Today has been a crazy day for the NBA. Unfortunately, everything has remained pretty quiet on the Celtics front. Earlier this morning the hot Celtics news was that talks involving Nate Robinson re-signing were gaining steam. This, while good news, is not exactly what fans have been waiting for after the Celtics created a gaping hole in the bench by not signing Tony Allen.
Zach Lowe has speculated that Danny Ainge has a plan in place. A plan good enough that he was willing to let Tony Allen go over a guarunteed third year. While that plan has yet to materialize, other small forward/defensive specialist/swingman/wing players are forging their own way:
Through it all, Allen remained in contact with the Boston front office, along with his former teammates. Before he could even begin to think about a final decision, Celtics coach Doc Rivers announced he’d be returning to the Boston bench and Paul Pierce agreed to re-sign with the team.
From there, the decision ultimately made itself.
Hmmmm…anyone else kind of wish he had told some of us? Oh and hadn’t waited a few days to let everyone know that his mind was made up? (Ray, I kid. I love you and am stoked that you’re back for this season and next).
Here’s another ditty about getting some free agents on the horn:
But he did, and he’s ready to now be the one making phone calls to recruit talent to Boston. He acknowledged that losing a player like reserve guard Tony Allen — a key bench player not only in terms of his defense, but in spelling Pierce and Allen — is no easy role to fill.
“It’s tough to lose Tony,” Ray Allen said as the other Allen prepares to ink a reportedly three-year deal in Memphis. “He’s one of the great defenders over the last two years. We’ll be looking for somebody to definitely defend, and possibly shoot. A guy who can spell Paul and myself with minutes. We’ll see if we can get the best person. It might require one of the guys placing a phone call.”
I love the enthusiasm, I just wish they would get on with it. Lots of names dropping off the board.
Alright, that’s it for now. I swear I’ll have that Summer League wrap-up post soon (or at least before the start of the regular season).
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hmm, i have to admit i have no clue who will come
Bower’s exit could pave the way of a mini house cleaning due to new ownership.
I say Sheed and a 1st or 2nd for Rich. Jeff. straight up. The #’s work, he could stay long term and he would thrive with Rondo as his point, just like he did with J Kidd in an uptempo style of play. And he can defend well, that is the move to make and Danny needs to do what it takes to make it happen!
You don’t say,after Raja goes to LA and now that Brewer is heading back to Utah(strange) it looks like we’re left with House and Rasual Butler.
I don’t know about you guys, but it seems to me that Danny isn’t taking this off season seriously enough.
@Brendan
Love the Barnes idea. Would be a nice bounce back move, but he’s perhaps a mil above the vet minimum. Otherwise an asset would have to come back Orlando’s way.
with all the moves in the league it seems like our window is closing for a decent set of free agents…what do you guys think about re-signing nate and signing e. house and trading rasheed’s contract for posey (who ironically would still be a celtic had Ainge just inked him for the four year deal he wanted two years ago)
I’m not sure the Posey we’d get now is the Posey we lost then.We shouldn’t have lost him then, but what do his last year numbers say now?With Nate and Bradley it may be too late for Eddie. There’s no point in adding any guard without height. I think Mike Miller was the player to have, but it looks like it’s too late for that too Does anyone see any reason for adding Erden? I hope I’m missing something.
Is Craig Smith available?
Posey’s numbers have taken a dive since he departed here.I don’t think he will bring anything of value here either.
I would say if there are not many more attractive options left, then we resign Daniels for 2 years and try to get a scoring wing like TMAC at min or Howard with Sheed. If Barnes wants to come I’m good on that too for a couple years.
@Shooter
Actually his offensive numbers were off a bit last year and are in mild decline, but that holds true for any player his age. Besides, Posey isn’t going to fill it up anyway. He plays solid ‘D’ and hits clutch shots. Horry was doing that until he retired.
Posey’s defensive numbers have been extremely consistent over the past 4 years. He may be overpriced for his age. Consider though he rarely takes bad shots, does not miss many games, and plays 20+ a night.
It’s all conjecture at this point, but I maintain the Hornets are the team to do business with. With Bower out don’t be surprised to hear a few more CP3 trade rumors.
Barnes is officially unrestricted now.
Matt Barnes got trashed by Pierce. He won’t be able to guard Kobe, Wade, or Lebron effectivley enough. Plus he blows on offense.
Resign Quis then somehow get Josh Howard.
I think Matt Barnes can be a solid player for the Celtics. Other than this year, we all wanted Tony Allen is to leave so you know players can turn it around quickly. I think the Celtics have the coaches to do that even w/o Coach Thib. Doc and the assistants have learned from Dr. Defense (AKA coach Thib). You said that he had potential in the 07 playoffs when he had 1.5 steals per game.
Barnes is trash. Don’t try to convince me otherwise, you’ll lose.
POWE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dammit!
@i love green. just re read my paragraph,
Sheed, and a pick to the Cavs for Varejao and Powe. Works financially.
@chris i don’t think cleveland is willing to give up varejao at this point especially after this offseason…but i would love to have powe back
@JA- I understand what you’re saying, but Barnes is not the answer.
not a fan of barnes, inconsistent shot and he’s more bark than bite defensively. guy’s been on 3 teams the last 3 yrs, that says something.
i like damien wilkins and dj strawberry at minimum deals, but i’m hoping for a big move from danny w sheed’s contract and possible filler.
Green’s right–Barnes isn’t the answer. I’d stay away big time.
My theory on TA: He was so amazing this year thanks to Thibbs. With Thibbs gone, and no longer in TA’s ear, Boston believe he will decline, and thus was willing to let him go.
Ever heard of spell-check?
Hi justin!
@Zain- Thats a good theory, and one I never thought of, but Thibs has been around since 07-08 and TA was horrible up until this year.
Maybe since he was healthy most of the year for once, he was able to play well.
@Green: I know, but this year TA admitted to listening to Thibbs and doing ‘what coach tells me to do’.
SO, I mean. who knows how much of an affect Thibbs really had on TA, but I think it will be interesting to see how TA plays on 1v1 D with Memphis without his coach.
Yeah I know what you’re saying. I think he’ll do good, but not as good as this year since he won’t have KG, Thibs, and Doc barking at him the whole time.
@Green, do you think Posey could potentially return and not suck? I wonder how much of his decline is age, and how much is new system, doing too much, etc.
I dont think Barnes would be a great replacement for TA but he was injured during the celtics series. So yes pierce did destroy him. A healthy barnes does have the potential to guard kobe. He did alright against him when he played with the suns in the playoffs and the suns dont play defense. We would lose some defense but he is a much better offensive player than tony. Plus barnes made 1.6 last year and might take 1.3 from us. So he is a discount next to TA as well.
Barnes wants security with a team. So something long term. He won’t get that here.
@Zain- I think if Posey came and played for us for about 20 minutes per game he’d do what we want him to do. 3 and D. He’s a role player, and the Hornets are asking him to do too much, and play too much.
I don’t believe he’ll be the Posey of the 08 championship team, but if we can get him, and then someone at SG he won’t need to be the Posey of 08.
You think he can have Defense of 08 caliber though? Cause if he can do that, for 20 minutes a game. I’d want him back.
I wouldn’t mind having Posey back. I bet New Orleans would be thrilled to shed his contract for Rasheed’s. He’s not perfect of course. His mobility has gone down with age and injuries and it wasn’t like he was a great athlete anyway. But still, he can shoot and will give up his body for charges. And there are only two years left on his contract which fits in with the timeline Ainge is working with.
I’m not sure there is any better wing shooter and/or defender available for Rasheed’s contract.
I don’t think TA’s defensive improvement was solely on Thibs. It’s part of it but that could be said for everyone. Tony’s been around Thibs for three years and his defense only improves this year? No.
Who knows why Tony improved. It wasn’t technique or anything, it was just game to game consistency that Tony finally showed. Before Thibs ever got here, Tony had great defensive games. He had all the tools within him but just lacked the mental consistency. Maybe something clicked mentally, maybe he gained more confidence by being injury free and being the top reserve for the second half. Who knows. I think it’s 50/50 if he’ll be good at Memphis. I wish him well though. He was frustrating but I loved his energy on the bench greeting the starters even when he was in the doghouse.
Barnes was alright in guarding Kobe………COME AGAIN.
I agree, i don’t understand where all the Barnes love is coming from…he blows balls.All bark and no bite.
Ok lets look at the facts:
Brewer is likely going to utah
Posey may or may not be on the market
Kobe I cant hit a shot in game 7 bryant will likely get Bell to sign in LA
TA is gone. He wont be coming back
Josh howard is likely to sign with the bulls for a decent contract
Barnes would be a decent back up wing. The options are getting slimmer every day. We have missed out on guys. Why not take a chance on a wing who can play. No he is not tony allen. That doesnt mean we have to hate him.
Anyone have any better ideas let me know. Dont say well we can trade sheeds contract and … for ,,,
It doesnt look like teams are looking to help us out. Beasley, Childress, and Al Jefferson. We could have made those type of deals happen with sheeds contract and picks.
I say we take our chances with barnes and be happy we actually have a back up wing.
how about jon scheyer (duke)? i hear he’s playing for the heat in the summer league but is still unsigned? celtics can use a knockdown shooter and he may actually be the best one left
@lakershater……
“It doesn’t look like teams are looking to help us out.”
DING, DING, DING, DING, DING!!!!!
We have a winner!
Where’s Jeff?
Damn shame 2 lose Tony Allen, defensive pest and great athleticism, now the C’s have to focus on getting T-Mac 2 come in(I think Doc can encourage him 2 come to Boston, being his former coach and all) and key in on Matt Barnes, he and Raja Bell r the 2 best defenders left on the market, I personally think that either 1 of them can flourish in the C’s defense, plus their both good 3 point shooters so either one would be a slight upgrade over Tony Allen
You do realize that “A plan good enough that he was willing to let Tony Allen go over a guarunteed third year.” isn’t actually a sentence, and that “guarnunteed” isn’t actually a word, right?
“Here’s an interesting idea.” should really end in a colon. I mean the punctuation and not the body part from which, metaphorically at least, your writing seems to emanate.
Oh man, I know. I spell guaranteed wrong all the time. It’s a curse.
By the way, did you hear Ben Wallace signed with the Pistons? So surprising.