Which bench players are likely keepers?

[Fencer reregistered]

Perk, KG, Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rondo will all almost certainly be back next year, the Trade Ray Allen thread notwithstanding. But what about the others? Now that we've seen them through the first 13 playoff games, who do we want and think will be back?

My list starts:

Posey -- obviously.
Powe and Davis -- will get both more consistent and just plain better. They're cheap. They're staying.
PJ Brown -- he's been a slow starter for years. I think the Brown of the past couple of gamess is the "real" PJ, and he has one more year in him.
Scalabrine -- Probably staying because he's tough to trade.
Pollard -- well, I've already named 6 big men who are staying. But unless the first round pick is a big man, I'd guess he stays too.

OK. I've now named 7 big men and 4 perimeter guys who are staying. Let's say the first round pick is a perimeter guy who of course makes the roster. That leaves three other spots.

Pruitt --stays. Why not?
Cassell -- disappointment. Gone. Unless he REALLY gets his act together in the rest of the playoffs.
House -- disappointed. Gone. But then, he never stays anywhere very long.
Tony Allen -- proven swingmen have trouble getting big contracts. I don't think he has any chance of getting more than short money. And I think the Cs will offer him short money. I think he's staying.

That leaves one slot for a new FA, who in my scenario is obviously a true PG.

Perk/Brown/Pollard + the PFs
Garnett/Powe/Davis/Scalabrine + Posey + Brown
Pierce/Posey + the mobile PFs + T. Allen + rookie
R. Allen/T. Allen + the SFs (especially Posey) + the PGs
Rondo/new vet/Pruitt

[Ed Pinkney]

Personally I would be very upset if Posey, TA, Leon or Baby were not back. Pruitt I like the little glimpses he has shown, plus very cheap.

I really like PJ and Houese but if we could upgrade either of them I would be happy.

I don't really care if Cassell, Scalabrine or Pollard dont return to be honest.

[tombattor]

Cassell can go to hell. Everyone else, I wouldn't mind seeing back next year.

[GuyClinch]

I don't think House has disappointed. He has lost minutes - and hasn't thrived in garbage time. But he was pretty nice during most of the year. Everytime some annoucer would go off about how he wasn't a PG - almost without fail he would make a nice pass. And he was hitting open Js and playing serviceable D.

The waste of House is a crime against Ubuntu..

The more I watch Cassell the more WRONG I realized was. I guess my memories of him were so emblazoned from an earlier era..

Pete

[P2]

• Tony and Cassell are gone.
• P.J., House and Pollard might be re-signed. The likelihood for each is 50%.
• Posey stays.

[BillessuR6]

• Tony and Cassell are gone.
• P.J., House and Pollard might be re-signed. The likelihood for each is 50%.
• Posey stays.

Can you give us the lotto numbers for this weekend?

[P2]

Can you give us the lotto numbers for this weekend?

No, I keep those for myself.

[threrf23]

I think the entire bench is tradeable. I'd like to see most of them back because we might as well have them back. But it depends what possibilities are out there.

I like Powe, and like Tony and feel he's underrated, but we can live without Powe if thats called for, and I'd rather see Brandon Rush on the sidelines next year rather than Tony. Artest is also a possibility though I have become rather hellbent on Brandon Rush.

Pruitt does stay, because he lacks trade value. Same with Scal, not that his value's gonna get higher, but its not high enough to justify the impact on locker-room chemistry. Unless his salary is needed to make a deal work.

[sunshinekids99]

As long as Posey, Powe, and Baby are back, I'll be happy. If Brown and Sam want to come back I fully expect Ainge to let them. And of course Veal Chop stays.

I highly doubt they keep Tony Allen, Eddie House, or Scot Pollard.

Also rerf how is Artest a possibility? Talk about a way to ruin chemistry and I highly doubt he wants to be a 6th man.

[hiphop1]

Posey-I hope he stays for the rest of his career.

Pruitt-This kid has game he just needs pt.

House-He is cheap and when on is lights out.

Davis-I think Powe will command to much and we need one of the two.

[tombattor]

If Brown and Sam want to come back I fully expect Ainge to let them. And of course Veal Chop stays.

If he brings Cassell back, he needs his Executive of the Year award taken away.

[HouseJersey?]

Keep - Posey, House, Powe, Big Baby (poss PJ)

Trade - Tony, Cassell

Drop - Scal, Pollard

[DJToLarry]

Pruitt has game and he plays with a confidence. And the shooting stroke is just pure. Of all the bench guys I think he has the most potential (and thats not a put down of the other guys). This kid is a player.

[HouseJersey?]

Keep - Posey, House, Powe, Big Baby (poss PJ)

Trade - Tony, Cassell

Drop - Scal, Pollard

[tombattor]

Keep - Posey, House, Powe, Big Baby (poss PJ)

Trade - Tony, Cassell

Drop - Scal, Pollard

You can't trade Cassell, unless we resign him. And I dont' want to have anything to do with this piece of trash ever!

[RickyDizzle]

I don't think House has disappointed. He has lost minutes - and hasn't thrived in garbage time. But he was pretty nice during most of the year. Everytime some annoucer would go off about how he wasn't a PG - almost without fail he would make a nice pass. And he was hitting open Js and playing serviceable D.

The waste of House is a crime against Ubuntu..

The more I watch Cassell the more WRONG I realized was. I guess my memories of him were so emblazoned from an earlier era..

Pete

I took the post you are responding to to mean that Cassell has been a disappointment and that House himself is disappointed. Not that he has disappointed us, but that he has become disappointed with his lack of playing time.

I want House back though if he wants to come back.

-Dizzy

[sunshinekids99]

-= original quote snipped =-


If he brings Cassell back, he needs his Executive of the Year award taken away.

I really don't see any problem if he would return as a 11th or 12th guy on the team. Of course I don't want him back as the backup point guard. Give that to Pruitt or if he's not ready find somebody else to fill that role.

[tombattor]

-= original quote snipped =-
I really don't see any problem if he would return as a 11th or 12th guy on the team. Of course I don't want him back as the backup point guard. Give that to Pruitt or if he's not ready find somebody else to fill that role.

There is a huge problem with that. He'll be older, play even less defense, but with the same ego and personality. It's obvious that Doc can't handle him now, what makes you think he can next year? It's better to get rid of cancer, instead of wasting a roster spot on trash.

Well, if we can get a guy like Jordan who can put Cassell in his place, then I guess he can be okay as a water boy, but we don't have anyone like that. KG should just slap him around and tell him to get his ass in gear.

[Friar Dan]

Many NBA roster decisions are financially based - if a guy has a contract, or his contract can be renewed cheaply, he's staying.

And low level guys along the lines of Powe or TA are rarely traded for value on they're own - they're either dumped for 2nd rounder to clear cap space, or throw-ins to make larger deals work. So the idea of "trade this guy or that guys" won't happen here. there are no big deals on the horizon, either, to include these guys as throw-ins. So...

Powe, Davis, Pruitt and Scal all have guaranteed money next year - they're staying.
TA's qualifying offer is reasonable ($2.74 mm) - I'd bet he stays.
Posey's $3.4mm is a player option - he's played well enough to opt out and make more $$$ - hopefully, he gets that cash from Boston will probably take the whole MLE, though).
House, Pollard, Cassell and PJ Brown are FA.
I think PJ Brown will retire, especially if we win him a ring.
I think Pollard will either retire, or re-sign for the minimum.
I think House goes elsewhere, and we use that salary slot to sign a similar combo guard for the roster.
Cassell is probably the most interesting decision of the current roster guys - he has talked about wanting to come back, but has been exposed in the CLE series and looks to have lost his pt. If we advance to and/or win the Finals with no significant contribution from Sam, we make no effort to keep him. If he gives us some value, he'll be back for a one-year send-off.

PG - Rondo, Cassell/FA, Pruitt
SG - R. Allen, T. Allen, FA
SF - Pierce, Posey (I hope), Scal
PF - KG, Powe, Davis
C - Perkins, Draft pick?, Polllard?

[TommyPoints]

I'm not going to count Sam out yet.