Danny Ainge, the magic man

Jay King | September 6, 2010 at 11:00 am | 5 Comments

Five. That’s how many players the Celtics had under contract at the beginning of this offseason, including the soon-to-retire Rasheed Wallace. So make that four.

Zero. That’s how much cap space the Celtics had to spend, unless they wanted to renounce the rights to Ray Allen and/or Paul Pierce. Fat chance of that happening.

Eleven. That’s how many players Danny Ainge signed, and many of them quality pros. Just another summer at the office for Ainge, another offseason spent making wine out of water.
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Gaffney and Lafayette probably the odd men out

Jay King | September 2, 2010 at 10:44 am | 8 Comments

After the Delonte West signing, the Boston Celtics now have 17 players under contract. It doesn’t take Will Hunting to realize that two players will have to be released in order to reach the 15-player limit allotted by the NBA.

Oddly enough, Von Wafer’s contract is reportedly fully guaranteed. So is Semih Erden’s. The three players without fully guaranteed contracts (if I’m not mistaken) are Tony Gaffney, Oliver Lafayette and now Delonte West (according to the Boston Herald). Since West figures to make the team, even though he’ll be suspended for the first ten games, one would have to believe both Gaffney and Lafayette will be released.

Danny Ainge told reporters, “They’ll have the chance to compete. We’ll keep the best players.” But Gaffney and Lafayette aren’t just two of the three Celtics with non-guaranteed contracts; they’re also the two least-established players.

For Lafayette, news that he will probably be cut shouldn’t come as a shock. The writing has been on the wall since Avery Bradley was drafted and Nate Robinson re-signed.

But for Gaffney, the life-long Celtics fan who realized his dream when the Celtics offered him a contract, the West signing likely ended some legitimate, if thin, hopes of being the C’s 15th man. Now, Gaffney will almost definitely be cut and his Celtics career, the fulfillment of a long-shot dream, will probably end before he was able to dress for even a single game.

It sucks sometimes that the NBA is a business, huh?

Roy Hibbert is getting the Bill Walton treatment

Jay King | August 25, 2010 at 12:00 pm | 0 Comments

Larry Bird set Roy Hibbert up with one hell of an opportunity. (Indiana Star)

Roy Hibbert’s eyes lit up like a 5-year-old on Christmas morning when Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird approached him last spring with an idea for the offseason.

Bird asked the Pacers center if he wanted some help, and tossed out the names of three potential teachers: Bill Russell, Bill Walton or Kevin McHale. All three are Hall of Fame big men.

“He said it would probably be one of those three guys. I just had to give him my summer schedule so he could set it up with one of them,” Hibbert said. “Who wouldn’t want to work with those guys?”

Bird lined up Walton, a former teammate with the Boston Celtics, and he has spent part of the summer working with Hibbert at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Danny Ainge, you’ve gotta hop on your Blackberry ASAP. I know Clifford Ray is seen as one hell of a big man coach, but I’m willing to bet that Bill Walton has a few tricks he could teach the Celtics big men. There’s no reason he should be wasting his tips on stiffs like Roy Hibbert.

Ainge, Rivers not disappointed by Rondo’s withdrawal/cut

Jay King | at 9:54 am | 13 Comments

It has been reported that Rajon Rondo withdrew from Team USA due to family matters and to take care of some things. But certain factors lead me to believe that Rondo was not acting entirely of his own accord when he decided to leave the team and return to the United States.

In addition to the evidence we pointed out yesterday, the Globe wrote that Rondo “[sensed] the writing on the wall as coach Mike Krzyzewski began to test different backcourt combinations minus Rondo.” And yes, Rondo’s uncle passed away a week or two ago… but Rondo flew to Spain and then Greece to be with the team after the passing. Additionally, Rondo’s brother — who presumably would know about any family matters that would cause Rondo to skip out on the competition — “wasn’t sure about the reason for Rondo’s withdrawal.”

Doc Rivers, according to the Boston Globe, believes that Team USA needs played a part in Rondo’s decision. But he also thinks that Rondo’s own desire to return to the Unites States was another factor.

Whatever the reason, I guess it doesn’t really matter. Rondo, whether forced or by his own decision, is no longer a part of Team USA. And Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers seem pretty pumped up about it. (Boston Globe)
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Celtics still looking to add another shooter

Tommy King | August 11, 2010 at 9:15 am | 11 Comments

After waiving Rasheed Wallace Tuesday, the Boston Celtics have an open roster spot that they hope to use on a shooter. (Boston Herald) Read more >>

The Celtics seem pumped about Shaq

Jay King | August 5, 2010 at 11:15 am | 8 Comments

(I hear it’s really fun to play with teammates you once controlled in video games.)

Granted, it’s the honeymoon period right now. Granted, it isn’t like the Celtics are very likely to bash a new teammate. But they seem very excited to welcome Shaq to Boston.

Here’s Rajon Rondo’s take. (Yahoo)

“I’m excited and looking forward to playing with the big fella,” Rondo said. “He’s definitely an enforcer. He gives us a post presence. He’s one of the best to do it. We’re a lot better.”

Next to gush, Danny Ainge, Doc Rivers and Wyc Grousbeck. (Boston Globe)