Who Should The Celtics Sign Among The 2009 Free Agent Class?

[BakersDozen]

Grande said that when McDyess was bought out after the AI trade he had texted a few guys on the team and said he was going to sign with us. He went on to say that he would not be surprised at all if we sign him this offseason.

im jumping on the McDyess bandwagon after hearing this.

[billfromBoston]

McDyess and Marbury would be my top 2 choices - I'm all about evaluating Walker and Giddens this off-season before committing to a veteran SF - if one of those two is ready to contribute I think its important to start their on-court development so they're ready to roll with Rondo and Perk post GPA - veteran PG and veteran F/C will be enough veteran presence to afford another young player in the rotation...

Say goodbye to TA and Pruitt though - they ain't going to be on this roster next year...

[Avalanche]

Would be nice to get a decent, cheap swingman... but otherwise Walker really needs to have consistant minutes next season

[accelerator]

ben gordan and we'd have a great team

[campybatman]

My top choices for depth are Chris Andersen and Anthony Parker. Both are UFA...

[threrf23]

A name that's missing from this thread is Jamario Moon. He is closer to a James Posey than Ariza (and is better than both Posey and Ariza IMO). We would be stealing him from the Heat, too.

But I really don't think that a guy like Shawn Marion is really out of the question...its the guys like Ben Gordon and probably Josh Childress who are unrealistic as they are younger and not looking for a discount. Maybe Childress is an option, and he'd be a good one at that.

And, we need to fill voids. Anthony Parker is solid but is a poor man's Ray Allen. We don't need that. Andre Miller would be a steal, but he is too similar to Rondo.

McDyess - I'm not huge on him to begin with, but when he returned to play for the Pistons this season it did not appear as if he was interested in playing anywhere but Detroit...

Bill - You sure about saying bye to TA & Pruitt? TA is debateable I hate to see him go for nothing especially since he can contribute and because its him/PP/Scal/Perk who have been here as long as Doc for the most part. But I don't know any relevant off-court details.

Pruitt deserves a chance IMO to at least show more to the league. I'd hate to see him let go due to one bad choice DUI where he was pulled over due to window tint.

[Avalanche]

Marion is an idiot... and im all in favor of bringing in sheed.... and artest for that matter

he would complain within a week that he wasnt getting his and wanted to go somewhere to be the man (try china?)

[return2glory]

Here is my list:

Bigs:
1. McDyess
2. Birdman- He most likely will resign with Denver
3. Joe Smith
4. Zaza Pachulia
5. Drew Gooden

Wing Players:
1. Trevor Ariza
2. Grant Hill- I would put him #1, but injuries are a concern.
3. Matt Barnes- The guy we should have signed this season.
4. Anthony Parker
5. Rodney Carney

I feel we would need a combination of the above bigs and wing to make a huge improvement. There are some options for us. As much as I like TA, he needs to go already. I would love to see Walker and Giddens get a shot, but we need more experience with our top 8 players. Even if we resign Powe, he is most likely out for next year. So need really need to add some quality to our 8-9 man rotation.

[BakersDozen]

Anthony Parker isnt that bad idea. Someone called him a poor man's Ray Allen... thats not really a bad thing you know.

[nasbahceltic]

A possible sleeper in the FA class is Sasha Pavlovic. He's been sort of phased out in Cleveland in terms of having a meaningful role, but I think he could be a nice fit coming off the bench for us. This all depends on what the team wants to do with Walker and to a lesser extent Giddens next year.

If the team wants to give Walker a true shot next year to be the first wing off the bench then I'm all for Pavlovic as he provides a nice contrast to Walker's game being a floor spacer for slashers like Paul, Walker and Rondo (and Marbury as well if he's brought back). Pavlovic can play both wing positions effectively and is also a pretty good perimeter defender.

[campybatman]

Anthony Parker isnt that bad idea. Someone called him a poor man's Ray Allen... thats not really a bad thing you know.

I know... That's why I want him. I'd rather have him backing up Ray then Tony or House (he could replace them both). Interestingly, both Ray and Parker will turn thirty-four this summer. His offense has declined somewhat this season with Toronto, but he's still a proven scorer and three-point threat. It would be awesome if Ainge could sign him and move on from both Tony and House. Parker's a true off guard like Ray.

[pistons_own]

Sheed. Find a way.

sheed is retiring if he doesnt receive at least 8 mill read it on slam magazine

[Jimmy103]

Marvin Williams could be an interesting addition if the C's could find a way to make it work. I think he'd blend well with Rondo going forward.

Raymond Felton could be an interesting backup at the 1 and 2 for the future. Not sure if the MLE could land him. A better option than Starbury going forward.

Ben Gordon is an assassin, I'd love to find a way to get him into the 2 to replace Ray eventually.

Gerald Green? No one? No one? Okay, pass.

Sheed would obviously be an interesting short-term fix for 2009-10.

Does Shelden Williams have any potential value as a 3rd big off the bench? Haven't followed him much in Sactown.