Bruce Bowen HAS to be Ainge's next target

[GonzoLays]

First of all, what's up fellas, its been awhile.

With that out of the way, all has been quite on the free agent wing search since Grant Hill turned us down. It is quite apparent that Ainge had Hill in mind and was less than enthused about the remaining crop of wings. There hasn't been a single splash of interest by the Celtics at any of the remaining wing players.

That's why I believe Ainge is holding out for Bruce Bowen who would be a PERFECT addition to team as a solid role player. Milwaukee is shopping Bowen's 4 million dollar contract, but noone is biting. On August 1st, the Bucks can buy out Bowen for 2 million and let him hit the free agent market. Whatever the case, Bowen is not going to be a Buck next season and we be available on August 1st.

I believe that Ainge is holding out for him. He is our kind of player: tough, defensive minded, and knows his role to a T. We don't need 30 minutes a game out of Bowen, just 15-20 which I think he can handle.

While rumor has it that he prefers Orlando and that San Antonio is completely out of the picture, I'm quite sure that Ainge will make a full-out blitz to sign Bowen. We just have to wait until August 1st to make that happen.

Until then, don't expect the Celtics to sign any wing player. Actually, I'm going to go ahead and call it: Bowen is going to be a Celtic next year. Boo-ya!

And this message has been brought to you buy

THE GREAT GONZOLAYS!!!!!!!

[Joekickass2008]

That makes as are HUGE defensive team....even more so than we are. (course on the priviso that Bowen aint lost it).

But we can only wait and see.

[threrf23]

I think Bowen would be a solid pick up, he is a capable role player and could maybe teach us some things from his experiences on the Spurs. But he is on the decline and his health cannot be counted on. Like Grant Hill, I only like him a lot in a situation where he is one of two wing players signed/acquired. And he might simply be headed back to San Antonio on his own accord, salary considerations aside.

But my point is...I am in favor of signing Bowen, but I would hate to see us hold out for a player like him (meaning for a pick up that was less than ideal and not even all that close to being guaranteed).

[EJay33]

We need another player on the roster other than Pierce who can match up with LeBron. That was the main thing we lost when Posey skipped down. Can Bowen still get in there and bother Bron for a few minutes? Can Jamario Moon? Right now if Pierce gets in foul trouble we have no other options. No one is going to stop LeBron, but I at least want someone (a veteran) at backup swingman who can try. I'd be ok with Bruce the Juice, but admittedly, I don't know much about the defensive prowess (or lack thereof) of many of the other possible additions to this roster. Ability to hit wide open threes is also a plus, but I don't think we need to add a sieve on defense or an undersized player (a TA type).

Walker and Giddens aren't going to be able to help in this regard at this time.

[cisco]

Didn't Bowen say he was going back to San Antonio? I thought I read that somewhere.

[Joekickass2008]

Didn't Bowen say he was going back to San Antonio? I thought I read that somewhere.

I kinda got the feeling I have seen that some where too...

[Marley2Hendrix]

Didn't Bowen say he was going back to San Antonio? I thought I read that somewhere.

I kinda got the feeling I have seen that some where too...

I think it's his preferred route, but even if it wasn't and Bowen would be willing to sign here, I pass.

Bowen's in the "Robert horry/PJ Brown - play 40-60 games in the regular season at low low minutes and try and contribute in the playoffs" mode right about now, and last I recall we needed a bit of a work horse to carry the bench at the 2/3 to help rest Paul and Ray. Also, as I described awhile back in defense of grant hills comparatively weak 2/3 defense to the ideal backup wing for this team, we are at our best when we play a team defensive game and just kill penetration, a + 1v1 defender is not required for this, merely a sufficient athlete with lank and some decent BBIQ to cut off the lane and force lebron/hedo/rashard into longer shots. I for one feel like the summer league showed us nothing of Giddens/Walker's potential and I want to see them given the green light here. In the post season paul and ray will be playing 38-44 mpg, that leaves maybe 10 minutes of time where we need to rely on a backup for help on the team d, the need for a defensive 2/3 is overblown, we just need someone willing to step up and provide quality minutes in the regular season to keep ray/paul fresh. I still believe in walker and giddens.


*******************
ETA - Nice to see ya back Gonzo

[Kefa461]

I could live with him on the team..........

[Dogen]

THE GREAT GONZOLAYS HATH SPOKE!!!!!!!!



(And I actually kinda agree with him this time: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=926378
although I wasn't waiting for the buyout)

[bc legends]

he'd be a great defensive addition to the team, i really hope ainge inquires about him. no doubt rondos penetration and our newly added floor spacing with sheed would cause many problems for other teams.

[MaxwellSmart]

on Sports Tonight---Mark Spears just threw out Bowen's name when Felger asked him who he thought the C's might try for.

[Fidel Sarcasmo]

Holy ****! Marc Spears of the Boston Globe trolls Real Gm. I'm fukin convinced. And he just said the Celtics could go after Bruce Bowen on one of the late night shows. Gonzo Lays, your brain is being leeched by the pros.

[Joekickass2008]

Should he get bought out, are we more inticing than Sanatonio? If they want him I imagine he is theres.

[ParticleMan]

Bowen sucks.

And this message is brought to you buy (sic)

People who actually watched the NBA in the last year.

[Hemingway]

I would take him BUT we need more minutes than he can give us. I want Pierce in there only when Doc wants to play him, not is there all the time because there is no one who can spell him for 30 minutes a game when we have a big lead.

[GuyClinch]

I'd like us to aim a bit higher - get someone a bit younger with more upside. You don't need to settle for a washed up vet at a speed position, IMHO.

[Edug27]

I believe we need more of an offensive minded player coming off the bench for Pierce, rather than a aging defensive stoppper ... we play a team defense, not looking for a single player to match up wit LeBron (and quite frankly, LeBron will have his way with Bowen nowadays) ... Pierce needs rest, Allen needs rests .. so in games where we play the Clippers or Kings, and its a 12 pt lead early in the first half, we need backups who can put in over 20 minutes in that game, to rest our wings, AND securing the game for us by not allowing the offense to slump in the process.

[The Rondo Show]

• The Milwaukee Bucks continue to make Bruce Bowen's $4 million expiring contract available, but word is no trade is close. If the Bucks don't strike a deal in the next two weeks, Bowen will be waived by Aug. 1 at a cost of just $2 million, making him a free agent sure to interest various rivals of the San Antonio Spurs since Bowen is not expected to return to the silver and black.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/s ... ter-090714

[brassviews]

Why do you guys want old players on your team?

[humblebum]

Well the Celtics won with 38 some odd year old PJ Brown playing a significant role so many of us feel that some of the older players can contribute to wins in specific and limited roles. That's how I feel at least.

I'm not a big Bowen guy at this point. He's basically just a hacker and the refs don't let his antics slide like they did in the past. But if Danny can't get anybody else then Bowen would have some value for the team. He can definitely help to mentor our younger wings, teach them the tricks of the trade, help with scouting offensive wing players, as well as playing spot minutes in relief of Ray and Paul. And he's the type of guy who's not necessarily going to hurt your team when he's in the game.

Overall it would be a low upside, low downside type of move. But if there are no other options than Bowen would look good in Green IMO.