House and TA likely going...

[Rocky5000]

^Exactly, even if Tony still only plays well as a starter this year, if someone like Ray, Paul, or even Rondo goes down for a stretch of games, it'd be nice to have a guy who can step in and make an impact as a starter.

[vct33]

Well Lue said that he worked on a contract for a long time with Boston and he went to the Bucks because of 600,000 dollars. Now, either we are after someone specific at PG or we are really going on the cheap. I hope we aren't going on the cheap that bad or this team is done with a one year championship team.

It's not about being cheap. Why waste part or all of an exception on him? You offer the guy the vet minimum and if someone like Milwaukee wants to come in for the LLE then so be it. We can't give our LLE to Tyrone Lue without exhausting every other possibility.

[humblebum]

I don't think it's so much an issue of the Celtics not being able to find a role for Tony just moreso that Tony was completely dissatisfied with his role this season and is looking to move on in order to find a role that suits what he is looking for, namely the chance to win a starting position and play 30+ minutes consistently, maybe even be a 2nd or 3rd option offensively.

IMO the ONLY way Tony comes back is if there is ZERO interest in his services... I just can't see that happening.

[ryaningf]

It's not about being cheap. Why waste part or all of an exception on him? You offer the guy the vet minimum and if someone like Milwaukee wants to come in for the LLE then so be it. We can't give our LLE to Tyrone Lue without exhausting every other possibility.

What ^he^ said. Using the LLE on a 3rd string player like Lue would have actually cost the Cs 3 million in luxury tax expenses. And let's not forget the fact that Lue isn't that good anyway. Whoever's our third string, veteran insurance point guard, it's going to be a guy making the minimum, that's for certain, even if that guy is Stephon Marbary, he's going to be making the minimum.

[ryaningf]

I don't think it's so much an issue of the Celtics not being able to find a role for Tony just moreso that Tony was completely dissatisfied with his role this season and is looking to move on in order to find a role that suits what he is looking for, namely the chance to win a starting position and play 30+ minutes consistently, maybe even be a 2nd or 3rd option offensively.

IMO the ONLY way Tony comes back is if there is ZERO interest in his services... I just can't see that happening.

Tony's first choice, according to his agent, is to come back to the Cs. He was nothing but ubuntu all season. If anything, he was completely dissatisfied with himself. Now that Posey's gone, he knows there's a role on this team. As his agent said, "Tony's a creature of habit." He wants to be back. Now it's a question of what it'll take to bring him back.

[Celtics_85]

It is one thing when you are cap strapped for years near the Tax threshold, but we are for one more year as Garnett's contract drops 8.3 million next year. I'm not saying to go out and spend the MLE, but to pay about 3 million more in luxury after winning a championship and to stay competitive, come on now, that would be cheapfor a year.

[humblebum]

I don't think it's so much an issue of the Celtics not being able to find a role for Tony just moreso that Tony was completely dissatisfied with his role this season and is looking to move on in order to find a role that suits what he is looking for, namely the chance to win a starting position and play 30+ minutes consistently, maybe even be a 2nd or 3rd option offensively.

IMO the ONLY way Tony comes back is if there is ZERO interest in his services... I just can't see that happening.

Tony's first choice, according to his agent, is to come back to the Cs. He was nothing but ubuntu all season. If anything, he was completely dissatisfied with himself. Now that Posey's gone, he knows there's a role on this team. As his agent said, "Tony's a creature of habit." He wants to be back. Now it's a question of what it'll take to bring him back.

Where are these quotes coming from? I'd like to read the article if possible.

The question is where are Tony's minutes going to come from. I don't know if the Celtics are willing to play Tony at the 3 spot and I think we could all agree that he's not going to be getting too many minutes backup up Rajon.

I'd love for the Celtics to scoop Tony and Fred Jones up. These two guys would reek havoc on opposing teams.

Even with those quotes it's possible he'll leave, even Posey was saying that Boston was his top choice and he's gone now.

[ryaningf]

It is one thing when you are cap strapped for years near the Tax threshold, but we are for one more year as Garnett's contract drops 8.3 million next year. I'm not saying to go out and spend the MLE, but to pay about 3 million more in luxury after winning a championship and to stay competitive, come on now, that would be cheapfor a year.

That's a good point, and it probably shows the C's thinking: they're more likely to use the MLE next summer. But 3 million in luxury tax for the likes of Tyronne Lue? That's not smart business.

[Kids Are Alright]

Tony is just about the last of the "kids" and he deseved more attention, he looked fine in his junk minutes. I liked the way he learned from the vets to drive and dish and we all know he's a high energy (if occaisionaly boneheaded) defender. I'd like to see him do the House/Posey catch-shoot drill to spread the floor as if he's playing small ball with the big three, he needs to be a 40%+ three shooter.

I like him better than anyone else out there that I've read about.......

Jeesh, Posey, TA, House heading away, maybe Doc should distribute his minutes a bit more next year. We can always pick up some garbage from the knicks

[Albin]

I don't see any way either player comes back.. but we knew that the minute the season ended. If they do return, I'll be a little surprised.

Having many new faces on the bench is not that big of a deal. As long as our starting five stay intact (they will), we just need a few role players to come in - and fill the "role". I think Tony wants more than just a "role", so he'll go somewhere else... no big deal.

We have O'Bryant who can fill the big-man role.. we know we have Powe and Big Baby... perhaps Giddens fills a role off the bench on the wing, and then we just need a backup PG (maybe Pruitt steps up).

I think we should perhaps try to get a guy like Steve Blake or Delonte West on the team, but otherwise, I think we're alright for now.

[ryaningf]

I don't think it's so much an issue of the Celtics not being able to find a role for Tony just moreso that Tony was completely dissatisfied with his role this season and is looking to move on in order to find a role that suits what he is looking for, namely the chance to win a starting position and play 30+ minutes consistently, maybe even be a 2nd or 3rd option offensively.

IMO the ONLY way Tony comes back is if there is ZERO interest in his services... I just can't see that happening.

Tony's first choice, according to his agent, is to come back to the Cs. He was nothing but ubuntu all season. If anything, he was completely dissatisfied with himself. Now that Posey's gone, he knows there's a role on this team. As his agent said, "Tony's a creature of habit." He wants to be back. Now it's a question of what it'll take to bring him back.

Where are these quotes coming from? I'd like to read the article if possible.

The question is where are Tony's minutes going to come from. I don't know if the Celtics are willing to play Tony at the 3 spot and I think we could all agree that he's not going to be getting too many minutes backup up Rajon.

I'd love for the Celtics to scoop Tony and Fred Jones up. These two guys would reek havoc on opposing teams.

Even with those quotes it's possible he'll leave, even Posey was saying that Boston was his top choice and he's gone now.

Hey Humblebum,

Here's the full quote from a June 30th Mark Spears article:
http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2 ... _on_posey/

"Tony is a creature of comfort," said his agent, Mike Higgins. "He'd like to be back. He's been there since day one. He's had some unlucky breaks like last year, when he was coming into his own. Most guys don't like change anyways."

And here's a quote from Thursday's Spears article:
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... ts/?page=2

"[Allen] never shut that door," Higgins said. "He wasn't going to come back just to come back . . . If they thought they were going to get Posey, [Allen] wasn't as important [to Boston].

"There is a lot of interest [in Allen] . . . But I think they will come back and I fully expect them to make him an offer."

So, basically, Tony was prepared to 'shut that door' if Posey was resigned. But he waited. Now that Posey has left, Tony is prepared to come back, assuming the contract offer from the Cs is to his liking. The question is: what does Tony need to stay? I don't think they're going to offer much more than the minimum, if that. And he'll be lucky to get two years. Is that enough? Nobody knows at this point.

[buckner1976]

i dont know if the vet minimum for one year is enough for him. it might be with an eye on iproving his stock and getting a better contract next year. but as others have said i dont there there is going to be the kind of minutes available for him to greatly improve his stock. again were gonna be talking about probably short bursts again if anything. giddens is gonna get some run so again we could be at best talking about 10-15mpg at best. and as ainge has said hes inconsistent with short minutes. im still not sure theres a fit here. especially if tony wants anything around what he got last year. if he came back hed definitely be looking at a severe paycut to stay.

i think the c's are gonna be bargain basement shoppers this year. maybe take that flyer on miles. find a pg willing to jump at that vet minimum. our bench this year is gonna have an extremely youngish look to it. perhaps a vet pg and a bunch of kids.