Von Wafer signed with the Italian club Venoli Cremona, as first reported by Alex Kennedy and confirmed by Chris Forsberg. The deal contains an opt out clause for Wafer to return to the NBA if and when the lockout ends this season.

Wafer reminds me of one of my teammates growing up. This kid was a space cadet, the team clown, a very talented player but also one who occasionally watched his man shoot an uncontested three, simply forgetting (I know, that sounds unfathomable) to contest the shot. This kid drank every weekend. He received more Ds than As in class. By most measures, he would probably be seen as a disappointment — he drank as a sophomore in high school, played to considerably less than his potential, and possessed a GPA lower than Vin Baker’s blood alcohol level. But considering where he came from (he transferred to my school after getting expelled from his previous school for fighting a teacher), when my team had our banquet at season’s end, our coach summed up this kid’s efforts in one sentence: “I could not be more proud of him.”

That’s how I feel about Wafer. I know, my expectations were low. Wafer didn’t perform well and he got into at least one spat that we know about. He came close, but never quite adjusted to playing defense and excelling in a bit role off the bench. His shot abandoned him. His decisions weren’t always perfect. He never earned Doc Rivers’ trust.

But I’m proud of him.

Hoping to find Von Wafer a basketball home for the coming season, Wafer’s agent made “insistent” overtures to the Spanish team Real Madrid. (via WEEI)

Instead, the team signed Jaycee Carroll, who starred alongside Luke Harangody for the Celtics summer league entry last year, and Martynas Pocius, who I despised when he played for my beloved Duke Blue Devils.

Wafer did not find a suitor in Real Madrid, but he is obviously looking to find an overseas home. Earlier today, FIBA ruled to allow any NBA players to play overseas until the lockout ends. Because of Wafer’s status as a free agent, he would have been able to seek overseas employment regardless of FIBA’s ruling.

The last time Wafer played overseas, his 2009 tenure on the Greek team Olympiakos ended in a sea of flames. The team waived Wafer midseason and head coach Panagiotis Giannakis did not send any praise Wafer’s way.

“He had a playing philosophy that didn’t allow him to make the adjustments needed,” the coach said. “If somebody is not eager to try to change himself, then it is better for him and the club to part ways.”

Theoretically, Wafer might have learned how to become a professional under the tutelage of Doc Rivers and Boston’s veterans. Then again, maybe not.

Even if Wafer decides not to travel overseas for next season, the Celtics might remain uninterested when the lockout ceases. Though Wafer improved in bits and pieces last season, he never quite found the map leading him to Boston’s rotation. If he does leave, I doubt I will shed a tear.

I imagine last season did not unfold according to Von Wafer’s plan.

His season began with a fist fight against Delonte West, which Wafer may or may not have leaked to the press. Shortly after the fight, one Celtic (maybe Wafer) was quoted as saying it’s obvious when West does not take his medicine. Wafer’s season continued with an uphill battle for playing time, with Wafer often wearing his warmup shirt all game long. His defense did not match Doc Rivers’s standards and the shooting touch he showed in Houston abandoned him.

Just when Wafer finally began playing “Celtics basketball” and earning praise from Rivers,  the team experienced a slew of injuries that could have opened playing opportunities for Wafer. But he fell victim to a calf injury that kept him out of commission for almost a month. By the time the playoffs arrived, Wafer was an afterthought, a seat warmer, and third string behind Jeff Green and Delonte West.

Still, he’s open to a Boston return. Shockingly, Wafer has never played two consecutive seasons with the same team. If the lockout persists, Wafer could explore contract options overseas.

“Von would love to be back [with Boston],” Wafer’s agent, Terrance Doyle, told ESPN. “He’s never gotten that opportunity to go back with a team.”

After Wafer’s stormy beginning to the season, I vowed I would never like him. He fought Delonte West, made remarks about wanting more playing time, played defense with the attention span of an ADD-riddled 13-year old, and as the cherry on top, shot like a blind ferret whenever he received a chance to play. But somewhere along the way, he matured. Rarely do players grow up in a single season, but if my perception is correct, Wafer did. His coaches began to praise him. Teammates supported him. He changed a couple games with his defensive effort. He learned how to impact contests when his shot wasn’t falling. He stopped overdribbling and learned how to play a role on a championship contender, even when he was not afforded the playing time to make a difference.

Doyle said Wafer learned a lot from Boston’s veterans, and I get the feeling that is not just the lip service of an agent hoping his player gets more work. Wafer entered last season with a poor reputation. He was a firecracker who got kicked out of a playoff game by Rick Adelman and later made no friends in Greece, where his European team grew tired of his act and moved on. Wafer could shoot and he could score, but there were serious issues regarding his attitude. Then Boston happened, and Wafer finally stopped acting out. He became a sponge, listening to Rivers and soliciting advice from his older teammates. He changed.

That change wasn’t enough to boost Wafer into the starting lineup, or even into the rotation. As much as his attitude improved, Wafer’s shooting touch went into hiding and he never did find it. He showed flashes of the offensive instincts that made him desirable in the first place, but he never showed consistent production. Still, even after struggling on the court, Wafer might have raised his stock among NBA front offices. He can still score; GMs know that, even if he did not score much last season. And now he’s a bit smarter, a bit more mature, a bit less likely to seek trouble.

Wafer lucked into the perfect learning situation, and he took advantage of it. And even though I vowed never to like the guy, I will now root for him wherever he goes. He converted me.

Wafer.

After straining his right calf against the Golden St. Warriors, Von Wafer will miss a week or so. (Boston Herald)

“I don’t really know about Von,” Rivers said. “He’ll be out two or three games it looks like, (Glen Davis, knee) the same as before, and Shaq is probably not going to be back by Wednesday because his foot is bothering him again.

“Delonte, we’re hoping Wednesday. But when they say they’re healthy, I’m playing them. We have to get them on the floor. And once our guys are healthy, we’re playing (the starters) lower minutes.”

After the addition of Carlos Arroyo, Wafer’s place in Doc Rivers’ rotation can’t be very secure. At the very least, Rivers will have some tough choices to make when Delonte West returns. Does he play West at point guard alongside Wafer, or does he play Arroyo at point guard alongside West? Or does Rivers just send Sasha Pavlovic on the court by himself to play one-on-five?

Boston’s bench has become a crowded place. While that provides Rivers with options galore, it also leaves Wafer in a tenuous spot. For the Celtics, that’s not a bad thing; though Wafer has made strides on both ends of the court, he hasn’t been great this season. Additional depth is good, especially when so many players are falling victim to injuries.

In Wafer and West’s absence, Jeff Green could actually play a little more shooting guard. Though Green did not play shooting guard once this season in Oklahoma City (at least according to 82games.com), he spent time defending the position earlier this week. Not that such versatility comes without drawbacks. (Boston Herald)

“Jeff, we’re playing him far more at the 3 than he’s played, so he’s chasing guys off screens, and that’s new for him,” said Rivers. “We had him and Paul in together, and defensively he hasn’t chased 2s maybe ever. It’s just going to take time.”

Finally, the Celtics are done signing players. But their building process is not yet done.

With Marquis Daniels injured, Von Wafer stands alone as the Celtics’ only backup small forward. There’s just one problem: Doc Rivers doesn’t think Wafer can handle the role.

“He’s not big enough to be that guy,” Rivers told WEEI, later adding, “When Paul goes out, somebody’s going to have to guard LeBron. We don’t have that someone.”

Looking at Wafer’s stats — not to mention his thin, 6’5″ frame — Rivers has a point. Wafer hasn’t played much small forward this year, but did play a fair amount in ’08-’09 with the Houston Rockets. During his time at small forward that season, according to 82games.com, Wafer surrendered a PER of 19.5 to his opponents (well above the league average PER, 15). Compare that number to 14.9, the PER Wafer’s opponents registered when he played shooting guard that season. Wafer clearly had more trouble defending larger players.

There is another side to the story, though. Wafer actually played much better offensively when playing small forward. His own PER rose from 14.3 as a shooting guard to 19.7 as a small forward, meaning Wafer’s Net 48-Minute Production improved when he moved to small forward. Of the three most common lineups featuring Wafer at small forward that season for the 53-29 Rockets, each outscored its opponent.

Of course, Wafer’s role is different now. He’s unlikely to provide scoring binges like he did for Houston that year, because the shot attempts just won’t be there. In Boston, Wafer has to carve his niche with strong defense and solid, rather than spectacular, offensive play. Wafer’s new role in Boston could make his inability to defend small forwards more troublesome, as his offense is less likely to make up for his defensive deficiencies.

Given that he doesn’t feel Wafer can handle the league’s larger small forwards, Rivers has already begun to make defensive adjustments.

“We’re going to have to do something,” Rivers told WEEI. “We worked on it today and I’ve been here seven years and you’ve seen me trap probably 10 times. We’re going to have to start trapping, which weakens your defense. I hate it. But we worked on it today and we’re going to work on it every day until we get another [small forward].”

One effect of Marquis Daniels’ injury is already rearing its ugly head. The Celtics are changing their entire defensive strategy because they don’t think Wafer can adequately fill Daniels’ role.

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

Brotherly love. The Celtics watch as Marquis Daniels lays motionless on the floor.

Paul Flannery, WEEI – “He was released from New England Baptist Hospital on Monday and has full use of his motor skills. ‘He’s in good spirits, all things considered,’ Daniels’ agent Mark Bartelstein said. ‘He’s frustrated because he wants to play, but he’s a lot better off than he was on Sunday.’ There are so many variables when it comes to Daniels, who suffered a bruised spinal cord on a play that featured limited contact with Orlando’s Gilbert Arenas. After the game, the Celtics revealed that Daniels has had spine issues in the past and it was those issues that caused him to leave Game 5 of last year’s conference finals. There’s no current timetable for Daniels’ return — he could be out a month or two, or he could be out longer. As team doctor Brian McKeon noted Sunday, the treatment for spinal issues primarily involves, ‘observation and time.’ ‘It’s going to be a process,’ Bartelstein said. ‘We’re going to gather as much medical information as we can.’ While Daniels recuperates, the Celtics are in a bit of a bind. Their depth at the wing was already thin, and now it’s basically down to Von Wafer.”

Kirk Minihane, WEEI – “Last summer, I asked an NBA coach who — among other coaches and players– was the most disliked player in the NBA. ‘Kevin Garnett,’ he said without blinking. Who, I wondered, was second on the list? ‘Everyone else is tied,’ he deadpanned before walking away. … Here’s the thing, though: Garnett — to his eternal credit — has no interest trying to rehabilitate his public image. None. … You know why? Because he doesn’t care what you think, what I think, what players and coaches from other teams think and he sure doesn’t care what Spike Lee — who has directed exactly one passable movie since Garnett entered the NBA in 1996 — thinks. … Is Kevin Garnett a punk? No. He doesn’t try to seriously injure anyone, he doesn’t bitch if the Celtics win but he scored six points, he plays hurt, he cares only about winning, all that stuff. Is Kevin Garnett a dirty player? I think that’s getting closer to the truth. One thing is for sure: He doesn’t care either way. And neither should you.”

Mike Bresnahan, LA Times – “Before the Lakers even think about their rematch with Boston, they have a two-hour surprise awaiting them. They’ll watch edited video of their fruitless loss to the Celtics just a handful of days ago, a painful, yet, they hope, productive investment toward their game Thursday in Boston. There wasn’t much to like about Jan. 30 from their perspective. Kobe Bryant gave them an ‘F’ for team defense. Ron Artest got kneed in the thigh and then was run ragged by Paul Pierce (32 points). The Celtics shot 60.3 percent, their third-best accuracy ever against the Lakers.”

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald – “In his attempt to become an NBA point guard, Bradley is starting from scratch. He played only one year at Texas, not exactly a stretch of time that prepares a point guard for NBA conditions. In that respect, the D-League is slightly better for Bradley’s education. ‘I’m definitely, definitely starting from scratch, but the D-League for me is a step above college, and then going to the NBA is the next step,’ he said. ‘That’s how they have it set up and you can see why. In the D-League, I felt like I was in college again, and now the players are better up here (in the NBA). But when my name is called I’m going to come in with that swagger to my game.’ … ‘A lot of (the D-League) was getting playing time, getting the rust off my game, and being put into situations that I can be fit in,’ he said. ‘This point guard situation is important — bringing the ball up the court, being pressured. I have to take chances and try different things out. I could do that, and work on my game. It makes me feel more comfortable now being up here, because I’ve been working on those things.’”

Greg Payne, ESPN Boston – “Kendrick Perkins played a season-high 35 minutes, 25 seconds in the Celtics’ 94-89 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday night — little more than 24 hours after logging nearly 33 minutes in an ultra-physical victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday afternoon. Don’t expect to hear any complaints out of Perkins though, who’s publicly lobbied for more minutes ever since he made his season debut two weeks ago after rehabbing the torn ACL he suffered in his right knee in Game 6 of last year’s NBA Finals. After playing a then season-high 28 minutes in the Celtics’ 109-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers last Sunday, Perkins said in a postgame sideline interview: ‘I wanted to go 30 [minutes].’ … The Celtics’ continuous struggles on the second half of back-to-backs will be well chronicled after Monday’s loss, particularly after so many of Boston’s players put forth such sluggish play. Perkins, though — with such little support behind him — played above all of that chatter. On a night when possible fatigue and a lack of focus served as obvious culprits in Boston’s loss, it was Perkins who played as if neither should ever serve as a passable excuse for an uninspiring defeat.”

Julian Benbow, Boston Globe – “‘Everybody’s dealing with injuries on this team and we’re no different from it,’ said Kevin Garnett after the Celtics went with just 10 healthy players in a loss to Charlotte Monday night. ‘Quis is probably a lot more hard on us right now, just because it was so sudden . . . We’re just hoping he’s all right, and everybody has to carry a load . . . and go forward.’ Coach Doc Rivers has used eight starting lineups this season, but he said the injuries haven’t brought him to a boiling point yet. ‘I never think that way, I never have,’ Rivers said. ‘You’ve got to keep rolling. I really try not to live in the past or in the what-ifs. I tell our guys that all the time. We’ve just got to keep playing and finding a way.’”

Gary Washburn, Boston Globe – “Boston entered Monday night’s loss to Charlotte Bobcats with injuries to swingman Marquis Daniels, centers Shaquille O’Neal, Jermaine O’Neal and Semih Erden and reserve guard Delonte West. With the returns of Jermaine O’Neal and Daniels uncertain, there has been speculation about the Celtics adding another player. [Kevin] McHale said he believes the Celtics have enough depth. ‘I’m a big Marquis Daniels fan, I like him, it was tough injury and scary seeing that whole thing but I think the Celtics what they have going for them is a ton of depth,’ he said. ‘All of a sudden Delonte West is going to come back and I really like West’s game. He plays with other great players so well. With the Celtics as they lose one guy they gain another guy. And I don’t think they have to make a big trade.’”

A. Sherrod Blakely, CSNNE – “Ray Allen sees the problem being much broader than simply placing the blame on the scheduling gods. He sees a Celtics team that, at times, relies more on its name than its game to be successful. ‘In our locker room, we always have to remember that we’re not superior to any team because we’re the Celtics or because we think we’re good or we have All-Stars on our team or whatever the case may be,’ Allen said. ‘What makes us better is because . . . we’ve proven what we have done. Anything going forward, we have to prove that.’”

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