rate your top 5 MLE choices

[Hemingway]

Ok, time for a little offseason thought. Lets assume that everyone we have now who's contract is up agrees to resign if we want them. Lets also pretend that we can get anyone within reason for the mle (sorry no Kobe.) Here is a list from hoopsworld:

The following are the bigger name unrestricted free agents: Mike Bibby, Ben Gordon, Jason Kidd, Allen Iverson, Antonio McDyess, Rasheed Wallace, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, Andre Miller, Drew Gooden, Shawn Marion and Anthony Parker.

A number of players can opt-out but given the economy - their agents should probably advise their clients to stick around: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao, Jamal Crawford, Jermaine O'Neal, Eddy Curry, Al Harrington, Quentin Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu, Mehmet Okur and Kyle Korver. Carlos Boozer is also on the list but may be better served to explore the free agent market.

Complicating matters are the typically younger restricted free agents like David Lee, Nate Robinson, Paul Millsap, Marvin Williams, Raymond Felton, Linas Kleiza, Jarrett Jack, Hakim Warrick, Glen Davis, Leon Powe, Jamario Moon, Ramon Sessions, Charlie Villanueva, Marcin Gortat and Channing Frye (to name a few).

So who are your top 5?

[MyInsatiableOne]

Mine would be, in no particular order, McDyess, Wallace, Okur...I don't really like any of the others...

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

If Marion wasn't such an ****, he'd fit perfectly into the James Posey role due to his ability to defend 2s, 3s, and 4s. However, since he insists on being "the man", he wouldn't fit in with Celtic basketball.

Plus, we'd have no money to sign the guy either. He'll supposedly command at least $8 million per year.

[Celts17Pride]

It will be a very interesting off-season for the Celtics. We have to see how this season plays out and the resigning of Powe and/or Big Baby. The NBA finances are not as good so it will be interesting to see if the Celtics use the MLE or not. The luxury tax level is decreasing so I don't think the Celtics will use the MLE but we shall see.

I like Antonio McDyess, Rasheed Wallace, Jamario Moon, Charlie Villanueva and of course Powe, Big Baby & Marbury.

[Celtics_Champs]

Sheed.

Villanueva

Iverson.

[BakersDozen]

Sheed. I wouldnt mind Frye either ... he cant be worse then Moore.

[MyInsatiableOne]

celtics_champs, hell NO to Iverson...look what he's done for DET...you want that here? He's old and he's a shadow of his former self...pass!

[Red2]

is moore signed for 2 years? It's interesting that Marbury isn't even in this discussion. If he starts playing better wouldn't you consider him?

[Zin5]

Would love to see Artest or Marion here if they follow Marbury's example of not continuing to be a problem. After that or if those two can't comply, Wallace to solidify the big rotation. I'd say Ariza, but I highly doubt he'd come here.

[Celtics_Champs]

celtics_champs, hell NO to Iverson...look what he's done for DET...you want that here? He's old and he's a shadow of his former self...pass!

I still have hope

AI, has always been my favorite player outside of the celtics, so whenever I see him available I get all excited. Oh well, that ship has passed.

[MyInsatiableOne]

celtics_champs, hell NO to Iverson...look what he's done for DET...you want that here? He's old and he's a shadow of his former self...pass!

I still have hope

AI, has always been my favorite player outside of the celtics, so whenever I see him available I get all excited. Oh well, that ship has passed.

Well I don't think Iverson has done anything to alter the perception he's a loser...a very talented one who is past his prime, but a loser nonetheless...

[Golabki]

Of the unresitricted FA... here is my top 5...

1) Artest
2) Marion
3) Wallace
4) Ariza
5) Gooden

[MyInsatiableOne]

Artest? And people were worried about Marbury torpedoing our team chemistry?

[BRUNiNHO91]

1)Marion
2)Rasheed
3)McDyess
4)Odom
5)Could really go with anybody..I'd say Bibby but he is pretty much done and we are locked at point...Charlie V most likely would be the best choice..Or Gordon/Iverson as 6th man to back up Ray Allen..

Really if we manage to get anybody from that that unrestricted list I'd be thrilled...=D..but it looks like if we sign one of those, we lose one of Baby or Powe...ehhh..tough..

[Pogue Mahone]

I think any player brought in for the full-MLE would have to provide positional and defensive versatility or else it would be a mis-allocation of resources.

Contrary to popular belief, Posey was just not that good for us when playing as a PF. He should have seen most of his as a SF with Pierce moving to SG and then paired with Ray as a SG. Unfortunately, Doc went with him as a PF where he was the worst option amongst a group that included Leon Powe, Glen Davis and a Brian Scalabrine who was struggling for his shot.

So take an Iverson, for instance. He can consistently create his own shot, he can handle the ball, he can play passing lanes and he can eat possessions. If you play him as a 1, you are going to have a normal sized SG to defend SGs. If you play him as a SG, you are going to need a PG who can defend SGs and play off the ball.

Additionally, if you are handing out the full-MLE, there is no way you treat Iverson as a 20 mpg player. Where is that extra 5-10 mpg going to come from? If Ray Allen is still here, are you going to run a SG-sized, jumpshooting PG/Iverson/R. Allen line-up ? Are you going to cut Rondo's minutes so you can play R. Allen even more minutes or do you play Rondo with Iverson, leaving one overmatched on defense and the other forced to play to a weakness on offense? Then there is the fact that you would have $2.862M (House's option) in dead money when the team is already over the tax-level of the salary cap. Are you going to forego resiging Leon Powe in favor of the MLE signing?

I am not trying to poo poo this thread because I think it is a good topic. I just think people need to be realistic and understand the financial constraints the club is facing in the off-season. It wasn't a popular opinion but in one of my "trade Ray" scenarios, that cap relief we would be getting this off-season could have been used to sign a full MLE player and improved the entire team at the expense of a slight downgrade at one position.

[MyInsatiableOne]

^If we traded Ray and brought in a MLE guy, that's a HUGE drop-off...

[Pogue Mahone]

^If we traded Ray and brought in a MLE guy, that's a HUGE drop-off...

Prove it.

If you can't, agree to disagree.

[Dirty Water]

Artest? And people were worried about Marbury torpedoing our team chemistry?

He's worked out quite well for Houston.

[ddb]

Well logically speaking a scorer/PG off the bench is one of the key elements we're missing. Marbury could be that guy down the stretch, but looking ahead I would say that Iverson is the ideal fit in the scoring/pg mold off the bench if he's willing to accept a bench role/less money.
I think he would welcome the chance to win a title here with KG, Pierce, Ray Allen.

[TheOGJabroni]

Artest? And people were worried about Marbury torpedoing our team chemistry?

He's worked out quite well for Houston.

I would love to see Artest in green. He wouldn't even have to worry about wanting one of our retired numbers either