Settling for Plan D

by Jeff Clark on Aug 31, 2009 10:34 PM EDT in Articles Comment 24 comments

Marquis is ready for his closeup.

It has been over 6 weeks since we first found out that Marquis Daniels was going to become a Boston Celtic. Here are some things that have happened in those 6 weeks.

Gabe Pruitt was waived
Big Baby was shopped around in several sign and trade deals before settling on a reasonable contract
Shelden Williams signed
Leon Powe signed with the Cavs
Starbury went from viable option, to online media pioneer, to basketcase in front of the whole world
Quentin Richardson was traded 3 times
I lost track of how many times we were told that the Daniels deal would be done "this week"
CelticsBlog published 148 posts (many of which were rumors)
I've personally mentioned that we still need a backup PG 1,534 times (conservative estimate)

So what has Danny Ainge been doing during that time? I don't have any insider information but I'm willing to guess that he wasn't playing golf the whole time. Signing Daniels for the Bi-Annual Exception was obviously not plan A. In fact, it probably wasn't plan B or C either.

Clearly Danny couldn't get a deal done with Larry. How many other teams did he call to try to get someone to take Tony Allen off his hands? I'm not terribly surprised that other teams were not excited about giving a big contract to Big Baby and giving up value for him in return. I am, however, legitimately surprised that we couldn't send Tony and a 2nd rounder and some cash to a team to give them the privilege of cutting Tony or using him as an expiring contract in another trade.

Ainge apparently wanted to free up a roster spot for another player. With Daniels promised, he had the luxury of waiting to see if any reasonable deals came along. Was he only looking to lowball other teams looking to dump salary? Was he hoping to expand the deal into a bigger trade; perhaps with our other expiring deals and/or one of the sophomores (Billy and JR)?

So even though it is a relief to finally get this deal finalized, I find it hard to be excited about the fact that Danny wasn't able to accomplish whatever goals he had in holding off.

With that said, there's not much to worry about. At least we haven't made a bad trade or signing. Allen Iverson is not walking through that door. We still have the upside potential of the sophomores. We still have almost $6M in expiring, expendable deals (Scal and Tony) to offer up to some cash-strapped team at the deadline. We still have flexibility.

That flexibility could be key this season. If we have another injury to one of our key pieces, we'll have the assets to make a move that might put a wedge in that rapidly closing window we've heard so much about.

So with this piece put into place, the attention shifts to where it belongs, on the backup point guard position (oops, I guess that was reference number 1,535). Seriously though, this team (on paper) is stacked. We have the luxury of debating day after day about the final 2 or 3 rosters spots. There are no regret contracts. There are no cancers. There are no guys worried more about their contracts than about winning. The owners are not pinching pennies and forcing bad moves to pay off bad business debts.

In short, we are on the short list of legit title contenders.

So maybe Danny didn't achieve plan A or plan B or plan C. Maybe that's just because the man has an alphabet of plans every day. I can live with that.

Also see: Tom Halzack on Conn Post

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Comments

Dannys got to have plan 1A, plan 2A, plan 2A, etc.

by Mike-Dub on Aug 31, 2009 10:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Woops lol...

meant to say 1A, 1B, 1C, and etc. lol

by Mike-Dub on Sep 1, 2009 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm thinking this situation is all about Daniels's Plan A.

It’s all just a hunch, but I’m still betting this strange situation playing out with Daniels is all about a desire of his to shift over and prove himself as an NBA point guard. If that’s why he’s coming here (while taking a serious pay cut) then Ainge has to have bought into this experiment. That means no other point guard is going to be joining the team in the immediate future.

by no kidding on Aug 31, 2009 11:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll Go Further Than That

I believe Danny was playing hardball regarding getting rid of TA. If he just wanted to unload him for next to nothing he could have. I don’t think Danny was under any huge amount of pressure to lose TA at this time.

And Jeff is right, this team is stacked.

by amenhotep04 on Sep 1, 2009 6:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Excellent point about Allen.

by no kidding on Sep 1, 2009 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We do still need

Another ballhanding guard, point guard or off guard who handles. We still need one more.

by liamail on Sep 1, 2009 12:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Carlos Arroyo

needs to come on over and this season needs to start NOW! It doesn’t look like the Bulls are gunning for him. They are deep at the PG

What did you say to me paper champion?
-Mr.T

by CaliforniaGreen on Sep 1, 2009 4:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see the need but still

I wonder, do we need another PG or do we just want to see the roster even more stacked. How many other teams have such capable backups behind 4 of their starting 5? Without looking, I’m gonna say um, zero. Seriously. We..Are..Stacked. Yes, Rondo is an important piece. What he does is incredible (sometimes), but unless we got a player with his innovative skills, we would be settling for a player who can dribble the ball over half court and dish to paul, kg, sheed,or ray (or a number of guys) to kick off the offense.

9 + 20 + 34 + 5 + 43 = 17

by Rondo'd on Sep 1, 2009 8:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Would This Be So Bad

we would be settling for a player who can dribble the ball over half court and dish to paul, kg, sheed,or ray (or a number of guys) to kick off the offense.

House can do this. So can Paul and so can long passes. We’ze in good shape.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Sep 1, 2009 9:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Plan Whatever

I think the team is in great shape. I’ve never been that concerned with a backup PG as you or other people and there are still some guys out there that can be had for the Vet Min. The problem with getting a good (rotation type) PG is that if Rondo is healthy the guy isn’t going to play. So our need if for someone to play 12-14 mins a game at PG. That shouldn’t be a problem. If Rondo is out for an extended period we are SCREWED!!!!! But no more than other top team with a great/good PG.

As for TA, I personally still see a role for him on this team. Many people on this board hate the guy and thinks he worthless as breasts on a pig. I don’t subscribe to that theory and by his actions I don’t believe Danny feels that way either. If he did, trading him wouldn’t be that difficult – we could send him to Memphis with money and let them simply cut him.. I think Danny wants something of value for him. I think that the Celts will, kind of showcase TA and show that his injuries are healed and that his off-court issues are a thing of the past. Later in the season, TA and Scal might be traded for something we might be missing.

by badax33 on Sep 1, 2009 9:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Globe

Globe is now reporting he’s signing today too:

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/

They might’ve just stolen it from the Herald, though.

by Jon on Sep 1, 2009 10:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

looks like they are saying it is a 1 year deal – I hadn’t seen that before (other than rumor)

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Sep 1, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

From Herald

Sources told the Herald yesterday Daniels will sign for the bi-annual exception. The deal will begin at $1.99 million and can be for no more than two years.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Sep 1, 2009 10:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tony Allen

Allen may not be the best reserve out there, but he is a very good offensive SF and a very good defensive SG. If Daniels and House bring the ball up (a la Ainge-Johnson), Allen might fit in beautifully at the 3. On “D” the switch to House at 1,Allen at 2 and Daniels at 3 would probably work well.

by The Cooz on Sep 1, 2009 10:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Allen Isn’t very good at anything hence no one in the league wanting anything to do with the guy. Every minute he potentially saw is onw going to be in Daniels column. I

by EJPLAYA on Sep 1, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well...

let’s reserver very good for starters, or at least role players.

by stevenfuzz on Sep 1, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Roster Spaces Remaining

Without Hudson, do we still have one roster spot? Or do we still have one if we count Hudson in. I don’t think he’s signed yet.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Sep 1, 2009 11:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yes 1 spot left

Hudson isn’t signed yet

I’m in favor of signing a vet PG and letting Hudson play with Rubio overseas for a year ;)

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Sep 1, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is the picture from my fanpost!

by stevenfuzz on Sep 1, 2009 12:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

off topic, but

magic fan here, just wondering what the status is on kg’s knees? i mean it’s probably the biggest issue for you guys this year and i haven’t read anything regarding if he’s back to 100% or not? any word.

www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04

by mhetrick14 on Sep 1, 2009 1:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

knees

Doc has been quoted as saying that he expects KG to be ready to go for the regular season….translated …your guess is as good as ours…TA will rise from the ashes this season..

by Fastbreak1 on Sep 1, 2009 2:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs