It is now 45 days until training camp... and I am counting the days. I can't wait until the season starts again. I am tired of watching tapes of last season's wins (I don't save the losses). The news comes in sporadically about what is going on with the Celtics. We know that Powe is working out like a mad man. Perk has been in Houston working on his conditioning and game and is ready to get back to playing full force. Al is rehabbing quicker than expected now that they finally found the problem. Pierce is rehabbing. Wally is feeling good. Tony is waiting on pins and needles to find out how his legal problems will end as his trial was postponed indefinitely. West has been doing Basketball Without Borders. Scal has been doing the Seeds of Peace camp. Rondo has been impressing people wherever he goes. Ratliff is missing in action. We get news in bits and pieces but nothing of substance.

The Celtics sit right now with 16 players on their roster who should be there come training camp. We can't count Brian Grant or Kandi, who are still listed but won't be with the team. On a team that was painfully young last year, Danny managed to add 4 more rookies. Most of us are anxiously checking the news daily to see if Danny has pulled the plug on a trade yet. There is a possibility that a smaller trade will go down to bring in a player who can help, but may not be the star that Danny has been alluding to going after. I don't see any stars still available at this point but you never know with Danny. If not, one player will be cut before the season.

The one position where we are weak is center. We have Perk, who I expect to have a monster year. But behind Perk, everything gets a bit muddy. We have Ratliff, who may or may not be healthy enough to play the whole season. His past doesn't bode well for him being available for 82 games. We have Dwayne Jones, who for whatever reason, in spite of showing some good things when he plays, didn't even get playing time in summer league. Al can fill in at center when they play small ball, but hopefully we won't be playing small ball all that much. And finally, we have Pittsnogle who is allergic to playing under the basket. He is a great shooter, but we have wings who are great shooters. We need centers who play under the basket, not out on the arc, even though Danny and Doc seem enamored by that type of player.

45 Days till training camp... and all's quiet on the Celtic's front. But I expect Danny to pull off one more move before it starts. Maybe not the blockbuster trade for a star but maybe a small trade to bring in a reliable back up center.