Let's look at our roster... a thread stating the obvious...

[U2larkin04]

There is no real point to this thread other than to take a look at what we have now with Posey heading out. So sorry if people feel this is taking up space.

Our obvious starters are:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Kendrick Perkins

On the bench we have for big men:
Glen Davis - PF
Leon Powe - PF
Brian Scalabrine - PF/C (Celtics.com lists him as a center so I put it, it made me chuckle)
Patrick O'Bryant - C

Now here are our wings coming off the bench:
J.R. Giddens - SG (Unsigned Rookie)
Bill Walker - SG/SF (Unsigned Rookie)

And finally, point-guards coming off the bench:
Gabe Pruitt - PG

Then we have a handful of free agents:
Tony Allen - SG
Eddie House - G
Sam Cassell - PG
P.J. Brown - PF/C
Scot Pollard - C

So we clearly need help. I personally think we should re-sign Tony Allen, I don't know much about Tyronn Lue, but he would obviously be an option if House decides not to re-sign. I have yet to hear anything from Cassell during the offseason but he did say he wanted to stay during the season (or was it early playoffs?). I'll be shocked to see Brown return as I'd figure he'd just want to go out as a champ. Pollard, who the hell knows? I doubt he'll be back, but maybe he will be. Right now our roster is at 12. We've also got Erdin as an unsigned rookie but I didn't count him since he obviously won't be coming over till next year at the earliest. So like I said, I think we should definitely look into re-signing Tony Allen, he'll be cheap, and if he should return anywhere near how he used to be, he'll definitely be worth it. Anyways, I don't know why I'm still mumbling on, so this is my random thread for the day. Discuss...?

[royalgreen]

Now that poze is gone, spread that MLE around
5-perk
o'bryant
birdman/harrison
4-KG
powe
baby
scal---i'd consider waiving him and just eating the 6mil this and next year to free up a roster spot
3-Paul
ricky/AZ/Ross/Barnes/walker
Giddens
2-Allen
TA
House
1-rondo
pruitt

[U2larkin04]

I think Giddens is more of a 2 than a 3... As I think Giddens could also play the 1 if we really needed him to. We definitely look weak at the 1, I wonder if DA will address that with Lue?

[Fencer reregistered]

Tony Allen is now quite likely to be back.

If he does well he might even back up Ray AND Paul, despite being on the short side for SF.

There might also be lineups wth 3 bigs.

[Celtics_85]

Funny how TA gets back on everyone's list after being slammed by some of these guys. All that matters to me is re-sign him Ainge!!! Before the injury he was on his way to being an important piece on this team and will be that if re-signed, calling Danny Ainge!!!!

[Celts09]

gomes
west
ricky

[Jon_Bon]

Everyone seems to think that the sky is falling and we need to go out and grab that is Posey-lite. You can't replace James Posey with someone who is similar, you need to pick up a player based on their own merits.

I say sign a couple of cheap players like House and Allen and then wait for wait shakes loose at the trade deadline. We picked up two important pieces (Cassell and Brown) for basically nothing. If we keep the big 3 happy they will attract players that want out of losing situations, perhaps like Marbury.

[SonicYouth34]

Resign TA, sing a PG and steal Gomes away from the Wolves then call it an off-season.

[campybatman]

I'll like to see Ainge sign a veteran point guard to take some of the pressure to contribute next season off of Pruitt's shoulders. And I wouldn't object to Ainge using the MLE to sign Andersen and Barnes or Nachbar. On the other hand, I could see Ainge resigning both House and Tony Allen but I doubt it on both. I think Ainge will roll the dice with Pruitt and Giddens and see what both players can do next season. So, this is how I see the roster shaping out.

4 - Garnett, Powe, Davis and Scalabrine
3 - Pierce, Walker and Nachbar
5 - Perkins and O'Bryant
1 - Rondo, Pruitt and Livingston
2 - Allen, Ross and Giddens

The question mark is Walker. Does he go overseas and play for a year or two. Will Giddens be sent to the NBDL?

This is just my guess of the possibly FA signings by Ainge. But, I believe the roster maximum is fifteen. So, Ainge might prefer to leave two spots open leading up to the trade deadline.

[Jammer]

The Celtic offense last season was predicated around spreading the floor with 3 point shooters. Two of the four shooters that the Celtics used to do this in 2007 (James Posey, Eddie House) look like they may not be back.

I'd make a more generous one year offer to Eddie House, to keep him around one more season. The problem is House's insistence that he be in the rotation. With Giddens available at the SG spot, and a true backup PG still needed, giving House the guarantee that he had last year (19 mpg actual, likely 15 mpg this year if Rondo plays 33 mpg, is doubtful if the Celtics sign a PG in addition to House, including Stephon Marbury if he cut loose). But I'd still offer a more generous one year deal to have him available as a shooter off the bench, who I'd prefer to Tony Allen.

Pruitt hasn't demonstrated much yet, let alone that he can be a rotation player on a Championship team. I'd Trade him for a second round pick.

Davis is stretching it as a center, he has limited situational usefulness as it is, while the Celtics need length, defense and scoring from the center position, to make up for Perkins shortcomings in the length area. I'd Trade Davis for a second round pick.

Scalabrine has just got a job back, as a mobile, perimeter oreinted power forward. He needs to actually make shots out there or he is limiting his role to defense. He's also never been as good at this job as Posey.

Sign Mutombo, or Mourning if he has anything left, to a vet minimum contract. The Celts need someone with length and muscle, since Patrick O'Bryant has yet to prove himself on the block. Expect 15 mpg max from either, since Mutombo is at least 42 and Mourning 38.

Signing Mourning (in December) or Mutombo would allow Kevin Garnett to spend all him time at PF, which would help the team's rebounding. When the team has to go mobile, though, they will be forced to used Scal as a PF if Garnett is out of the game.

Sign Jason WIlliams, and if available, Stephon Marbury. One would likely not come if the other is already on board. Williams can run an offense in the manner Doc Rivers like to play, while Steph is instant offense off the bench, though more of a scoring guard, than a true point guard. The Celtics need an edge, Marbury, if on board, and it's possible his teammates could set him straight, might be that edge. However, If he becomes a complainer, b*tching, or deriding teammates, cut him loose.

Practically, it might be easier to have House around with Jason Williams than Marbury. This is probably the key decision Celtic Management will make at this point, whether to target Jason WIlliams, who would fit with House well, or to go for Marbury, who would likely eliminate House and JWill, since neither would want to split time with Marbury (nor Marbury with them).

Count on Giddens as a backup SG, and Walker apparently to get burn at SF.

Position ** Starter **************** Backup ************************** Insurance

PG ********* Rajon Rondo ******* Jason Williams or Marbury * Eddie House

SG ******** Ray Allen ************ J. R. Giddens

SF ******* Paul Pierce ********* Bill Walker

PF ***** Kevin Garnett ******* Leon Powe * Brian Scalabrine

Center * Perkins *************** Mutombo or Mourning **** Patrick O'Bryant

[Jammer]

Changes from 2007 to 2008 in a Practical Sense

Function ************** 2008 Season ***** Next Season

3 Point Shooting *** Ray Allen ********** Ray Allen
*********************** Paul Pierce ******** Paul Pierce
*********************** Eddie House ****** House, JWill, Marbury at the PG spot
********************** James Posey ****** JR Giddens ??? at the SG spot, when Ray is off
********************************************* Scalabrine, when in the rotation as a mobile backup PF

Post Scoring ****** Kevin Garnett ***** Kevin Garnett
********************* Paul Pierce ********* Paul Pierce
******************************************** Alonzo Mourning ????
******************************************** JR Giddens, at the backup SG spot ??

Dribble Penetration Paul Pierce ****** Paul Pierce
*********************** Ray Allen ******** Ray Allen
*********************** Rajon Rondo **** Rajon Rondo
********************** Tony Allen ******* Marbury ???? as a backup PG, or even SG

Turn Around Jump Shooters KG ***** Kevin Garnett
******************************** PJ Brown *Mourning ???
******************************** Paul Pierce Paul Pierce
********************************************** JR Giddens

Looks like the Celtics could help there cause by adding:

Mourning (if healthy, otherwise Mutombo)
Stephon Marbury or (JWIll AND Eddie House)

AND DEFENSIVELY, who guards LeBron James when Pierce is out of the game ??
Scalabrine or Walker? Good Luck for Cleveland.