36 replies to this topic

[RedOctober3829]

Brandon Bass staying. Celtics have reached agreement with power forward on 3-year deal, per Herald source.

https://twitter.com/...968554625896448

HUGE

[Witters]

Alright! Solid offseason by Ainge so far. I like this signing a lot.

[Ed Hillel]

Very happy with length of the deal. Only thing missing, obviously is the numbers. What do we think? 3/20?

Come on Ray, sign with the Celtics now. Everybody's doing it!

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

another 3 year deal? I love it.

So, it's pretty safe to say that Ainge is in GFIN for the next 3 years

KG-3 years
Bass-3 years
Terry-3 years

Shit, add the extra year to Allen for 3 years. At this point, it's pretty evident that you're blowing it up in 3 years anyway. Just give him the extra year. Fuck it.

Edit--Rondo and Bradley are off the books the same year as well.

Edited by Kenny F'ing Powers, 05 July 2012 - 03:05 PM.

[bosockboy]

Resign Ray and Pietrus and this a really deep and versatile squad. Love it.

[Nick Kaufman]

I am a little bummed out, because I hoped that Bass would be trade bait for an upgraded PF.

I am afraid this team still misses a banger who takes it to the hoop and this will only make everyone's life a little bit more difficult.

So the strategy for next year is:

1. Stay healthy.

2. Don't have your stars decline much.

3. Hope that Terry, Green and Bradley make the difference in taking you over the top.

It is a strategy, probably the optimal one, but it's an outside shot which should color our expectations I think.

[collings94]

Unpopular view alert:

Sullinger's development would be better if we didn't resign Bass. In reality, we all hope Sullinger is just going to be a better version of Bass. Bass is a solid player, and played extremly well for us over the course of the season, but I do think he is going to steal an uncomfterable amount of minutes from Sullinger.

[ElcaballitoMVP]

Wow, good news. Hope the money isn't too big.

I thought the C's would S&T Bass somewhere to allow more minutes at PF for KG, but it doesn't look like that's the case now.

[Brickowski]

I wouldn't be surprised if Sullinger was the starting center, with Bass coming off the bench. Now you have two scorers (Bass and Terry) on the second unit.

[Ed Hillel]

Unpopular view alert:

Sullinger's development would be better if we didn't resign Bass. In reality, we all hope Sullinger is just going to be a better version of Bass. Bass is a solid player, and played extremly well for us over the course of the season, but I do think he is going to steal an uncomfterable amount of minutes from Sullinger.

Sullinger will get plenty of time coming in off the bench, which is exactly what he should be doing at this point. If he ends up performing to the level he's capable of and stays healthy, he may be starting with Bass coming off the bench. With Doc coaching, I don't really fear him neglecting to make a move if it's best for the team.

Ainge has done a really remarkable job turning a 3-year plan into an 8-year one.

It is a strategy, probably the optimal one, but it's an outside shot which should color our expectations I think.

I don't see it as that way at all anymore. We've been talking about them having to "beat the odds" for three years now, and they've nearly gotten it done each time. I think they're just that good when they want to be, only now the starters are going to have some support to work with. Maybe the best support in basketball; definitely so if they re-sign Allen.

[JohnnyTheBone]

What do we think? 3/20?

Those are the exact numbers just reported by Meat Sheppard on WEEI.

[CreightonGubanich]

Smart move by Bass, I think he really benefits from playing with Rondo. I'm glad to have him back, he fits in well and is low maintenance. Interestingly, the chances of the Celtics signing a center better than Stiemsma are pretty remote at this point, so it looks like KG at the five spot is a permanent thing.

[RedOctober3829]

Smart move by Bass, I think he really benefits from playing with Rondo. I'm glad to have him back, he fits in well and is low maintenance. Interestingly, the chances of the Celtics signing a center better than Stiemsma are pretty remote at this point, so it looks like KG at the five spot is a permanent thing.

What about Marcus Camby?

[Koufax]

I predict Nenad will be back. Celts have his Bird rights and he has apparently bought out of his USSR contract.

[mikeford]

Guess the rest of the league was pretty unhappy with Miami winning a title, haha.

[stp130]

Smart move by Bass, I think he really benefits from playing with Rondo. I'm glad to have him back, he fits in well and is low maintenance. Interestingly, the chances of the Celtics signing a center better than Stiemsma are pretty remote at this point, so it looks like KG at the five spot is a permanent thing.

Looks like KG, Stiemsma, Melo at the 5, Sullinger/Bass if they go small. Unless Melo develops rapidly, this is worrisome; not exactly proven backups. We may be back to the same situation as last year in the playoffs when leads evaporated when KG sat.

[Hendu's Gait]

LOVE IT. Love the 8 man rotation if we sign Ray and go small. (Sully, Ray, and Terry of the bench, nice scoring punch).

Lakers Celtics in the Finals hopefully, just how it should be.

Let's go for 20, bitches.

[lars10]

Unpopular view alert:

Sullinger's development would be better if we didn't resign Bass. In reality, we all hope Sullinger is just going to be a better version of Bass. Bass is a solid player, and played extremly well for us over the course of the season, but I do think he is going to steal an uncomfterable amount of minutes from Sullinger.

Given how Doc develops rookies I don't think it was ever a given that Sullinger was going to get a lot of time over whatever vet Danny signed. From my memory it seems like every rookie has been given two years to develop other than maybe Rondo.

[RedOctober3829]

Given how Doc develops rookies I don't think it was ever a given that Sullinger was going to get a lot of time over whatever vet Danny signed. From my memory it seems like every rookie has been given two years to develop other than maybe Rondo.

What rookie player has been as polished as Sullinger on the Celtics in the Doc era? He will get much more playing time than say JuJuan Johnson, Moore, Bradley, etc. Sullinger is a top 5 talent that slipped down in the draft. If his back is good to go, he's the first forward off the bench on Opening Night.

[lars10]

Looks like KG, Stiemsma, Melo at the 5, Sullinger/Bass if they go small. Unless Melo develops rapidly, this is worrisome; not exactly proven backups. We may be back to the same situation as last year in the playoffs when leads evaporated when KG sat.

Except they'll have Green, Terry, Sullinger, Bradley, and Stiemsma? Wilcox? and hopefully a healthy Allen?

There were a lot of reasons the team went to crap when KG was on the bench..but some of them were due to the vast number of injuries that have started to be addressed.

[bosockboy]

LOVE IT. Love the 8 man rotation if we sign Ray and go small. (Sully, Ray, and Terry of the bench, nice scoring punch).

Lakers Celtics in the Finals hopefully, just how it should be.

Let's go for 20, bitches.

Don't forget Green off the bench. Ray/JET/Green/Sully with Pietrus/Stiemsa/Melo off the bench is ferociously deep. If they lose out on Ray, I'd sign Camby to start at C and move Bass to the bench.

[lars10]

What rookie player has been as polished as Sullinger on the Celtics in the Doc era? He will get much more playing time than say JuJuan Johnson, Moore, Bradley, etc. Sullinger is a top 5 talent that slipped down in the draft. If his back is good to go, he's the first forward off the bench on Opening Night.

I certainly hope that is the case...the only other rookie that has been as polished perhaps is Rondo, no?
I'm hoping that Sullinger will be as good as he was in high school and college, but I don't know if that's possible going into the NBA for him..yet.

[Koufax]

Rondo wasn't all that polished as a rookie, although his talent was quite apparent. I haven't seen Sullinger play, so I have no idea whether he will pass Doc's smell test.

[RedOctober3829]

I certainly hope that is the case...the only other rookie that has been as polished perhaps is Rondo, no?
I'm hoping that Sullinger will be as good as he was in high school and college, but I don't know if that's possible going into the NBA for him..yet.

Rondo wasn't this polished out of Kentucky. There was a legitimate debate back then if Delonte West was going to be the future at the point. Sullinger brings something they desperately need: someone who can score in the post.

Bass coming back gives this team much more depth at the 4/5.

[Koufax]

Small detail: Sebastian Telfair was also ahead of Rondo on the depth chart for most of Rondo's rookie year.

[Ed Hillel]

Guess the rest of the league was pretty unhappy with Miami winning a title, haha.

Yeah, I'm pretty surprised Bass wasn't getting better offers. 4/30 for Bass coming into this offseason didn't seem out of the question.

[Super Nomario]

Small detail: Sebastian Telfair was also ahead of Rondo on the depth chart for most of Rondo's rookie year.

Rondo ended up with more minutes (1831 or 23.5 MPG vs 1578 or 20.2) in the same amount of games (78).

I don't think Doc is particularly rookie-averse. He's rarely started rookies but a) a lot of rookies have gotten about 15 MPG, even guys like Orien Greene and Allan Ray, b) most of the rookies the C's have had in his tenure have been late first-rounders, c) some of the higher picks have been really raw (Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Avery Bradley).

[Royal Reader]

another 3 year deal? I love it.

So, it's pretty safe to say that Ainge is in GFIN for the next 3 years

KG-3 years
Bass-3 years
Terry-3 years

Shit, add the extra year to Allen for 3 years. At this point, it's pretty evident that you're blowing it up in 3 years anyway. Just give him the extra year. Fuck it.

Edit--Rondo and Bradley are off the books the same year as well.

It's more GFIN for 1-2 years with 1-2 years of farewell tour unless they get really lucky with injuries and decline, but I'll take it.

[Cellar-Door]

It's more GFIN for 1-2 years with 1-2 years of farewell tour unless they get really lucky with injuries and decline, but I'll take it.

remember Pierce comes off the cap in 2 years, you have a bunch of draft picks between now and then, and really the only guys under contract for 2014 old enough to be in likely decline are KG and Terry for only about 16M between the two. Add in the possibility of KG retiring when Pierce goes and you could actually have a young team in 2014

[collings94]

What rookie player has been as polished as Sullinger on the Celtics in the Doc era? He will get much more playing time than say JuJuan Johnson, Moore, Bradley, etc. Sullinger is a top 5 talent that slipped down in the draft. If his back is good to go, he's the first forward off the bench on Opening Night.

Exactly, Sullinger would have been the number one pick last year if he came out.

[mcpickl]

Don't forget Green off the bench. Ray/JET/Green/Sully with Pietrus/Stiemsa/Melo off the bench is ferociously deep. If they lose out on Ray, I'd sign Camby to start at C and move Bass to the bench.

Max they can offer Camby is 1.9M. I can't imagine him taking that.

Love the Bass deal. Now if they can just get Green in they're in real good shape.

I still would be surprised if Ray signs here. Seems like one too many guards.

Edited by mcpickl, 05 July 2012 - 06:05 PM.

[ishmael]

Exactly, Sullinger would have been the number one pick last year if he came out.

Slight exaggeration, but he was considered a top five talent. Here are links to two mocks from the end of last college basketball season that had Sullinger 3rd and 4th respectively:
http://web.archive.o...w.nbadraft.net/
http://web.archive.o...aftexpress.com/

I had completely forgotten about Jonas Valančiūnas until looking back on that mock draft. DraftExpress pegged him as the 3rd best prospect behind Irving and Derrick Williams, but ahead of Sullinger. Will be interesting to see if he can produce at all in Toronto this upcoming season...

Edited by ishmael, 05 July 2012 - 06:12 PM.

[allaboutthesox]

I am a little bummed out, because I hoped that Bass would be trade bait for an upgraded PF.

I am afraid this team still misses a banger who takes it to the hoop and this will only make everyone's life a little bit more difficult.

So the strategy for next year is:

1. Stay healthy.

2. Don't have your stars decline much.

3. Hope that Terry, Green and Bradley make the difference in taking you over the top.

It is a strategy, probably the optimal one, but it's an outside shot which should color our expectations I think.

Agreed (bolded) as I just feel that Bass might have brought better value as a trade chip, but the question would be for whom? Mayo in a sign and trade? None the less, I think if Green comes back strong and Sullinger progresses well, Bass may still be a trade chip at the deadline as his deal (as it is thought to be) is fairly cheap. It is a solid move and we shall see how it all plays out.

[collings94]

Slight exaggeration, but he was considered a top five talent. Here are links to two mocks from the end of last college basketball season that had Sullinger 3rd and 4th respectively:
http://web.archive.o...w.nbadraft.net/
http://web.archive.o...aftexpress.com/

I had completely forgotten about Jonas Valančiūnas until looking back on that mock draft. DraftExpress pegged him as the 3rd best prospect behind Irving and Derrick Williams, but ahead of Sullinger. Will be interesting to see if he can produce at all in Toronto this upcoming season...

I was listening to the Scott Van Pelt show last week and Chad Ford was raving about Valanciunas saying that he would have gone 2nd if he was drafted this year. I guess he is like some sort of combination of Marc Gasol and Andrea Bargnani.

[Jed Zeppelin]

While Bass may have been a decent trade chip, he's not good enough for a team to just hand Boston a clear upgrade (Smith or whoever) for him without adding Bradley and/or picks to the deal.

[Hee-Seop's Fable]

I'm seeing Doc playing Sullinger a lot at center with him working the post and Garnett at PF allowed to drift out into his favored spot a bit farther from the rim. That could accout for at least half KG's minutes, with the other half at center with Bass on the floor with him. That leaves the remaining 15-20 center minutes for Stiemsma or Melo, playing more with two of Bass, Green, and Pierce.

[kazuneko]

Not loving this...
Would have preferred entrusting Sullinger with the Bass role. Better for his development and a more efficient use of salary cap space...