An NBA source said ex-Celtics forward Antoine Walker is in his best shape in years, as he hopes to return to the NBA after being cut by the Grizzlies last season without playing a game. The source also said veteran forward Tim Thomas, who will be paid $6.4 million next season, has told people close to him that he'd like to be moved to the Celtics. The 6-foot-10-inch, 240-pounder averaged 8.5 points and 3.1 rebounds and shot 41.3 percent from 3-point range with the Clippers, Knicks, and Bulls in 64 games last season. Thomas played with Allen in Milwaukee.
So, now on top of the trade rumors, we also have a couple of rumors about who wants to come to Boston. Antoine Walker is a well known commodity to the Celtics. He has been a Celtic twice already and I am sure he would love to be one again. Walker is 6'9" tall and is 32 years old. After being instrumental in helping Miami win a championship in 2006, Antoine's career went down hill. The following year in Miami, there were suspensions for too much body fat and being out of shape. He was traded Minnesota following that second season in Miami and played in just 46 games, averaging just 19 minutes per game. From there he went to Memphis and was waived by the Grizzlies without ever playing for them. He didn't play at all last season. Now, reports are that he is in the best shape in years, which isn't saying much. As was true his entire Celtics career, the reaction is mixed about a possible third Antoine Walker era. Many feel that if he is indeed in good shape that we could risk a minimum contract for him and bring him off the bench. Others want no part of him. I tend to lean toward the "been there, done that" crowd and just don't think he brings what we need. He never was known for his defense and I just don't see the need for a volume shooter with questionable shot selection.
The second rumor concerns Tim Thomas who is 6'10" and is 32 years old. Last season he played for the Clippers, Knicks and finally the Bulls. Between the 3 teams, he played in 64 games and averaged 8.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 19.2 mpg. In the playoffs with Chicago he averaged 7 points and 3 rebounds in 15 minutes per game. Thomas is owed 6,466,600 by the Bulls for next season. There would have to be a trade or the Bulls would need to buy him out in order for him to play for the Celtics since he isn't a free agent. Thomas is not known for a strong work ethic and has underachieved most of his career. Of course, there is nothing like playing with Kevin Garnett to motivate a player. If he gets bought out, I wouldn't mind bringing him in on a minimum contract but wouldn't want to touch the MLE for him.
This same article also mentioned that the Knicks are trying to work out a sign and trade for David Lee. I really like this kid. He gives maximum effort and is a nice player. He is scheduled to make 2,682,049 in the final year of his contract. He will be looking for a raise in his next contract and would deserve it. I wouldn't mind trading Scal and Tony's expiring contracts in a sign and trade for Lee. He'd be a nice player off the bench.
Other rumors have Danny interested in both Antonio McDyess and Grant Hill. I don't know if Hill can stay healthy two years in a row, but if he could, he would be a nice fit. I like McDyess and if we sign him at least we wouldn't have to hear that annoying Detroit announcer calling out his name again.
The Magic came so close to winning game 2. If only Lee had converted that alley oop. It was a great look. They need to concentrate on taking all 3 at home now. They come back to LA up 3-2 and then steal game 6 and put it away. Go Magic!!!
Over the past couple of weeks I have read a LOT of Ray Allen trade threads on message board and then there was that rumor about Ray and Rondo going to Phoenix. I don't like the idea of trading Ray. I believe that he deserves the chance to play for another title with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
This is a series of 4 videos titled "The Game" and was featured on NBA TV. It gives us some insight into Ray Allen, the person and the player. He is a great player and an even better person. He is a veteran leader and if nothing else, he is an example to the young players as to how to prepare for games and how to carry themselves. Ray Allen is a class act and still has a lot of basketball left. I would love to see him back in green next season. These videos may remind you of why we got Ray and why we should keep him on the team.
By now, every Celtics fan has heard about KG's guarantee of the next two championships. This could be a good thing or it could be a bad thing.
Now, there have been other guarantees that I can think of off the top of my head. After the Lakers won the championship in 1987, Pat Riley came out and guaranteed that the Lakers would repeat. No team had repeated in 18 seasons. Talk about putting pressure on your team. But, the Lakers rose to the guarantee and did indeed repeat as champions in 1988.
A little bit more recently, Mo Williams guaranteed that the Cavs would beat the Magic and go on to the Finals. Unlike Riley's Lakers, Mo's Cavs didn't make good on his guarantee.
Now, these two guarantees are a little different from KG's. Both Pat Riley and Mo Williams announced their guarantees at a news conference to all the press and fans. Apparently, KG's guarantee was to Wyc who made the guarantee public. Now, a guarantee is good motivation, but it is only as good as the personnel to back it up. Riley's Lakers were able to back up his guarantee, but Mo's Cavs didn't have what it took to pull it off.
As for KG's guarantees, I believe that the Celtics with KG, Pierce and Ray Allen still have enough in the tank to win 2 more championships. But, there are a lot of things that could happen between now and next June that make a guarantee tenuous at best. The Celtics were a KG knee injury away from a championship this past season. In order for the Celtics to win, they will need some luck in order to stay healthy. They will also need Danny to do a better job of building the bench this season then he did last season. With a little luck and a decent bench, the Celtics should win it all next season. What KG's guarantee does is to give the team an extra measure of motivation.
With the news coming out that KG is the most fired up that Wyc has seen him and that he is guaranteeing a championship next season, it has me very excited for next season to begin. It should be a fun season if KG doesn't spontaneously combust before we get there.
With the first big rumor of the offseason involving Ray and Rondo going to Phoenix, there has been a lot of discussion on both sides of this issue. Personally, I don't want to break up a very effective starting lineup. I think Ray deserves a shot at another ring with the Celtics. He has a lot of basketball left in him and keeps himself in excellent shape. I know all the arguments about the expiring contract and sll. I just think a classy player like Ray deserves better. As for trading Rondo, he took a huge leap in the playoffs this season and is just going to get better. He is a jump shot away from being a top 5 PG. If I were Danny, I'd be looking to add to the bench and get rid of the players who haven't been producing, not the ones who have. I don't like the idea of messing with the chemistry on that starting unit.
After being subjected to the LeBron and Kobe commercials throughout the playoffs, they finally got a Dwight Howard commercial and it is great! I love it! Now they just need a Dwight puppet to move in with Kobe now that LeBron moved out without giving notice.
Speaking of the puppets commercials, this is priceless!
Well, the Magic let me down in game 1. They couldn't hit the broad side of a barn tonight and it wasn't because the Lakers were playing such stellar defense because they got to the hoop and got open shots but just couldn't make them. Watching the Finals without the Celtics, knowing that a healthy Celtics' team could have beaten either of these teams is pretty painful. The Magic just have to win one game in LA and then hold serve at home. Losing game 1 doesn't mean anything. The Magic lost the first game against the Sixers and pulled out that series. Let's hope they are just slow starters and will come on strong in game 2.
The WNBA season starts tomorrow. My favorite player, Lisa Leslie will be playing her final season this year. She's like the Ray Allen of the WNBA A very classy lady both on and off the court.
Here are a few upcoming dates for Celtics fans to keep an eye on.
June 4 Game 1 of the NBA Finals June 6 WNBA regular season begins June 7 Game 2 of the NBA Finals June 9 Game 3 of the NBA Finals June 11 Game 4 of the NBA Finals June 15 Deadline for early entrants to withdraw from the draft (5:00PM ET) June 25 NBA Draft at Madison Square Garden June 30 Teams must tend qualifying offers to their restricted free agents June 30 Eddie House has until this date to decide on his player option for next season July 1 Teams are allows to talk to free agents July 8 Teams allowsd to sign free agents July 8 Latest date that salary cap and luxury tax numbers for next year will be released. July 6-10 Orlando Summer League July 10-19 Vegas Summer League October 6 Europe Live 1st game between the Bulls and Jazz
This gives you a few things to look forward to as we wait for next season to begin.
Who would have thought that one innocent little sentence on Twitter would make such a fuss all over the internet. Within minutes of its posting, virtually every Celtics Blog on the internet was a-twitter with glad tidings. What was this little message? Here is the tweet from Wyc via Twitter:
Wyc: "I saw KG this morning, he's feeling great and he's the most fired up he's ever been. For KG, that's saying something." via Celtics Twitter
Think back to KG's first season here and his second season before he got hurt. Think of him banging his head on the basket support, letting loose with a primal scream, getting into a cobra position ready to strike on defense, or beating his chest all the while growling at and backing down opponents.
Now, picture KG even more fired up. That is a very scary picture! If this doesn't get Celtics fans fired up for next season, I don't know what will. Now, this is assuming that Wyc is telling the truth and not putting out Bellichickian tweets.
I can't wait for next season. I can picture KG, Paul and Ray even more fired up than they were their first season together. They have had a taste of what a championship feels like and now they know the feeling of coming up short. They want to get back on top and will be very focused on doing so. Add to this very intense threesome an improved Rondo and Perk and I can't help be be excited!!
In what seems like a surprise, the Celtics announced that Tony Allen has had ankle surgery. They hadn't mentioned his being injured before that I know of. Pretty soon, he will have more surgeries than minutes played. From Green Street:
The Boston Celtics announced today that guard Tony Allen underwent successful arthroscopic right ankle surgery and posterior tibial tendon repair today at the New England Baptist Hospital. Surgery was performed by Team Physician Dr. Brian McKeon and assisted by Dr. Mark Slovenkai and Jason Rand, PAC. Full recovery is expected with return by training camp this fall.
Phoenix Suns Fanster is reporting a rumor that was discussed by Gambo and Ash of Sports ratio 620 KTAR. According to the rumor, Phoenix would give up Amare Stoudamire, Leandro Barbosa and the 14th overall pick in the NBA Draft to Boston in exchange for guards Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo. According to Mark Asher, this is more than just a rumor and one of the teams would agree to the deal right now. He didn’t say which one.
I don't like the thought of breaking up our starting 5. Ray Allen still has a lot of basketball in him. Rajon Rondo is on the verge of becoming a top 5 point guard in the NBA. If it wasn't for KG's injury, the Celtics would almost certainly be back in the Finals. Is it wise to break up a starting 5 that is one year removed from a championship and very capable of winning another?
But there are things that may influence Danny to make a move. Rondo is up for an extension and who knows what kind of money he is going to ask. I don't see Danny giving him up over money, but you never know. On the other hand, do the Celtics maybe think Marbury is capable of being their starting PG?
Another reason I don't really like the trade is that Ray Allen has been the definition of class his entire career. He had a very good season and played very well in the first round vs the Bulls including a 51 point explosion. But, he struggled against he Magic. Doc revealed after the series was over that he had a pulled hamstring which would have explained his shooting woes. I think Ray deserves another shot at winning the championship as part of the Celtics.
But, you never know with Danny. Amare is a very good young player who could play both the 4 and 5. Barbosa is an exciting young player also. Danny may have his eye on someone with that 14th pick. Danny has proved that no one is safe when it comes to "Let's make a deal."
There is also a rumor that would send Stoudamire to Washington in exchange for Antawn Jamison, Mike James (who has an expiring contract), and the 5th overall pick in the Draft. Ray's contract is also expiring. Could the Suns be shopping for expiring contracts so they can get in on the 2010 free agent extravaganza? If so, it could be the Suns initiating these trade talks with an eye toward cap room in the summer of 2010. This makes more sense than Danny shopping Ray and Rondo.
With rumors, you never know what is true and what is just smoke. Who would have thought that KG would end up a Celtic after all that went on leading up to that trade? As we remember that trade, who knows what this offseason will hold? The rumors have started and remember that where there is smoke, sometimes there is fire.
Last year when the Finals came around, the ESPN "experts" all made their picks for the team that they thought would emerge victoriously. Of the 10 picks last year, 9 picked the Lakers and only 1, Tim Legler, picked the Celtics.
Now, one year later, the Celtics are out of the playoffs and the Lakers are taking on the Magic. Once again, the ESPN "experts" have made their picks for the team that they feel will come out on top in the Finals. Looking at their picks, it looks eerily familiar.
Nine of the ten experts once again pick the Lakers. Even Tim Legler who stood alone last season has gone over to the dark side and picked the Lakers. Only Henry Abbott of TrueHoop has the courage to go against the flow and pick the Magic. Here is what Henry had to say about his pick:
I see these NBA Finals as two evenly-matched titans. Imagine my surprise to learn that I am the only ESPN.com "expert" to pick the Magic. I'm proud of the pick, though, for the simple reason that the Magic have been playing the best basketball I have seen this year. The Lakers were fantastically good in eliminating the Nuggets. But the Magic have some of the best defense in the NBA, a conundrum for opponents in whether to double Dwight Howard or stay with 3-point shooters, and most importantly: I can't remember a single playoff play at either end of the court when the Magic didn't play hard.
Being the underdog worked out pretty good for the Celtics last year and hopefully it will be just as lucky for the Magic this year.
Now that the Celtics are out of the playoffs and the Finals are here, Celtics fans need to align their allegiances with the Orlando Magic. Red's Army has already jumped on board and are now going by Pat's Army. There are many good reasons to join us and root for the Magic.
First and foremost, they are playing the Lakers. Any Celtics fan old enough to remember Larry Bird is old enough to hate the Lakers. As a general principle, my two favorite teams are the Celtics and any team playing the Lakers. Every true Celtics fan hates the Lakers and never ever want them to win, period.
Second, Red's honor is at stake. Red Auerbach and Phil Jackson are tied at 9 championships each. Red won his championships with teams that he put together from the ground up and he did it all with the Celtics. Phil Jackson, on the other hand, shopped for players. He took on teams that had superstar players and ran with them. And, he didn't stick around after said superstar player left the team. Red really didn't like Jackson and didn't miss a chance to tweak him when he got a chance. Red had this to say as he attended his 50th opening night game in 2005.
"Phil obviously is a good coach, you don't win that many games without being a good coach. One thing, though. He's been very fortunate. He picks his spots. That's all I can say. Larry Brown doesn't pick his spots. He's a great coach," Auerbach said.
Third, the Celtics' legacy is at stake. The Celtics have won 17 championships. The Lakers have won 14 championships. The Celtics have always been able to say that no franchise has won as many titles as they have. While this is still true, the Lakers are coming uncomfortably close, being just 3 behind now. We don't want them to get any closer.
Fourth, we can point to Tony Battie on the Magic. Tony was a good Celtic for 5 1/2 years. He was always classy and the Celtics owe a lot to him in that it was Tony Battie that rushed Paul Pierce to the hospital when he was stabbed back in 2000. And Tony's quick action in getting him to the hospital probably saved his life. So, of all the players in the Finals, Tony is the one guy I'd love to see get a ring.
Fifth, Pat Williams is a very good guy. I met him when he spoke at a teacher's convention I attended in Orlando and he really is a nice guy. He and his wife have 19 children, including 14 adopted from four nations, ranging in age from 18 to 32. For one year, 16 of his children were all teenagers at the same time. Now that probably qualifies him for sainthood, but, as a second choice, an NBA championship would be nice. Here is an article from 1993, when they had only 16 children, that tells how he and his wife dealt with raising that many children. Now that is amazing (que Kanye West song).
Finally, did I mention that they are playing the Lakers? I hate the Lakers. I have hated the Lakers for 40 years. I hated them then and I hate them now. I hate Kobe Bryant. I hate Pau Gasol. I hate Lamar Odom. I hate Sasha Vujacic (especially whiny little Sasha). I hate Phil Jackson. All the "experts" is picking the Lakers this year just like they all picked them the last year. The Lakers are an arrogant team full of arrogant players. Maybe it comes from having all those "stars" sitting courtside and cheering them on. I'd love nothing better than to see the Magic knock that arrogance right out of them, just as they did to the Cavs.
Let's go Magic! Celtics Nation is behind you! Beat LA!!!!
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