On the heels of Kevin Garnett re-signing for three years last week and free-agent guard Jason Terry agreeing to a three-year deal earlier this week, comes today's news that starting power forward Brandon Bass will also get a three-year contract worth $20 million to stay in Celtics green.
Last season was Bass' first in Boston and it was a memorable one as he averaged a career-high 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds in 59 games (39 starts). He shot 48% from the floor and 81% on free throws. As can be expected when a bench player's minutes get bumped up, the warts on his game started to show later in the season and particularly in the playoffs (11.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 46% from the floor, 92% free throws)when the microscope was really on him.
Bass struggles when his shot isn't falling (who doesn't?) and he has trouble around the rim against bigger guys since he's undersized for a power forward or center (which he had to play sometimes in a small Celtics lineup). With that said, he's a hard-worker, a true professional and quiet guy. After playing for four teams in his first seven years in the NBA, he earned the right to hopefully stay in the same spot for more than two seasons in a row, something that he's never done. He played two years in New Orleans, two years in Dallas and two years in Orlando before getting traded last year for Glen Davis.
His most valuable asset is that he's only 27-years-old which on this squad makes him a child. Celtics president of basketball operations aka GM Danny Ainge had both the present and future in mind with locking him up for the next three seasons. With KG, Pierce and Rondo back, the C's will be a factor in the Eastern Conference for the next few seasons. Once KG and Pierce retire, it will be Rondo's team which means he needs dependable guys around him. Enter Bass who can run the floor but also excels in the half-court game since he's such a good shooter from mid-range and he can also get to the basket.
Bass was the last starter from last season's team to be signed by Boston. He opted out of his previous contract after the postseason ended but he made it clear all along that he wanted to return. He will have more competition next season from rookie Jared Sullinger but that should bring out the best in both of those guys.
Now, the only major players left for the Celtics to sign or let walk is guard Ray Allen and forward Jeff Green. With the Clippers out of the running (they re-signed Chauncey Billups and signed Jamal Crawford this afternoon), it appears that the Jesus Shuttlesworth sweepstakes are down to Miami and Boston. I'm not very sentimental but I think it would be cool if the C's bring back Allen, provided he understands his role which would likely entail coming off the bench provided that Avery Bradley is healthy. If he can agree with that, by all means bring him back. As for Green, like Bass his camp has said the whole time that he wants to return so I expect that to happen.
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