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

[campybatman]

But, I can't see Atlanta letting M. Williams go to another team. They've been patient with his development this long, why stop now? They could resign him and let Bibby go. I mean I would've an interest... It's just real challenging to persuade a RFA to sign elsewhere or for his team not to match your offer. Hence, why I feel Childress affects Williams' future in Atlanta somewhat.

[sully00]

Marvin Williams made 5.6 mil last season and has QO for 7.3, he is 22 avg 14/6 and is 6'9" and can shoot the 3, there is not going to be any MLE talk with Marvin unless the ATL loses their mind and doesn't tender him. He is going to get at least get that Chris Wilcox/Drew Gooden type deal 3 years at around 8-8.5 mil no worse, or he just takes his QO.

[Slartibartfast]

Sheed probably makes the most sense and he'd take the full MLE. Back-up 3 and 5 are the biggest holes on the team and 5 is the hardest to fill. Use the MLE there and sign a couple minimum guys for the back-up wings, say Kareem Rush and Quinton Ross.

We know we're going to be a good regular season team. We have two decent bench options in House and Powe and 10th man type in Scal. We really just need one guy we can plug in as the 6th man. Sheed would be pretty close to ideal. Length, plays the 4 and 5, spreads the floor and can guard the post, a nice pairing for KG and Powe and passable match with Perkins. Kind of like Sam Perkins in his later years with the Pacers.

[campybatman]

House could opt out and Powe will miss half or more of the season to rehabilitation. With Scalabrine there will always be the concern that he sustains another concussion. And Tony's always an uncertainty. There is no bench, really.

Ainge's best option is to think of using the MLE on more than one player. Cheaper options will have to suffice for the bench. I can't see Rasheed accepting the full MLE from a team if there indeed is a team misguided enough to sign him for somewhat more.

[GreenDreamer]

The guy that I would get would be Marion, and I'd use the whole MLE on him. He'd be a perfect fit here. Tony's contract, maybe Scal's and some filler could always be used to get a decent guy to fill out the bench, but Marion is a classic buy low option. Gives us everything that Posey did and more. With him you are talking about a guy who would be true Sixth man for us. A dude who could play 30 minutes a game in the playoffs and have a big impact. I'm not down with the whole "lets pick up a bunch of nickels philosphy. I'd rather have that one quarter.

Childress intrigues me, but his tendency to get injured bothers me.

[campybatman]

Why would Marion accept a backup's role when he can sign with most other teams and be a starter? Because he won't be a starter with Boston. Garnett and Pierce are entrenched at the forward positions. And I don't recall Marion ever playing shooting guard. He's an illogical choice, in my opinion. The issue isn't with the starters, it's with the bench. This team needs a better bench. I mean Ainge is saying that he's doing what's going to help the team for next season, and to compete for a championship.

[campybatman]

Good to see that Ainge has an interest in A. Parker, Toronto drafted a scoring guard.

Said Celtics coach Doc Rivers, “Everyone is trying to make their team better. We will, too. We’re just not going to be crazy.’’

So, what are the Celtics going to do? Well, Boston has its eyes on free agency. The Celtics are willing to use the midlevel exception (expected to be $5.6 million-$5.8 million) for the right player. Expect the Celtics’ top priority in free agency to be landing one or possibly two big men, not including the re-signing of restricted free agent forward Glen Davis.

An NBA source said the Celtics will keep an eye on such free agents as Detroit forward-center Rasheed Wallace, Phoenix forward Grant Hill, and Toronto swingman Anthony Parker. Denver center Chris Andersen (likely to re-sign), Detroit forward Antonio McDyess (likely to re-sign), Denver forward Linas Kleiza, Detroit forward Francisco Oberto (expected to be bought out), and Milwaukee forward Bruce Bowen (expected to be bought out) are also considerations.

“We will try to improve,’’ Rivers said. “That’s what we should do. We are going to keep trying to make our team better without reshuffling the deck.’’

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... ltics+news

[vct33]

I'd prefer to use most or all of the MLE on a single player. My preference would be to use the MLE on a legit back-up center or small forward.

Here are two scenarios I favor:

If we went with SF with the MLE:

MLE - Shawn Marion or Josh Childress

LLE - Marbury

Vet Min - Nesterovic

EBE - Sign Big Baby for 2-years

If we went big with the MLE:

MLE - Gortat or Anderson

LLE - Marbury

Vet Min - Grant Hill

EBE - Sign Big Baby

[campybatman]

Yup, A. Parker's definitely available. The question is: How much is he looking for? Adding him would add, I think, so much off the bench. It makes too much sense... If he wants to compete for a championship next season, then he chooses Cleveland, Boston or San Antonio. The other teams listed from the article only make sense if he cares more about starting. I suppose he could start for the Cavaliers but now with the Celtics. The Spurs, I doubt it. He could start with the Suns (if Richardson is traded or moves to small forward or Hill doesn't resign) or Thunder.

The veteran shooting guard has been the picture of consistency with the Raptors, but at age 34 and looking for one last lucrative contract, the market for his services both in the NBA and overseas may prove too rich for Toronto.

According to league sources at least five NBA teams inquired about Parker in the lead-up to Thursday night's draft, where Toronto took DeRozan ninth overall out of the University of Southern California.

The five teams to ask about Parker, a free agent on July 1st, include San Antonio, Boston, Phoenix, Cleveland and Oklahoma City. While their intensity of interest might vary, it's clear Parker will be able to find work and perhaps a multiyear deal in the NBA should he choose after his three-year, $12-million (U.S.) contract expires on Tuesday.

Given the Raptors have made a qualifying offer to Carlos Delfino and have pledged heavy minutes to DeRozan, it's not clear how much they would want to spend on Parker in a back-up role.

Another scenario could see Parker return to play in the Euroleague, where the market for good talent still appears strong.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/a ... le1199605/

[sully00]

Why would Marion accept a backup's role when he can sign with most other teams and be a starter? Because he won't be a starter with Boston. Garnett and Pierce are entrenched at the forward positions. And I don't recall Marion ever playing shooting guard. He's an illogical choice, in my opinion. The issue isn't with the starters, it's with the bench. This team needs a better bench. I mean Ainge is saying that he's doing what's going to help the team for next season, and to compete for a championship.

He wants to be on a contender.

He wants to get paid.

He can start next year and get starter mins now in Boston.

There are not going to be too many teams especially contending teams willing to give Marion a multi year deal and sacrifice their cap space for next season.

Depending on what Marion's situation is in TOR Boston could even work out a S&T and give him more the MLE, maybe even a 3 a way situation were Marion goes to Boston, Hedo goes to TOR and ORL takes back expiring contracts if there is some value in it for them, they only have 8 guys under contract.

Obviously Marion can go for a one year deal and try and reestablish himself as an elite player, but chances not great on that and money he passes on this year may not be there next year.

[campybatman]

Well, it doesn't look as if A. Parker will be an option. I don't blame him if he goes back overseas, the money offer could be more.

The 1st of July is very close now and according to superbasket.gr, Olympiakos will make an offer to their main transfer target, Anthony Parker(1.98-SG/SF) that was playing for the Toronto Raptors this season. There is already rumored interest in Parker from 5 NBA teams but it seems that the owners of Olympiakos have the biggest wallet!

Parker was also a target of the team last season and his name appeared in many rumors. Tomorrow (1st of July) the official negotiations can begin with all NBA players. There have been some concerns in the greek media about Parker and his age. Parker is currently 34 years old but as he has shown in the NBA he is still in very good shape.

http://thehoop.blogspot.com/2009/06/par ... iakos.html

[campybatman]

If Boston offers R. Wallace the full MLE and a contract of two years. I've a feeling that if he doesn't sign with Boston, it's more to do with the number of years. I still can see him signing with San Antonio. But, as they'd discussed on the Big Show today, you just don't know what Wallace's thinking.