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Kurt Thomas seems like a prime canidate to take PJ Brown's spot in the rotation. He is a veteran free agent who doesn't have a championship ring. He is older so he is not going to be signing for the MLE. Thomas fits the defensive mentality of the team and is a good mid-range jumpshooter.

Expect the Celtics to sign Kurt Thomas.

Grant Hill also seems like a prime canidate to sign with the Celtics. He has a player option with the Suns for like 1.8 million and could easily opt out considering the massive overhaul the Suns are experiencing this offseason. Grant Hill doesn't have much time left to win a championship and the Suns don't look like they will be a legit contender next year.

With the possiblity of Posey out-pricing himself for the Cs, Grant Hill would be the next best alternative for the team. Grant Hill presumably has strong ties with Doc since he use to play for him.

In the end, I expect the Celtics to sign Kurt Thomas on the cheap and if they cannot resign Posey, and Grant Hill opts out in time, he would also be signed.

When vets start chasing championships, they always come on the cheap.

Remember, the Great GonzoLays told you boys back in November that we would sign PJ Brown when everyone was saying, "who cares about P.J. Brown!"

Welcome to the Celtics, Kurt (and possibly Grant Hill)!

I could see Grant Hill maybe taking the role of Eddie House and Tony Allen as backup shooting guard.

Kurt Thomas would be SICK!

My first thought is, a shot in the dark full MLE offer to Emeka Okafor or Antawn Jamison. When they reject that, Thomas and Hill are good ideas.

It's annoying that Posey is opting out, maybe there's a chance he just takes the raise - because I'd hate to eat into the MLE for him when maybe we could throw it at a decent big man.

I can see Thomas staying with the Spurs. And when Hill became a free agent I remember reading speculation about him signing with the C's because of his relationship with Doc, but at the time he basically said no way.

Of course joining a reigning champion might change their minds.

I would be sad to see Posey go but if someone offers him good money then I would not begrudge him taking it at all. He signed for a lot less than he was worth here and was an intergral part of the teams success.

you are going to have to outbid several other championship contenders for KTs services. and the spurs hold his birds rights, and have space below the tax line to pay him without it costing them double.

If Posey doesn't resign we need a replacement, Pietrus? I think Thomas is redundant with Powe and Baby. We need length on the front line, ala PJ, not another 6'9" forward.

i want diop for our FA signing! he's a perfect fit imo. then we just trade either powe or big baby to a team who needs help down low for a good back up pg. maybe to portland for sergio rodriguez or jack/ to memphis for crittenton or lowry.

Thomas would be a wonderful signing, but as said above, there's every reason to expect him to stay in San Antonio.

Or if he doesn't go to San Antonio, the Lakers (for example) are at least as good a fit for him as we are.

I expect Posey to stay. While that doesn't totally obviate the Grant Hill idea, it makes any signing of him less important.

i also want us to try signing anthony johnson!

a big pg who can shoot and handle the ball well. he has also come up big in the playoffs.

You guys are over-rating Kurt Thomas, Grant Hill would be great!

Potential free agent Centers=

Jamal Magloire
Kurt Thomas
Juan Howard? [ala McDice for DET]
Theo Ratliff
Mutombo
Mihm
Lorenzen Wright
Kwame Brown
DJ Mbenga
Jake Voskuhl
Doleac
Diop
Foyle
Birdman? [more an althetic 4, but I think he could possibly play 5 with his "jumps"]
Brian Skinner
Francisco Elson
Robert Swift
Primoz Brezec

AND highely unlikely but Rasho Nesterovic has a player option.. I think he'd be a great fit.


Now obviously there are some more ideal canadites on that list then others, Kurt is perhaps tops. BUT SA as already mentioned doesn't have to go over the luxury limits to sign him, have his birdrights, and they need a Center since Splitter isn't coming. Oh and they are still the only dynasty in the NBA as of now.

That said, lets not worry too much about getting a Center in the draft or free agency, we have a good chance of getting an decent one by the time training camp roles around.

i could REALLY see kwame in a celtics uniform next season. he'll likely come cheap and plays pretty good defense. he's not the best offensively but he's known to have good stretches and playing with three future hall of famers couldn't hurt. diop will likely sign for a larger contract that we can afford and thomas probably won't move from SA.

don't be surprised if kwame is a celtic.

kwame would be nice especially with kg here. look at how kg influenced perk.

Kwame could come cheap, so could Maglorie. These are two players that can come in and body up a man, flat out play Center... and in Kwame's case still young. They have failed as starting Centers for the most part, but they are defentiely Centers and can come fill in very nicely.

I LOVE Perk, but we can't count on his shoulder or fouls for 35 mpg in the playoffs. Both of these guys can come in and give Perk a great rest without us loosing too much. Especially against the huge Centers of Bynumn,Duncan,Howard,Yao, Big Z all who could be standing in our way next year.

I for one think Rasho would fit in PJ's role very well. Experienced, mid-range jumper, serviciable Center.

There is a good chance the Celtics will be able to nab a good center from teh get go although we may have to settle for a Mihm, Foyle. We'll have to see what we do with the draft... but aside from possibly needing an experienced PG I don't think we will have many holes. Of course if Posey demands a full MLE we may be in dire straights to filling roster spots.

No to Kwame. He will just waste out time.

Kwame would be an excellent pickup. Will give you the game as PJ but can play 40 minutes if needed. Had a nice faceup jumper when he entered the league. We absolutely need a backup big who can run and backup Perk. He's still very young for a center and will probably be better than anyone we can draft at 30, at least for the next 3 years, which is all that counts.

BobbySura wrote:i could REALLY see kwame in a celtics uniform next season. he'll likely come cheap and plays pretty good defense. he's not the best offensively but he's known to have good stretches and playing with three future hall of famers couldn't hurt. diop will likely sign for a larger contract that we can afford and thomas probably won't move from SA.

don't be surprised if kwame is a celtic.

I wouldn't mind Kwame. Potential attitude issues aside he would work well IMO.

I do not care to bother with Magloire

I wouldn't mind taking a flyer on Hilton Armstrong if his price is cheap enough. He is coming off a horrible season but showed positive signs his rookie season, and came into camp improved in certain respects last year.

Jeff Foster may opt out of his contract. Antawn Jamison could be an option if he was willing to play for cheap, I don't think he'd be a great fit for our roster.

I am still in favor of landing Artest @ the MLE if its possible

Grant Hill? Good, but aging and doesn't have a great jump shot. Maybe.

Linton Johnson? If we feel we have room for him, I like him at the minimum. I expected him to do more last season, and this offseason my guess is he's more motivated than ever to step up his game.

Ryan Gomes? I like him better than another - objectively - mediocre (IMO) option such as Grant Hill.

I am fine with Kurt Thomas but don't think he's necessarily an upgrade over PJ.

KG doesn't have a great track record of inspiring #1 overall picks ...

Admittedly, the sample size is small.