Ainge: “It’s just a waiting time right now”
Danny Ainge admitted what’s been so damn frustrating for us Celtics fans over the past couple weeks. (Boston Herald)
“It’s just a waiting time right now,” Ainge said yesterday. “Some teams have a lot of money left to spend, and we have to wait them all out.” [...]
The Celtics’ attempt to move the yet-to-retire Rasheed Wallace’s $6 million salary slot may even take longer, after teams finish with free agency and have a better idea of how their respective rosters shape up.
But right now, movement on that front for the Celtics is even slower than the attempt to sign a quality player to a veteran’s minimum contract.
Paul Pierce wasn’t joking last week when he said there were “slim pickings” left in the market.
Not even the lure of a team that came within 12 minutes of the NBA title is always enough when money is involved.
“That’s never been enough to prevent guys from making money,” said Ainge. “It’s always hard to gauge. We just have to wait and see. There are still good players out there.”
I wouldn’t be worried except the Celtics have SO MANY holes to fill. Backup shooting guard, backup small forward, and another big. I figure Sheed’s contract can fetch one or two of those spots, leaving one veteran minimum guy to fill the leftover(s).
Can the C’s still put together a deep bench? I think so. Sheed’s retiring contract will become very valuable once a few teams get near the luxury tax. But this waiting thing ain’t fun.
Related posts:
Celtics Blog, Featured | Jay King | July 20, 2010
i think they need 2 fill two spots—-The wing player you trade for or sign to vet min—has to be a combo wing who can play shooting gaurd and small foward—–Bradley will see some minutes at SG as well—-
1 wing player
1 big center—–Shaqqqq get him in boston so we have the most size in the league—-he fits our offense as well—we never go small, we always play 2 bigs—and we work off team Sets to get mismatches or open looks—
Could shaq ever set some baseline screens for ray
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Can Bradley really play the two though? Not against Kobe or somebody like that, that’s for damn sure. The Celtics need to sign two wings, IMO.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
lakers play line-ups with farmer and brown—all teams go 2 smaller players in the game for stretches—-
Reddick and Nelson another example
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Allen makes a decent point. Not all teams have SGs like Kobe and Wade. Lots of teams play smaller line ups, especially in the second units.
I think Bradley can see some stretches at 2 certainly. But you’re right in that there needs to be other options.
You can’t get anything for Sheed’s contract until taem’s rosters have come together and their looking to get under the luxury line. There’s no choice but to wait.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Redick is strong, though. Bradley’s weak. The top guys in the game, the guys the Celtics used to sic Tony Allen on, would abuse him in the post.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
sometimes you make teams matchup to you instead of matchn up to them—-Suns have done it for a decade with thier whole team—-i think the celtics could get away with a small backup 2 gaurd for 15 minutes—-he is 6″3 but very long arms
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I agree, he’s got a 6’7 wingspan, and on top of that is a very good defender. His timing is great, he doesn’t bite on every fake, and he absolutely has the ability to guard guys 6’4 or 6’5 I believe. How many SGs out there are bigger than that?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Kobe would destroy him in the post though. And in the playoffs, the teams the Celtics need to beat will all have SGs like that — Wade, Kobe and VC.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I dunno. We’ll see. Doc didn’t seem too enthused about the idea when asked about it. It COULD work, but not ideal. And who knows whether Bradley will even crack Doc’s rotation. Doc hates rooks.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
this isnt a regular rookie, i think his strenghts translate—your worried about vince carter——-THAT GUY HAS BEEN A CHOKE ARTIST IN PLAYOFFS for a decade……
Kobe doesnt play the whole game—-lakers go small with blake and brown—–its a height mismatch but if he can keep bigger gaurds from penetrating im not worried vs most teams with taller gaurds—-wade is not that much taller at all—and he doesnt post up—he is more of a face up driver—–
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
He isn’t a regular rookie? He only averaged 11 points and 2 assists per game last year. This isn’t a finished product we’re talking about. Not by any means. Maybe it’ll be different because of his defense, but only maybe.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Bradley can and will play some time at the 2 spot. We don’t need him to play against Kobe and Wade that mutch and besides which we are talking about guys who play a perimeter game.
I understand when you say that bigger guys will attempt to drag Bradley under and abuse him in the post but Kobe tried that with TA, due to his size advantage, in the Finals and failed miserably.
The Celtic’s aren’t stupid, they are fully aware of the fact that teams would try that, but their defensive scheme is TEAM based, so they protect the individual deficiencies of each player through their scheme.
Whenever Kobe tried it, KG, Perk or Sheed would rotate slightly to force Kobe into a double if he tried to go into the post. Bradley can and will play the 2 spot and it won’t be an issue. C’s are too good defensively to have it be a problem, and Bradley is 100% committed on that end of the floor.
As for trade partners for Sheed, what about Philly? People keep talking about Nocioni trade for Sheed but what about a trade for Kapono? He’s a dead eye shooter from 3 with a 44% career avg!
He may be somewhat less durable but he’s got more length.
Also, what’s the chance of getting one of the King’s big men, like Jason Thompson, since they kind of have a logjam there now with Dalembert, Cousins, Landry, Whiteside and Thompson?
Maybe Francisco Garcia or Donte Green and Jason Thompson for Sheed (and Gaffney if it’s Garcia) and a 2nd rounder?
I don’t know if there’s much in it for SAC since they’re already way under the cap but it’d save them money in the long run on Garcia, and give them another draft pick for the future. They’d be able to offer a MAX contract next year.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
But TA is a whole lot stronger than Bradley. Bradley isn’t just short, he’s also frail. There’s a huge difference between a strong 6’3 or 6’4 and a weak one. You guys are really trying to sell me on Bradley. I’m just not so sure 1) whether he’s ready, or 2) how he fits in.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I almost like the Francisco Garcia/Thompson idea. I don’t like Kapono too much, unless they find another wing too.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Actually scratch the Gaffney part, he wouldn’t be needed.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0