Backup Center Options to Replace PJ

[LarryBrdismyDad]

As I understand it from reading most of the threads on this board if we resign James Posey then he will take up all our MLE money because we don't have his bird rights. With PJ Brown most likely retiring who can we get to replace him? To me this seems like the only pressing need with our team now. We filled our need for more athleticism on the wing through the draft by drafting two lottery level talent players in J.R. Giddens and Bill "Sky" Walker (My fav player in the draft and a major sleeper, in 4 years he will be a top 20 player in this draft). I think Tony Allen is most likely gone now considering he would have gotten 2.7 mil this yr which is 5.4 with the lux tax. We also will fill our need at backup PG by having Gabe Pruitt (another 2nd round guy who will be a top 20 player in his draft class) get more minutes and by probably resigning Eddie House and letting go of Sam "I am" Cassell. Who can we get at Center though with basically the vet's minimum? Maybe we trade Scal to a team who has a Center making like 4 mil a yr that they want to dump? Unlikely though. Here is a list of available FA centers who we could get: (brace yourselves a lot of stiffs here)

Jamal Magloire
Theo Ratliff
Patrick O'Bryant
Dikembe Mutombo
Kwame Brown
Alonzo Mourning
Michael Doleac
Adonyl Foyle
Pat Garrity
Brian Skinner
Sean Marks
Lorenzen Wright
Sean Marks
Francisco Elson
Primoz Brezec

Im cringing thinking one of these stiffs could be in our rotation next year.

[SonicYouth34]

Alonzo and Elson are really the only guys to even look at on that list. What's our roster gonna look like next season?

[sox839]

Hey don't forget uconn alum Jake Voskuhl.

[DynastyInTheMaking]

Definitely give Zo, Theo or Kurt Thomas a call midseason next year.

[bceltic55]

Jamal Maglorie is your classic underachiever and on the C's he can spot Perk and KG and should not cost us much.

[Gant]

The Celtics already have their back up. He can play. It's just that he had ankle problems this past year.

Scot Pollard.

[Man_Up]

Kurt Thomas would be an excellent replacement for PJ, and I know he wants a ring.

[spf211]

Leon Powe and whoever will play for exception money.

If no one will play for exception money, don't cut into the MLE, wait until February and see if you can trade or coax someone out of retirement.

[TheSheriff]

I am hoping for Kurt Thomas.

[GreenGrizz]

What about Robert Swift??

[spf211]

I'd say Swift only gets back on Danny's radar if

1) Seattle isn't aggressive about re-signing him
AND
2) Posey cannot be signed

[celticfan42487]

Well the MLE is either going to Posey, or to C/PG backup.

At this point I think we have to give the MLE to Posey and see what we can get. We may end up with a vet min Doleac player for backup C. And I guess whatever we can find for a PG since we still need a reliable dribbler after Rondo. That's our biggest/only weakness behind backup Center if we re-sign Posey.

[Dogen]

Ditto on Pollard. The job is unless he still can't go on the foot.

[Bigmiketruth]

Pollard is done, and if he isn't you could still do better. Kwame Brown could had for cheap, he's a pretty solid defender and way more mobile than Pollard. Not much of a shotblocker but you don't have to double his man and frees KG/Baby/Powe from having to tango with centers. I think the Celtics should give him a look if they're going to add a big though FA, Elson is the only other guy I see on that list. Zo is in Miami or retiring IMO.

[CelticFan101]

PJ Brown was the most important role player for us throughout the playoffs, even more important up until the last 2-3 games than Posey.... If they were the same age, I'd say resigning Brown would be a bigger priority.... That said, if we do let PJ go, there are some nice, cheap options that are all better than Scot Pollard....

Of the names mentioned, I like Kurt Thomas, Zo Mourning, Brian Skinner, and Francisco Elson in that order.... All provide length and strong post defense against 4s/5s, and Thomas/Zo can definitely hit the 15-18 footer that made PJ so effective....

[Fencer reregistered]

What makes people think San Antonio will let Kurt Thomas get away cheap? I don't get it. Ditto Houston and Mutombo, actually.

Maybe Mutombo would jump if he thought he could raise more money for his charity in Boston than in Houston, but my guess is that he's now settled and locked in there.

[sox839]

The celtics haven't mentioned pollard at all. Unfortunately the guy has not been healthy he would have been a good asset but he has not played more than 50 games in a season in five years and only played 46 in the last two years. He could be in the mix but probably isn' the first choice. The c's will sign a backup but for the minium salary. A couple of guys could be on the radar but they need someone who won't mess up the chemistry. Any of these guys would fit they are all unrestricted fransisco elson, adonal foyle, chris andersen, jake voskuhl, theo ratliff, jamaal magliore. The two guys on the list that will fill the role perfectly are ellison or voskuhl.