RealGM

If I were to pick 2 players, it would be Jermaine O'Neal and Kyle Korver.

Discuss.

What?

A few months ago people wanted to trade both Ray and Rondo to get Amare, and now he doesn't even compare to Kyle Korver? Lo, how the mighty have fallen.

Seriously though, I've been noticing a lot of these 2010 free agency threads. Does anyone here actually think that Boston is going to be a major player on the free agent market next summer? Looking over salaries for the season after this one, the only way they get under the projected cap is if they renounce Ray and Pierce opts out for some weird reason, and that's before you deal with an extension for Rondo. I guess it's technically possible, but still looks really unlikely.

It's doubtful that the Celtics will have more than the MLE next year. There's a heavy list of players with whom the C's have no shot @. The top of that list in no particular order goes like this...

1. Lebron
2. Wade
3. Bosh
4. Rudy Gay
5. Amare
6. Boozer
7. Aldridge (pending extension)
8. Yao (ETO)
9. Kobe (PO and LoL)
10. Ginobili
11. TMac
12. Redd (ETO)
13. Joe Johnson (offered extension)

Still, it's reasonable to assume that good players will want to join the Celtics for a chance to compete at a higher level. Considering that Ainge picked-up Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels for less than $8M, I believe he will be able to do it again next year. That list starts here...

Duhon
Al Harrington
J O'Neal
Shannon Brown
T.J. Ford (PO)
Anthony Morrow
Shaq
John Salmons (PO)
Kleiza

Since our front line is deep, I think that Ainge will look to sign a 1, 2, 3 barring any trade. Chris Duhon would be a stellar back up point as would the intensely underrated Shannon Brown. It would also be nice to get him at the Lakers expense. Other than Duhon and Brown, I would look overseas. Linas Kleiza would be a great backup to Pierce but not as good as my first choice, Josh Childress. He's a lot like Posey, he has a blurb in SLAM every month, and he's egoless...dopeness.

My bad, forgot about a few players. Korver, Travis Outlaw and Mike Miller are also good options and realistic @ the MLE.

Hopefully Jermaine O'neal will take MLE just like Wallace.

I'd like Korver in Green cos House will be gone by then unless Ainge signs him again.

Andy Morrow. IMO, the kid is gonna be a stud in the Ray Allen mold.

wonder if TMac and the Celtics will show any interest in a MLE deal, seeing as to get Marquis to return would use the mid level anyway..

he would be great if he could come here, play backup minutes and stay health..... oh wait