Carmelo Anthony’s people have demanded he be traded. The Nuggets have resigned themselves to that fact and are also ready to move sharp shooter JR Smith, and power forward Kenyon Martin.
The New Jersey Nets are a possible destination as are the L.A. Clippers and then Golden State and Houston as far as having a package of draft picks and young players that Denver is said to be looking for.
The New York Knicks would love to get him, but they don’t have a desirable package to offer Adrian reports.
Wow. Another huge star changing teams this off season.
Denver was a 53 win team last season, tying them for the division lead with Utah, but lost to Utah in 6 games in the first round. Coach Karl was absent, dealing with health issues and it affected the team’s play big time.
The previous season they took the Lakers to 6 games in the second round and had high hopes going into last year.
An unusual off season just got a bit more unusual.
One thing about Danny. Once he fixes a price on something or someone, he usually sticks to it. He knows the market pretty well. Rajon Rondo, who is also strong minded, had to play a little hard ball to get Ainge to move into double digits on his new contract and Danny is looking good even on that decision. He knew Glen Davis’ value. Getting Shaq for the minimum was shocking. Jermaine O’Neal at the MLE ($5.7 mil)…we’ll see, but even that was understandable.
Trading hasn’t always been his strongest skill, but he works with what he has at any given time. In this case, the Blazers were/are looking for 2 number one draft picks according to many reports. They have also been fishing for a single mid first rounder. Danny will let Rudy ride if it requires 2 first round picks and the Celtics pick will be in the mid 20’s somewhere.
So far, the Fernandez saga has gotten a bit ugly in Portland and he is making noises that he will wait out the 2 years left on his contract and then return to Europe where it is said there will be some big money opportunities for him.
The Blazers have tried to talk to Rudy about giving him a bigger part in their offense. But it appears they are a year too late. And Brandon Roy isn’t going anywhere. Rudy isn’t having it.
He has made it known that the Celtics would be a desired destination. So Danny is waiting to see if Portland will come around. Fernandez is definitely worth a Celtic 1st rounder in the 20’s.
His attitude? They brought in Stephon Marbury, Rasheed Wallace, Sam Cassell, and Nate Robinson. I think they can deal with Rudy. It looks like there should be about 16-18 minutes a game backing up Paul Pierce and perhaps even Ray Allen. He is not James Posey, and he would vie with Marquis Daniels for minutes. Rudy shoots the three and Daniels doesn’t. Daniels can play better defense at this point.
Due to Rudy’s ability to hit long range, a Fernandez acquisition would move newly acquired Von Wafer another seat deeper down the bench. Rudy’s defense would be questioned, but he is young legs, which are needed in my opinion, and besides the three pointer, has major hops. I could envision him getting up and down the court with either unit as part of Doc’s goal of running more. But I’m getting way ahead of things.
Besides Larry Hughes, Greg Payne of Celticsblog has a link in his story on the same subject saying that Delonte West is in town for a try out.
All three are talented players. All three bring some attitude or behavior issues with them. Barring a trade out of the blue (which can happen) it is looking like one of these three players will become a Celtic eventually. The persistent rumors make me think so.
That is what appears to be the case. Julian Benbow of the Globe has the story (thanks to Celticsstufflive) and a few revealing quotes…
“It’s not so much what Rajon has to show, it’s what our team needs,’’ Krzyzewski said. “We’ve found a good lineup, and the international game is so different from the NBA game, you can ask any of these guys. Part of it is to make sure that we try not to have two non-shooters out on the court, and there’s the physicality, too.’’
Rondo wasn’t thrilled initially with joining Team USA anyway according to Danny Ainge in the same article…
“I know that initially Rajon was not really overwhelmed with the opportunity,’’ Ainge said. “It was not something that he was thrilled with doing.
“It was something that he did because he was kind of being told it was the right thing to do by those trying to get him to do it. But it wasn’t something that he was dying to do. So I’m not surprised. And I’m happy to see him finish the summer experience being healthy.’’
As are we all.
Benbow again…
Before Rondo withdrew, Krzyzewski had said the basis for roster decisions would be team needs and chemistry, which Rose and Billups have developed. Krzyzewski also added that Curry’s 3-point shooting makes him dangerous.
Chalk it up to a great new experience and a chance to come home and get ready for the Celtics next run at a title.
“I think I’m on the bubble,” Rondo told ESPN.com. “Just looking at the obvious — I got a DNP last game. That pretty much speaks for itself.”
Maybe we should have known something was fishy when Rajon Rondo somehow went from starter to DNP-coach’s decision in the space of 24 hours during USA Basketball’s exhibition tour in Europe, writes ESPNBoston.com’s Peter May.
Team USA is competing this year without a single member of the so-called Redeem Team that won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics, but other strong teams are missing prominent players, too, writes ESPN.com’s Chris Sheridan.
Just a couple hours later at the team hotel, after a meeting with the coaching staff and the team hierarchy, Rondo had a one-way plane ticket back to the United States.
There would be no need for a final cut, with Rondo withdrawing from the team.
ESPN’s Henry Abbott tweets inferring that it is most likely a Team USA excuse to cut him….
“Team USA sometimes has cover stories for cut players. When they cut Gilbert Arenas years ago, they called him injured. ”
This actually fits with a hypothetical idea I posited quite a while ago (Comcast article for Celticsstufflive -since deleted – I just checked. Shows up in Google search anyway) about Rondo if he had started his career with Phoenix. Many pshawed it then. He might not have gotten the same chance there as he did with the Celtics. Mike D’Antoni was the coach then and is the offensive coach of Team USA. Hmm…it seems now that it could have had some truth to it.
Rondo is a great point guard with multiple skills, fills a stat sheet, and has grown by leaps and bounds every season. But he still doesn’t have a reliable jump shot to speak of and can’t hit foul shots with any consistency. That would not bode well with a coach like D’Antoni or apparently even a Coach K.
Rondo started and played 14 minutes against Lithuania while his team scored just 7 first quarter points and fell behind 14-7. He apparently was at the helm of a few other slow starts for Team USA, as Coack K mentioned that they needed to try some things to get off to a better start than they did in three other games.
Rondo went 1-4 with one assist and 4 turnovers against Lithuania. Team USA recovered and went on to win by double digits. Rondo and Tyson Chandler were replaced by Derrick Rose and Lamar Odom in the starting unit the next game against Spain, which they won by a point.
Until then, many thought that point guard Russell Westbrook was the player on the bubble and would be cut. So, it appears to be somewhat of a curious cut…er…decision to leave at this juncture to attend family matters.
Rondo’s Talents – Not good enough?
Now, there is little doubt about Rondo’s massive ability to impact a game in a large variety of ways and his All Star status says that the NBA and its fans recognize that ability. He qualifies as one of the NBA’s Heinz 57 players. He is one of the league’s top passers, runs a mean fast break, rebounds like a forward, led the league in steals, made the All Defensive Team, led all point guards in FG% in 2010, drove the lane with the best of them, created inside shots out of nothing, and was even starting to hit clutch three pointers in the playoffs (37.5%).
Most international teams pack the middle and more so if they think you are vulnerable there. If your team is not very tall or talented in its post play it forces you to run and beat them down the floor or put up contested jump shots. Team USA is light in the big department and plans to do just that. More hand checking is allowed than in the NBA, thus creating a more physical game against shooters.
Rondo has made his way to a tremendously successful career in spite of his inability to hit the open jumper or free throw and had the early trust of those same USA coaches due to his own immeasurable confidence, composure and floor leadership. In fact, Rondo’s game excels when he can run.
He does have a personality that can be described as enigmatic (read that as stubborn) and even Doc Rivers noted that he stopped attacking the paint when his foul shots stopped dropping against the Lakers. That obviously lessens Rondo’s effectiveness and allows his man to roam the paint and double up on interior attacks.
Whatever the reason, I’m glad that Rondo gets some extra rest now before the season starts. I know he is young and could easily handle the minutes. It was also a good learning experience for him. But now he can rest up a bit and join his Boston teammates a bit earlier.
Greg Dickerson of Comcast Sportsnet did a basic sit down interview with Paul recently. It is worth watching because Pierce doesn’t do many and he was relaxed and candid enough to offer at least a little insight into a few topics of interest.
*This will be his last contract…in the USA
*Paul wants to play in Italy after he finishes in the NBA
*He led the way in trying to get Shaq
*He expects to be the guy who gets the top defensive assignments…again
*Because of that he wants to become an even better defender
*The Heat will have to figure things out and that may take awhile
*If Doc left, this team could have been looking much different
Of note to me were the insights about Paul believing he must be the top defender again. Not that that is news. With Tony Allen gone and Marquis Daniels still trying to prove he can stay healthy and handle the job, there is no one else. At this stage of his career, that takes away from Pierce’s offensive game. And that is a big concern.
Nice to know that Paul wants to retire as a Celtic.
There really hasn’t been much Celtic news lately, but I’ll try to keep up more frequently going forward.
It looks like the Blazers wanted more than the Celtics were willing to give up for Rudy Fernandez. The Celtics have apparently moved on, though nothing can be counted out completely these days.
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reports that the Celtics….
‘….are pursuing former lottery pick Larry Hughes.‘
Hughes does offer some talent on both ends of the court. Realizing that no player is perfect for what the Celtics can offer, he could be yet another NBA misfit that Danny and Doc attempt to fit into de rigueur of the Celtics.
Boston’s frontline was exposed against the long, tall Lakers in the playoffs, especially when Perkins went down in game 6. With Rasheed having to start, they used their only legit length and had no one of size to fill in off the bench. If all goes well, in terms of health and playoff success, the same situation won’t be happening again in June 2011.
The Boston Celtics have announced the signing of….Lord have mercy… Shaquille O’Neal to a 2 year veteran minimum contract that starts at $1.39 million next year and has an option for year 2. Can I get a witness!
That gives them a hulking 7’ 1” 325 lb (listed) giant center by the name of Shaquille O’Neal to play behind a long, tall 6’ 11” Jermaine O’Neal and a solid 6’ 10” Kendrick Perkins when he recovers from knee surgery.
Where’s the beef?
It is right here in the midst of the Celtics. On top of that, can you imagine Shaq and Glen Davis on the floor at the same time? To paraphrase a Fleetwood Mac song…thunder only happens when they’re running.
If Kobe Bryant was coming up short on motivation for three straight NBA titles, his dreams have been answered. Kobe and Shaq have been at odds for a long while, it led to their break up, and never died.
Coincidentally, whoever takes up position number 15 on the Celtics roster is an important player. It could be the one that decides who guards Kobe when Paul Pierce or Ray Allen are on the bench. And that position remains open as I write this.
While Delonte West or Rudy Fernandez are the most public targets in Celtic rumors, Marc Spears recently tweeted that Larry Hughes is drawing interest from Boston and Charlotte.
Celtics still need a swingman behind Pierce and Allen.Could it be Larry Hughes? Word is Cs and CHA interested. Hughes looking good in workouts.
Any of the three are talented players, but 6’ 3” West most likely doesn’t guard Kobe, 6’ 6” Fernandez is tall enough but hasn’t demonstrated that he can stay with Bryant and 6’ 5” Larry Hughes is quick enough and tall enough to give Kobe trouble in short minutes.
Hughes has had issues at a number of stops along the way and has clearly thought more of his skills and game than the coaches he has played (or not played) for. Danny is absolutely fearless in regards to Doc Rivers when seeking talent that brings a level of difficulty to the locker room.
It is a long season and much can happen. There are also 2 other teams in the east that would like to derail any further Celtic title runs and might have something to say about it.
Needless to say, the Celtics picked up another city’s entire fan base even before this signing. The jilted Cavalier fans would like nothing more than the Celtics breaking LeBron’s heart yet again. Adding Shaq in Green will only get the Cav fans’ juices flowing to a higher level.
Shaq posted this comment after the signing was officially announced…
“I am honored to be joining the Celtics,” said O’Neal. “I have played against Paul, Ray, Kevin, Rajon, and Jermaine for many years and it will be great to be able to call them my teammates. I cannot wait to get to Boston to get started in pursuit of another championship.”
Rajon Rondo called Shaq ‘an enforcer’ in an article yesterday by Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports and added…
“I’m excited and looking forward to playing with the big fella,” Rondo said. “He’s definitely an enforcer. He gives us a post presence. He’s one of the best to do it. We’re a lot better.
With mixed feelings among Celtic management mentioned earlier by Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, Shaq will take some thinking as to how to best fit him in to the Celtics’ plans at both ends of the floor. But fit him in they will.
The biggest surprise is that Shaq, who has earned a gargantuan $290 million dollars to date just in basketball salary and was making $20 million one year ago, was willing to take a humbling $1.4 million and a bench role in limited minutes to play with the Celtics.
You could say that he has earned enough, and that is true. He could have retired for that piddling amount. So it says that he has the Brett Favre disease without the Favre body. Or it says that he so relishes trying to get another title that his ego has accepted the facts of what teams will pay a 38 year old Hall of Fame center with a game in serious decline.
It is a low risk financially for Danny Ainge. It can be a higher locker room and chemistry risk. The other thing to worry about if Shaq doesn’t work out is who they could have gotten instead. And it is hard to make a case that anyone out there would be, hands down, a better signing, even the younger Kwame Brown, Johan Petro, or some other back up center. Now if Portland’s Joel Pryzbilla heals and plays well, that would actually be someone to consider, though nothing coming out of Portland says JP is available.
So Shaq is the final answer at center. The question is ‘Will he be a Finals answer?’
