Celtics sign Amir Johnson to 2 year/$24 million deal
- Thread starter RedOctober3829
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Johnson was a good rotation big man for Toronto, pretty durable, quicker than most, and a competent complementary teammate. The last contract he signed was considered an overpay too. I guess that's what $12m buys in the NBA in 2015.
rather use David LEe's $15M to get to the salary floor, than 2 yrs of Johnson....nattysez said:
He's a very different player than Lee and probably better. Why compare a Solid two way PF with a offense only guy? Lee brings nothing Sully and Olynyk don't.
I don't see what Johnson really adds to the team. He isn't young enough to be a part of the future, and is just a rotation guy on a contending team. If we are going to overpay for an average player it should be for someone like Robin Lopez who actually fills a substantial need.
It's not like this signing will stop them from making future moves, though. And I don't dislike Johnson; he just isn't going to move the needle in Boston in either the short or long term. He is a very likeable player.
It's not like this signing will stop them from making future moves, though. And I don't dislike Johnson; he just isn't going to move the needle in Boston in either the short or long term. He is a very likeable player.
Cellar-Door said:
This exactly. Johnson complements Olynyk or Sully quite well. I like moving Kelly since Sully's stock is probably lower.
A lot of analysts out on twitter seem to love the value for Boston based on the contracts a lot of guys are getting:
https://twitter.com/BobbyMarks42/status/616330045372678144
https://twitter.com/Sam_Vecenie/status/616328985383960576
https://twitter.com/BobbyMarks42/status/616330045372678144
https://twitter.com/Sam_Vecenie/status/616328985383960576
The consensus in the analytics community is that Johnson is a stud, so that's where that's coming from. I'm a bit more skeptical of him than I am about most "surprising" RPM guys, but this is a pretty nice deal regardless.
Dollars on a 2 year deal are practically irrelevant. He's a useful player and the salary is hardly prohibitive if we need to include him in a big trade or deal him into some team's cap space to make room for someone better. Next summer has always been the most realistic "big splash" period. It just looks funky when everybody was talking about us moving up in the draft and attempting to be players in the big-ticket FA market.
Johnson is a pretty good player, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Can't say he'll help the Celtics score any better but he's probably going to be better than Sullinger ever will be.
At the very least, I think he's a valuable trade chip, if it comes to that.
At the very least, I think he's a valuable trade chip, if it comes to that.
I'd rather trade Sully and/or Kelly too...I guess I should appreciate the value (in terms of $ and on-court) that Bass gave the Celts the past few seasons...Cellar-Door said:
Elite rim protector despite not having a lot of blocks. Extremely athletic, tough, fan favorite. Can defend everywhere from center to SF. Not a 3 point shooter but can hit Bass-range jumpers.
Basically, he's an uber-Bass. Fits the ethos of the team that Stevens is trying to develop. I really like it.
Basically, he's an uber-Bass. Fits the ethos of the team that Stevens is trying to develop. I really like it.
This is the type of player-friendly deal we have to offer to acquire a FA. If Amir plays well he'll opt-out to go somewhere else for 4/$70m. It's a great business deal for Amir and a somewhat save face for Ainge on the PR front.
I like Amir for what he offers but he is a limited front court player. He probably becomes one of our best bigs which is nice.....but therein lies the problem of where we are today and what our FA outlook is.
Edit: I assumed opt-out after this year however not seeing this detail anywhere yet.
I like Amir for what he offers but he is a limited front court player. He probably becomes one of our best bigs which is nice.....but therein lies the problem of where we are today and what our FA outlook is.
Edit: I assumed opt-out after this year however not seeing this detail anywhere yet.
Vaguely positive endorsement from Bob Voulgaris:
https://twitter.com/haralabob/status/616336974832631808
https://twitter.com/haralabob/status/616336974832631808
I edited post heard opt out on radio don't see it anywhere else. Lol at him being a good offensive player.....he is fairly efficient due to understanding his limitations but certainly not a good offensive player. I like Amir and he is a massive defensive upgrade this year over what we've had at the 4.Papelbon's Poutine said:
Amir is a rock solid defender. He is a good, but not elite rim protector. His best skill is defending the pick and roll and Lowe/Simmons have always said he's one of the best.
His ankles are a concern though. He often plays through injuries, but his performance goes up and down with his health.
His ankles are a concern though. He often plays through injuries, but his performance goes up and down with his health.
Cellar-Door said:
This also goes to show that Danny is thinking ahead when he makes a deal like Bradley's. Many of us complained about the money and the length, but as the salary cap is taking off to the moon, a contract like Bradley's becomes a solid trade chip.
amfox1 said:
Was just coming here to post this. Same thing with the Jerebko deal. That's some good work by Danny.
I watch the Raps a lot. He is great team guy. He plays really hard. runs the floor and is smart defender. He gets overmatched my more physical guys, and can have maddening droughts on offense. Not great rebounder, but tends to keep his guy off the glass.
He has been outplayed in the playoffs the last two years. I have to admit I doubted his toughness at times, but that was probably more alack of bulk than tenacity.
I expect he is game plan acquisition, perhaps even a role model, a guy that does his job, and buys into the program.
He has been outplayed in the playoffs the last two years. I have to admit I doubted his toughness at times, but that was probably more alack of bulk than tenacity.
I expect he is game plan acquisition, perhaps even a role model, a guy that does his job, and buys into the program.
ElcaballitoMVP said:
Now we see the strategy. Balls to the wall to set the team up for 2016-17. Three potential top 15 picks, plus perhaps $50mm in cap space to sign two premium FAs.
Hope the celtics aren't losers in the musical chairs game next offseason like the Knicks were in the summer of LeBron.amfox1 said:
RedOctober3829 said:
Being pessimistic is not a reason to go through with the strategy, which seems well thought out. It's not as if they would have attracted any of the top FAs this year.
What the stars need to see is the chance to win here in Boston. They have assets for a draft night trade now with up to three lottery picks and a pair of picks in the 31-38 range combined with $17 million in non-guaranteed deals. So if they can land that first star on draft night, hold on to their highest pick to add another player, and with Smart taking a performance jump, they could put themselves in the market for A list guys.RedOctober3829 said:
I'm not in love with the deal. I don't have any issues with Amir Johnson or the years/$$$ that Boston gave him, but is the kind of player that is good enough to help you stay out of the basement, but not talented enought to really help you beat top opponents and in the bizarre world of the NBA, that is the last kind of thing you want to have your team be.
While it was fun for the Celtics to show some competency this season, the hard fact is that whatever that little playoff birth was worth, it wasn't enough to justify not sucking for a high lottery pick. Despite the fact that the Celtics made the playoffs last season, I think they are not closer to becoming a true contender than if they had sucked super hard last season and lost 60 games. It's just the way the NBA works.
What I really want out of this next season is just the Celtics to totally mail it in and lose a billion games so that they can get a top 5 pick. Next season is going to be the big FA bonanza, realistically no matter what moves Boston does this off-season, they can hope for at best, a second-round playoff exit. That puts you with the 20th pick in the draft and you are still no closer to becoming a true contender in the league. I hate to say it but I like what the Lakers did last season. They pretty much openly tried to lose games and suffered through an unwatchable season, but they worked their way into the 2nd pick in the draft and got a potential All-NBA player because of it. It's much easier to rebuild when you get the #2 pick than the #16.
Of course, that thinking is completley backwards from what you are supposed to think about basketball. The goal every year should be to win as many games as possible. You want the team to play hard, you want to see them beat the Nets in January, you want to get excited about going to the Garden knowing that the team has a chance to win. However, looking at this current team and looking at the current landscape of the NBA, by far the best way to rebuild and win in the NBA is to suck super hard and then get top draft picks. That is just the way it is.
While it was fun for the Celtics to show some competency this season, the hard fact is that whatever that little playoff birth was worth, it wasn't enough to justify not sucking for a high lottery pick. Despite the fact that the Celtics made the playoffs last season, I think they are not closer to becoming a true contender than if they had sucked super hard last season and lost 60 games. It's just the way the NBA works.
What I really want out of this next season is just the Celtics to totally mail it in and lose a billion games so that they can get a top 5 pick. Next season is going to be the big FA bonanza, realistically no matter what moves Boston does this off-season, they can hope for at best, a second-round playoff exit. That puts you with the 20th pick in the draft and you are still no closer to becoming a true contender in the league. I hate to say it but I like what the Lakers did last season. They pretty much openly tried to lose games and suffered through an unwatchable season, but they worked their way into the 2nd pick in the draft and got a potential All-NBA player because of it. It's much easier to rebuild when you get the #2 pick than the #16.
Of course, that thinking is completley backwards from what you are supposed to think about basketball. The goal every year should be to win as many games as possible. You want the team to play hard, you want to see them beat the Nets in January, you want to get excited about going to the Garden knowing that the team has a chance to win. However, looking at this current team and looking at the current landscape of the NBA, by far the best way to rebuild and win in the NBA is to suck super hard and then get top draft picks. That is just the way it is.
I don't think the Celtics can make a top 5 pick if they try.
The top 4 from this year don't look likely to make a big jump, Denver will be worse, I don't think Orlando or Detroit are likely to be much better.
There are just too many teams that are terrible, and too few good teams in the East for the Celtics to reasonably bottom out. It looks like their strategy is to win games in the East, and hope to make a deal, looking at Brooklyn and Dallas for the possible lottery picks.
I mean last year they finished ahead of 8 teams in the East, I'm not sure what you can do to the roster that makes sense in trying to get those teams to pass you.
Being Stuck in the middle is bad, but the Celtics do have better draft assets than most middle teams because they own so many picks (and a swap) from other teams. The plan is likely to build a solid support while trying to trade for or sign at least one star, but preferably trade for one and sign one.
The top 4 from this year don't look likely to make a big jump, Denver will be worse, I don't think Orlando or Detroit are likely to be much better.
There are just too many teams that are terrible, and too few good teams in the East for the Celtics to reasonably bottom out. It looks like their strategy is to win games in the East, and hope to make a deal, looking at Brooklyn and Dallas for the possible lottery picks.
I mean last year they finished ahead of 8 teams in the East, I'm not sure what you can do to the roster that makes sense in trying to get those teams to pass you.
Being Stuck in the middle is bad, but the Celtics do have better draft assets than most middle teams because they own so many picks (and a swap) from other teams. The plan is likely to build a solid support while trying to trade for or sign at least one star, but preferably trade for one and sign one.
I'd agree with this if the Celtics didn't hold so many other potential lottery picks from other teams. Big element of luck there, but I think there's a decent chance that some of those picks, Brooklyn in particular, will turn out to be very valuable. Hopefully they'll be able to accumulate assets like Johnson and be reasonably competitive, while still getting some high end talent through the draft.Kliq said:
This is where I'm at. While I generally skeptical of the whole the tanking enterprise (this year was sort of a worst case scenario of course, with Winslow falling), it also wasn't really an option at this point. The Celtics just have too much base talent hanging around in Smart, Sullinger, and Olynyk to have really bottomed out (barring injury).Cellar-Door said:
There are trades coming up obviously, but with some health, the Celtics could be edging towards getting swept in the second round of the playoffs rather than the first.