If I Could Be Danny for a Day

Actually an offseason but “Danny for a Day had a better right to it.

Lets look at the Roster as it currently stands:
Ray Allen
Carlos Arroyo
Avery Bradley
Glen Davis
Kevin Garnett
Jeff Green
Nenad Krstic
Troy Murphy
Jermaine O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal
Sasha Pavlovic
Paul Pierce
Rajon Rondo
Von Wafer
Delonte West

Here is how the player contracts breakdown

Summer of 2011
RESTRICTED
Jeff Green

UNRESTRICTED
Ray Allen (P)
Carlos Arroyo
Glen Davis
Nenad Krstic
Troy Murphy
Shaquille O’Neal (P)
Sasha Pavlovic
Von Wafer
Delonte West

Summer of 2012
RESTRICTED
None

UNRESTRICTED
Kevin Garnett
Jermaine O’Neal

Let’s begin right with the FA’s and what to do with them.

Sign – Sign – Sign

Jeff Green – Sign him, he is a solid swingman for the Celtics and even though I am “Danny for a Day” the real Danny has a love for him and he is not going anywhere, so we might as well just not even fathom the decision of moving him.

Glen Davis – People are considering a move on GD, but really his attitude is kept well in check by the team and Doc so his “stability” should not be an issue while in Boston.  His only issue would be how big his head is for the Celtics pocket.  Pick a price and if he pushes the ceiling let him walk.  But if he will sign you take him in a second.

Delonte West – Unless he is asking for Rondo money you give this guy what ever he wants.  West can make Davis look like Ray Allen when it comes to issues, but since he arrived in Boston he has been a solid state again.  Makes you wonder how strict the organization can when it comes to discipline.

Let them walk

Carlos Arroyo – My first thought is we can get him cheap, but our guards are too strong to keep him around if West is healthy.

Nenad Krstic – I would give him a training camp invite, his play was decent and if JO’s health is in question sign him to the  ground floor.

Troy Murphy – Not even a consideration. Pack his bags for him.

Sasha Pavlovic – Why would you? 2 for one on uHauls for Sasha and Troy.

Von Wafer – Way too deep at guard to need him, thought this all the way back to last fall.

?Pending?

Shaquille O’Neal (P) – The ball is in Shaq’s court with his option, I say he probably retires.  But if he does come back I have a use for him. 3rd in depth and 1st in mentoring the youth.

That only leaves one piece, Ray Allen.  Like Shaq he has a player option, but unlike Shaq he is not getting the veteran minimum.  Allen’s 20 million is too big to go into the offseason with and I think they give him two options.  If Allen want to truly stay, like Pierce has done to keep him around he restructures a club sweetheart deal of two years for maybe 11 million or he risks being trade bait.  I think Allen takes the options into his court, he declines and opts out to sign with another club for less money that has a solid chance at the title for 2012. (I will take “heat” for this but he goes to be the voice of reason in Miami next year.”)

Now this leaves us with two players unsigned after 2012, KG and JO, neither are going anywhere of their own will, but I say we consider their future anyways.

Jermaine O’Neal – He came to Boston with the cloud of Rasheed looming over his head and not a whole lot was expected of him in the eyes of the fans but he really picked it up when he needed too and I think he is worth while in Boston especially for next year when we have plans for him.

Kevin Garnett – Let me put this out there, while at times I really cheer for KG it is always in the back of my mind that mid season in 2007 he did not want to consider Boston as an option and threatened to opt out of his deal if sent East.  We all know he eventually softened up when the thought of a “Big 3″ was on the table after Ray came to the Hub, but for him Boston was an opportunity, so tit-for-tat we take the opportunity and we trade KG.  (Yes, this is all about winning.)

So as it stands these are the players we know we have to build around:

Avery Bradley
Glen Davis
Jeff Green
Jermaine O’Neal
Paul Pierce
Rajon Rondo
Delonte West

Shaquille O’Neal (potential)

Draft – The draft is probably not all that relevant for 2012′s season, I hope that Boston can sneak Marshon Brooks at 25, but who ever they get will be a 5th guard or forward off the bench at best.  So for arguments sake we will say they take a guard and a forward and we will just pencil them in as “draft pick G/F”

Free Agent Signing (priority)

Nene – Boston consistently has had issue all season with center, there is your solution.  Nene is only 30 and has lots of gas in the tank, he has had a serious ACL injury but has shown little restriction from it if any.  The only other serious time missed was for a testicular mass.  We won’t find a better defensive forward available, only other person I would consider is Noah, but the Bulls are not parting with him.  Howard is going to LA, we will make our bid, but he is going to LA.  Nene will start, JO will get significant playing time.

Shaq-factor (if Shaq retires)

If he stays Shaq is the 3 off the bench and we don’t pressure, but if he goes we make a play on Greg Oden, he has a strong upside and a devastating downside, no team is dumping money on him so a team may get him at a gamble bargain for a year deal. Yao is another center in the same boat, all three could be a third option.

Trade options (priority)

Because we have signed away Nene from Denver there is a strong need for post presence in the Mile High area, Danilo Gallinari is making backroom noise that he wants out and Denver trades forwards with Boston, we send out KG and take on Danilo and resign him for an extended deal.

Now we look at our roster

Avery Bradley
Glen Davis
Jeff Green
Jermaine O’Neal
Paul Pierce
Rajon Rondo
Delonte West
Danilo Gallinari
Shaq/Oden/Yao
Nene

Now we fill in our needs

Free Agent Signings (Secondary)

Michael Redd – he has spent too much time in the doctor’s office in Milwaukee and it will cost him his time with the Bucks. Boston signs him to start at PG and another great shooter can school Rajon on better form, but also prime Bradley on how to play the 2-spot.

Rodney Stuckey – Michael Redd just got bumped to teacher and split time with his student. Stuckey gives the Celts a lightning fast backcourt and a transition guard that can keep up with Rondo on the reverse break.

Let’s look at the Depth Chart

Guards
Rondo/Stuckey
West/Redd & Bradley
(Green and Gallinari can swing into 2-spot)

Forwards
Gallinari/Pierce
Green/Davis
(JO can swing into F)

Centers
Nene
JO
Injury Center Mashup of Shaq, Oden, Yao
(Davis can swing into center, should only do so in injury needs)

The 2 draftees will start the season undressed, but between Redd and the 3rd center they will be wearing green in no time.

Ok send out the hate mail, but I make all these changes and the Celtics forgo rebuilding and right back into contention. I fully believe that Boston has a deal with Doc to make some serious changes to keep him around, so here are your serious changes and your 2011-12 Celtics NBA Champions.

You are welcome Danny.

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