David Aldridge: The Boston Celtics "are gonna have to at least get one free agent of consequence"

http://clnsradio.com/boston-celtics-news/item/11761-david-aldridge-the-boston-celtics-are-gonna-have-to-at-least-get-one-free-agent-of-consequence



David Aldridge: The Boston Celtics "are gonna have to at least get one free agent of consequence"
Written by Edward Santiago



David Aldridge: The Boston Celtics "are gonna have to at least get one free agent of consequence"


Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports



The Boston Celtics are in the playoffs? Yes! The Boston Celtics are in the playoffs! They play today at 3:00 pm on ABC, but before that listen to what’s happening on the Celtics Beat Podcast. This week on Celtics Beat, Larry H. Russell brings on David Aldridge of TNT and NBA TV.

Some would say that the Boston Celtics making the playoffs hurts the rebuild, and others will say making the playoffs can help accelerate the growth and rebuild of the team.

“I think Boston is in good shape, it’s okay for me, I’m never going to say making the playoffs is a bad thing,” Aldridge said “Any time you can get young guys the experience of going on the road, hostile environment, with the way intensity ratcheted up, games called differently ... guys have to experience that, that’s how you get better.”

The Celtics making the playoffs wasn’t going to make the second half run they made any less impressive. It almost raises expectations for them going into the offseason. It doesn't hurt their chances of a succesful either.

“Because of all the cap room and all the picks that [the Celtics], they can maneuver throughout the draft to get into the top five if they want”

Boston and free agency have never really meshed well. They haven’t signed many free agents throughout their history.

“I don’t think [Boston] is the number one destination for free agents. They have not signed a ton of free agents through their history. I think part of that is because they haven’t had to. They’ve had really good teams been playoff teams, and championship contending teams,” Aldridge said.

There’s more to it than Boston just not being a destination city.

“They didn’t need to be a player in free agency because they acquire all of their players through the draft and trades. Now they’re gonna have to, I think, get at least one player of consequence in free agency to really accelerate the rebuild.”

To hear the entire interview with David Aldridge of TNT and NBA TV listen to the Celtics Beat Podcast with Larry H. Russell. He talks to Aldridge, and Dave McMenamin of ESPN.



bob
MY NOTE: What do you think increases the odds of this happening? Having a team that made the playoffs, or one that didn't?


.

Brandon Bass!

kdp,

I also like the idea of re-signing Bass, but I think that the author may have meant signing an additional free agent probably thinking that Bass would already come back from the tone of the article.

SIGN BASS TRADE SULLY!

112288

Bob, making the playoffs improves the Celts chances of signing a free agent. No doubt about it.

Personally, I prefer trades over either free agency or the crap shoot as a means of acquiring known quantities in or near their prime rather than either damaged and overpaid goods or possible projects.  BUT, when one thinks about the assets that Danny has (or doesn't have) to offer in trade, those assets may not obtain truly qualified players in trade as much as free agent money, the opportunity to become a significant part of an historic tradition, and the sniff of exciting and accelerating potential current emanating from the team.

One X factor is the value of all those trade picks and players on the current roster in terms of potentially trading up in the draft.  I'm a little bearish on that possibility, but it could definitely occur.  Where are the Ice Capades when we really need them?

Sam

Sam, is that a reference to the deal Walter Brown made to get Cousy?

No, W, it was the deal he made to get Russell.  For those who didn't know about it, this telling of the story allegedly appeared in Red's book, "Let Me Tell You a Story."

Hey, maybe some form of karma will transmit this philosophy to Danny Ainge as a means of moving up in the drafting order this year.

Sam

*****

The NBA draft has always been a part of the league.  But the resources teams could devote to the process were initially quite limited.

To illustrate, consider how the Boston Celtics came to draft Hall-of-Fame center Bill Russell. The person responsible for acquiring Russell was Red Auerbach.  Back in 1950 Auerbach became the Celtics head coach, as well as “general manager, chief scout, and marketing guru.” 

For the first six years of Auerbach’s tenure the Celtics consistently posted a winning record but could never get past the Eastern Division Finals.  And then in 1956 Auerbach got a call from Bill Reinhart, his old college coach. Reinhart had just visited the West Coast and seen a player from the University of San Francisco named Bill Russell.  When Reinhart returned from California he called Auerbach and said: “I’ve seen this guy who can make you into a championship team. You have to get this guy.”  Reinhart went on to discuss Russell’s ability to get rebounds and play defense.
Of course Auerbach wondered if Russell could contribute on offense.  In Reinhart’s view, Russell was not a very good shooter and couldn’t help Boston much on offense.  Nevertheless, Reinhart thought Russell was a player who could help the Celtics win games.

For the remainder of the college season Auerbach tracked Russell and the University of San Francisco (primarily via newspaper reports). When the season was over Russell’s team was undefeated and had won a second straight NCAA title. 
We should emphasize that Auerbach claims he never saw Russell play before he was drafted.  Auerbach’s interest in Russell was entirely based on what Reinhart told him about his play and the record Russell’s team achieved.  Based on this limited information, Auerbach took the following steps to acquire Russell.

The Celtics entered the 1956 draft with the 7^th pick.  This pick was sent to the St. Louis Hawks – along with Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan, for the 2^nd pick.  It was believed that the Rochester Royals – who had the first pick – might want to take Russell. Auerbach, though, had a secret weapon.  The owner of the Celtics, Walter Brown, was also the president of the Ice Capades.  Brown called up the owner of the Royals– Lee Harrison — with the following offer:  Brown would send the Ice Capades to Rochester for one week if the Royals would pass on Russell. 

Harrison agreed and with the first overall choice in the 1956 draft the Royals selected Si Green, a guard from Duquesne.  Green only played 33 games with the Rochester-Cincinnati Royals before he was sent to the St. Louis Hawks.  After the Hawks he played for a franchise that transformed from the Chicago Packers, to the Chicago Zephyrs, and finally to the Baltimore Bullets.  And then he finished his career in 1965-66 with the Boston Celtics.  Across his nine season career Green never averaged more than 12.7 points per game and he was below average in shooting efficiency.  Although we can’t measure Wins Produced prior to 1977, one suspects given the data that is available that Green was not one of the better NBA players in the game during his career.  In sum, one hopes the shows the Ice Capades put on for that one week in Rochester were simply amazing; because it certainly appears Si Green never came close to the productivity of Bill Russell.

wide clyde wrote:kdp,

I also like the idea of re-signing Bass, but I think that the author may have meant signing an additional free agent probably thinking that Bass would already come back from the tone of the article.

yeah I know, it was an attempt at humor...thus the emoticon.


It would certainly be nice if Ainge can snag a starting NBA center or at least one who can split time with Zeller (who certainly has earned a spot on this team in the future to me) in Free agency.

The trouble for me now is I don't see that perfect FA Center out there who is likely to move form his current team.

Duncan-retired I say, but not moving.
Gasol- I think he stays at Memphis for max money
Jordan- Doubt the Clippers let him walk unless he gets a max offer.
Aldridge- some new talk about him being unhappy, but really another PF.
Hibbert- has a player option which he should take, but the pacers seem to be pushing out.

to me those are the only top level FA centers (PF) this year.

Lesser talents who could start here:

Robin Lopez- would be a nice signing, but if Aldridge leaves they will pay to keep him for sure.
Asik- an upgrade over Zeller for rebounding and defense, but not much on offense. At what cost?
Monroe- Low post offense and rebounding, not much defense. reportedly on his way to NY.
Sanders- exactly what we need, but without the love of weed. he may never play again.

Players who could share time with Zeller and allow Olynyk to move to PF:

Dalembert- too old and only played half this year.
Perkins- would bring a toughness back for sure. stay tuned I guess.
Koufas- a guy I think might be in the discussion for $5M or less.


that's about it as far as FA centers IMO.


Trade options:

Hibbert - if he opts in the final year and the Pacers move him.
Noel- only because I like him a lot, no sing Philly will trade him.
Cousins- the marriage with George may not last. Will cost a TON to get.
Miles Plumlee- on his third team in three years. ranked 41, 43 the past two years in my "rim protecter" rankings.....hmmm.

The draft:
we've lost some options in the area the Celtics are drafting now (Poelti and AJ Hammons).But Big men in this draft ( with where I think they are likely to be picked today).

Towns- 1-2
Okafor- 1-2
Cauley- Stein- 6-8
Porzingis- 6-10
Turner- 8-12
Kaminsky- 10-16

Portis- 14-19
Wood- 20-28
McCullough- 24-36
Dakari Johnson- 25-35
Upshaw- 28-38

so to wind down this longer than anticipated post, I feel the real options are as follows:

Sign one of:
Asik
Koufas
Sanders
Perkins

or
Trade for one of:
Noel
Plumlee

and
draft one of:

WCS- will cost Both first this year and probably a first and second next year. that's a high cost.
Turner- cost both picks this year maybe.
Kaminsky _ only if we stay put
Johnson or Upshaw with out late first or early second.

I just don't see that big dollar FA center walking though the door this off-season

Great post kdp, hope Upshaw and Johnson can develop....actually they're both probably better than our tallest bigs on defense right now.