Eddie House and the Celtics have had discussions about the free agent returning to Boston next season. (A. Sherrod Blakely)

You can add ex-Celtic Eddie House to the list of players the Celtics have had some discussions about signing this summer.

Intriguing. Eddie would have helped last season, and he’d help again next season. He’s 6’1,” slow, and can’t really dribble a basketball but Eddie can, and will always be able to, shoot the bejesus out of the basketball. Plus, I think I speak on behalf of Celtics fans everywhere when I say we love the guy.

Speaking of guys Celtics fans love, Ryan Gomes has signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. Sorry to ruin your wet dream of having Gomes return, C’s fans.

P.S. – Blakely also tweeted that Kwame Brown will probably be out of the C’s price range. Damn it! Kwame would have assured a championship!

A return to Boston could be possible for the fan favorite.

Ryan Gomes has been officially waived by the Portland Trail Blazers, as had been expected since the Blazers acquired him from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Marc Spears wondered, via Twitter, whether that could pave the way to Gomes’ return to Boston.

Gomes has been the target of a lot of salivating from Celtics fans over the years. Fans remember Gomes’ basketball IQ, scrappy play, and ability to help a team out in a variety of ways. At least in Boston, Gomes was one of those guys who was underrated until he became overrated.

But it wasn’t just the city of Boston he attracted; he won over the Minnesota fanbase too. (A Wolf Among Wolves)

When Kurt Rambis remarked, on Friday, that “smart players don’t have a problem picking up any offense,” he was talking about players like Gomes. Gomes has never been a terribly dynamic player–by NBA standards he’s an average ballhandler and a slightly below-average athlete–but his feel for the game is almost preternatural.  None of his shots in that Memphis game came as a result of physical domination or extreme displays of skill. Instead, as he always does, Gomes allowed the game to flow to him. He found open space on the court; he made sharp, intuitive passes; he allowed the movements of the ball and the other nine players on the court to dictate his decisions. We could wish that his jumper were more consistent or that he were just a bit quicker, but the guy really knows how to play basketball.

On top of that, Gomes is an famously generous, open and friendly guy. He’s one of the only players I’ve met who seems to enjoy shooting the breeze about basketball as much as pasty nerds like me; he was routinely the last player in the locker room after a painful loss, patiently humoring reporters. Being a 5’10″ white dude in an NBA locker room can be a little intimidating; discovering that there was a player willing to look you in the eye and have an actual human conversation made things feel a lot less daunting. I appreciate that.

Amazingly, he seemed able to relate to his teammates even better than he did to reporters. Over and over I saw Gomes seek out frustrated or disgruntled players and, with his funny, rapid-fire banter, bring them back into the fold. Anyone wondering why,  during three years of constant, punishing futility, the Wolves never devolved into a churning, fractious mess should look no further than Ryan Gomes.

With Jeff Clark leading the way, all these bloggers and fans are trying their best to convince me to hop on the Ryan Gomes bandwagon. I resisted for a long time, but you know what? I’m almost there. If I read another piece about Gomes being a perfect utility man, flawless teammate and Albert Einstein-esque basketball player, I may have to jump full-bore onto the bandwagon.

As it is now, my brain is still leading the way. And it’s telling me that Gomes is a solid pick, but not a home run.

In other news, Spears reported that Michael Finley is not retiring. That struck me off-guard — didn’t Finley retire right before the playoffs?

Only a couple days after being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, Ryan Gomes will almost definitely be released. (The Oregonian)

Team president Larry Miller said the Blazers will probably release newly acquired forward Ryan Gomes in order to avoid taking on the remaining three seasons of his contract.

The team has until Tuesday to make a decision, but Miller said he has already told Gomes’ agent not to fly him to Portland.

If I know Celtics fans, there will immediately be petitions sprouting left and right to get Danny Ainge to sign Gomes. I wouldn’t mind the signing myself: Gomes is tough, has learned how to shoot the long ball, and would allow the C’s to go small with him at power forward. I like.

In other news, the city of Boston has cautioned that any petition rallying for the C’s to sign Gomes must include the following disclaimer: He’s not much better than decent at basketball. For whatever reason, C’s fans have cannonized Gomes ever since he was traded away to Minnesota. At this point, some of us probably think Gomes can turn water into wine. Boston’s love affair with Ryan Gomes has become pretty sick.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy too and I’d like the signing. I just don’t want to see people too hyped about Gomes’ availability. He would help the Celtics, but he’s not the Jesus Christ figure most of Boston believes he is.

I sat down last night with my laptop on the top of my lap, ready to watch a draft that promised to be exciting and pumped for the Celtics to make their picks. Three hours later, I was confused by the Celtics’ pick, the draft had lulled me to sleep, and there was still an entire, boring-ass round to go. Needless to say, I wasn’t too happy with last night’s happenings.

Let me explain my thoughts:

Avery Bradley

Contrary to most NBA bloggers, I’m actually a big fan of college basketball. I love the passion and joy that collegiate players play with. The college game isn’t as talent-laden as its NBA counterpart, but the teamwork and camaraderie is mostly a joy to watch. As such, I’m more qualified than most NBA bloggers to discuss the NBA Draft. And I’ve got to say, when the Celtics drafted Bradley I was utterly disappointed.

It’s not even that I see a bad future in front of him. With a long 6’3″ frame, bunnies to burn, and tenacious defense, Bradley is a good prospect. He was expected to be a lottery pick, so that’s a nice indication of his potential. And Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge had tunnel vision for the kid, so they really, really liked him. But even if Bradley becomes a legitimate player, even if his talent pans out, even if his averages of only 11 points and 2 assists during his only year in college isn’t a miserable sign that should have turned everyone off, I STILL don’t like the pick.

You see, the Celtics had far more pressing needs than a backup point guard. You can say that Bradley is more of a shooting guard, but he’s 6’3″ inches tall. Hardly the height you want out of a two guard, and definitely too short to play any small forward. Not to mention, he’s also pretty frail — this isn’t a diesel 6’3″ player we’re talking about. Regarding a possible Rondo-Bradley backcourt, Doc Rivers told CSNNE, “I don’t think they can play together.” So he was drafted as a lead guard. And the thing is, the C’s needed either a wing man or a big man. With Rasheed Wallace retiring, Kendrick Perkins injured, and Ray Allen and Paul Pierce’s futures in limbo, a backup point guard was the absolute last thing the Celtics needed. ESPECIALLY one who didn’t come close to lighting the NCAA on fire last year. They already have Rajon Rondo, remember? He plays 40 minutes per night, right? That leaves only 8-10 for his backup, you realize?

As a Celtics diehard, I’m trying to talk myself into the pick. I really am. He’s athletic, he’s a great defender, he has the potential to be better than his brief college career would suggest, he was rated higher than John Wall only a year ago, yada yada yada. But as much as I try, this pick makes me sick to my stomach. The Celtics left some reliable, proven players on the board (James Anderson and Damion James come to mind) in favor of a ‘tweener guard who couldn’t even leave a big imprint on the college game. Bradley came into college as the number one high school recruit in the country, then promptly disappeared for a season. He’s got a lot of potential, sure, but the Celtics needed a wing or big NOW. The last thing they need is a point guard who won’t be ready for at least a couple years. They’ve got Rondo wrapped up for five years, remember?

So why in the hell did they draft a point guard project? Danny Ainge himself said before the draft that point guard is “the least of our needs.” Then they go out and sign a point guard who they don’t see being able to play in the same backcourt as Rajon Rondo? Am I missing something here?

I was excited for the Celtics to pick, but afterwards I was simply confused. Why a point guard? Why a player who won’t contribute right away? Why?

Luke Harangody

I loved Harangody in college. Absolutely loved him. But this is the NBA, not college. And as much as I want ‘Gody to be a hell of a player, as much as I adored his unorthodox game last season, he’s a 6’7 3/4″ power forward with a 28″ vertical and limited (at best) lateral quickness. There are reasons why undersized, slow players don’t succeed in the NBA. Simply put, I don’t see a quality career in his future. Actually, yes I do… just not in the United States.

John Calipari is an idiot

The dumbest thing said last night during the draft was uttered by one of the sleaziest, slimiest coaches in the NCAA ranks — John Calipari. “This is the biggest day in the history of Kentucky’s basketball program,” he said.

I can’t even begin to discuss the ridiculousness of that statement. Sweet, Coach Cal, your team had five players drafted in the first round. I guess that’s far more important than the seven national titles Kentucky has won. By the way, Cal, you had five first-rounders at your disposal and couldn’t even make the Final Four. Oh well, I guess it’s fine that you didn’t: Even if you had made the Final Four, it would have been vacated from history at some point anyway. So you call it the biggest day in the history of Kentucky’s basketball program, I’ll call it another sign that you haven’t been able to buy a national title… yet.

Another Calipari quote from last night — “Right now it feels like we won a national title.” I have just one question: How, exactly, does he know what that feels like?

Urkel swag.

Nice glasses, Al-Farouq

Those things were thicker than Michael Sweetney’s midsection. I mean, I understand nerd swag is in right now. Dwyane Wade loves dressing in his thick-rimmed glasses and sweater vests and such, and that’s a nice fashion statement. But Al-Farouq Aminu’s glasses were a step beyond fashion. Those things were thicker than Kim Kardashian’s toosh and far, far, far less attractive.

Kevin Durant’s unintentional comedy

Durant showed up to watch the draft last night, and that made me happy. What other superstar would go to the draft to enjoy it, soak it in, and cheer on his team? But there was another reason Durant’s decision to attend the draft was marvelous — how else would I have had the opportunity to watch Durant explain how great Cole Aldrich was for the Oklahoma City Thunder?

Durant sat there being interviewed on T.V., and was asked how he felt about Aldrich. Being on national television and speaking about a soon-to-be teammate, Durant had no choice but to say how much Aldrich was going to help the Thunder, how big a defensive presence he was, and how Oklahoma City can really use him. What I KNOW Durant was really thinking was, “Shit, Cole Aldrich? A big, white stiff? I can’t wait to try to dunk on this oversized goon in practice, but he’ll never help us on the floor.”

Wrapping it all up

Last night was one of the more boring drafts in NBA history. Sure, there were a lot of trades, but excuse me if Luke Babbitt and Ryan Gomes for Martell Webster wasn’t the blockbuster trade I was looking for. The only redeeming moments were Durant’s interview, Jay Bilas’ continued obsession with wingspan and upside potential, and those weird buttons on Wesley Johnson’s suit. Other than that, the draft was super disappointing. It wasn’t exciting, the trades were weak, Kevin Pritchard was fired/humiliated on draft night, and the Celtics made two picks I have a combined zero confidence in. Though John Calipari might disagree, last night WAS NOT the greatest night in the history of my personal draft experience.

Yes, a million times over. It was worth it.

NBA.com’s Shaun Powell raises a question that will continue to be thrown out there if the C’s continue their slide:

Was their one title worth mortgaging the future?

A few years ago, the Celtics revamped their team for a championship run by assembling three pricey players. Now that it appears their “run” will amount to a single title, was their $175 million-plus investment worth it?

Meaning: How much would you (and should you) pay for a championship? No question, the 2008 title restored faith in the franchise, raised a 17th title banner in Boston, sold plenty of season tickets, rekindled memories of Red Auerbach’s cigar and the Larry Bird era and added another chapter to the Celtics’ rich history. The Celtics “brand” received a boost, and that’s something you really can’t put a price on.

Still, the Celtics paid dearly for that small taste of the good life. The championship did not spawn a lengthy stretch of prosperity. They’re aging faster than a father with teenaged daughters.

So was it worth it, even if the Celtics are falling apart like they’ve appeared to be for large portions of the season?

In a word, yes.

In another word, abso – f**king – lutely.

The Celtics won a title, ladies and gentlemen. In the NBA, those are usually few and far between. Just ask Knicks fans or Timberwolves fans. To us Celtics fans, the title run wasn’t about rekindling memories, it was about making them. And it damn sure wasn’t about selling tickets. No matter what the cost to Steve Pagliuca and Wyc Grousbeck, winning the title was worth it.

Plus, look at the alternative:

The Celtics keep Al Jefferson and their #5 draft pick, select Yi Jianlian (who was reportedly Ainge’s choice if he kept the pick), and hold onto the young “building blocks” for the future (Gerald Green and Bassy Telfair, I’m looking at you). They roll out a lineup of a Paul Pierce (disgruntled), Ryan Gomes (solid, nowhere near as good as most Celtics fans would have you think), Al Jefferson (who would soon get an injury and pick up a DWI), and Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins (who wouldn’t have matured nearly as quickly without both the tutelage of KG and Ray-Ray and the intensity of playoff basketball). Tony Allen, Telfair, Delonte West and Yi are the first four men off the bench. The C’s fight for a playoff berth, finish just out of the playoffs, and draft someone like Brandon Rush with their late-lottery pick.

The next year, they again flounder but remain close to the playoffs, and pick up someone like Earl Clark in the draft. They don’t have a lot of salary, and Paul Pierce gets traded away to clear even more salary space. But with an inconsistent Rajon Rondo (remember, he wouldn’t have advanced nearly as quickly) and an injury-prone Al Jefferson as the team’s top draws for free agents, plus the city of Boston still not a prime target for anyone, the Celtics lose out on the top stars of the 2010 Free Agent Class. They settle for overpaying Joe Johnson or Rudy Gay, players who will never win titles as the main guy, and begin another run of mediocrity.

Granted, that’s just one hypothetical. But doesn’t the present sound a whole lot better than that? Winning a title, then clinging to hopes of another, is far better than hoping all the cards fall into place for the future.