I must admit that it is rather intimidating trying to follow FlCeltsFan but I have tried to ferret out some information on some of the more unknown players with the Celtics in Orlando. Just how good of a job she does became apparent in the number of hours on the internet I spent trying to add anything noteworthy.
I'm really amped about the possibility that Clifford Ray may have some young talent with which to work. In my best of all worlds, all three of the "furriner" big men would pan out. Sheed's contract would bring back Wright, Azabuike, and Morrow from GS; KG, Baby, and Wright get us through November; one of the hefties would "arrive" in December; and Perk and another youngen are worked in after the new year.
Hope you enjoy and it whets your appetite for Monday (C's vs OKC Thunder 5PM EDT on NBA TV).
Vyacheslav Kravstov C, 7-0, 270, Ukraine
Strengths: One of the best post prospects in Europe He has great physical potential, is a supreme athlete; with an excellent attitude Plays with courage and desire, and has surprising maturity for his age A true center. At 7-0 260 and with a big frame, has the size to play center in the NBA Has a great attitude, and shows a high level of desire Has the toughness and demeanor that you want in a post player He's got the face of a child but a man's body and plays with a physical nature His instincts for the game and ability to play at a high level is rapidly improving Very strong rebounding the ball Really has an imposing physique and should get stronger He can be involved and make plays without having the offense focus on him Foot speed and agility is excellent for a player his size An aggressive, fearless player, unafraid of contact Has solid touch around the basket using lefty hooks and jumpers Defensive minded. A solid defender and shot blocker in Europe but probably just average by NBA standards, but has the physical attributes to be a solid NBA defender in the future Does a solid job managing his fouls
Weaknesses: Still unskilled offensively He must expand his offensive game and complete his physical growth Scores a lot of his points on garbage baskets Still needs work on his post up game. Needs to improve the speed at which he thinks the game and reacts to situations offensively The European style of play has less posting up and isolating bigmen NBA readiness is a ways off. Compared to countryman Kyrylo Fesenko, he has less offensive ability but better defensive skills
Semih Erden
A bit more on the Semih front (from 2007 without edits): Outlook: As far as Im concerned, the only person who can prevent Semih from being drafted is Semih Erden. The potential is undeniable, though at this point it appears he's wasting a good amount of his talent. Lets hope hes conscious enough of that and can tap into his outstanding potential.
As far as his more current progress reports, there seems to still be lapses in focus and effort. However his less than overwhelming numbers seem to be partially due to the fact that his coach favors catch and shoot basketball and the team has five centers.
Mat Janning
From a Phoenix Suns’ blog (Janning will play for their summer league team in Ls Vegas): Matt Janning: The Northeastern combo guard is 6-5 and makes plays off the pick-and-roll with a good handle and has the most athletic hands this side of Jared Dudley. Note: His height is listed at 6’2” and even with BIG shoes he isn’t going over 6-4 in spite of the fact that he was listed by the Huskies as a G/F.
Matt was invited to a free agent mini-camp by the OKC Thunder and early on was listed on their Orlando roster. This excerpt from the UConn Men’s Notebook hints at the esteem/fear Matt inspired in college:
‘UConn closed its 59-57 first-round NIT victory over Northeastern with an 11-3 run and had to dodge a few bullets, mainly from guard Matt Janning.
Janning, who had 29 points in Northeastern's 69-60 loss at Gampel Pavilion two seasons ago, missed an open three-pointer from the left after Jerome Dyson gave UConn the lead with just under a minute to go. On the next possession, again with Northeastern trailing by two, Janning missed a contested runner.
With Kemba Walker failing for a second time to extend UConn's lead from the free throw line with 12.7 seconds left, Janning, chased by Dyson, could not get the ball on the final possession. Bataille Baptiste missed an open three-pointer at the buzzer.
"He can't touch the ball," coach Jim Calhoun said of Janning and the final possession. "Make someone else beat us."’
It’s always have to take with a grain of salt the accolades thrown at players from “directional” schools (I guess that goes double for “two-directional” colleges) in non-major conferences. Even so, the pre-tournament breakdown noted that “Janning is considered to be the best shooting guard” in the Colonial Athletic Association. Then again from the same Colonial Conference came #15 pick Larry Sanders from VCU.
Finally there are questions about Janning’s lateral mobility and defense in general. An assuring note comes from the Summer League Post Ups on the Celtics page of NBA.com (how neat is it to already have feedback from the first day of practice?): “One player who did stand out at the defensive end was Matt Janning, a lanky, 6-foot-4 guard out of Northeastern. He really seemed to have a fantastic feel on the defensive end tonight and was singled out by the coaching staff on a couple of occasions for his crisp rotations and anticipation on help defense. If he keeps that up, he'll surely leave an impression on these coaches when Boston's staff heads back north next week.”
Oliver Lafayette
May be in the early running for most often misspelled (and mispronounced) name along with Artsiom Parakhouski and Vyacheslav Kravstov. I’m not sure if is some kind of keyboard dyslexia but many articles have Lafayette spelled Layafette as well within the same piece, sometimes in the same paragraph. This will probably come as a huge relief to Semih Erden and Luke Harangody but is probably keeping Tommy Heinsohn up nights already. I can already see it as Oliver, Luke, Art, Semi, and VK.
From a basketball perspective Oliver is already well traveled having won NJCAA Div II player of the year at Brown Mackie, been named all-Conference USA as a Junior at Houston, and spent time with both the Erie Bayhawks and the Ft Wayne Mad Ants of the NBDL. How about a sbnation scouting report: Assets • Solid all-round at the point guard spot: a good passer & perimeter shooter and a capable defender who rebounds well and has a nose for steals. Can score when needed. Flaws • Needs to work on ball security. Lacks mass and will get posted up by bigger NBA guards. Career Potential • Backup point guard.
The Orlando Summer League is just a couple of days away now. I know it hasn't been that long since the season ended, but I am already anxious to see more basketball. The Celtics have announced their Summer League roster and there are some interesting names on it. Here's the list along with strengths and weaknesses from NBAdraft.net:
41 -- Jaycee Carroll -- G -- 6'2" -- 180 -- Utah State
Strengths: One of the top pure shooters in the college game ... Has the ability to spot up and shoot with tremendous range ... Also shows a solid ability to score off the bounce creating offense for himself against quality defenders ... Very competitive and clutch player ... An underrated athlete, can get up and dunk when the occasion arises, although he's never going to be confused with a physical freak ... His age is more of a negative than positive, but at 24 years of age, teams appreciate the fact that he's emotionally mature and more "NBA ready" than the average draftee ... Hard worker who keeps himself in tremendous physical condition (averaged 36 min per game as a junior) ... 88% free throw shooter is truly at an elite level ... Really hustles and fights for rebounds, leading the entire team at 6.3 rpg as a junior ...
Weaknesses: Size creates a big hurdle for him ... Strictly a 2-guard, he lacks any real point guard skills despite solid passing and ball handling ability ... At 6-2, it's hard to imagine him as more than a role shooter on the NBA level ... His size will obviously create match up problems at the 2-guard position as the average 6-6 SG on the NBA level will be able to exploit him shooting over him or posting him up ... He'll be 25 on draft day having gone on a 2 year Mormon Mission. While he's not seen as an athletic freak with physical attributes left to develop, his age suggests he has less upside left to tap ... At 175 pounds, he lacks a great NBA body, adding some strength would be a plus but it's unlikely he can add much at his age ...
50 -- Semih Erden -- C -- 7'0" -- 240 -- Turkey
Strengths: Arguably Turkeys top current prospect, Semih Erden offers a long and lean body frame with good athletic skills, long arms and good legs ... He can run the floor very well for a guy his size and has good agility and quickness ... Especially right handed, he also has penetration possibilities to go with decent hands and passing, as well as acceptable body balance ... Even enjoying a good rythm on his outside shot (3 pt range) with a high release, hell have to work hard to make his percentages rise, become confident in himself and gain confidence from teammates to shoot from the perimeter ... Considering his size, ballhandling and dribbling are surely acceptable, and his shotblocking as well due to a good leaping ability and solid timing.
Weaknesses: Most influenced by his often poor mentality are his defense and rebounding ... Although in both aspects his instincts and awareness arent bad, his lack of intensity and concentration dont allow him to be a steady intimidating force in the middle ... Does need some work on his timing when executing rotations and double teaming from help side ... It would also be interesting to see him bulk up and gain more arm strength ... Should also try to impose himself at the low post in half court offense, better developing his post moves.
27 -- Tony Gaffney -- F -- 6'8" -- 215 -- Massachusetts
Strengths: Mostly known in college for his tremendous defensive presence and effort level, Gaffney wasn’t asked to do much scoring for UMass, making the most of the touches he earned coming from his hustle and ability to run the floor. Tony brings an unbelievable enthusiasm and energy to the court every day. He's a very, very high energy athlete who plays above the rim. He is a great shot blocker and rebounder.
Weakness: Needs to get stronger and put on more muscle so that he can bang inside with bigger NBA players.
45 -- Rodney Green -- G -- 6'5" -- 190 -- La Salle
Strengths: A-10 senior guard with nice package of offensive tools ... Has shown a steady improvement in many areas during his college career becoming a strong defender and ball hawk as well as an efficient scorer ... Has logged time at the point guard position effectively in college but is a natural 2 … Has a nice release and the ability to create shots with fakes... Also has an excellent pull up off the dribble ... Good quickness and a solid athlete with the ability to finish at the rim ... Has a sturdy body with a stocky build which he uses well to create and withstand contact ... Has improved his ball protection (positive A/TO ratio as a junior) and passing ability throughout his career at LaSalle ... Does a good job of protecting the ball ... Comfortable creating offense for himself in ISO situations and forced to do so without the benefit of a quality PG ... His experience has given him excellent patience in the half court set ... An excellent rebounder from the guard position maintaining a 5 reb. per game average throughout his college career ... Big hands allow him to palm and control the ball with ease ... Moves well without the ball showing a solid understanding of using screens to get open ... Displays the ability to post up and is comfortable using his strength in the paint against opponents with his back to the basket ...
Weaknesses: A little on the small side at 6-5 (possibly 6-4) and without great length (wingspan) ... Should look to improve on his 3 point accuracy (35% as a junior) ... Free throw shooting dipped between his sophomore and junior years from 78% to 70%. Raising his FT % back up would benefit him as he's very adept at getting to the foul line ... A rhythm shooter, better at pulling up off the dribble than catching and shooting ... Seems more comfortable playing in the half court than making plays on the break ... Playing in the A-10 doesn’t do him any favors as the level of competition isn’t that of one of the BCS schools …
55 -- Luke Harangody -- F -- 6'8" -- 255 -- Notre Dame
Strengths: Luke is an elite scorer at the college level ... Averaging over 20 points a game in each of his last 3 years, he at times carries his team on his back in the toughest conference ... Crafty around hoop, he finds a way to score and finishes well around the rim, moves well in the paint and reads what he has given to him ... One of the hardest working players around, hes gritty, strong and persistent... absorbs contact well and gets to the line quite frequently ... Has the ability to face up to the basket and shoot, and occasionally can take the defender off the dribble from the elbow ... Positions himself well for rebounds, good nose for the ball on the offensive glass ... Sees plenty of double-teams, and his passing has improved as a result ... Has a great feel for the game, and regardless of how unorthodox his game is, he's one tough competitor who finds a way to get it done ... Measured well in the predraft camp combine with excellent length (standing reach for his height - 8'10") and strength numbers (combine leading 23 bench press reps at 185) ...
Weaknesses: Luke's biggest weakness and toughest obstacle to overcome will be his lack of athleticism, explosiveness and height, resulting in a lack of a true position at the next level ... Too slow to guard the 3, undersized at the 4 ... He has the ability to square up and shoot medium to deeper range jump shots, but can't hit them nearly consistently enough to call them a strength, and without improvement will struggle to make it in the NBA ... Takes a ton of shots, although thats just a product of him being on a team that lacks alternative scoring threats ... Defensively his lateral movement is a liability, and he will struggle to keep up against taller and quicker athletes at the next level ... 4s in the NBA will shoot over him down low, and 3s will blow by him on the perimeter ... A low release and not much spring in his knees on his shot, combined with his lack of height, will cause problems for him on the offensive side of the ball when being guarded by true power forwards in the NBA
46 -- Matt Janning -- G -- 6'4" -- 198 -- Northeastern
No profile available.
60 -- Vyacheslav Kravstov -- C -- 7'0" -- 270 -- Ukraine
Strengths: One of the best post prospects in Europe He has great physical potential, is a supreme athlete; with an excellent attitude Plays with courage and desire, and has surprising maturity for his age A true center. At 7-0 260 and with a big frame, has the size to play center in the NBA Has a great attitude, and shows a high level of desire Has the toughness and demeanor that you want in a post player He's got the face of a child but a man's body and plays with a physical nature His instincts for the game and ability to play at a high level is rapidly improving Very strong rebounding the ball Really has an imposing physique and should get stronger He can be involved and make plays without having the offense focus on him Foot speed and agility is excellent for a player his size An aggressive, fearless player, unafraid of contact Has solid touch around the basket using lefty hooks and jumpers Defensive minded. A solid defender and shot blocker in Europe but probably just average by NBA standards, but has the physical attributes to be a solid NBA defender in the future Does a solid job managing his fouls
Weaknesses: Still unskilled offensively He must expand his offensive game and complete his physical growth Scores a lot of his points on garbage baskets Still needs work on his post up game. Needs to improve the speed at which he thinks the game and reacts to situations offensively The European style of play has less posting up and isolating bigmen NBA readiness is a ways off. Compared to countryman Kyrylo Fesenko, he has less offensive ability but better defensive skills
40 -- Oliver Layafette -- G -- 6'2" -- 190 -- Houston
No profile available.
58 -- Art Parakhouski -- C -- 6'11" -- 260 -- Radford
Strengths: A center with good size and a solid frame … Still a fairly young player in terms of experience, he has a decent amount of upside … He is a high percentage scorer inside, he establishes good low post position and has the ability to finish using his strength and height … He has good weight on his frame and can create space and muscle his way inside ... Turns to both shoulders and uses his body to shield the ball from defenders ... Has good hands and makes tough catches in the paint and in traffic ... Shows a good touch around the basket, and can shoot a fairly soft turnaround jumper ... Uses his height and keeps the ball high on his release, making it difficult to challenge his shot … Has decent shooting mechanics when stepping out to midrange and shows the potential to turn into a solid pick and pop option ... A very good rebounder (he holds his boxouts and clears space on the defensive end, and he hangs around the rim on the offensive end and gets his hands on a lot of missed shots) ... Has a very good motor for a player his size, has the endurance to play long minutes and is also disciplined enough to avoid foul trouble ... He is a fairly good straight line runner, getting up and down the floor at a good pace … Effective shot blocker, he has decent timing and is able to alter and block a good number of shots inside ...
Weaknesses: Not a great athlete, he has limited leaping ability and struggles finishing inside against bigger players ... He is fairly stiff in his movements, he doesn't have a live body and is not very agile ... Does not finish with his left hand (even when turning to his right shoulder he looks to get the ball in his strong hand for awkward finishes) ... His low post repertoire is limited and he lacks effective counter moves ... Does not have great footwork, which leaves him off-balance when making moves inside … A poor foul shooter ... Even though the form on his shot is fundamental, he needs to improve the results and gain more consistency … Not a good passer out of double teams, he waits too long to move the ball and often gets caught up in traffic ... Played in a weak conference, and had a distinctive height advantage on a nightly basis, he needs to show that he is able to battle with players his size to succeed at the next level …
47 -- DeShawn Sims -- F -- 6'8" -- 225 -- Michigan
Displaying a terrific mid-range jumper, Sims continuously punished defenders who left him open in order to rotate and help on the weakside. Showing a great knack for spotting up to open space, his smooth jumpshot made him a very efficient scorer. On a number of occasions he stepped out beyond the arc and looked very comfortable shooting from the (partially) extended three point line. His stroke is very smooth and his high release allows him to get shots off even when closely guarded. He also took his game down in the low post, using a turnaround jumper and mini jump hooks to both shoulders to score inside. He doesn’t have great size or strength to muscle his way in the paint, but his agility and quickness allow him to beat defenders to the spot and get into good scoring position. His biggest issue for the next level is the question of who he can defend - not nearly strong enough to push power forwards off the block or quick enough to contain wing players on the perimeter. He matched up mainly with inside players at Portsmouth, but aside from a couple guys, there was very little depth at the position in this setting, which did not put his ability to the test all that much. He has springy legs and a live body and he may have just enough athleticism to be able to adapt, but he will need to use the workouts to prove his case more.
48 -- Ryan Thompson -- G -- 6'6" -- 220 -- Rider
Strengths: Wing with great size and strength for the position. Possesses a versatile offensive repertoire. Intent on taking his defender off the bounce and attacking the rim. Does a good job cradling the ball, absorbing contact and finishing plays. Displays good body control, using step around moves at full speed to avoid charges. Attempted 6.5 free throw attempts per game as a Senior, converting at an excellent 82% clip. Excels in the transition game with his long strides and speed in the open floor. Is routinely the recipient of breakaway hoops, beating the opposition down the court. Has a comfort level in the mid-range game and shoots effectively off the dribble. Shot 36% from three for his college career. Percentage dropped to 32% as a senior due to deterioration in quality of looks. Active without the basketball. Terrific rebounder for a guard (5.7 for career). Provides an instant fast break option. Handled the majority of playmaking duties for Rider. Good court vision (3.1 assists for career). Very keen defensively. Excellent defensive awareness, jumps passing lanes effectively (1.5 steals career).
Weaknesses: Limited quickness and explosion off the floor. Extremely right hand dominant off the dribble. Predictable moves. Opponents increasingly sat on his right as the season wore on. His response was to take more jump shots. Does not possess the quicks to overcome his lack of variation. Finishes with his strong hand on the left side of the hoop. Liable to get shots sent back if he doesn't strengthen his left. Mechanics on his jump shot are sound, but lacks elevation. Range out to the NBA 3 line is questionable. Ability to stay in front of his man on D is a concern. Does not display encouraging lateral agility. Will be unable to rely on length and strength advantage at the next level. A bit hefty at 220 pounds, could shed some weight.
49 -- Ryan Wittman -- F -- 6'7" -- 215 -- Cornell
Positives •Amazing shooter
•Deep, deep range on his jumper
•Can shoot it in the clutch
Today’s premise (and Danny’s proclaimed course) is reloading for another run with our aging core. In my opinion this is really a 2-year plan culminating in the expiration of Garnett’s contract. Charting this course to another successful run deep into the postseason depends upon a series of critical steps. The first two is 2 swingmen for 2 years, but first Doc Rivers must return. No Doc, and I think the likelihood of Ray Allen returning and Pierce staying drop considerably. Resign Ray to 2 years at 7 to 10 million. No Ray and I think it much more likely that Pierce jumps ship. Resign Pierce to 2 years at $15M/yr. This is maybe the least likely since he will be giving up money and may not recoup it if 2012 is a lockout. Finally the other thing I believe absolutely critical, if the Celtics are to return stronger than last year, is for Danny to be successful in turning Sheed’s retirement into a trade for something positive. This allows the C’s to use the Sheed trade and the MLE to add two primary rotation players. If any of these steps fail then I think all bets are off and Ainge will begin wholesale changes.
I think Perkins will miss most if not all the season. That means that closest thing to a legitimate center left upright is Kevin Garnett. His lanky build is ill suited to withstand the rigors of bumping and grinding with the behemoths manning the center position across the league. Another legitimate center is absolutely necessary, actually two (there’s that 2 again). Pierce and Ray will need to play less, probably much less, if they are to produce at a high level on a per-minute basis. I also think that every roster slot 11-15 needs to be filled with a young developing player and that TWO or more of them must make a valid contribution for the season to be successful. Even if we get lucky with the MLE and Sheed’s-immediately-expiring-contract, we will still need to convince two contributors to come aboard for the minimum veteran salary. These four acquisitions will be difficult because there will be several teams, some with new “star-cluster” trying to solidify a nearly empty roster to make a charge to the playoffs.
One of the flaws in writing about current sports is that today’s current is history tomorrow. Two paragraphs into this and already there are updates that negate some of the points. So far—reports are that Doc is coming back, Pierce is opting out, and Perkins will be out until at least the end of the year (and if and when he returns, at what strength?). So good for step one, Doc will be back at the helm. The retention of the 2 aging star swingmen is still on track with Pierce opting out although it is a good bet that he will want four years. Danny will want two. Can they compromise on three? If Pierce leaves it is hard to see Ray Allen staying so I expect these 2 chips to fall or flee in tandem. The crux of the overall problem is that until these questions are answered it will be hard to chart a course on which additions to make. Once again the premise is that we are gearing up for another run so let’s assume that the swingmen are on board (only in need of significantly more support).
Next criticality is Sheed’s willingness to oblige by allowing his retirement to be preceded by a trade. This is especially important since the best (by salary cost anyway) of the 2 primary rotation additions would be through his contract that would allow the Celtics to take back up to $7.9M in salary(ies) and closer to $10M if you toss in the two NBDL non-guaranteed contracts.. That not only opens the selection up to players under contract but places in a better competitive stance compared to the newly loaded teams who will be limited to the MLE (likely slightly lower than the 09-10 season’s $5.854). It is my contention that it is absolutely necessary that the Celtics make substantial improvements through these eight and five and a half million dollar additions.
One assumes these will be a center and a swingman. Although a center and a lively big man would also be a possibility if you subscribe to the theory that Bradley and Tony Allen will bring enough backup to the one, two, and three if supplemented by min vet or rookie additions. Let’s look at some possibilities for Sheed’s windfall. Charlotte is adamant about staying under the Luxury Cap. They have 9 players under contract and a qualifying offer out to Tyrus Thomas bringing their current commitment to around $65M. They have centers Chandler ($12.7M), Nazr Mohammed ($6.9M), and DeSagana Diop ($6.5M) as well as Thomas ($6.3M) and Diaw ($9M). Who would they give up, who would you want? Golden State is vigorously shedding salary in preparation for an impending sale and still has $53M committed to 9 players plus a lottery pick to sign plus qualifying offers (4 totaling 4.3M) to consider. They have shopped Beidrins and Brandan Wright and have Wright, Randolph, Turiaf, and #6 pick Udoh all stacked at PF. We probably could get Wright and swingmen Azubuike and maybe Morrow (saving GS about $7.7M), would we want to? If the Warriors would deal Randolph in this that might be a real winner (maybe Wright, Randolph, and Charlie Bell?). There is the Michael Beasley option from Miami. There was talk of Derrick Favors being available in order to move Yi (or Yi and Humphreys) from NJ but that ship has sailed with the dump of Yi to Washington—too bad that was my personal favorite. New Orleans is another team dumping salary (or going broke, or is that redundant?) but Okafor’s contract is far too long (like Biedrens and Diop) and too expensive. The Oklahoma Thunder have 14 players under contract and picked up four more in the draft—something’s gotta give. At center they have #11 pick Cole Aldrich, Kristic, BJ Mullens, and Nick Collison along with #31 pick Tibor Pleiss who I assume will stay abroad. Collison or Kristic would fit the salary but the Thunder GM has skinned other management so regularly I’m loath to recommend dealing with him.
We’ve seen some of the desperate salary dumps already occur—the Wiz have absorbed Yi and Hinrich, draft picks traded for a song, finally players waived just to clear their salary. The timing of all this will be a dicey proposition. The big name FA hunt will be over in the wee hours of July 8 if not before. Only the poor trying to avoid poorer will still be in the dump mode. Danny needs to pull the trigger on both the Sheed trade and the MLE commitment as quickly as possible since competition will be keen. With so many rosters stripped so bare there will be a rush on as soon as the big names sign—the winners fill out contenders and the losers realize they are left holding an empty bag.
Before I opine which of the trades I prefer Danny to maneuver, consider the MLE possibilities. It is already rumored that Ainge has interest in the Miller boys, Mike and Brad. These both directly address areas of need, swingman and center. Neither is likely to take the vet min (although if I were Danny I would ask that question just after midnight tonight). Would either or both settle for half the MLE? I don’t think so but it wouldn’t hurt to ask. Bear in mind that last year they pulled about ten and twelve million respectively. Then again neither has played for the NBA Championship, both are staring at the final stages of their career, and while neither fit into a long range plan, both look good for the 2-year window. Unless they will split the MLE it is either or.
I really had a negative feeling about Brad Miller. I think his feisty nature would fit right in but I have serious concerns about his diminishing abilities. Maybe the Sheed experience soured me. After I poured over the lists of NBA centers, much less those that might be available for Sheed’s contract or the MLE, I found Brad may be the cleanest dirty shirt. Brad and pray for Perkins return to full strength, even though that seems unrealistic for this season. My fallback at center is to trade Sheed for Nazr Mohammed who might be best described as serviceable.
If the full MLE is spent on Brad Miller, I then try to trade Sheed for Brandan Wright, Kelenna Azubuike, and Anthony Morrow (although this gives Morrow only 200K above his qualifying offer). Even better try for Randolph, Wright, and Bell.
Odd thoughts: I think the Celtics need to go into the season with 4 centers. If that includes Garnett, then a starting PF is also a need. I hope Parakhouski makes a case and Erden returns to Europe for more seasoning. I would invite Patrick O’Bryant to camp on a make good contract. Maybe playing himself out of the league will have ignited a fire. I would offer Earl Barron a vet min contract. He turned down such an offer from the Knicks but that was the Knicks! I would offer the vet min to Ryan Gomes. [Discuss on CG Forums!]
Celtics news is coming fast and furious these past couple of days. First came the news that Perk's injury was indeed an ACL tear and that his surgery is scheduled for a week from today. It was no surprise to me to hear that Perk has been working hard to strengthen the ACL before the surgery in order to speed recovery time. Perk is one of the hardest workers in this league and has been since his rookie season. If anyone can work his way back as soon as possible, it is Perk. The estimates for his return are December or January. The fact that Perk is walking on it now is a good sign that he will be fine. If Perk comes back in December or January, that will give him plenty of time to get his legs and conditioning into game shape before the playoffs. I know that Perk will be working hard on rehab and so will stay in shape, but only playing in games can get you in game shape. Perk will be ready and fresh for the stretch run and playoffs and that is good news.
Next up was Pierce's decision to opt out. His agent mentioned that he was going to talk with the Celtics first but would also listen to offers elsewhere. Apparently Danny tried to work out an extension but it wasn't what Pierce was looking for so he opted for free agency instead. There are a lot of teams that cleared cap space for the big free agent crop this season and once the top tier of FA's are taken (ie: LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Amare, Johnson), especially if some of them opt to stay with their current teams, there will be teams willing to overpay to get a player like Pierce. It may come down to whether Pierce's legacy as a Celtic is more important than an extra year or more money.
Finally, the bestest news. Doc Rivers has decided to stay with the Celtics. That is the most crucial piece to this team contending for another year. Not Pierce, not Ray, Not Perk's injury. Doc's return gives the team continuity and it also gives them added motivation to win one for Doc since he sacrificed to come back to get them there. Hopefully Doc's decision will aid in bringing in free agents, including Pierce and Allen, because the team remains stable and does have a shot at contending.
Hopefully the pieces will fall into place when free agency starts on July 1. In the meantime we have Summer League coming up on July 5. All the games will be televised live on NBA-TV and they are also offering a League Pass Broadband for Summer League where the games will be live as well as archived for later viewing. Now that we know that Doc is coming back, let's get this party started!!!!
What is it with the Celtics and guys named Miller? In the 2007-08 season when the Celtics were putting together their team in the off season they tried to coax Reggie Miller out of retirement. Reggie considered it and even spent a few weeks working out but decided it just wasn't worth it and he didn't have what it took to compete for 82 games again.
This season, word is that the top free agent target is another guy named Miller. They are hoping to sign Chicago Bulls free agent Brad Miller to fill one of the gaps left by Perk's injury and Sheed's retirement. It's hard to believe that the Celtics could target the one guy that would make the Celtics even older and less liked than they were with Sheed, but I think they managed it. Miller is an instigator and the kind of player you hate on the other team but would love on your team.
This past season, Miller averaged 8.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.4 blocks while playing 23.8 minutes per game. These were his lowest averages since the '99-00 season when he averaged just 17.5 minutes per game. His decrease in minutes could account for the decrease in his per game stats. He turned 34 years old in April so isn't a long term option at center. He also made 12 million dollars last year in the final year of his contract with the Bulls. He may be looking for a longer contract or more money than the Celtics can offer unless the allure of playing with KG and the possibility of a ring is enough to make him take part or all of the MLE or a vet minimum contract. Or, they could just promise that they will keep Rondo away from him if he signs. That may just work.
In case you forgot about Miller's body of work, here is some video of him and some interesting commentary from the announcers.
And here he is doing work against the Celtics...
Now on to the second Miller that the Celtics are said to be targeting this off season. The Herald has mentioned that the Celtics are considering the Wizards free agent Mike Miller. Miller has a good relationship with Doc and maybe this is a ploy to make staying with the Celtics sweeter for Doc, who is still deciding on his own future. Miller may have the most ridiculous hairstyle in the NBA when he pulls it back with the headband but he can shoot and would be a nice addition to the team.
Miller averaged 10.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists in 33 minutes per game this past season. What stands out more was that he shot 50% from the field, 38% from beyond the arc and 82% from the line. Doc staying would definitely be a draw for signing this Miller. He made $9,780,937 in the 2010 season so the Celtics would have to talk him into a much lower salary as well. They may try to split the MLE between the two Millers. The only other option would be to give the whole MLE to one and try to fill the other spots using vet minimum contracts. Either way, they probably will be offered more elsewhere from one of the many teams with a lot of cash to spend. Five teams cleared space for LeBron and only one team can get him. The rest will go after the top free agents but once they are off the table, I can see teams overpaying to get the second tier of players like these two.
Here is a video of Miller shooting at practice. No doubt at all that he can shoot.
And some video of in-game action.
Neither player will get the kind of money they got last season since they were both younger when they signed those contracts. But, chances are there will be teams out there with cap space who will offer them more than the Celtics can and the Celtics have to be able to convince them that playing for the Celtics or for Doc would be a better situation than they will get elsewhere. The problem with trying to talk guys into a cheaper contract to play with the Celtics is that both Marquis Daniels and Michael Findley did that last season and it didn't work out so well for them. Marquis Daniels took way less than his market value hoping that a year with the Celtics would increase his value for the following season and he ended up sitting on the bench which could only hurt him going into free agency this season. Findley left the Spurs looking for more playing time and he got even less with the Celtics than he did with the Spurs. Free agents may look at those two players and think twice about giving the Celtics a discount to play with them.
Paul Pierce has just one more day do decide on whether to opt out or not. Doc said we'd have his answer by the July 1 start of free agency. And the next two days should give us another 10 rumors from sources who know where LeBron is going to land. Should be an interesting week ahead of us.
In the planning for this off-season for the Boston Celtics there are several uncomfortable realities, more than a few severe restraints, and the fallout from a dash of rotten luck. On the plus side of the ledger there are just enough items to keep the loyal fan from becoming suicidal. It is going to be a long and hard haul and the final outcome may well depend upon developments well into the season. Danny Ainge will have to earn every cent of his paycheck if the Green are to be contenders in 2010-2011.
Just because it is easier to run through such a short list, let’s start with the positives. Rajon Rondo continues to emerge as a star. However far the C’s go, he will be the cog around which everything revolves. Kevin Garnett will probably be better this year than last. His knee surgery was the kind of insult to the body that requires a year to completely recover and at his age you might add a few months to that prognosis. Better than last year, certainly better than the year before, but probably not up to his level in the 2008 Championship campaign—Father Time is unrelenting and will have his due. Rasheed Wallace appears to have something to offer beyond a postseason that was at least better than his putrid regular season. His retirement, if true, and willingness to be bartered as an immediately expiring contract (again, if true) gives Danny a significant chip beyond the MLE. Combine Rasheed’s $6.3M and perhaps a sign & trade of Brian Scalabrine to a $3M/3-yr contract (last two years not guaranteed and with $3M cash for a buyout) and Danny can acquire just about any player/combination from a team (and there are several) willing to part with them for salary relief—assuming Wyc is free and easy with the checkbook. This assumes that Scal would be receptive to such a use with an open invitation to return to the coaching staff. Finally, the first step, drafting Avery Bradley (while widely criticized in the blogosphere for not addressing need), was a significant move toward becoming younger and more athletic.
A few comments about the Bradley draft. You don’t pick after the lottery and get a player without warts. Usually you don’t pick lower than 4 or 5 and get a player without warts. At #19 Danny got a player more highly touted than the #1 Wall entering college one year ago. Avery was considered perhaps the best defender in the Big 12 as a freshman, almost unheard of. He has a smooth shooting stroke and was deadly from mid-range. His speed was deceptive as he got separation and outdistanced defenders with no apparent effort. As for the warts, his year of college play was criticized for poor finishing at the basket, inconsistent outside shot, lack of point guard attributes, poor free throw percentage, and an absence of pick and roll activity. The finishing and outside shot should both improve as he fills out his lanky frame. He shot 20 points higher at the free-throw line in high school and I’m pretty sure the defense of charity tosses wasn’t tougher in college. His workouts brought acclaim for his pick and roll activity. Also for his aggressiveness and it seems likely some of his hesitancy in college was due to the unsettled nature of Texas’ team and point guard situation. His long wingspan will help off set his height disadvantage in covering two-guards and his defensive tenacity and ball-denial is made for suppressing high-possession, high-volume scorers prevalent at SG. Finally teaming alongside Rondo will allow him to apprentice point guard skills and plays to his greatest current strength—catch and shoot. Relieving Rondo will demand less point guard polish with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce as players through whom the offense can run.
Now for the bad and the ugly. The news on Perkins injury has gotten worse and worse. It will likely take most of next season to recover from surgery to repair the so-called triangle - tears of the anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament. Going into the next season that leaves the Celtics with exactly zero centers from last year’s team. My current three deep roster for the Celtics looks downright empty: PG Rondo ......................Lafayette SG .................................Bradley SF Pierce........................Gaffney PF Garnett......Davis........Harangody C .............................................. IR Perkins
And that is being awfully optimistic about draft picks and D-leaguers and assuming Pierce won’t blanch at seeing the holes in the roster and opt out and away! Even add in the Allen’s (which I think will be the only other holdovers) and we need some centers, a swingman and another guard. And the league is about to sport another two to five “star clusters.” I say two to five because I think a couple of those teams that have bared the cupboard are going to get left at the alter and end up with a roster full of feces for their trouble. Oh well they should have a pretty low payroll. It looks like Miami and Chicago are poised to enrich their formerly borderline playoff teams with an infusion of all-stars, and yes that is multiple. The good news is that these all-star duos and trios will have pretty weak supporting casts since the cupboard is, well, bare. Chicago has a couple of nice complementary pieces but Miami, New Jersey, and New York will be fleshed out with a MLE, perhaps an LLE, and minimum vets. Problem is that they will likely have a recruiting advantage in every category—do you want to play with three young stars or Boston’s three old ones? How about next year, or the year after? It’s going to be a hard sell for Boston’s mystique.
Against this backdrop Boston is working with the ability to resign their own free agents (most of whom proved so inadequate last season that Doc played an ever shrinking rotation), the MLE, no LLE, two draft picks (why oh why didn’t Wyc buy more?), two D-league late additions, and free agents (undrafted or discarded) willing to play for the vet minimum. Add to this the fact that Doc may or may not be here to steer the ship. Sounds like we are going to hunt the saber-toothed tigers (especially the newbies in the East) with popguns. Oh I forgot, and the surprise bullet—Sheed’s immediately expiring contract. If Danny can reconstruct this on the fly and get us back to the Finals again, I nominate him for new president of the Magician’s Guild!
How might he and Lucky pull off this amazing sleight of hand? A few guesses next time.[Discuss on CG Forums!]
I had to take a couple of weeks off from basketball for the most part. That game 7 loss was pretty painful and all the what ifs make it hurt even more. What if Ron Artest hadn't kneed Ray in the thigh, altering his jump and thus his jump shot? What if the refs had called the game consistently, calling the 4th quarter the same as they did the first 3? What if Bynum didn't come down on Perk's back and cause Perk to come down awkwardly and tear up his knee? All of those things altered the outcome of that game and thus the series. I've been thinking that maybe the refs just didn't want Sheed to get another ring. It's no secret that he was one of the least favorite players among the refs. They may have just decided that they would do whatever it took to keep Sheed from getting a ring. Maybe that's why Sheed was seeking out the refs after the game - he wanted to let them know that he was aware of what happened and that he was retiring before they could do it again next season. Even though they won't admit it, that title has to be tainted for the Lakers. Nuff said about that.
Danny was very set on getting Avery Bradley in the draft. According to Doc, Danny had just 2 players on his list and Bradley was the top one. He didn't think that Bradley would be available and if neither of the guys was available, he was going to trade the pick. So Danny was pretty high on Bradley. After reading about the kid, I can see why. Coming out of high school, he was rated higher than John Wall. Wall went to a college with a good coach and where he was given a chance to shine. On the other hand, Bradley went to a program where his talents weren't used well and he struggled. Very similar to Rondo in college. Danny may have gotten a steal like he did with Rondo, but only time will tell.
I have seen comparisons between Luke Harangody and Tommy Heinsohn and Dave Cowans and, of course, Larry Bird. Apparently, Harangody has a hook shot that is reminiscent of Tommy's. And he has a motor and work ethic similar to Cowens. It was interesting to find out that Danny never worked out Harangody but took him on his body of work in college. I like this kid. From what I am reading about both of this year's picks, they both have very strong work ethics and will be the first ones in and the last ones out of practice.
Summer League is shaping up for the Celtics. Here is a list of who we can expect to see there so far:
PG) O Lafayette
PG) JC Carrol
SG) R Thompson
SG/SF) R Green
SF) T Gaffney
SF) R Whittman
SF) D Sims
PF) L Harangody
C) S Erden
C) A Parakhouski
I'm planning to do a post on these guys giving some of their stats and some video of them over the next couple of days so I'll just list them here.
This next week is going to be a big week for the Celtics. A lot of what is decided within the next few days will determine how the Celtics will approach this season. Danny has said that he wants to keep the core of the team together and make another run at the title. But, several pieces must fall into place for that to happen.
First and most importantly, Doc has to decide to come back for one more year. But doing so will mean that he will miss his two older children in their final seasons in college and he will miss his younger son's senior year in high school. Losing like he did will be a draw to come back and go out on a high note but he can't get these years back with his kids so it's a tough decision. Doc said he hopes to decide by July 1.
Second on the list of pieces that have to fall into place is Paul Pierce. He can opt out of the final year of his contract and leave the 21 million on the table. If he does opt out, he can test the free agent market and more than likely get a max deal from another team. But Pierce has said all along that he wants to retire as a Celtic and that's a legacy that will be special because very few players spend their whole career with one team these days. If he opts out, he can get a new deal with the Celtics that could give them some room to sign another good player. Not a max free agent but maybe a good one. It will also give Pierce a long term deal that would give him some security. Or, he could ask for a long term max deal and possibly deny the team and himself a chance at another title.
Third on the list is Ray Allen. He is a free agent and there are several teams who have him on their radar. Ray has said in the past he would take less to stay with the Celtics because he loves the area and the team and the organization. Also, he would be close to the Joslin Diabetes center that has been very instrumental in helping to treat his son's diabetes. We will find out how much he meant that when he sees what the Celtics are offering. If what Chris Mannix of SI said was true and his asking price is starting at 5 years $75 million, he should just pack his bags now because Danny won't go anywhere near that. I can see Danny going with a 2 year contract to match KG's but I don't see a long term or high dollar offer being made, especially if Doc doesn't come back.
Rumors are that the Celtics top free agent target is going to be Brad Miller. I wonder if he will get a visit from the Big 3 (or maybe the Big 2) on July 1. He may feel slighted if he doesn't after so much was made of that visit to Sheed last season. Or maybe they could just tell him that if he signs with the Celtics Rondo will leave him alone. Other rumors are that the Celtics would like to get Mike Miller as well. Maybe we should make it a trifecta and go after Reggie Miller again. Or maybe coax Oliver Miller out of retirement.
I'm getting excited for Summer League and free agency and seeing how all this plays out. Should be an exciting and fun week. One thing I know, with all the big free agents on the market some teams are going to be much stronger with a couple of stars on them instead of just one and the Celtics have to do what it takes to improve along with them. Standing pat just won't do.
