If anyone still wanted Von Wafer cut and Stephane Lasme called up to the Boston Celtics, well, it’s not happening. Lasme underwent successful surgery Wednesday to repair a stress fracture in his left foot.

For Lasme, this all sucks. It really, really sucks. He was *this close* to making the Celtics, but instead had to settle for the Red Claws when Wafer took Lasme’s spot late in preseason. I look back to one game, the game in Toronto, when Lasme couldn’t travel with the Celtics because of visa issues. That day Wafer started to separate himself by scoring 14 points. Lasme probably watched at home on television, kicking himself for the visa issues that might have ultimately cost him a spot in the NBA.

Lasme was sent down to the Red Claws. Playing overseas for big money wasn’t an option, because Lasme needs employment in the United States to fulfill residency requirements. He was forced to turn down more money from a Russian team so he could stay in America with his wife and daughter.

Now he can’t even play for the Red Claws, can’t even continue his quest to become an NBA player. And Lasme isn’t a young 20-year old, either. He’ll be 28 years old in December. The window of opportunity won’t stay open for too long. Few teams will be willing to roll the dice on a 30-year old 15th man, I can promise.

Chris Forsberg reported that Lasme faces a “lengthy recovery,” and will be sidelined “indefinitely.” The Red Claws retain his rights, and GM Jon Jennings said the team looks forward to Lasme’s recovery. But this is a serious setback, one that could keep Lasme from ever reaching the NBA, just when it seemed he was closer to achieving his dreams than ever before.

I’ve got to admit, this is the one time I could have broken news before Chris Forsberg. I’ve been playing pickup basketball with some kids who play for my old high school team, and one of them was stuttering a couple weeks ago: “I… I… I just p-p-played p-p-pickup with P-P-Paul H-H-Harris.”

I responded, “Okay, now calm down. He’s not THAT good. You don’t have to stutter like you just saw Michael Jordan. I mean, you’re blessed with ’the privilege’ of playing pickup against me twice a week and I haven’t seen you go gaga like that yet.”

The kid took three (very) deep breaths, took himself down a couple notches, and started speaking regular English.

“I just played against Paul Harris, man,” he said. “He’s been working out at L.A. Fitness for weeks now. He signed with the Red Claws.”

I nodded, replied “oh, I see,” and wondered to myself, why in the world did seeing Paul Harris, of all people, make this kid drool? Then I remembered myself in high school, the one time I played pickup basketball against someone noteworthy. And I use the word “noteworthy” loosely.

Long story short, Kenyon Martin’s half brother Richard Roby (or at least someone who claimed to be Kenyon Martin’s half brother Richard Roby, and I can’t imagine anyone who isn’t Roby would do that) came to my local park. We played a couple games. He was playing at Colorado at the time and was considered a first-round prospect, so he was pretty damn good. Good enough to murder me, at least. But I finished playing the games, walked home, and immediately called everyone I knew.

“Guess what I did today?”

“What?”

“Played basketball against Richardy Roby at Bliss Park!”

“Who the hell is Richard Roby?”

“Oh.”

Anyway, I remembered why this kid was so hyped about playing Paul Harris. As for the Red Claws? Lasme could be a Celtic within a month, whenever the Celtics get rid of Von Wafer. (I kid, I kid… but seriously.) Harris and Tiny Gallon are both intriguing prospects for the future. Harris is only a 6’2″ (or so) bruiser with limited guard skills, but he’s tough and super-athletic. And Gallon has a lot of talent, to go with his soft shooting touch in a big man’s body. If he can work himself into good shape, Gallon could become a real player.

I don’t see Mario West as a future Celtics call-up (even though I’d hate to have him defend me), and I know very little about Lamonte Ulmer (6’6″, 215-lb. wing from URI; averaged 12.1 ppg and 7.4 rpg in senior season) or Jamar Smith (6’3″ shooting guard from the University of Southern Indiana; D2 Player of the Year by at least one publication, averaging 21.6 ppg).

But damn it!, I could have broken news before Chris Forsberg. If only my stuttering, salivating source had been a little more reliable.

Stephane Lasme, the last player cut from the Boston Celtics 15-man roster, will play for the Maine Red Claws–the Boston Celtics NBDL affiliate– this season, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.

Lasme surprised Celtics fans and the Boston Celtics organization, especially coach Doc Rivers, with his play during training camp and the preseason. When the Celtics originally invited Lasme to camp, Rivers admitted that he knew next to nothing about Lasme and it seemed that Lasme had no chance of making the team. Yet, despite the odds, Lasme outlasted another former Umass Minuteman, Tony Gaffney, and, just a few days ago, Rivers said Lasme had an “excellent chance” of making the team. If Von Wafer hadn’t broken out of a prolonged shooting slump over the last three preseason games, Lasme would have likely secured the 15th spot on the Celtics roster.

Lasme is an undersized power forward who can also play some at the small forward position. Lasme is a poor ball-handler and shooter, but he makes up for his skill deficiencies with superior athleticism, defensive ability, court smarts, and hard work.

Lasme could have secured a more lucrative spot overseas, but he must stay in the United States to comply with residency requirements.

Lasme’s partnership with the Maine Red Claws should benefit both Lasme and the Boston Celtics. The partnership allows Lasme to fulfill his residency requirements while living close to his wife and daughter. Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics, always concerned with injuries to their high-mileage veterans, have a player they trust who they can call up at the first sign of injury.

With the way the injuries have piled up so far in the preseason, it won’t be long before Lasme suits up for the Boston Celtics once again.

The underdog.

Let me preface this post: I love the underdog. Rudy made me a Notre Dame fan, Rocky damn near brings me to tears, and Hoosiers, well, I know every single line. When my favorite football team (Florida St.) isn’t in contention (are they ever anymore?), I cheer for Boise St. to win the BCS title. I was *this close* to rooting for Butler in the national championship game, even though I’m the type of Duke fan who owns a J.J. Redick Orlando Magic jersey and a Jay Williams (Don’t call me Jason) Chicago Bulls jersey. I have a classic case of underdog-itis.

You’ve probably noticed by now that I give an inordinate amount of coverage to the Tony Gaffneys, Stephane Lasmes and Matt Jannings of the world. Maybe that’s because I was always the underdog myself. I never had blazing speed (or any speed whatsoever), stand no taller than 6’2″ (on tip-toes), and couldn’t jump over my living room rug. I wasn’t a classic point guard (think Eddie House’s ball-handling skills and lack of elite quickness), but didn’t have the size to stand out as a shooting guard. There wasn’t a single physical skill I possessed that anyone would want. I wasn’t very strong (read: I was weaker than a piece of spaghetti), I wasn’t very fast (read: I was slower than Mount Rushmore), and my wing span would make Jay Bilas say I had downside. Everything I acheived in basketball I earned through hard work.

When my friends went out drinking in high school, I stayed home so I could wake up in the morning and work out. I’d lift at 6:00 a.m. before class on some days, and then work on my jumper and handle after school. Then I’d sprinkle in some pickup games on top of all the individual work. My friend D.J. once told me, “If I had your work ethic, I’d probably be on my way to the NBA.” Umm probably not, D.J., but I understood the point. He was far more talented, yet far more lazy than I was. He was the type of player I routinely surpassed, but not because I was any more physically gifted. I just flat out worked harder. 

Long story short (okay, not too short), I eventually realized my dream of becoming a college basketball player. Three years later, during my junior year, I quit the team. It took my coach completely by surprise. I was always the player who cheered the loudest, who dove on the floor most often, who improved by leaps and bounds on the strength and conditioning tests every year, who was the first off the bench to offer a high five. I showed no signs of being disgruntled, but being the underdog was exhausting.

Scrapping and clawing and permanently wearing floor burns had carried me as long as it was going to, and I came to understand that I’d never earn a significant role on my team. I like to say that I quit the game when I realized my heart far outweighed my athletic ability, but that isn’t the truth. I’d always known that. I quit basketball when I realized my heart was no longer enough.

But enough about me. There’s a point to this story, and it’s about underdogs and Von Wafer and Mario West, and it’s especially about Stephane Lasme. Wafer can’t qualify as the underdog. He was gifted with supreme athleticism — an electric first step, gravity-defying hops, and lightning quickness. He has every gift God could ever grant to a shooting guard – ideal size, shoots lights out, and, when he’s not out of control and throwing turnovers, possesses great court vision. If anything, Wafer has squandered his God-given talent. There’s no way Von Wafer should be battling for the final spot on an NBA roster. He’s too talented for that.

On the other end of the talent pool stand Lasme and West, two guys I can identify with, two underdogs in the purest sense of the word. They both have physical gifts, but God wasn’t as gracious when fulfilling their attributes as he was for Wafer. Most of what Lasme and West have accomplished in basketball has been because they wanted it more than their competition. Just watch West in his opponent’s chest, defending close enough that the opponent can feel his breath. Just watch Lasme contribute in every conceivable way, despite offensive skills that couldn’t even scoff at Ben Wallace’s. Lasme and West work hard, they do things right, they play basketball with a chip on their shoulders and something to prove. Yet Wafer was the one who made the Celtics, while Lasme and West both got cut. 

Just like I did, Stephane Lasme and Mario West learned that there’s ultimately a ceiling to how far your heart will take you. You can maximize your limited talents all you want, but at some point talent wins out.

From an analyst’s standpoint, a basketball standpoint, I understand why the Celtics kept Wafer. He’s simply a better, more well-rounded basketball player than his competition could offer. But from a fan’s standpoint, a fellow underdog’s standpoint, there’s something dissatisfying about natural talent beating out heart, grit and determination.

The Morning Walkthrough is a set of links to Boston Celtics articles throughout the internet, designed to get your day started the right way.

Did everyone know that's Mario West?

Jessica Camerato, CSNNE – “The Celtics trimmed their roster Wednesday by waiving training camp invitees Stephane Lasme and Mario West. … The Red Claws still have the rights to West, a guard who played the last three years in the Atlanta Hawks organization. In the meantime, West will return home to Georgia and work on improving his offensive game. He sees himself developing into a player like Bruce Bowen or Raja Bell, one who focuses on defense first and then finds his niche offensively. ‘I have things I need to work on but I think they were, overall, pleased with the effort I gave,’ West told CSNNE.com. ‘I was just grateful for the opportunity, to be honest. Any time you get an opportunity to come in with a championship-caliber team, I took a lot of pride in putting on that jersey and practicing with those guys. I feel like I made life-long brothers in this locker room.’”

Julian Benbow/Gary Washburn, Boston Globe – “Still, he scored 12 points last night on 4-of-5 shooting, and has fit in nicely with the Celtics’ static starters while injuries have nagged at Jermaine O’Neal, keeping him out of half of the exhibition games, including last night’s. ‘He’s been great,’ Paul Pierce said of Shaquille O’Neal. ‘He’s obviously been a huge presence for us down there. You saw today when we got him the ball, they tried to double-team him and we skipped it to open shooters. That’s going to be a big factor going in, a guy who can draw double teams. When you’ve got two or three guys in your starting five who can do that it just makes things easier on the offensive end. He’s a big plus for us.’”

Dan Duggan, Boston Herald – “‘Just making the team is not enough for me,’ said Wafer, who had eight points last night. “I’ve been playing in the NBA five years and I’ve been sitting on the bench for four. You just can’t get better sitting on the bench. I want to play, bottom line.’ Wafer might get a chance while West is out, but the minutes he covets don’t figure to exist here. ‘It looks real sketchy because we have so much talent,’ Wafer said. ‘We got a lot of talent, I don’t know. I’m just going to go into it thinking positive.’”

Jessica Camerato, CSNNE – “Wafer felt more comfortable with his game after “finding his legs” and felt that the pace of the game seemed to slow down after doing so. ‘I think I showed them that I can get better, that I’m willing to just play defense,’ he said. ‘I feel like I got a lot better defensively, but hopefully I can continue to play. Just making the team is not enough for me. I want to play. I’ve been playing in the NBA five years and I’ve been sitting on the bench for four. You just can’t get better sitting on the bench. I want to play, bottom line.’ The bottom line on the Celtics, though, is that minutes are not readily available. The team added depth to its bench this summer, making it even more difficult for a player — especially one who has been out of the league for over a year — to get on to the court. ‘I would rather be out there,’ he said. ‘But I’ve got to take what’s given to me.’”

Gary Washburn, Boston Globe – “Lasme, a former UMass standout, was disappointed but said he felt he made a positive impression. ‘It was actually longer than I thought it was going to be,’ Lasme said. ‘They actually liked me a lot. It came down to the end. (Doc Rivers) said I was an NBA player and not to worry about anything.’ Lasme said he is open to playing the NBDL. ‘It is basically my decision if I want to go,’ he said. ‘I’m sure somebody’s going to call. I’ll wait for the phone call and make my decision from there.’”

Chris Forsberg, ESPN Boston – “Celtics starters have lobbied coach Doc Rivers to play extended minutes throughout the preseason, often disappointed with their efforts in the first half and seeking to immediately atone for sloppy play. With no other games standing between Wednesday’s preseason finale against the Nets and Tuesday’s much-ballyhooed showdown with the Miami Heat, the Celtics’ veterans wanted to showcase their potential one last time. Ray Allen fueled a feverish third-quarter outburst by scoring all 14 of his points in the period, connecting on four shots, including a pair of trifectas, as the Celtics embarked on a pair of 13-2 runs to erase a double-digit deficit and build a comfortable cushion that carried them to a lopsided win. ‘We came out lackadaisical,’ said Shaquille O’Neal. ‘But we picked it up. When our guys turn it on, usually the outcome will be like this.’”

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald – “From his left hamstring to his left wrist and now to his back, it’s been difficult to keep track of every injury that has nagged Jermaine O’Neal during training camp. The difficult part about the center’s plight now, according to Rivers, is that more down time may call into question just how much O’Neal can contribute once the Celtics open their season. ‘Yeah, there is (concern),’ Rivers said before the game. ‘(O’Neal) hasn’t been able to get on the floor, obviously. It’s not going to happen tonight and maybe not for the first couple of practices, so there is some concern about opening night and what he can do for us. JO and I were just talking, and it was, after the first day of training camp, you’re never healthy again. You have to get something. But how much can you function? It’s what you’re going through the rest of the year.’”

A. Sherrod Blakely, CSNNE – “Halftime had arrived, and Ray Allen had as many points as the scribes detailing his struggles. But if there’s one thing Celtics Nation has learned about Ray Allen, it’s that regardless of how bad he may be shooting, he can get it going at any time, against any team. The New Jersey Nets were reminded of this on Wednesday as Allen scored all of his 14 points in the third quarter to help propel the Celtics to a 107-92 win to close out their preseason. ‘I always say when Ray’s going, we’re a tough team to beat,’ said Paul Pierce who had 11 points on 3-for-6 shooting. ‘Every game we try to establish him early.’”

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald – “Rondo wouldn’t be the first poor free throw shooter (63.0 percent career, 62.1 last season) to shy away from trips to the line. Antoine Walker, who shot 55.7 percent from the line in his last half-season with the C’s in the spring of 2005, had become almost exclusively a perimeter player. Some theorized that part of the reason was a fear of going to the line. Rondo lives at the rim. And yet that ability to split the lane doesn’t always produce contact. ‘I don’t know,’ Rivers said of whether Rondo is hesitant to draw fouls. ‘I just know he has to get there. Why he’s doing it, I’m not inside of that brain. I’m not even sure I want to go there. But the fact is, with his speed at point guard – point guards with the rules, where you can’t touch a guy above the free throw line, should end up on the free throw line.’”

Steve Bulpett, Boston Herald – “Danny Ainge is as much relieved as he is excited that the roster had shaped up this well. ‘If you’d have told me we could have had this team we have now after Game 7 of the Finals, I could have gotten a lot more sleep,’ the director of basketball operations said.”

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

Mario West was also cut, as expected. If Lasme wants to, he’ll almost definitely have a spot on the Maine Red Claws waiting for him. West probably will too. It looks like Wafer will make the opening night roster.