If I Were GM: The Boston Celtics

In my quest to become a real-life General Manager (or at least work for an NBA team), I will start a series of articles for random teams called 'If I were GM'. 

Some teams will not be a part of this slew of articles, as they have finished the majority of their offseason moves and have a sensible looking roster moving forward.

Others, as you will soon see, have further work that needs to be done.

Some need to find a path and stick to it, create a more sensible roster, attain more cap flexibility, and overall be realistic about where they stand in terms of achieving their current and future goals.

Let's start this series with the Boston Celtics.

 

Needs: Backup wings that can shoot, defend the perimeter and spell Ray Allen and Paul Pierce for lengthy periods of time.

 

The Celtics have completed a very challenging offseason quite nicely, and have the majority of their Eastern Conference championship team intact from last year. 

They satisfied their original "extreme need" nicely by signing two very capable veterans, Jermaine and Shaquille O'Neal, to help replace the injured Kendrick Perkins and the soon to be retired Rasheed Wallace for the start of the 2010-2011 campaign.

But their still lies the glaring needs for backup wings. 

Yes, the team re-signed Marquis Daniels and will take a flyer on Von Wafer. But can those two really be counted on for crunch time minutes in a post-season game?

The Celtics need to obtain one or two wings (preferably a legitimate shooting guard and small forward) to help satisfy their perimeter defense and backup shooting requirements.

So it is no surprise that Danny Ainge has been linked to the on-going Rudy Fernandez trade rumors for some time now. 

There are certainly a slew of benefits a potential Fernandez acquisition can bring to Boston. He is a terrific shooter; two years ago he shot nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc, connecting on 159 attempts. He also has some nice athleticism, which can make for an exciting backup backcourt alongside Nate Robinson.

The concerns, however, of a potential Fernandez pickup would be his susceptible defense and his major downturn last year. 

In 2009-2010, Fernandez saw a noticeable dip in his numbers, shooting a somewhat average 36.8 percent from three and a paltry 37.8 percent from the field. 

He also received the chance to start and really prove himself as a steady contributor in the playoffs last year, and was unimpressive to say the least.

On top of those statistical dips comes the infatuation the Rudy Fernandez camp seems to have with eventually returning to Europe. 

This can be an on-going matter even with a new team, and could result in an International transfer if the Spaniard ever becomes unsatisfied with his role.

Furthermore, there seems to be an over willingness from the Portland side to attain higher market value for Fernandez than what many believe is necessary. 

Considering his past year's performance and his willingness to return overseas, Portland seems to be demanding too much in a potential trade. 

Still, Boston may have to be willing to unload any or all potential assets they have in a Rudy Fernandez deal. This is of course considering the very few assets Boston even has left.

A safer alternative for backcourt help would be former Celtic Delonte West. 

He has been in the "tabloids" frequently now with the rumor of his affair with LeMom. Of course, West seems to carry his own form of personal baggage.

With Boston having the veteran locker room it does and with Doc Rivers at the helm, there is no reason to believe West's off the court matters will be a distraction for the well-aged Celtics team. 

West also has former connections with the Celtics organization and with coach Rivers. He brings hard-nosed, tough defense to a team that needs it off the bench. 

He is also an apt shooter, being a career 38 percent shooter from beyond the arc and steady 45 percent shooter from the field. 

Perhaps most importantly, West can handle the pressure. West has now been part of the Cavs for three seasons, starting in over 25 playoff games with consistent production. He can also play various roles throughout the season for the Celtics as the team's honorary "Tim Wakefield" athlete. 

West would be able to fill in as a starter if certain vets are out or need the rest, be a steady contributor off the bench, provide further insurance for Nate Robinson (due to Robinson's inconsistent play or certain antics, West can fill-in as even the primary backup PG for lengths of time), and perhaps most importantly will come at a very cheap price tag. 

There's little risk for a West return to the Northeast.

Another wing to look at via trade is Wilson Chandler. 

Considering New York may put their chips into the Carmelo Anthony bucket or simply want ample minutes available at the "three" to further develop Danillo Gallinari (and perhaps Bill Walker), it seems Chandler could become available (he was also mentioned in potential Fernandez-to-New York rumors). 

So the bigger question becomes what conceivable return is New York looking for in a Chandler move?

Knowing D'Antoni's style, the two qualities of greatest needs are athletic big men that can finish around the rim and of course point guards that can speed the tempo of the game.

For the latter area, there lies overwhelming pressure on the newly acquired Raymond Felton. 

While Felton had handled himself well in his Bobcat days, averaging over 36 minutes per contest from 2006-2009 (three seasons) and shooting over 38 percent from 3-point land for his career (since D'Antoni point guards will also typically shoot many threes, as will the rest of a D'Antoni roster), there are concerns over his athleticism and ability to run an up tempo system (under Larry Brown in Charlotte, the Bobcats were mainly a slow tempo, half court team).

Felton's backup, Toney Douglas, enjoyed a solid rookie campaign in the Big Apple, averaging over eight points per game and shooting nearly 39 percent from 3-point territory and over 45 percent from the field.

Considering the overwhelming reliance on strong point guard play in a D'Antoni system, however, it may behoove New York to acquire a third player who can play the point guard position (but could be a combo-guard)—one with loads of potential and under a rookie contract. 

Insert Avery Bradley, a rookie out of the University of Texas.

Before last season, Bradley was considering by many college basketball gurus as a higher touted prospect than John Wall, the first overall pick of the 2010 draft.

Bradley was stuck in a big man oriented Texas system and was never really able to fully display his full range of guard skill-set.

In New York, Bradley would be given a chance to play both guard slots and could be a welcomed addition off of the Knicks' bench. 

From a Boston perspective, Bradley gives the Celtics many of the same attributes as backup point guard Nate Robinson and newly acquired guard Von Wafer. 

It is uncertain whether Bradley will ever fit in the veteran rotation in Boston.To finalize such a move Boston could send Avery Bradley and a filler (Tony Gaffney or Oliver Lafayette) to New York for Chandler.

Chandler would fit in extremely well with Boston's second unit, re-joining forces with former Knick Nate Robinson. 

The additions of West and Chandler would not only fill the aforementioned needs of Boston's bench, providing rest for their veterans Pierce and Allen, but also serve perhaps a higher purpose: Defeating the Miami Heat.

Considering the Celtics are the former Eastern Conference champions and obviously any Miami contention would need to go through Boston, the Heat still are by far the most talented team Boston will likely potentially face in the 2011 playoffs.

The Celtics would need to send a slew of wings to defend LeBron James and Dwyane Wade over the course of a seven-game series. 

Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Marquis Daniels are not enough. 

Neither one of those three can handle the two stars for long amounts of time, and sending out Allen or Pierce to defend either for long stretches would severely hurt Boston's offensive game (as both players would expand so much energy on the defensive end).

Throw in Chandler and West, and now Boston would have an appropriate rotation to handle the Heat tandem over the course of a grueling series. 

If Boston is unable to strike a deal for Wilson Chandler, an appropriate backup plan could be signing veteran Larry Hughes. 

Hughes has long been known as a defensive guru and should fit in well amongst Boston's veteran group. 

He can also handle the ball and create some offense for others during extensive stretches of time.

Overall Boston's offseason was quite successful. In order to repeat as champs, however, and possibly build on last year's success, the team will need to bolster their backup wing slots.

Even relatively small holes can become gaping ones when your goal is the ultimate prize: An NBA Championship.