Stein: Big Baby Updates

by Jeff Clark on Jul 15, 2009 9:28 AM EDT in Rumors Comment 33 comments

Marc Stein has the following on Big Baby:

The early sense I get is that the Mavericks have little interest in using their midlevel exception -- which is back in their possession after Orlando confirmed its intention to match a five-year, $34 million offer to Gortat -- to play the restricted free-agent game again with Boston's Glen Davis.

Detroit, by contrast, really covets Big Baby, whose modest $711,517 salary last season didn't stop him from stepping in admirably for injured Kevin Garnett in the playoffs. The Pistons' problem is that their offer can start in only the $3 million range compared with $5.9 million in Dallas' case, raising the obvious fear that the rival Celtics could tie up the Pistons' money for seven days, then match. The Hornets, meanwhile, haven't abandoned their Big Baby interest, but New Orleans has to shed some salary before it can do anything significant or construct a sign-and-trade deal the Celtics would accept. The team considered most likely to trade for Tyson Chandler -- Phoenix -- just completed a buyout with Ben Wallace that rips up the contract New Orleans was hoping to score in exchange for Chandler to enable the Hornets to finally join this summer's action.

Also, some other notes of interest:

Rasheed Wallace's three-year deal with the Celts, starting at the $5.9 million midlevel exception, includes a player option for the third season ($6.8 million) and a trade kicker.

No concrete evidence has materialized -- yet -- that the Heat are preparing to send Udonis Haslem's expiring contract to Utah for the expiring contract of Carlos Boozer.

I've been advised by one especially knowledgeable observer not to be surprised if Delonte West is traded at some point this season, not because Cleveland is eager to part with him but because West is surely more movable from that massive Cavs payroll than Daniel Gibson.

Bonus Links:

WEEI - What does the future hold for Davis?
Globe - "We’re trying to get Glen back. We’re planning on having Glen back" - Ainge
CelticsHub - How much is Big Baby worth to you?

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my wish for this summer

celtics sign a decent backup pg back up and if they can’t sing big baby then sign a decent big man . . . . . . . . if big baby goes to detroit then we should sign leon powe just put him on the inactive list . . . then maybe try and get posey back he was a perfect sf backup for pierce after that point gurad is the problem maybe just use pruitt for 10mins a game rondo is young he can take up alot of minutes . .

by celticsgreen4lyf on Jul 15, 2009 12:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

posey is too old now. look at how he played last season in NO.

by aeternus on Jul 15, 2009 8:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Glenn Davis for Chris Paul, Tyson Chandler and Julian Wright. I smell that trade gently wafting in the cajun breeze. The issue is whether or not Chandler is healthy enough to play.

by Brickowski on Jul 15, 2009 12:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

New Orleans is not trading Paul

Not now, not next year, not ever. The fans would literally riot in the streets.

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

by Ben R on Jul 15, 2009 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brick.. I need to move to your neck of the woods

because that would smell just fine for me. Who would be our starting SG though?

by TomHamilton30 on Jul 15, 2009 7:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

paul is a good player but not as good as allen+rondo

by aeternus on Jul 15, 2009 8:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That idea is "wafting"

Why would the owner of Chris Paul trade him? I love Rondo but I’d make that trade too.

Big Baby seems better than Wright but he’s still an incomplete young player so no real upgrading there and he doesn’t replace the fly-swatter that Chandler is.

Tyson Chandler vs Ray Allen -of course the positions don’t match up – but the servicable years to be had from Chandler are better than Allen’s and Chandler healthy is a helluva center but we’ve got a pretty good one ourself and a new 3-year signed co-center.

I don’t know the money matching issues but that aside this one is fantasy.

by Wildblu1 on Jul 15, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

honestly brick, why would you trade rondo or ray ray. sure, we can trade davis, sheed will make up just fine for that, and then some. but we have one of the top point guards in the game, and one of the greatest 3pt shooters of all time, why would you ever consider trading either of them??? if were going to fulfill KG’s promise of back to back championships in ’10 and ’11, why would you EVER trade 2 of our best players?!?!

by Big5_177 on Jul 15, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because CP3 is the best point guard in the game right now?

This trade is hugely in Boston’s favor simply because of CP3. Players posting near-30 PERs in consecutive years are incredibly good and he’s a huge upgrade over Rondo in all aspects except defense (and even there he’s no slouch).

Again, no one can seriously entertain any of this. New Orleans would commit franchise suicide by trading Paul. Plain and simple. It’s not going to happen.

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

by Ben R on Jul 15, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sounds like the Celtics have the upper hand here.

by scurvmeister on Jul 15, 2009 12:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Of course. It is proposed by a Celtics fan. :-)

by 33-32-00 on Jul 15, 2009 2:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not Really

The Hornets have the third highest payroll in the league, after the Lakers and the Celtics. They have become the new Knicks: big payroll, no playoffs. This trade would save NO millions, not just this year but also in future years. Conversely, it would cost the Celtics millions, because Paul is on a max extension and Chandler still has two years to go on his deal at over 10 mil. per year.

by Brickowski on Jul 15, 2009 8:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

uhm yes, never happen

look at the comparative ages. for a trade like to occur NO would think they have a title run in them this year. they don’t and adding rondo, Big Baby and Ray Allen WITHOUT Paul is def not going to do it. It didn’t do it for Boston this year.

by lakersbluedevil on Jul 15, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bring Back Delonte!

Hey if he’s available, what a perfect backup he’d be for both the 1 and 2 spots. Would fill a lot of needs for us and would certainly be popular.

by BrianY on Jul 15, 2009 1:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i love this move but how could we afford it esp when our current priority is a wing player

by aeternus on Jul 15, 2009 8:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes - bring back my Boy!!!!!

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Jul 15, 2009 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just want to get it done as quickly as possible. I just want to see Detroit or Dallas make an offer so that we can match.

by P2 on Jul 15, 2009 5:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is something like Big Baby + Pruitt for Peterson possible?

by P2 on Jul 15, 2009 5:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Even if iyt were possible, why would you want to do it? Mo Pete has turned intoi a useless blob.

by Brickowski on Jul 15, 2009 7:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There are certainly players I’d take off the Hornets roster.

Peterson is not one of them.

Want to shed some salary, NO? Give us a call. We’ve got a nice bag of expirings we’re looking to dump.

by CoachBo on Jul 15, 2009 7:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i think boston resign baby or gets a sign and trade

i would rather keep baby and use some of our junk for a wing but whatever…i honestly think anything under 4 mil boston matches and i don’t see
ANYONE giving baby over 4 mil

by celticinorlando on Jul 15, 2009 9:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

our hands seem to be tied until we resolve the big baby situation just as last year with posey. i would like to keep baby or do a sign and trade with him for some depth at pg and at the 3. i don’t blame bbd for trying to get max dough and the c’s trying to keep the $$ reasonable.

by nazzbo on Jul 15, 2009 9:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The larger issue is the declining salary cap NEXT year

And this is what is going to make it hard for the Celtics to either absorb additional salary this year for a three or to resign Big Baby. The challenge is that the tax will increase for them next year, and they are trying to reduce their exposure on that front.

by fanfeedr on Jul 15, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

personally, i think all the celtics need is a couple decent backups, not exactly sure for what postion, probably C…. but i think they should dedicate next year’s reduced salary cap to signing Ray Ray to a 2-3 year deal…. i think he’s got 3- 4yrs left in the tank… that stroke aint quittin any time soon

by Big5_177 on Jul 15, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

WE bring Baby back for 3 mil per year

If that’s all Detroit can do, that is no woory. Plus, as I’ve said before, Detroit likes Maxiel and they play the same position and are young and Detroit is probably paying him too much already.

by Wildblu1 on Jul 15, 2009 10:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

more reasons to keep baby

baby has been studying martial arts and has lost weight, he also has improved his shot out to 3 point range. the guys just going to get better again this year.

im gonna be all up on you like a spider monkey!

by remembering9ergods on Jul 15, 2009 11:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

“(Danny) Ainge’s excitement is also due in part to the confidence he has that free agent forward Glen Davis will be back.

Davis showed his value by doing a solid job filling in during Garnett’s absence during the regular season and particularly the playoffs. Davis averaged 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds as a starter in the postseason and knocked down a game-winning buzzer beating jumper against Orlando in Game 4. Davis, 23, is working out in Houston and said he has been losing weight doing martial arts and pushing his shooting stroke to 3-point range. Big Baby also will take part in USA Basketball’s minicamp next week in Las Vegas.

"We like him and want him back,’’ Ainge said about Davis. "We’re trying to get Glen back. We’re planning on having Glen back.’’

The problem for Boston is other teams are also interested.

Detroit, Utah, Cleveland, Charlotte, Dallas, and New Orleans also covet Big Baby. The Pistons recently dealt two players to Denver to clear salary cap space and are trying to make another medium deal to gain more money to sign Davis to an offer sheet, according to an NBA source. Detroit and New Orleans might have to work out a sign and trade to make such a deal for Davis happen.

So how much should Davis be paid? One NBA team liked Davis more than newly signed Magic free agent forward Brandon Bass, who received a four-year, $18 million deal. Utah restricted free agent forward Paul Millsap, who is regarded slightly higher than Davis, signed a four-year, $32 million offer sheet with Portland that could be matched. Don’t be surprised if Davis signs an offer sheet that will challenge Boston, which is over the luxury tax and recently signed Wallace to a three-year, $18 million deal."

im gonna be all up on you like a spider monkey!

by remembering9ergods on Jul 15, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Me likey this. If Detroit gets Baby, they will have to overpay.

by The Real Large James 2 on Jul 15, 2009 11:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What's the official word on how much $ Detroit has to offer?

Marc Stein says it’s in the 3 mil range, but somebody on http://www.pistonpowered.com/ seems to think it’s 4.9 mil

Does anybody have an authoritative answer here?

For what it’s worth – my opinion is that BBD is worth 4 mil per year to the C’s. BUT, I would pay as much as 5 mil to prevent him from going to Detroit.!!

by milt palacio's shot on Jul 15, 2009 3:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

dont know the exact numbers yet for the gordon and villanueva deals yet

they should be somewhere between $2.6m and $5m. villanueva may have been signed with the MLE but i dont think so, so thats $5.8m they can use also. they only have 9 guys on roster so look for some signings, and a hamilton trade

im gonna be all up on you like a spider monkey!

by remembering9ergods on Jul 15, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it depends on if the deals are back loaded some or not.

5 years 55 mil for gordon, 5 year 35 mil for villanueva

im gonna be all up on you like a spider monkey!

by remembering9ergods on Jul 15, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Starting salaries for Villanueva and Gordon are $6 million and $9 million respectively. They’ve been reported in the Detroit press.

By my math, they have a little under $4.5 million. But there a lot of different figures floating around, appearantly, there’s some uncertainty about how much Maxiell’s contract actually costs.

by Who on Jul 15, 2009 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

if its only $3-4m

i think baby is staying with us. i honestly think the only way he doesn’t resign is if somebody offers him the MLE (or close to it), which is looking increasingly unlikely. i think ainge has a ceiling for what he wants to offer baby (3 years, $10m, maybe?), and if nobody else offers him more, i think he’s back in green, which would be great. $3m/year for baby is pretty fair for his skill set and this economy, but anything much more than that would be overpaying.

by guy incognito on Jul 15, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs