It would be a dream within a dream within a dream, but the Boston Celtics are reportedly “looking very hard” at adding Tyson Chandler during free agency. (Red’s Army)

Earlier tonight on NBATV’s primetime show called “Gametime,” host Matt Winer reeled off a Top 5 list of questions to NBA reporter David Aldridge.  The 4th item on the list (in ascending order) asked about two free agents from the world champion Dallas Mavericks: Tyson Chandler and Caron Butler.

Without being prodded to name teams, Aldridge described how the Celtics don’t have many players signed (true), are in desperate need for a center (no offense, Jermaine) and that they are “looking very hard at Tyson Chandler.”

“I’d like to be pimps from Oakland or cowboys from Arizona but it’s not Halloween. Grow up Peter Pan, Count Chocula (and Danny Ainge).”

Tyson Chandler just won a championship as one of Dallas’ centerpieces. He shot 65.4% last year, plays great defense, and came within half a rebound of averaging a double double. He’s a team-changing center in a weak free agent market, which means he’s due for a big payday. The Celtics, barring some crazy and unforeseen event, have seven roster spots to fill and no money with which to fill them.

Long story short: Chandler to the Celtics would mean there is a god, but he calls himself Red Auerbach and still swindles opposing teams from the grave. Barring miracle or Auerbachian intervention, this isn’t happening.

Paul Pierce reportedly committed to play in a pair of exhibition games next month in Mexico. The games will be hosted by Eduardo Najera, whose Wikipedia page says scouts “boasted about Najera’s quick first step” while he was in college. Presumably, said scouts have long since been fired.

The games will be hosted by Mexico native and Charlotte Bobcats forward Eduardo Najera. Organizers of the event said Tyson Chandler, Trevor Ariza, Marcus Camby, DeAndre Jordan, Corey Maggette, Jerryd Bayless and Ryan Hollins are among the other players who will participate in the games. Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash has also been invited to play.

Marc Spears also reported that Pierce will possibly travel to Mexico City on October 4, when a group of players are meeting Mexico President Felipe Calderon (no relationship to Jose, I don’t think) and businessman Carlos Slim Helu, considered the world’s richest man.

The exhibition games were hatched by Najera with the hope that the event will bring positive attention to a country battling a violent drug war. But if forgetting about drugs is the goal, I’m not sure why anyone invited Marcus Camby.

For what it’s worth, here are my rankings (in descending order) of the Team USA players I’d most want on my team if I were an NBA GM. This list includes the withdrawn Rajon Rondo and is based on how these players perform in the NBA, rather than how their games translate to international basketball.
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Stars and stripes replaced the Green, but Rondo still controls basketball games.

There once was a time when some Townies feared (hoped?) Rajon Rondo wouldn’t make Team USA. Umm, think again. He’s our national team’s starting point guard and a guy everyone on Team USA seems to be gushing about, especially his coach. (CSNNE)

“It starts with Rondo,” said Team USA and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. “He wants to play defense. And he knows that the people behind him are playing defense, too.”

“He’s looking every single time,” Tyson Chandler said. “For the big man, sometimes you’re guessing, ‘Is he shooting? Should I attack the boards, or is he passing?’ So it’s good to know, he’s looking to pass first.”

“I like playing with Rondo,” Billups said. “He’s a winner. I love playing with winners; guys that know how to play the game. Guys that every possession know what it means.”

Watching Rondo play for Team USA, it’s just the same old dude we’ve come to expect every night. He only had six points, six assists and two rebounds in yesterday’s matinee against France (and France’s Boris Diaw, who looks like he has once again eaten every croissant in his home country), but — as always – there was never a time when he wasn’t in control. Solid double negative. 

Rondo runs the show, points players where they’re supposed to go, blows by whoever tries to defend him and makes players around him better. People wondered how Rondo would adjust to the international game, but I’m sure he was thinking all along, “How’s the international game going to adjust to me?”

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I guess defense and rebounding aren't the only things Clifford Ray taught Kendrick Perkins.

My headline writing has peaked. It can never get any better than “Perkins has no intention of being a Tall Black.” I might as well retire now.

But back to the matter on hand, Perkins’ father said his son has no desire to ever play for New Zealand’s National Team. (Waikato Times)

New Zealand men’s basketball assistant coach Dillon Boucher said this week that the Boston Celtics centre was viewed as a prospective Tall Black if he met Fiba eligibility criteria.

But his father Kenny Perkins was adamant the 25-year-old would turn down any advances.

“He has no intention of playing for the Tall Blacks – not now or ever,” Kenny Perkins told the Waikato Times.

“They tried this a long time ago when Tab Baldwin was the coach and I would never let him play for Tab Baldwin.

“His main goal is to play for the United States.”

I said it last time, but it sucks that Perk got injured. He would have had a solid chance of making this year’s team. Hell, Chris Sheridan is talking about Tyson Chandler as a lock to make it. With the lack of quality size on that roster, Perk would have had a real chance to represent his country this summer. But instead he’s just fielding offers to play for New Zealand, even though there’s no way in hell he wants to be a Tall Black. No pun intended, but somewhat intended.