LOY's PLACE a celtics green blog: Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 6/17

Lots of talk today about Kobe trade scenarios. Chad Ford throws a couple out. Chris Sheridan discusses a few more. SportsinBoston throws out some too. For the record, I DO NOT WANT KOBE IN BOSTON! This post from BillinBoston, who knows the NBA about as good as anyone, says it all.

Kobe Bryant may be the single biggest team cancer in the NBA....he is mr. negative intangible....

This team will add an amazing talent if there is any steam to this rumor, and he will promptly tear the fabric of this team apart...

Kobe MUST, MUST, MUST subjugate and control everyone around him. Any challenge to his authority will be met with a poisonous response...

Bryant will stunt the growth of every player on this team...they may win more games because he is singularly better than Pierce, but he will not allow Al Jefferson to grow into a dominant force to rival his own and won't relinquish control over the team until he is old enough to "agree" to let another take his place in the hierarchy...

Kobe Bryant represents everything that is terrible and wrong about basketball in America...he is the ultimate "me first, second, third.." player who can pretent to play team basketball until it matters most...

He has no faith in teammates and when push comes to shove in the playoffs he DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO LEAD....he is a silent venom that all fall in love with for what he COULD be, but never will be...

Shaq masked Kobe's character flaws because he was enough of a talent and strong enough of an ego to battle Kobe on his level...Jefferson cannot do this and WILL NOT develop into the player he can become because Bryant will not let him...

Kobe is pure concentrated evil hiding behind a smile and a well-trained public persona...this man is lying to you...

Since Kobe has a no trade clause in his contract and can veto any trade he doesn't like, no matter what Boston can offer, I don't see him coming here. Kobe has made it known that he wants to go to NY or Chicago. (Why any player would actually want to go to the Knicks is beyond me, though). The only way I see Boston involved is as a third team to facilitate Kobe going to NY or Chicago.

I hate to lead off with Kobe, but that had to be said. The Herald had a great article this morning on Perk. Anyone who has read any of my posts or articles knows that I love Perk. He embodies all that Celtics Pride is about. I have also said all along that Perk is going to break out and become one of the top centers in the NBA. I expected it last season, but then the plantar fasciitis derailed his development. I fully expect a break out season from him this season. Here are some very encouraging bits from this article:

“We were the second-worst team in the league, so really besides Paul (Pierce), in my opinion every position is open.”
Even Al Jefferson [stats]’s?
“Even Al’s,” said Perkins of his closest friend on the team. “Every position is open to me except Paul. Despite what (Rajon) Rondo did this year and what Al did this year and what Gerald (Green) did, we still didn’t win games. And that’s what we’re here for. Despite all the numbers, we still didn’t win no games. So if you had 30 points and we lose and you had 12 defensive breakdowns, what good is it? We never really had a chance to have a healthy team and just play. We could never get on a roll. But guys have to play better.”

Perkins has no problem putting his work ethic where his mouth is. You can find him at Healthpoint Monday through Friday and sometimes Saturday. Even, on occasion, in the middle of the night.

Even while adding lean muscle, Perkins has dropped from 288 pounds to 278.

“I’m trying to get down to between 260 and 265 by the start of the season,” he said. “I’ll be there. It’s a challenge because I don’t really want to lose my size but I want to lose weight. I just want to be stronger.”

But with Celtics Nation coming to grips with the fact that Greg Oden is not walking through its door, the pressure will be on Perkins to man the middle. He’s preparing for the task most every day. And some nights.

You just have to love this kid. This is really his first chance to work with Clifford Ray as well since last off season he was dealing with shoulder surgery and during the season he was battling plantar fasciitis. His conditioning should put him in good shape to have a healthy season and I am expecting big things from him.

The Herald also discusses the 8 players at the top of Danny's draft board. So far Danny is saying he doesn't have a favorite. The MetroWest Daily seems to put Jeff Green in front. Although I like Noah, Green would be a good fit for us also.

Hoopsworld takes a look at the free agent classes for the next 3 years. The Chicago Tribune lets us know that Zach Randolph can be had but lists his baggage that has to come along with him. Just say no, Danny.

The Commercial Appeal and several other reports say that Chris Wallace as the Grizzlies' new GM is pretty much a done deal. I question how it will work out if Wallace joins the Grizzlies before the draft since he knows everything Danny has on the board for the Celtics and the Grizzlies pick 4th. Will they grab the guy Danny wants since Wallace knows that Danny is a good talent evaluator? Seems like a conflict of interest to me. He shouldn't be able to help the Grizz with their draft because of it.

11 days until the draft. Yi's name seems to have faded a bit on the Celtics radar. Noah is now included in the top 8. The Celtics appear to be high on Green now since he was the last workout. The mock drafts still have us taking 6 different players. And the trade rumors still swirl. I can't wait until all this is over and we know who Danny picks or trades for. This is all driving me crazy.

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