Green 18? Looking at the Potential 2009-10 Boston Celtics

Columnist Written on July 06, 2009

BOSTON - MAY 28: Rasheed Wallace #36 of the Detroit Pistons gives a hug to Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on May 28, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics won 106-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

With the signing of Rasheed Wallace expected to be made iron-clad official on Wednesday, it's hard for us not to look ahead at what the Celtics' 12-man roster could look like for the 2009-10 season. If you're a fan, you gotta like what could be playing at the Gahhhhhhhhhden this winter:

Kevin Garnett
Paul Pierce
Ray Allen
Rajon Rondo
Kendrick Perkins
Rasheed Wallace
Grant Hill (rumored)
Eddie House
Brian Scalabrine
Tony Allen
Gabe Pruitt
Bill Walker
JR Giddens (NBDL)
Lester Hudson (NBDL)

At first glance, the top eight is veteran-laden and tantalizing in so many ways—a great mix of defensive intensity and scoring in the right places.

The major issues, of course, are health and age, especially considering Garnett is coming off a knee injury and the majority of the players are in the second halves of their careers. If the Hill signing doesn't happen, the goal with that roster spot seems pretty obvious: A ball-moving scorer off the bench.

I personally would love to see Nuggets forward/center and unrestricted free agent Chris "Birdman" Andersen on this club, but my assumption is that he may be looking for more money than the Celtics can offer. My understanding of the NBA salary cap is admittedly not great, so I could be completely wrong here.

An element of concern is still the bench. While vastly improved by Wallace (and possibly Hill), it still has question marks. Allen can be a baffling player to watch, showing flashes of greatness while other times displaying head-scratching decision making. Scals is, well, Scals, and this is Pruitt's last chance at showing he can be a legit NBA point guard.

And this all assumes that Rondo is still with the Celtics at the beginning of the season. Celtics GM Danny Ainge didn't handle that situation well at all, but we'll cover that later this week. Sitting here in the first week of July with the season tip-off about four months away, there is reason to believe that an 18th championship is a realistic goal for the 2009-10 season.

Then again, championships aren't won in the middle of summer.

Josh Nason is the publisher and main writer for Small White Ball, a New England-based sports and media blog. You can reach Josh at josh [at] smallwhiteball [dot-com]. A contributor to Bleacher Report since 2008.

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