Using half of the MLE versus all of it on one player

[campybatman]

If Ainge indeed decides to use the MLE this off-season, he'll split it or spread it out. I don't believe that there will be one player that will be a feasible option. The problem I see is that either there isn't a player worth the entire MLE from this list, or if one exist, he'll want more than it and to start for the team. Or the player desires to remain with his current team.

The MLE this season was $5.5M

Who would you give half of it to? Who would you use it all on? Tough.

Here's a quick (incomplete) list of free agents for this off-season. Those I'd boldfaced are players I believe could be offered the full MLE, or substantially more than the MLE. And players I'd underlined are players I believe could be offered the full MLE only.


Unrestricted

Zaza Pachulia
Mike Bibby
Joe Smith
Chris Andersen
Dahntay Jones
Allen Iverson
Antonio McDyess
Rasheed Wallace
Ron Artest
Rasho Nesterovic
Fred Jones
Lamar Odom
Trevor Ariza
Shelden Williams
Melvin Ely
Chris Wilcox
Desmond Mason
Robert Swift
Tyronn Lue
Andre Miller
Theo Ratliff
Matt Barnes
Grant Hill
Stromile Swift
Drew Gooden
Shawn Marion
Anthony Parker
Juan Dixon

Restricted

Josh Childress
Marvin Williams
Raymond Felton
Ben Gordon
Jason Kidd
Linas Kleiza
Hakim Warrick
Jamario Moon
Ramon Sessions
Charlie Villanueva
David Lee
Nate Robinson
Marcin Gortat
Channing Frye
Rashad McCants
Carlos Delfino
Joey Graham
Paul Millsap


He didn't list Jannero Pargo who's a free agent too.

If the right free agent comes along, the Celtics won't be shy about using their available mid-level exception this summer. It just so happens that there are a lot of potential candidates.

The list of possible mid-level exception candidates, more or less for some, includes: Atlanta's Mike Bibby, Josh Childress, and Marvin Williams, Charlotte's Raymond Felton, Chicago's Ben Gordon, Cleveland's Anderson Varejao, Dallas's Jason Kidd and Brandon Bass, Denver's Linas Kleiza and Chris Andersen, Detroit's Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace, Indiana's Rasho Nesterovic, the Lakers' Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom, Memphis's Hakeem Warrick, New York's Nate Robinson and Chris Wilcox, Oklahoma City's Desmond Mason, Orlando's Marcin Gortat, Phoenix's Grant Hill, and San Antonio's Drew Gooden.

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

[Al-Haqq]

Man there are some valuable ones there, but I have to go with a big first and foremost and the most appealing is Rasheed Wallace - a great weak side defender. Post player and can hit a jump shot. Imagine having KG and Sheed on either blocks in the paint ... !!

I don't think we get him, but I do like Zaza Pachulia also.

[Ed Pinkney]

I like Jamario Moon, Linas Kleiza, and Grant Hill and think they would fill our need as a back up wing but I would be happy with any of the names I left listed. Obviously a lot of these players will either resign with their teams or get a lot more than the MLE and will be out of our price range.

The perfect situation would probably be:

Bibby or Kidd as back up PG though that wont happen as Bibby is still a starter in this league and I don't see Jason Kidd ever coming to Boston after the way the fans got on him here.

Kleiza, Ariza, Moon, Hill, Artest or Marion as the back up wing. Moon or Ariza is a possibility though Ariza will probably get overpaid by someone. Hill is on record as saying he wouldn't come here, Klieza will probably resign with Denver and Artest and Marion might ask for too much.

The bigs aren't particularly enticing. Zaza, McDyess, Wallace, Warrick or Gortat might be OK.


But to be honest I'd be happy with any of these guys filling out our bench.

Unrestricted

Zaza Pachulia
Mike Bibby
Chris Andersen
Dahntay Jones
Antonio McDyess
Rasheed Wallace
Ron Artest
Lamar Odom
Trevor Ariza
Desmond Mason
Andre Miller
Matt Barnes
Grant Hill
Stromile Swift
Drew Gooden
Shawn Marion
Anthony Parker

Restricted

Josh Childress
Marvin Williams
Raymond Felton
Ben Gordon
Jason Kidd
Linas Kleiza
Hakim Warrick
Jamario Moon
Ramon Sessions
Charlie Villanueva
David Lee
Marcin Gortat
Channing Frye
Joey Graham
Paul Millsap

[Ced]

Rasheed Wallace (MLE), Jamario Moon (LLE) and Rasho Nestorvic (veteran's minimum).

Davis (let him walk)

Trade Ray Allen and JR Giddens for Vince Carter.

Trade Scalabrine and Pruitt for a 3rd string center (making too much money) and a 2nd rounder.

CT: Perkins/ Nestorvic
PF: Garnett/ Wallace/ Powe
SF: Pierce/ Moon/ Walker
SG: Carter/ House/ Allen
PG: Rondo/ Marbury/ 2nd rounder

[Ed Pinkney]

Vince Carter, pass.

[Dave_From_NB]

I think it's important to sign the single best player available to the MLE. It should be a good bet that one of Pruitt, Walker, Giddens can make a contribution this year. It should be possible for the Celtics to buy a pretty good pick, and get a contribution. And as experience has shown, some filler can be obtained by grabbing buy-out players. One or both of Davis and Powe will be back. I don't expect Eddie to opt out. Scal and Allen are still here. We've got bench quantity, it's bench quality we need. MLE needs to be an upgrade in quality, not an addition in quantity IMO.

[sully00]

The only way I like splitting the MLE is if it is to McDyess and Grant Hill if our best option is to just load up for one more season.

I would think the first phone call has to be to Marion for the whole thing, and I mean a 5 year deal. It is probably a long shot but Marion isn't worth more than a 30 mil investment whether it is for 3 years or 5 years, he is still a real fine player but a role player. If that was to fly you can then play poker with Baby and if you can slide into the draft grab another guard which is the value in this draft.

I like the idea of bringing in Sheed but it is in Boston's best interest to address the long view as well as the short. Most teams are going to blink at long term contracts this offseason with next years expected FA, the economy, and the attractive short term options. The team that looks past this year and next may find a great bargain on their hands. Charlie V and Ramon Sessions in MIL, Trevor Ariza and Odom in LAL, Linas Kleiza in DEN, Von Wafer in HOU are a couple of examples and there are plenty more. Who is the guy that might be a reach for a big contract this offseason but might be a 8-10 mil player next offseason?

[Scalamental]

Rasho Nesterovic is guy I wouldn't mind use splitting the mle on. He can hit the corner j and play's fairly solid d. 7 footer too. I think we're over zealous if we think guys like sheed and or artest will go for the mle. Rasho and Grant or Rasho and Matt Barnes wouldn't be too unreasonable to happen.

[sully00]

I don't think Artest is leaving HOU and Sheed isn't going to have much of a choice in taking the MLE. If he was staying in DET I think that would already have been worked out and the only teams that are significantly under the cap are DET and OKC. The Blazers are close and could waive a couple of guys to slam another 1-1.5 mil into the exception but somehow I don't think they will do that for Sheed. Obviously a S&T isn't impossible but why would DET gut their team for cap space to S&T their own player?

[campybatman]

I wish Ainge would start over and give the bench a face-lift. And I'm hoping like heck that House opts out. Please be dumb, and do the wrong thing which is a good thing for Boston. Move on from Marbury, please. I want to see Davis on another team. I like Powe, but thinking about Arenas, I don't want to resign him. It's unfortunate, but to pay a player who'll be out until after the All-Star break, or longer. Ugh. Maybe give his agent a promise that he'll be signed after next season, and have Powe take an extended vacation to a part of Europe or Australia.

I'm not going to be satisfied with anyone from this list really. I want Artest, if for any reason, to guard LeBron and get under his skin. Because the players on that list I want will probably remain where they are. Players such as Andersen, Anthony Parker, McDyess, Andre Miller and Kidd.

[Lewis35]

Why do people think that Artest is going to sign for the MLE? There is no way he does. He played well and was well behaved last year. He is going to get more than the MLE from a team.

I believe the only people who will take the MLE money are Matt Barnes Grant Hill and McDyess.

[sunshinekids99]

I would offer the full to Trevor Ariza and Chris Anderson...other guys I just don't see taking the MLE.

If that didn't work then I would try and split it with Rasho Nesterovic and Anthony Parker.

[BakersDozen]

The only way I like splitting the MLE is if it is to McDyess and Grant Hill if our best option is to just load up for one more season.

I would think the first phone call has to be to Marion for the whole thing, and I mean a 5 year deal. It is probably a long shot but Marion isn't worth more than a 30 mil investment whether it is for 3 years or 5 years, he is still a real fine player but a role player. If that was to fly you can then play poker with Baby and if you can slide into the draft grab another guard which is the value in this draft.

I like the idea of bringing in Sheed but it is in Boston's best interest to address the long view as well as the short. Most teams are going to blink at long term contracts this offseason with next years expected FA, the economy, and the attractive short term options. The team that looks past this year and next may find a great bargain on their hands. Charlie V and Ramon Sessions in MIL, Trevor Ariza and Odom in LAL, Linas Kleiza in DEN, Von Wafer in HOU are a couple of examples and there are plenty more. Who is the guy that might be a reach for a big contract this offseason but might be a 8-10 mil player next offseason?

what he said.... Im really liking the idea of signing Marion for the full mle... then go after McDyess and a backup pg,lets say Marbury for right now. Id start Marion. Have Ray come off the bench.
Rondo/Marbury
PP/ Ray
Marion
KG/McDyess
Perk

[campybatman]

A lot of the better players don't want to come to Boston because they want to start. But, they wouldn't come here anyways since the money isn't ideal to them. Teams will overpay for Lee and Millsap. When Artest is the only one who deserves more than his $8.4M this season. And this might be his last big contract, he turns thirty by next season.

Someone has the idea on CB to go after Richard Hamilton since Detroit has an interest in signing Gordon. Sure, but it's not happening...

[stiles21]

What about Lamar Odom? How much money is he looking for? Odom could back up Paul and K.G, also defend almost any spot. He seems like a good team player, showing he is willing to come off the bench if it's best for the team. Helps us and hurts the Lakers. Would Lamar wear Green?

[sully00]

I wish Ainge would start over and give the bench a face-lift. And I'm hoping like heck that House opts out. Please be dumb, and do the wrong thing which is a good thing for Boston. Move on from Marbury, please. I want to see Davis on another team. I like Powe, but thinking about Arenas, I don't want to resign him. It's unfortunate, but to pay a player who'll be out until after the All-Star break, or longer. Ugh. Maybe give his agent a promise that he'll be signed after next season, and have Powe take an extended vacation to a part of Europe or Australia.

I'm not going to be satisfied with anyone from this list really. I want Artest, if for any reason, to guard LeBron and get under his skin. Because the players on that list I want will probably remain where they are. Players such as Andersen, Anthony Parker, McDyess, Andre Miller and Kidd.

But if you let all of those guys go you can only add 2 maybe 3 guys for contracts over the minimum and you aren't likely to get any upgrades. Artest isn't going anywhere he wants a raise not a pay cut.

It is realistic that Boston goes with Marbury, Hill, and McDyess on one year deals and looks to '10.

[threrf23]

I would offer the full to Trevor Ariza and Chris Anderson...other guys I just don't see taking the MLE.

I like both of these guys, but I actually see them as lesser possibilities than the Artests/Marions/AIs. Ariza would seemingly have little motivation to leave LA unless he was getting more than the MLE elsewhere. Sure, LA probably can't keep both Odom and Ariza - but they are under pressure to keep one. With Bynum in the wings and Ariza more than four years younger, IMO they try to keep him.

The Nuggets meanwhile will certainly try to retain Andersen, and he presumably feels a loyalty to the organization, first organization to take a chance on him when he was entering the league, first to really take a chance on him when returning from suspension.

[campybatman]

If it comes down to Marvin Williams or Josh Childress, I wonder which of them does Atlanta resign. With both being restricted free agents. I've to figure the Hawks definitely keep one of them. Recently, CB mentions Childress as a possible option... But, Childress isn't a name I consider an option for Boston, and for good reason. I just read this from Wikipedia, if this is true, wow.



On July 23, 2008, Josh Childress accepted and signed an unprecedented $20 million net income salary deal (worth more than the full NBA MLE) for 3 years with the Euroleague club Olympiacos Piraeus. The contract included opt-out options after each of the first two seasons. Childress also received a Greek Nike shoe contract after signing with Olympiacos Piraeus, a Nike sponsorship club. He had been offered a 5 year $33 million gross income deal by the Atlanta Hawks, but he turned it down.

Childress averaged 8.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game during the Euroleague 2008-09 season.

[Andrew McCeltic]

If we could get Marvin Williams for the MLE, it takes us out of the running for Sheedyess but we get a young player to join Rondo & Perk as the C's future. His numbers from this season are really close to Danny Granger's 2 years ago- he's only 23 and could still break out.

[GreenMachine]

I think we should tell Bibby, Artest, Wallace, Odom and maybe one or two other guys that we are keeping our team together, they will be 6th man and play starter minutes - playing with a healthy KG, PP, Ray and one of the best young PGs in the L, Rondo, and that we will give them the full MLE for 3 years (maybe the 3rd is even player's option) and that if it works out, we will sign them to a new deal to finish off their career as part of our aging big four and rising (rondo and perk) young guys.

First guy that signs, gets it.

Our starting lineup, plus one of these borderline all stars would be sick. Add in Baby, Walker, a Vet Min signing, maybe a small trade and you have a team to go to war with.