5 Steps: Fixing The Celtics
It’s hard to believe, but Kevin Garnett, who was nicknamed "Da Kid" back in Minnesota days, turned 35 years old on Thursday. Ray Allen is actually older than KG. Paul Pierce isn’t a spring chicken, and Shaq is simply ancient. However, the Celtics have little choice but to keep the band together for at least one more season. Boston is essentially ‘pot-committed’ for the 2011-2012 campaign. Kevin Garnett ($21.2 million), Ray Allen ($10 million), Jermaine O’Neal ($6.2 million), and Shaq ($1.4 million) are all in the last year of their respective contracts. Considering the pending restructuring of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, GM Danny Ainge would likely have a very difficult time getting equal value back for his aging stars. Even if he attempted to trade these pieces, he’d likely be unable to find a better fit than this group as currently constituted.
With that as the backdrop, we’ll take a micro-view look at the C’s current roster and propose some suggestions to improve Boston in both the long and short-term.
Here are 5 Steps for Fixing the Celtics:
1. Add a Legitimate Starting Center:
The Celtic centers (or lack thereof) has been a major storyline in New England since the moment Kendrick Perkins was shipped out of Beantown in late February. By trading Perkins at the deadline, GM Danny Ainge was gambling his collection of aging big men would be able to hold down the fort, and protect the paint, in the playoffs. Unfortunately for Boston, as Shaq and JO were fighting a losing battle against Father Time, the HEAT were beating up the Celtics. Shaquille O’Neal scored a total of one point in 12 minutes over nine games in the postseason. Jermaine O’Neal actually played well versus the Knicks in the first round, but eventually broke down against Miami (it was later revealed Jermaine was playing with a fractured wrist).
Adding a starting center Coach Rivers can rely on will be a top priority for Ainge and company this off-season. However, the main road block to reaching that objective is the money the Celtics already have committed to players currently on the roster. If the new Collective Bargaining Agreement imposes a hard cap, Boston may really be stuck. The C’s have to hope that the mid-level exception isn’t taken off the table.
The top-tier free agent big men – such as Nene, Tyson Chandler, and Marc Gasol – are simply not realistic options considering the C’s financial situation. However, if the mid-level exception, or some variation thereof, still exists then Boston may be able to land a decent big man on the open market. One player that may fit Boston’s needs and could be within their price range is Samuel Dalembert. Slammin’ Sammy has plenty of experience in the Atlantic Division, as he spent the vast majority of his NBA career in Philadelphia with the Sixers. Dalembert isn’t a star, but he’s consistent and has been remarkably durable. He missed a grand total of only two games over the previous five seasons combined. This could be a major selling point for Boston.
Statistically, you know what you are going to get with Mr. Dalembert. Last season in Sacramento, Dalembert averaged 8.1 points per game and 8.2 rebounds. Over his nine-year career, he has averaged 8.1 points and 8.3 boards. Considering the dearth of quality centers in today’s NBA, that is quality production. Dalembert certainly isn’t a major difference maker, and he isn’t as physical or aggressive as you might like, but with one of the league’s best help defenders in KG by his side, it could work.
The one major cause of concern in signing Dalembert is that Boston would most-likely have to commit to a long-term contract. Dalembert is desirable enough that he won’t have to settle for just a one-year deal. This is an issue because the Celtics currently only have three players with guaranteed contracts that extend past the 2011-2012 season. Ideally, Ainge would like to maintain maximum cap space and would use it to make a serious run at some of the stud FA’s that may be available in the summer of 2012 – including franchise center Dwight Howard, the best big man on the planet. There are some pluses and minuses for Ainge to weigh here.
Another option to explore would be adding a starting center via a trade. In this scenario, a player like the Clippers’ Chris Kaman would make plenty of sense. Kaman is in the last year of his contract, which pays him $12.2 million. Assuming the Clippers ink DeAndre Jordan to an new deal they may be willing to move Kaman, especially if it saves Donald Sterling (L.A.’s notoriously stingy owner) some money. What about something like this: JO, Avery Bradley and a future draft pick (and cash) to the Clippers for Kaman (and try to find a 3rd team to absorb the salary difference)?
If Boston is forced to shop for a bargain-priced center from the free-agent sale rack, keep these names in mind: Spencer Hawes, Jeff Foster, Joel Przybilla, Erick Dampier, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Nazr Mohammed, Kurt Thomas, Aaron Gray, Dan Gadzuric, Ryan Hollins, Kwame Brown, Jason Collins, et al. Or, if Ainge really feels like rolling the dice, Greg Oden and Yao Ming may be on the market as well.
At the end of the day, Rivers needs reinforcements down low and a center he can feel confident penciling into the starting lineup on a nightly basis.
2. Re-sign Delonte West
Due to the myriad legal troubles swirling around Delonte West last off-season, the C’s were able to sign the mercurial guard to a cheap contract that paid him just over $1 million. Despite a fractured wrist, which cost him all of December, January, and most of February, the investment/gamble in West was a winning one for Ainge and company. Delonte was inconsistent during his injury-marred regular season, but stepped up in the playoffs, when Boston needed him most. West’s contributions were crucial in the Miami series, especially after Rajon Rondo dislocated his elbow. Here is a quick trivia question: There were two Celtic players who scored in double-digits in each of the five games in the semifinals versus Miami – who were they? Paul Pierce and… yup, Delonte West.
Assuming they can get West to agree a modest annual salary, brining him back to Boston makes a lot of sense for both sides. Ainge is still rolling the dice, as West will forever be considered a bit of a loose cannon. However, considering his ability to play either guard spot, West’s versatility makes his volatility less worrisome. As for West, he seemed to find a comfort level in Boston and stayed out of trouble during his season in New England.
3. Waive Goodbye to Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis
While West took a step forward in the playoffs, Big Baby took a major step backwards. Davis had been a productive and valued member of the Celtics bench unit over the last couple of seasons – providing sparks of offense, energy, and decent defense (he led the team in charges taken last year). And during the 2010-2011 regular season, Big Baby looked to be finding his groove and steadily improved. For instance, during the 14 games the C’s played in December, Davis averaged 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest. His numbers remained relatively stable throughout the year, as he averaged over 13 points and seven boards in March.
However, Big Baby crashed and burned in the playoffs. He scored more than six points in a game just once and eventually became a huge liability on the floor for Rivers. Over the Celtics’ nine postseason contests, Davis averaged fewer than five points per game and shot just 39% from the floor. With a limited budget, the C’s will likely be able to spend any money they have elsewhere. Considering he is an unrestricted free agent, it may be time for C’s to cut the umbilical cord and part ways with the Big Baby.
4. Ink Jeff Green to an Extension
Jeff Green’s future is Boston is cloudy, due to a number of extenuating circumstances. For starters, Green wasn’t exactly welcomed with open arms upon his arrival in New England. The C’s acquired Green from the Thunder via the Kendrick Perkins trade, which rocked this Celtics team to it’s core. Some claim the C’s never fully recovered. Through no fault of his own, Green’s tenure with Boston was strained from the start. He never seemed to be embraced by the Garden faithful. Moreover, Green never found a comfort zone on the floor. He was never locked into a solid role and his minutes and responsibilities seemed to vary from game-to-game.
Green seemed lost during his short stint with the C’s, but he should not be judged solely on the few months he spent attempting to fit in.
{AUTHOR_BOX}Since bursting on the scene out of Georgetown, Green has appeared to be on the verge of blossoming into a very good NBA forward. He was drafted 5th overall (by Boston, before being shipped to Seattle for Ray Allen) and in just his second NBA season, Jeff averaged 16.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.2 three-pointers per game – as a 22-year-old. Green took fewer shots for the Thunder as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook emerged as superstars, but still averaged over 15 points and 6 boards for the better part of 2.5 seasons in OKC. Green was also considered a solid and versatile defender; someone who was capable of guarding both athletic small forwards and brawny PF’s.
Ainge wouldn’t have given up Kendrick Perkins unless he felt he was getting back a terrific talent.
Ironically, Green’s less than impressive debut with the Celtics may end up saving Boston some money this summer when Jeff hits the free-agent market. Green will be a restricted free agent in July (or whenever the lockout ends), which leaves Ainge in a desirable position. He can allow Green to test the free agent waters and see what kinds of offers he receives. In all likelihood, the new fiscally conservative environment in the post-lockout NBA will tighten owner’s purse strings and drastically reduce the salaries of most players, and all non-superstars.
Thus, Ainge can sit back and let the market determine what Green is worth. At that point, Green will accept the best offer and Ainge can match it without spending a dollar more than he has too.
Safely assuming Boston brings back Green, it is then up to Doc Rivers to figure how to best utilize his talents and impressive skill set. If Big Baby is in fact out of the picture, that may help clear the way for more consistent minutes. Entrenching Green as the team’s sixth man and giving him a clearly defined role and responsibilities could greatly enhance his ability to contribute consistently.
5. Begin Preparing for the Inevitable
As discussed at the start of this story, the C’s have little choice but to keep the band together and make one last run with this group as currently constituted. Nonetheless, Ainge and company have to remain cognizant that KG and his crew are approaching the finish line. Thus, Boston has to begin preparing for life after the Big 3…
The C’s took the first step towards this task by signing Head Coach Doc Rivers to a five-year extension that will reportedly pay him $35 million. Rivers will remain the face, voice, and leader of the team for the foreseeable future. He is not only a good coach, but also provides the organization with much-needed stability and will assist in all recruiting efforts.
After next season, depending how the 2011-2012 campaign plays out, Ainge will have to sit down with KG and Ray Allen and they will have to figure out what’s in the best interest of all parties. Would Garnett be willing to play another season or two at a drastically reduced salary? What does Allen have planned? It is impossible to speculate with any clarity, we’ll just have to wait in see.
In the meantime, Rivers may want to give youngster Avery Bradley some extra time next season to find out if the kid is a legit NBA player.
Rondo is locked in for the long-term (through 2015), and Pierce still has three more seasons left on his deal. Now, Danny Ainge just has to figure how he will flesh out the rest of the roster around his stud PG and small forward – while also fighting hard to hang an 18th banner in Boston next June…
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