Next up was Ray Allen, who said he was staying as well.
Paul Pierce chimed in, more than happy to speak on the importance of keeping Doc around.
Rajon Rondo joked that he already had his coach's return in writing.
It's pretty clear what's going on here — the Celtics are planning to get the whole band back together for another tour in 2011-12. Doc, Ray, Pierce, Rondo and Kevin Garnett will all be under contract, and the C's are ready to make one last run. They're too competitive to quit now. They want once again to pursue an 18th championship banner.
For the Celtics, the key to this offseason isn't anything big. All the big stuff was taken care of years ago when this nucleus first came together. If Danny Ainge can take care of a few little things this summer, his C's will be ready for another playoff run in 2012.
Here's the to-do list for Danny and the Celtics in the summer of 2011.
Figure out the O'Neal situation.
Shaquille O'Neal has a player option to return next year; he can come back and earn the league minimum, right around $1.4 million. He also might retire. Jermaine O'Neal, signed to the mid-level exception, is under contract for over $6 million — but he too might walk away, as injuries have taken their toll over the past year. The Celtics' first order of business needs to be figuring out where their O'Neals stand. If the two centers stay, the C's will begin one more season with a vulnerable, injury-prone veteran team; if they walk away, it'll be time to rebuild a little bit on the fly.
Make Glen Davis an offer.
Big Baby is an unrestricted free agent for the first time this summer. He made only $3 million this season; he's due for a huge raise now. The Celtics don't want to lose him for nothing, so they need to make an offer. Not a back-breaking one, but a little something — perhaps $5 or $6 million for the 25-year-old big man. If he stays, great. If he walks away and tries to become a well-paid starter somewhere else, that's acceptable too. The Celtics can't make the mistake of overextending themselves on Baby. They've got a lot of other needs, too.
Make a long-term commitment to Jeff Green.
This one's going to elicit some angry commenters. But the Celtics traded Kendrick Perkins this season because they didn't want to lose him for nothing, and Jeff Green is way more than nothing. The C's have to keep him. He's a versatile player — he can shoot from mid-range, he can defend threes and fours, and he's athletic enough to run the floor with ease. He's a big piece of their future, like it or not. Green is a restricted free agent this summer, and the C's should match any offer within reason to keep him around.
Keep Delonte West.
Delonte was hurt a lot this season, sure. But we shouldn't hold the freak wrist injury against him, and the sprained ankle wasn't anything serious. His stellar play when healthy was a lot more important this year than his occasional injuries. West could back up both Rondo and Allen, playing either guard position. He was a perfect fit in both positions on both ends. The Celtics got him cheap last summer, for under $1 million, but now that he's proven his head's on straight, he deserves a raise. Give it to him.
Re-sign Nenad Krstic, but only if on the cheap.
Krstic was good this year, but not great. He made around $5.5 million last year. Offer him another deal this summer — short-term, and without a significant raise. If he takes it, that's cool. If not, the C's move on. Not a huge deal either way.
Let everyone else walk.
Sorry, Von Wafer, Troy Murphy, Carlos Arroyo and Sasha Pavlovic. You guys all showed flashes of decency this season, but you're not essential pieces of the puzzle. Best of luck to all four of you.
Search the open market for relatively young, healthy bigs.
Assuming at least a couple of the C's uncertain big men — O'Neal, O'Neal, Davis and Krstic — walk away, the team will have some holes to fill. Get a couple big men that are relatively young, relatively healthy, and committed to playing solid defense. A few names that might be out there this summer: Jason Collins, Kris Humphries, Jared Jeffries, Leon Powe. The C's aren't landing any superstars on the open market, but they can find a couple decent role players to help them next year.
Start grooming Avery Bradley.
Remember this guy? He was the Celtics' first-round draft pick last summer. He was supposed to be the future of the franchise. The Celtics have some work to do this summer, and into training camp and the beginning of next season. They've got to let Bradley play, and hope he starts blossoming into the star player they drafted him to be. Bradley is athletic, he plays hard, and he can defend at an NBA level right now. Time to start developing that kid.
Are the Celtics odds-on favorites to win a title in 2012? No, of course not. But they're far from dead, and they've got a chance next season to build toward something special. It starts with making the right moves this summer.
