Who are some mid-season legit bigman targets? Josh Smith? Big Al?

[wdleehi]

Doc won't be playing any "bigs" except maybe Smith, so don't even ask for these so called bigs! Doc thinks the only way we win is by playing small ball. Instead of taking advantage of Mia's weaknesses (bigs & PG)! We constantly play Mia's way instead of forcing their hand!

Let's be honest, the Celtics do not have the big offensive threat down low to take advantage of that weakness. 

And the real big men are too slow to keep up with the players the Heat are using at C and PF.  (except KG)


I don't like it either, but I think Doc's hands are tied at the moment. 

[Change]

Doc won't be playing any "bigs" except maybe Smith, so don't even ask for these so called bigs! Doc thinks the only way we win is by playing small ball. Instead of taking advantage of Mia's weaknesses (bigs & PG)! We constantly play Mia's way instead of forcing their hand!

Let's be honest, the Celtics do not have the big offensive threat down low to take advantage of that weakness. 

And the real big men are too slow to keep up with the players the Heat are using at C and PF.  (except KG)


I don't like it either, but I think Doc's hands are tied at the moment.

You can punish them with 6 hard fouls from Darko and by being a menace on the glass. A 7 footer automatically will have reach advantage on some 6'6 wing player trying to rebound. I'd love to see Lebron try and post up Collins, Darko, or KG. It will never happen. Similar to Wade they only go in the post against smaller defenders. Doc as usual obliges putting smaller guys on them.

[LooseCannon]

If the Bulls can't sign Taj Gibson to an extension and decide to trade him, would you be willing to trade for him, with the understanding that you need to give him at least $10m/year in the future to keep him, and if so, what would you be willing to give up for him?  I doubt it will happen and I doubt the Celtics can outbid all other teams, but I am interested in what people would be willing to do.

I don't think Boston have anything good enough to tempt Chicago here. Bass isn't good enough. Jeff Green doesn't have too much value with Luol Deng already there. Avery Bradley, maybe, feels like a long shot though. Maybe if those contract extensions bottom out they may consider Courtney Lee as a long term replacement for Rip Hamilton. Sounds questionable / unlikely.

$10 million sounds high. I think they should be able to get him for closer to $8 million which I would happy to pay.

The whole point of my scenario is that Gibson reportedly wants $10m/year and the Bulls want to give him around $2m/year less, so they trade him because he is holding out for an amount they find completely unacceptable and they think someone will give it to him as a restricted free agent but they don't want to match.

So, what would you be willing to offer, knowing that Gibson is probably a one-year rental unless you are willing to probably overpay to lock him up?

[LooseCannon]

I'd love to see Lebron try and post up Collins, Darko, or KG.

Do you want to see Collins/Darko trying to defend Lebron out to the 3-pt line?

[Change]

I'd love to see Lebron try and post up Collins, Darko, or KG.

Do you want to see Collins/Darko trying to defend Lebron out to the 3-pt line?

Not necessarily. But I'd live with Lebron out there instead of in the post. Having a center in at all times would be a welcome change. Bass usually holds his own against Lebron whenever they matched up. And Jeff Green was outstanding last night few minutes he was on Wade.

[kozlodoev]

I'd love to see Lebron try and post up Collins, Darko, or KG.

Do you want to see Collins/Darko trying to defend Lebron out to the 3-pt line?

Not necessarily. But I'd live with Lebron out there instead of in the post. Having a center in at all times would be a welcome change. Bass usually holds his own against Lebron whenever they matched up. And Jeff Green was outstanding last night few minutes he was on Wade.

You really think he'd stay outside if Darko's guarding him? He drives with success on most perimeter players, let alone a center. There's a reason why we aren't doing this.

[Who]

If the Bulls can't sign Taj Gibson to an extension and decide to trade him, would you be willing to trade for him, with the understanding that you need to give him at least $10m/year in the future to keep him, and if so, what would you be willing to give up for him?  I doubt it will happen and I doubt the Celtics can outbid all other teams, but I am interested in what people would be willing to do.

I don't think Boston have anything good enough to tempt Chicago here. Bass isn't good enough. Jeff Green doesn't have too much value with Luol Deng already there. Avery Bradley, maybe, feels like a long shot though. Maybe if those contract extensions bottom out they may consider Courtney Lee as a long term replacement for Rip Hamilton. Sounds questionable / unlikely.

$10 million sounds high. I think they should be able to get him for closer to $8 million which I would happy to pay.

The whole point of my scenario is that Gibson reportedly wants $10m/year and the Bulls want to give him around $2m/year less, so they trade him because he is holding out for an amount they find completely unacceptable and they think someone will give it to him as a restricted free agent but they don't want to match.

So, what would you be willing to offer, knowing that Gibson is probably a one-year rental unless you are willing to probably overpay to lock him up?

I think he'll sign for around $8 million with Chicago.

But if he doesn't ...

Not willing to give up Bradley. I want to see more of him before I'd consider trading him for a player like Taj Gibson. Only willing to move Bradley for someone with star talent at this point.

Happy to part with Jeff Green for Gibson. Or Bass. Or Courtney Lee. Or some combination of the three. I would be reluctant but willing to include Fab Melo in the trade as a sweetener. Sullinger? Yeah, probably so. I imagine the package would be something like Courtney Lee + 2-3 additional assets of either young players or draft picks (late firsts and/or maybe early an second).

Would I make that trade for a one-year rental? Or sign Gibson to a $10 mil a year extension? I wouldn't give an extension now anyway. I'd let it play out into restricted free agency and try to get him cheaper which has a strong chance of happening. I am comfortable taking that risk. Yeah, I'd trade for Gibson believing I can get him cheaper due to his restricted free agency.

It wouldn't be a first option type move but if other moves were unavailable, I would be willing to pay that price and take the risk on Gibson's contract in restricted free agency.

[Change]

I'd love to see Lebron try and post up Collins, Darko, or KG.

Do you want to see Collins/Darko trying to defend Lebron out to the 3-pt line?

Not necessarily. But I'd live with Lebron out there instead of in the post. Having a center in at all times would be a welcome change. Bass usually holds his own against Lebron whenever they matched up. And Jeff Green was outstanding last night few minutes he was on Wade.

You really think he'd stay outside if Darko's guarding him? He drives with success on most perimeter players, let alone a center. There's a reason why we aren't doing this.

Darko is center. last I checked Lebron isn't. All I'm saying we need a Center in at all times.

[snively]

Gibson would definitely be nice, but it's hard to see Chicago moving him without getting a quality defender/rebounder in return (which we don't have to offer).  Thibs will play Noah for 48mpg if he's the only capable big man defender on the team. 

[kozlodoev]

I'd love to see Lebron try and post up Collins, Darko, or KG.

Do you want to see Collins/Darko trying to defend Lebron out to the 3-pt line?

Not necessarily. But I'd live with Lebron out there instead of in the post. Having a center in at all times would be a welcome change. Bass usually holds his own against Lebron whenever they matched up. And Jeff Green was outstanding last night few minutes he was on Wade.

You really think he'd stay outside if Darko's guarding him? He drives with success on most perimeter players, let alone a center. There's a reason why we aren't doing this.

Darko is center. last I checked Lebron isn't. All I'm saying we need a Center in at all times.

No, what you said is that you'd like to see LeBron posting the center, which can't happen unless the center is actually guarding him.

[SHAQATTACK]

I'd love to see Lebron try and post up Collins, Darko, or KG.

Do you want to see Collins/Darko trying to defend Lebron out to the 3-pt line?

Not necessarily. But I'd live with Lebron out there instead of in the post. Having a center in at all times would be a welcome change. Bass usually holds his own against Lebron whenever they matched up. And Jeff Green was outstanding last night few minutes he was on Wade.

You really think he'd stay outside if Darko's guarding him? He drives with success on most perimeter players, let alone a center. There's a reason why we aren't doing this.

Darko is center. last I checked Lebron isn't. All I'm saying we need a Center in at all times.

I agree, IF Green can't guard LBJ and at least do something useful with his salary...might as well take that money and play the BIG man game like the Lakers.  LA has TWO 7 foot players in the GAME all the time.   LBJ is freak  for his size and speed. Can't buy or find another LBJ,  but we can get TWO very high calibre BIGS to contain him around the bucket , BLOCK HIM OUT and GET A rebound for once.

[LooseCannon]

Would you trade for Carlos Boozer?

[wdleehi]

Would you trade for Carlos Boozer?

No.


I rather have a little less talent of a guy that will show up for the playoffs.

[Brendan]

I think they either need a Center with a post game (Jefferson?) or a dynamic PF (Smith.)

The problem right now is the roster depth is great, but the fit is terrible. Reminds me of a talented version of the 07 team. They need to consolidate some of the depth and establish fit.

The SG situation is going to be hard to manage when AB gets back: Lee, Terry, AB, Barbosa fighting for 58 minutes. Any two of them can reasonably take all of those minutes, which wouldn't be a problem if they were an option at SF (they aren't range from too small, to way too small), but with Green and PP, none of them should see SF minutes.

KG is a C. If you didn't get that memo last year, sorry. But it's where he's going to play outside of a starting caliber center with a good post game coming to the team. Even then he'd still play a lot of C.

PF situation is a mess too: Bass, Wilcox, Sullinger all need minutes to get going. But with two small forwards playing at times, that crunch is harder. Playing these guys at C isn't a great option either.

In terms of trades, things get difficult. I'm assuming Danny is not trading KG, Pierce, or Rondo. There's certainly no promise of that, but it just seems unlikely. Everyone else is move-able. Seems like AB is the best young guy teams might like, but probably they want to see he's recovered. Sullinger could play himself into trade bait. Someone might just like Melo. In terms of salaries, it would be weird to see Lee, Terry, Bass, or Green get moved. But if they pull a trade off, one, maybe two of them have to be involved.

[Fan from VT]

If they could pry Favors from Utah for a Bradley package

(a. Bradley, Bass, Wilcox, 1st rounder for Favors, Bell.
b. Bradley, Sully, Melo, Wilcox for Favors (Utah would have to make some cuts).)

this would help roster balance, with Lee and Terry signed for three years each.