A better match with Wallace, Davis, Gooden or Diogu?

[campybatman]

Both G. Davis and Gooden are considered a power forward/center. I wonder if Ainge is only intent on resigning Davis as oppose to Gooden instead or as an alternative.

What's the latest rumor involving Gooden? Because Gooden was quite the power forward before playing with Sacramento and San Antonio. But wasn't he hurt a lot of this past season.

The Spurs have already signed McDyess, Haislip and Blair. So one has to believe that Gooden is no longer in San Antonio's plans. And we now know that Gooden's no longer on the radar of Detroit after they've signed Wilcox. Also, Orlando has signed Bass while Cleveland has resigned Varejao but I can see him returning there. I wonder with which team does Gooden end up. An offer for the full MLE may no longer be out there.

The Warriors have Turiaf and Wright at power forward so they wouldn't need Gooden unless at center. Maybe New York targets him.

From Drew Gooden via Twitter*:

The teams I wouldn't mind going to, Spurs, Cav's, Magic, and Golden St! What do you guys think?

http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2009/7 ... d-going-to

[SonicYouth34]

He'd be the 2nd big off the bench in Boston, I'd doubt he'd be ok with that. Though, with him (or someone like Davis or Smith), we'd have the best front court in the NBA.

[campybatman]

Yeah, if Gooden has the choice, his choice is Cleveland. Well, Diogu I think is still available. Because I read that May is signing with Sacramento. I don't know who's targeting Joe Smith.

This news is obviously old now with most of these players signed elsewhere.

From Rotoworld...

Unrestricted free agent Drew Gooden isn't drawing much interest around the league, but the Hornets are keeping him on their radar.
Gooden struggled with a groin injury last season and didn't do much once traded to the Spurs, but it's a bit surprising that more teams aren't vying for his services. The Hornets, desperate for some frontcourt help, are also interested in Ike Diogu, Glen Davis, Brandon Bass, Joe Smith, Chris Wilcox, and Zaza Pachulia.

http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/player ... &sport=NBA

The forwards on the Hornets' radar include Sacramento restricted free agent Ike Diogu, San Antonio unrestricted free agent Drew Gooden, Boston restricted free agent and former LSU star Glen Davis, Dallas unrestricted free agent and former LSU standout Brandon Bass, Cleveland unrestricted free agent Joe Smith and New York Knicks unrestricted free agent Chris Wilcox. At center, New Orleans is targeting two unrestricted free agents, Denver's Chris Andersen, a former Hornet and Atlanta's Zaza Pachulia.

http://blog.nola.com/hornetsbeat/2009/0 ... ly_pl.html

[SonicYouth34]

Screw Gooden. Lets sign Davis so we have a young (but experienced) guy in our rotation outside Rondo and Perk

[vct33]

Screw Gooden. Lets sign Davis so we have a young (but experienced) guy in our rotation outside Rondo and Perk

+1 - I freakin' hate Gooden.

[ParticleMan]

Gooden is the 6-10 version of TA. He's got the full package except for the rocks between his ears. I don't think he'd fit in well with our team, where our D is pretty complex and guys are expected to not make mental mistakes. Now he's ggetting old and injury prone too. No thanks, I'd rather take a chance on a young kid like Diogu.

Davis would be much better, but I'm afraid someone is going to offer him the full MLE.

[chakdaddy]

Gooden is the 6-10 version of TA. He's got the full package except for the rocks between his ears.

I don't think that's a great comparison; TA hadly has the full package - for all we talk about TA's mental deficiencies, I think the bigger problems with him are the utter lack of a jump shot, and the lack of size to play 3. He can slash and drive, and defend, but basically only at the 2 guard spot, and for him to be effective driving, he has to have the ball - that can work on a bad team, like when he exceled in 06-07, but is a terrible fit for a team as loaded as we are.

He's a small 2 who's not quite good enough of a ballhandler to play the 1, way too small for the 3 despite what people keep saying, and can't shoot.

He can be effective driving, but we should always have better options out there - a wild slasher does not really work as a secondary option. I don't think we have much room for a role player who can't shoot.

TA can be a decent player but his skill set is so narrow he's not very useful for us.

Hopefully Daniels is a little bit more efficient, to the point where his midrange/slashing game can fit better than TA's.

[TMU]

Both KG and Sheed are a greater threat from the high post. Perkins is strictly a low post player. Considering these facts, the Celtics would be better off signing another backup with an inside game. Preferably someone young and athletic to complement KG and Sheed's age and durability.

Particle mentioned Diogu and I agree. Diogu would be terrific.

[ParticleMan]

Gooden is the 6-10 version of TA. He's got the full package except for the rocks between his ears.

I don't think that's a great comparison; TA hadly has the full package - for all we talk about TA's mental deficiencies, I think the bigger problems with him are the utter lack of a jump shot, and the lack of size to play 3. He can slash and drive, and defend, but basically only at the 2 guard spot, and for him to be effective driving, he has to have the ball - that can work on a bad team, like when he exceled in 06-07, but is a terrible fit for a team as loaded as we are.

agreed, i really just meant athletically, not skillset-wise. TA and Gooden are both plus athletes with good size for their position, but they don't have the brains to utilize their natural gifts effectively.

[campybatman]

Both KG and Sheed are a greater threat from the high post. Perkins is strictly a low post player. Considering these facts, the Celtics would be better off signing another backup with an inside game. Preferably someone young and athletic to complement KG and Sheed's age and durability.

Particle mentioned Diogu and I agree. Diogu would be terrific.

Actually, I'd already mentioned Diogu.

I wish Powe hadn't gotten injured, just bad timing. But Diogu could be interesting. Personally, I prefer to move on from Davis, he's young and it's obvious that he wants to be a starter in the league. I mean he can say that he's okay with returning to Boston and resuming his role as a reserve player. But what else is he going to say? He doesn't want to burn a bridge in case he has to return, and he understands that he'll be walking away from a championship caliber team.

According to an NBA source, at least three teams have approached the Celtics about a sign-and-trade deal for restricted free agent forward Glen Davis, but the Green have yet to show interest in such a move. With that in mind, a team would likely need to use most of its midlevel exception in order to sign “Big Baby’’ to an offer sheet. And if so, Boston would have seven days to match.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... er/?page=2

[SonicYouth34]

Powe would be perfect because of his beastlyness in the low post and toughness. Hopefully we can still bring him back.

[Dirty Water]

Well, if we don't keep BBD, I'd worry about our 4th big. Scal? Maybe, but we really need to solidify and keep BBD, but I'm not sure you can keep a gut for a large MLE when he is going to be your 4th big. I've never been that high on drew gooden.

[TMU]

Both KG and Sheed are a greater threat from the high post. Perkins is strictly a low post player. Considering these facts, the Celtics would be better off signing another backup with an inside game. Preferably someone young and athletic to complement KG and Sheed's age and durability.

Particle mentioned Diogu and I agree. Diogu would be terrific.

Actually, I'd already mentioned Diogu.

Oh my bad, I missed your 2nd post. Good call on Diogu.

[threrf23]

I don't really like favoring any of these guys over Baby. But this is a worthy subject in terms of exploring what our options would be if we were able to get decent value for Baby in a sign and trade and sign one of these guys to the LLE/minimum (or acquire them via a Marquis Daniels type trade).

I personally favor Ben Wallace here. Gooden seems to be that guy nobody wants on their team, but is a very solid value for cheap enough. Diogu represents a potentially undervalued player and would sign for the minimum.

Its worth looking at the Thunder. They've got both DJ White & DeVon Hardin on their roster, but not enough minutes to go around considering Mullens/Ibaka/Collison/Krstic/Green.

One of White/Hardin could probably be had for cheap. Its actually possible that Collison could be had for Scal/Giddens/Pruitt which would still enable us to trade TA for Marquis Daniels (if Indy would bite). Collison is getting in the way of player development and OKC wants to clear as much caproom for next offseason as possible (I would assume).

That would any cap potential we had next season and I'm not sure Collison would be a better pick up than Ben Wallace or others, but its thought-worthy. Collison's contract would be expiring as soon as next offseason.

[threrf23]

Well, if we don't keep BBD, I'd worry about our 4th big.

Hopefully Powe by the end of the season, or we would land a suitable SF/PF in a s&t for Baby who could classify as our 4th big. Hypothetically it could be Jamario Moon if the Heat matched the Cavs.