I’ve been borrowing from Saturday Night Live recently. Might as well do it again.
And now…. the news….
1) July 31st was the day teams could waive contracts before they were guaranteed.
2) Of note is Bruce Bowen, cut loose by the Milwaukee Bucks.
He was one of five players waived….
joining Boston guard Gabe Pruitt, Los Angeles Clippers guard Mike Taylor, Los Angeles Lakers swingman Sun Yue and fellow Buck Salim Stoudamire. All five players will be unrestricted free agents if they are not claimed by another team before 6 p.m. ET next Friday.
He fits what the Celtics need. He is a long, tough defender at the small forward position and a guy who can spread the defense with three point shooting. You know. Like James Posey did. The Celtics already have Marquis Daniels waiting to sign a contract, but Bowen would be a step up as a distance shooter and tough defender.
By cutting Bowen now, the Bucks only have to pay him $2 mil of the $4 mil he would have gotten if they waited or kept him. It was part of the contract he signed originally with the Spurs.
It also means that it is more likely that a team like the Celtics could sign him for the league veteran minimum. If that happens, it would be a return to the Celtics, as he played in 90 games total in green in ’98 and ’99 seasons.
The Celtics are one of a number of teams that are said to be interested in him.
3) Lamar Odom returned to the Lakers.
It keeps them as favorites now, I think, and that is fine with me. Here is how his new salary is structured…
- $25 Million over the first 3 years
- $27 Million total if Lakers don’t pick up 4th year option
- $33 Million total if Lakers do pickup up 4th year option
4) Hakim Warrick signs with the Milwaukee Bucks for one year at around $3 million. There goes any idea of him being a Celtic. How they use both he and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute will be interesting.
5) Drew Gooden signs with the Dallas Mavericks. With Shawn Marion in house, that solidifies the Mavs and gives them depth at an area they need it. He can play center and power forward. So can Dirk. Another situation to watch how they use the two of them.
Two Other Thoughts:
Glen Davis – the new Kendrick Perkins?
A) I think about those who seem to have a strong dislike and low opinion of Glen Davis. Almost visceral. Then I think about how many seemed to be the same way about Kendrick Perkins before he rounded into shape. He frustrated a lot of people.
Could it be something similar? If Glen increases his rebounding and gets his defensive rotations down better, while smoothing out his offensive game, is that enough to change minds and win over skeptical fans? I’m just asking.
B) Actually, I’ll wait on the other thought. It has to do with Tony Allen. But I’ll wait until Danny is finished making his moves, if Tony is still a Celtic.
And these final thoughts…
Glen Davis is still unsigned.
No third team has been found to complete the Marquis Daniels deal.
And, this just in…. Danny Ainge tries once again to trade Gabe Pruitt, a player he just waived, telling the other team, “I can’t believe I’m letting you talk me into giving him up.”
The sun will rise tomorrow.
That is it for now…..
I’m Chevy Chase…and you’re not.
