General Manager O'Neal?

1. Shaq wants the New Jersey Nets to stay in Newark, and — who knows? — maybe they’ll even name him the GM.
2. Rajon Rondo was named to NBA.com’s All-Hustle team. Notably left off the roster? Kevin Garnett. I defy you to find someone who works harder than Garnett.
3. Semih Erden’s translator, Ilker Belgutay, who is to unintentional comedy what Hank Aaron was to home runs, set up Tony Gaffney with Erden’s former Turkish team, Turktelekom. Belgutay received a phone call from Faruk Akagum, Turktelekom’s coach, shortly after Gaffney was released from the Celtics. “He called me and asked who was around,” Belgutay told the Boston Herald. “I mentioned that he would like Tony.” Soon after the call, Gaffney was offered a contract that he couldn’t refuse.
4. Kevin Garnett didn’t look great yesterday (actually, he didn’t do much of anything), but one thing I read today encouraged me: he wanted to pressure the ball full court. “He looks good,’’ Rondo said of Garnett. “He’s running the floor. He wanted to pick up with me a couple times defensively, but I wouldn’t let him.’’ Before his injury, KG used to pick up the opposing point guard full court and harass them. Since the injury, he hasn’t. If he wants to pressure PG’s again, he’s feeling better. At least, that’s how my theory goes.
5. Anybody else see Perk’s watch yesterday? That damn thing almost blinded me.
6. Ron Artest, on stopping Kevin Durant: “You gotta be Ron Artest. If you’re not Ron Artest, you don’t have a chance!” Me, on stopping anyone else: “You gotta be Semih Erden. If you’re not Semih Erden, you don’t have a chance!”
7. A fan who went to the C’s game yesterday: “We came to see how the big boys play,” Craig said. “It’s amazing how big these guys are when you see them in person — and it’s amazing how small Nate Robinson (5 feet, 9 inches) really is.”
8. Shaq’s got Semih fever. When Erden failed to take advantage of a matchup against Mareese Speights, Shaq screamed out, “Semih, kill him.” I hope Erden’s translator didn’t take that literally. Shaq also said, “Going up against three great big men each day in myself, [Jermaine O'Neal] and [Kevin Garnett], [Erden's] going to be a force for us.”
9. Adam Morrison, on whether there’s still enough time to resurrect his career: “I guess so. We’ll see.” Me, on whether there’s still enough time to go back to college and get a 6.0 GPA, then be the first man to walk on the moon, then be the first person from Longmeadow, MA to get drafted into the NBA: “I guess so. We’ll see.”

Got a tip? An article you think should be included? Send an email to jayking@celticstown.com or hit me up on Twitter @CelticsTown.

Nice to see former Celtic Lester Hudson making the best out of his opportunity in Washington. Even though Hudson had two turnovers in the game (to go along with 5 points and 1 rebound, in 8 minutes), a game-winning three-pointer’s not a bad way to start the season. Hudson was one of 11 Wizards to see action in the game, which could mean he has an inside track at making the regular season roster. One player who didn’t see action? Adam Morrison. As a wise man once said, some things don’t never change.

In other news out of Wizards camp, Gilbert Arenas wants out of Washington and seems kind of depressed by John Wall’s arrival in town. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, Arenas said he had no emotions because “”I lost all feeling a long time ago.” Arenas also “spoke of a new role that, in his view, demands him to ‘hit open shots, teach John [Wall] the ins and outs of the game and then eventually go on and move on and I’m on my way.”

“Right now the city is John’s,” Arenas said. “I’m not here to fight anybody. I’m here to just play alongside him. He’s Batman and I’m Robin. When I came in, Larry [Hughes] moved aside for me to become a star and I’m moving aside so [Wall] can become a star. Let him fly and I’ll just fill in the gaps. When I came to Washington, that’s what Larry did for me and that’s what I’m doing for him.”

Sorry, I’d finish the rest of this story but I can’t stop laughing. Larry Hughes moving aside so somebody can become a star. Ha!

Every once in a while, I link to a few articles from other writers around the internet. You know, I throw some dimes.

Gotta love the Pistol Pete jacket.

1. The Washington Wizards just won themselves an NBA championship: they convinced Adam Morrison to accept a training camp invitation. Unfortunately (wink wink), that means he won’t be anywhere near Newport, Rhode Island when the Celtics begin camp.
2. Rajon Rondo and Jalen Rose, both wearing pajamas, play Connect Four. Interesting.
3. The Orlando Sentinel’s Mike Bianchi tears apart Shaquille O’Neal, telling Dwight Howard not to take any advice from Shaq, under any circumstances: “What is Shaq going to teach Dwight — how to bolt for L.A. when your contract is up, how to send the Magic franchise into a decade-long death spiral when you leave, how to not work hard during the offseason and how to fire coaches and feud with teammates?” What Bianchi meant to say was, “What is Shaq going to teach Dwight — how to use his strength wisely, how to learn more than one post move, and how to win championships?”
4. Former Celtic Tiny Archibald now has a whole lot of degrees. Tim Povtak calls him “one of the most educated, most academically driven ex-athletes in America today.”
5. A. Sherrod Blakely previews training camp. One of his predictions: “ If [Luke Harangody] gets an opportunity to play – and that’s a big if when you consider all the guys ahead of him in the pecking order – don’t be shocked if he performs well.”
6. Chris Forsberg examines what the Celtics should expect from Nate Robinson. One observation: “Maybe most importantly, Robinson needs to get back to the rim and convert those close looks. According to HoopData, Robinson averaged 4.1 shots at the rim in 2008-09 (converting 60 percent of those attempts). Last season with Boston? Robinson averaged just 1 shot at the rim per game and converted only 32 percent of those tries, leaving defenses challenging him on the perimeter and rather carefree if he got to the lane.” How much of that difference was Nate’s hesitancy, and how much was his newfound role on the Celtics?
7. A nice, thorough Red Auerbach tribute for his birthday yesterday. But watch out, FLCeltsFan: I will hunt you down and steal that t-shirt you describe.

Got a tip? An article you think should be included? Send an email to jayking@celticstown.com or hit me up on Twitter @CelticsTown.

Every once in a while, I link to a few articles from other writers around the internet. You know, I throw some dimes.

1. Johnny Most still isn’t in the Hall of Fame. Talk about a travesty. Go sign the petition.
2. Danny Ainge discusses why he worked out so many more players, when the roster is already full. “We have to figure out, are the players that we have better than what’s available?” My favorite part of Ainge’s comments, though? His description of Adam Morrison: “He’s a good shooter and a great defender.” Yeah, and Vince Carter’s the toughest player of his era.
3. When Ainge called Morrison a great defender, maybe he was thinking about this.
4. The Celtics said they’d hold camp in Waltham, MA this year. Sike. They’re going back to Newport, Rhode Island.
5. Glen Davis is excited to play with fellow LSU boy Shaq.
6. Slam has a collection of Larry Bird videos. Check them out.

Got a tip? An article you think should be included? Send an email to jayking@celticstown.com or hit me up on Twitter @CelticsTown.

Every once in a while, I link to a few articles from other writers around the internet. You know, I throw some dimes.

1. A Seattle PI blogger, Scott Cushing, actually had the audacity to compare Len Bias’s death to Kevin Durant and the Thunder leaving Seattle. Umm, no. Len Bias died. Durant just relocated. Let’s relax here, Cushing. You need to take a few plays off. (Note: Cushing’s blog is a reader’s blog. I don’t know whether any Joe Schmo can have a reader’s blog, but his work is un-edited.) While we’re on the subject of Bias, read Bill Simmons’s Bias piece. One of my favorite basketball columns of all time.
2. Paul Flannery discusses Shaq’s potential impact next season: “Shaquille O’Neal was not the most important offseason signing for the Celtics. He wasn’t even the most important acquisition at his position. That would be Jermaine O’Neal who will be asked to assume the starter’s role when training camp begins. But Shaq rates higher on our list for reasons that go beyond the court. That’s the way it is with Shaq these days. His offcourt persona dominates to such a degree that it has become bigger than his game.”
3. Flannery also attempted to answer a question we all asked yesterday: why work out Adam Morrison, Rashad McCants et al? Flannery concludes, “It’s not clear what Ainge’s intentions are yet, but with the start of training camp looming at the end of the month, it does appear that he’s continuing to look for the right pieces.” Which begs another question: if Ainge is looking for the right pieces, shouldn’t he be looking somewhere else?
4. A panel of Lakers experts consider the Celtics a bigger threat to LA than the Heat. Key word, “bigger.”
5. A little baby mama drama. Dwight Howard is suing his child’s mother for more than $500 million, according to TMZ. Dwight now has two things to work on this summer – 1) wearing a condom, and 2) his first post move.
6. I never thought the day would come when I’d be afraid of Eric Dampier joining a rival team, but if Dampier signs with the Heat he’d help. CBSSports says the Heat are the frontrunners, while Sports Illustrated lists the Heat, Rockets, Suns and Raptors as suitors.

Got a tip? An article you think should be included? Send an email to jayking@celticstown.com or hit me up on Twitter @CelticsTown.

Every once in a while, I link to a few articles from other writers around the internet. You know, I throw some dimes.

Ainge: "Michael, you drafted Adam Morrison? What are you, nuts?" Michael: "You're the one who's still working him out."

1. Danny Ainge spoke about today’s workout with Cuttino Mobley, Adam Morrison, Trenton Hassell and Rashad McCants. Even though Ainge praised them, I’d eat a toilet full of feces if any of those four make the Celtics this season. “Those guys are all good NBA players,” Ainge said, apparently lying through his teeth. “McCants looked really good,” Ainge continued. “He shot the ball well, he competed at a high level. I’m really surprised that he’s not in the NBA right now. Same with Adam Morrision, making shots, making passes. The guys looked hungry, they looked fit.”
2. Kelly Dwyer simply gets Antoine Walker. I second everything he writes about Employee Number Eight. “Think about it. He entered this league with the ability to turn into the pro game’s most versatile player. Handle for days, in spite of his size. A passable touch from long range, in spite of his size. A knack for the carom, in spite his perimeter-heavy ways. A good sense of when, and how, to dish; in spite of his look-at-me tendencies. The guy could have been great, so great, in every way a man can contribute at this level. Instead, he coasted.”
3. With the C’s starting center position open, Paul Flannery wonders whether Jermaine O’Neal’s the man for the job: “On offense, O’Neal is a scoring threat from inside and out and as an added bonus, he also doesn’t turn the ball over very much. On defense, he is a solid rebounder who offers a shot-blocking presence. He’s not at Perkins level as an individual defender, but he’s a clear upgrade offensively. O’Neal also brings an understated element to a locker room that will be bursting with huge personalities. It’s impossible to tell how those dynamics will develop over the course of the season, but O’Neal is a well-respected pro who should fit seamlessly into the mix.” If I were Doc, I’d start Jermaine. Let Shaq get buckets with the second unit while Jermaine keeps the first unit defensive.
4. Kurt Helin previews the Celtics season. He acknowledges that the Celtics are contenders, but writes that the regular season could be another long one. “There will come a time this season when the Celtics play .500 ball or below for 20 games or so. And we will all put our short memories on display. We will say they don’t look like contenders and this is different than last season, different than 2008. And Rivers will ignore everyone and work on getting guys rested and healthy for the playoffs. He knows if they are, they will be right there, knocking on the door of another banner for the crowded rafters.”
5. NBA Fanhouse re-writes the Minnesota Timberwolves’ full-page advertisement. Pure comic gold.
6. The best headline of the day: “Suddenly ‘Hack-a-Shaq’ takes on a new meaning.”