command around $4 million per season (perhaps more, perhaps a bit less) on the open market, and bringing back House (or any other minimum-salaried player) to fill Robinson’s role would at least save Boston big luxury tax money.
House just finished his 10th year in the league, so his minimum salary would be about $1.35 million.
• The C’s will really need a three-point shooter if they decide to bring Tony Allen back, as I suspect they will. But they haven’t locked TA up yet, according to the Globe. I’ll be shocked if Boston doesn’t get this done. The C’s have TA’s Bird Rights, and they’ll need all the defensive firepower they can get to slow down the wing combo of Dwyane Wade and the MVP of the 2010 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals without exhausting Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.
• The next likely signing: Luke Harangody, who looks like he could be ready to play 8-10 minutes a game as an energy guy with a semi-reliable jumper. He’s happy with his week in Orlando’s summer league, according to the Globe:
The Celtics’ second-round pick left Orlando with scouts and observers mentioning his name in the same breath as Jrue Holiday, Terrence Williams, Lance Stephenson, James Harden and Damion James as some of the best players in the summer league.
“I thought it was a very positive week for myself,” Harangody said. “I felt like what I needed to do down here, I did.”
(Side note: I enjoy when anyone refers to themselves as “myself” in interviews).
And:
“Everyone I talked to said they were surprised,” Harangody said. “I didn’t surprise myself. But that’s my goal coming down here – to prove the skeptics wrong. I still have a long way to go and there’s a lot of things I need to work on. But so far I think I’m off to a good start.”
He’s given himself a chance to make the team.
• This has nothing to do with the Celtics, but I’m excited: Finally, finally, finally, Tiago Splitter is (reportedly) coming to the NBA.
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I want Tiago Splitter. He’s a man Beast.
I’d love to get Eddie back, but I’d still choose Nate over him. Nate plays good defense, and does more on offense than shoot threes. (Atleast in the playoffs).
I think Nate would be worth the extra $2.7 mil. His relative youth and his ability to play on-ball offense as well as the spot-up game makes him worth it.
Gody went 9-18 from deep in summer league. It’ll be interesting he can develop into some hybrid of Scal and Baby. It will all depend on his willingness to fill a role and his ability to defend.
love eddie, but c’s need a 2/3 with range not another guard.
The spurs have the rights to Splitter. We wont be getting him. Eddie was inconsistant this year and I think nate for a full season offers us a better punch off the bench with the ability to get to the basket for easy buckets.
I also agree with al. We need back ups for pierce and allen more than we need another guard.
Wonder if the Celtics have any interest in Raja Bell, he can play the 2/3, defend, and spread the floor with his 3 point shooting
@lakershater- I know they have his rights, I was just sayin.
And Raja Bell would be nice to get.
Would love to get Raja Bell. Lakers want him too.
Hmm, Fisher meeting with Riley? Interesting..
Eddie can’t/won’t play defense and so while he would be good for the offense, I think Nate needs to return as well as he has more abilities (speed, defense, and shooting the 3). How about Rudy Fernandez as a back-up SG and we need a good wing to back-up PP. Love TA and they better get him signed as they need his defense stopping abilities. Go Cs…
i would love to see this move by the C’s to get Eddie back he provides a definite threat from three which in turn will spread the floor…i have a question tho what are the chances that we can finagle the financial situation and get James Posey back???
side note: you guys remember when our Big 3 had like one of their first interviews together (i think in Rome) and the line that stood out was KG saying “we ain’t done nothing yet”…absolute humility and we raise banner 17…i just caught the extravagant Miami intro, maybe a tad bit over done (i thought i was watching an backstreet boys concert) i’m not hatin’ but i can’t wait til the C’s take it to the new look Heat on the way to banner 18
Roger Mason anyone? Not the best wing free agent still available but he hit some big shots for another championship contender with the spurs. Just tossing his name out there.
1 of the many issues that the celtics bench has is three point shooting, ever since they traded Eddie House and every time Ray Allen leaves the floor there’s very little room in the paint for drivers/slashers even with sheed/nate on the floor(Also could someone tell me what exactly would be the downside of sheed not choosing 2 retire, I feel that if he works hard, gets into game shape and posts up more he can be a real solid contributor even in the ending stages of his career, last season all he really did was drift at the 3 point-line, at the beginning of the season the shots were falling for him, but after that it just went downhill pretty much)
trade sheed’s contract to warriors for toliver and morrow. another wing who can shoot three’s and defend’ also a young big man that can score, rebound and defend
Nets signed Morrow to 3-year, $12 million offer sheet. Doubt Warriors match it, it’s a 400% increase in salary.
Warriors have 7 days to sign him, otherwise we’d have to get him from the Nets somehow.
@John Evans: “could someone tell me what exactly would be the downside of sheed not choosing 2 retire, I feel that if he works hard, gets into game shape and posts up more he can be a real solid contributor”
The problem is, it looks like he doesn’t want to do these things anymore. He made it clear that he’s tired of the 82-game grind, and in the playoffs he was clearly hurting. On going down to the block – Sheed’s smart enough to know he was more effective there than at the 3 point line. Got to think his back problems had something to do with his floating around outside.
Dude got older, like the rest of us.
I thought the default option was Fernandez, but it appears we don’t have one player with a matching salary that would interest Portland. He would have to be part of a three team deal, which would likely include an s/t with Nate Robinson. Portland is over the cap. They have Roy and Bayless so they wouldn’t be interested in accquiring a $5m PG/SG.
The Tony Allen deal must be consummated if they are to compete defesnively with Miami. Equally justifiable now is Chicago since Redick is accepting an offer sheet and Korver who has already been signed.
Fernandez is a much better option when you consider his age, size and skill set. Brewer is off the table since he is now unrestricted. Morrow may land in NJ. Barbosa would require Sheed’s contract.
As it stands, Sheed’s $0 buyout/retiring contract may save the day. Danny could pin point a team like New Orleans who would be looking to use the contract as a means to lower it’s cap space. Going after David West ($8.2m/ 2010 – $7.5m PO final year 2011) would be a smart move. Jefferson too is still an option since the Wolves signed Milic and got Beasley essentially for nothing. They are rumored to be shopping Flynn and want to dump his contract. A combination of Nate and the Sheed contract for AJ may suffice. Then perhaps dealing a number one for Fernandez.
I think a loud statement has to be made in response to what has gone down in Miami and Chicago. Eddie House is going to be there at the end of the month. We can wait him out.
@Sophomore
The fact that Sheed remains silent tells us he is retiring, and will go quietly. He is doing the organization a favor by not filing and refusing a buyout which enhances his value.
only way the c’s get rudy is if portland wants to dump joel pryzbilla, and i doubt they want to do that, i think its time we revisit the andris nocioni option, two yrs left on his contract, has 3pt range, solid defender, and could be had for sheed’s contract.
minimum options i’d consider, raja bell, damien wilkins or bobby simmons
what about al harrington?
@Al
Przybilla is a thought. His contract comes off the books next year as well. But you’re right in assuming Portland needing him as insurance for Oden and Camby.
i’d take Nate back over Eddie any day. I love Eddie, and he did some great things for us in the play-offs, but he’s a defensive liability. Sure, Nate isn’t the tallest, but he’s QUICK! When Doc put him in during garbage time at the end of game 5 against the Magic i was shocked that he was staying in front of Nelson, he’s got intensity, he’s an energy guy, and he can hit from beyond the arc. Plus, like many others have said… we need 2/3 players, not more guards. Maybe we can have Ray teach Bradley a thing or 2 about strokin’ the jay, and have him play his natural position at the 2 again
al harrington would be good, provided he hasn’t eroded his bball iq by jacking up shots with the knicks the past few years. I doubt the knicks would do a s&t for sheed, maybe he’d go for the minimum
I think I’d rather have Nate than Eddie. Nate can create for himself, Eddie cannot. Nate can also shoot the 3 and take it to the rim. I guess it just depends on how much money Nate wants? Bringing back Eddie to me would be a bad idea..I think of it as in getting back with an ex – at first it might seem like the person changed for the better and it’s ok, but after awhile old habits are just going to come back and haunt you even more.
Well, this is interesting. If they do sign Eddie House but let Nate Robinson go, who will be the pointguard off the bench?
Eddie is not a pointguard, and Boston will have the same issue it had over the last couple of years – no ball-handler/penetrator of the bench. Unless, of course, they use the rookie Bradley as a point-guard, Eddie House as the shooting guard, Tony Allen as a small-forward. This is small line-up but it can work if it frees Eddie from handling the ball, which he is not “NBA good” at and lets him shoot. Tony Allen can and has guarded some small forwards. My concern would be if Bradly is ready to play point-gaurd off the bench for about 14-15 min a game along with Eddie, Davis, TA? If he is, if Doc feels that he is, and if Danny has confidence, then I’d say let Nate Robinson go. I hate to see that, but if it saves Boston money to get a second big man to back up O’Neal, then go with Bradly at point and Eddie at shooting guard.
However, I still think tht having Nate Robinon solves 2.5-3 issues at once: he can shoot, he can hadnle the ball and penetrate, and he can score. A very good guy off the bench without a significant drop off when Rondo sits.
@Perry – yes on Sheed. My view, too. He wanted to go out, and he’s doing it in a way that helps us. If we could have playoff Sheed for a whole year I’d be happy with that, but it’s not an option.
Check out the potential fallout of LeBron, the trade for David Lee and upcoming NBA Summer League
sportsaccordingtome.com
It’s very rare that something written here isn’t either stupid or completely obvious. The about us page for Celtics Hub explains nothing. You’d think if these guys were qualified, the’d share that information. This one isn’t even from Massachusetts. It’s fair to wonder who his ESPN relative is who got him the job. I also see that not one of the four Celtic Hub bloggers are black.
@no longer reading this
Why so cranky? This is a blog. Opinions, views, news, insight, etc…. I enjoy it for what it is SUPPOSED to be.
@no longer reading this
Your mad the writers arent black? Racist maybe? When i read these articles i believe i am with everyone else who just reads the article and doesnt think of the skin color of who wrote this. Your most likely the only one saying wow this article would be much better if this guy was black.
nvite JC Carroll, Janning, and Art along with those signed with non-guarunteed contracts
Heck, throw in Nick Fazekas from last year as well.
http://www.nba.com/celtics/summerleague/2009/postups.html
We are talking Spots 12-15 anyway that need to be cheap
@ I love Green, @ al:
agree with you both. would keep nate over eddy (don’t care about luxury tax, Cs have the cash). once that is done, they a 2/3 that can play some minutes….even if TA comes back.
then the team is essentially done.
Carroll looked good. So did laffayette. A pg who can create his own shot and make solid passes would fit well here if nate doesnt return. Carroll could be a decent shooter off the bench.
It’d be nice to get Ronnie Brewer, a defensive specialist, but if we’re going for more offense than we should go for Raja Bell.
If we got Brewer we’d could throw 3-4 defenders at Wade, and Lebron. Pierce, TA, Brewer, and maybe Ray could guard Lebron. Bradley, Ray, TA, Brewer, and maybe Pierce could guard Wade. We’re the best team prepared right now to defend that team, and adding Brewer, or Bell would really help us a lot.
CELTICS 2010-2011 CHAMPS Period.
POWE!!! Dammit!
Can we PLEASE bring back Leon Effin Powe!!
His name was on the list of available free agents!! Vet min his ass on back!!
There were rumors last year that Pryzbilla was done after injured himself a second time in a bathroom fall, if that’s true he could be a throw-in in a Rudy-Sheed trade (which would save a lot of money for Blazers) and still be a potentially useful EC for the Celtics.
Brewer or Raja……..YAY i would love House back here but i would take my 1st 2 options first.
Bring back both T.A. AND Nate, as the C’s need youth and energy to balance their experience. Nate Robinson can bring them regular season wins with his offensive capacities, which when fit with Rondo (and T.A.and Glenn Davis) gives the C’s that shot of adrenaline they’ll need. Eddie House is a beautiful shooter, and I hope they can bring him back; but he’s one dimensional, Robinson can disrupt on defense and create on offense.
As much as I like eddie,nate would be better off the bench,he brings explosiveness,and the ability to break down the d-fence.Clearly we need a back up for rondo.Ray allen is steaky and sometimes our team laxxes on d,kriptonite stopped superman,its no telling what he could do in a full season.