CELTICS GREEN BLOG by and for boston celtics fans: Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 6/8

A lot of talk today about yesterday's workouts with Brewer and Thornton. The Herald details Danny's travel to see prospects all over the country. He traveled to Houston to see Sean Williams, LA to see Yi, and is back in Boston for these workouts. Then will travel to DC to see Jeff Green next week. Brewer impressed but Doc is being cautious.

“He has terrific instincts. It’s amazing,” Rivers said. “You can tell he’s been coached (at Florida by Billy Donovan). Defensively, I bet he blocked six, eight, nine shots today, some on his own man, some on the weak side. He made some nice passes. He can do about everything.”

As for plugging Brewer into a defensive role with the Celts, Rivers said, “You’ve got to be careful there, too. They’re stopping college players, and guys get caught up into that. They’ve been fooled many times with that.”

The Globe also reports on the workouts with Brewer and Thornton. Danny also discusses the workout that they saw with Yi whose agent has him doing drills against a chair and not against other players. Ainge is confident he saw enough of Yi in games to make a decision on him.

The MetroWest Daily also discusses the workouts and tells us that Danny doesn't put all that much stock in them since he has evaluated them several times in game situations already.

While many who closely follow the draft hang on every rumor of a good workout here or a disappointing measurement there, Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said yesterday he already has a list of six potential picks for the No. 5 spot in his mind - and that list is not likely to change between now and June 28.

``I am not saying that it doesn't happen,'' Ainge said, ``but I think it's rare that somebody really, really blows you away in a workout and it's rare that somebody really disappoints you. So I don't put a lot of stock into them.

``I go back to the Delonte West and Tony Allen draft (of 2004),'' he continued. ``They didn't play particularly well in Chicago (the pre-draft camp) that year and I was happy. I was like: `Good - maybe they will be there when we want to draft them.' I put a lot more stock in what they've been in their careers.''

Ainge said that the workouts - which began in Waltham yesterday with Florida guard Corey Brewer and Florida State forward Al Thornton as the main attractions - are more for the coaches to get a sense of each player.

Doc was impressed with what he saw from Yi in his workout with a chair, but has reservations.

``That is one where I tell Danny that I am impressed with all his athletic skills, and that he can shoot,'' the coach said, ``but then I turn to him and ask: `But can he play with nine other guys on the floor?'°'’

AZCentral reports that there is a 50-50 chance that they will try to deal Sean Marion.

But soon, the sticky decisions begin, most notably how to handle Shawn Marion. If they can trade him and get great value in return (ie: a high draft pick), the Suns will solve the long-term financial puzzle in one maneuver. One team source said it's about 50-50 that Marion gets jettisoned, but if he stays, something or someone has to give.

If I am Danny Ainge, this is the guy I would try to bring in with that 5th pick. I know that there are a lot of financial dealings that have to work out here since the Suns are trying to dump salary and the Celtics are nearing the luxury tax threshold, but it would be worth trying to work out. They also have this little dig in the article:

Unlike many former star players who have failed in talent evaluation - Kevin McHale, Elgin Baylor, Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, etc. - Kerr always has been a back-of-the-room, cerebral type, the lesser player who had to get by on his acumen

OUCH! It seems as though the former Celtics have become the laughing stock of the league as GM's. I don't think Danny has done that badly as far as evaluating talent. His trades and free agents leave much to be desired, but he has had very good drafts and some of those trades he has admitted were purely financial. Sometimes you make financial dealings to set you up for something bigger later. I think the judge is still out on Danny until we see the complete result of his dealings and picks.

Celtics Blog tries to determine if Danny is a good judge of talent. I have had a hard time trying to balance Danny's drafting with his trading. He seems to be such a good judge of talent in the draft, but then his trades and free agent signings seem to be so bad.

On CelticsStuff Live, JB makes a case for Koponen with the 32nd pick. I have to be honest, JB has won me over and I think this guy would be a good pick. In the meantime, Hoopsworld tells us how Brewer and Thornton could help the Celtics.

20 days until the draft. Danny is going ahead as if he is going to make the pick, working out players. I have to believe that he is looking at a few players with the thought of possibly moving down as well as players he would take with the 5th pick. But there are trades that would improve the Celtics more than the draft pick would. A trade with Atlanta for the 11th pick and Joe Johnson and a trade with Phoenix for Marion are two that readily come to mind. I was glad to see that Danny is bringing in Noah for a workout. I really think he could come in and help the team. He has that drive that players need to succeed along with skills that this team needs. He could have been the top pick last year and only his willingness to fit into the role that his team needed this past season has lowered his value. If we keep the pick, I still say he would make a good choice.

[Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!]

Post a Comment