According Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.com, the Celtics have signed Von Wafer to a one year contract worth the veteran mininum. This signing most likely puts a stop to the Rudy Fernandez trade discussions. Danny Ainge has been saying for weeks that the Celtics need a wing and a big man. Now with Wafer on board, the Celtics have their wing and may decide that Wafer is enough.
Personally, I didn’t think Wafer was really coming to Boston so I didn’t bother writing any type of speculative analysis. It’s hard to say how Wafer will fit in with this very veteran squad. For those who don’t know, Wafer made headlines in 2009 by having a breakout season with the Houston Rockets. When his contract expired at the end of the season, he decided to cash in for more money overseas. It’s almost always a smart business move for an athlete to get the most money while he/she can given the prevalence of career ending injuries (see Darius Miles). This strategy, however, backfired when he was waived by his Greek team a short five months later.
Wafer has had a few stints in the NBA since then (10 day contract with the Mavericks and almost resigned with the Rockets after coming back stateside in 2009 before failing a physical. No word on whether this was a Luther Head-type physical) but has not made a significant impact in the NBA aside from that one season with the Rockets.
Now that I’ve got you pretty much up to speed on Wafer, it’s time to start talking about what he will bring the Boston Celtics:
- Shooting: The kid can shoot-the-rock. 45% from the field and 39% from deep. The only draw-back is that he averaged 8 field goal attempts a game during his breakout season. Do you think he’s getting 8 FGA’s for the Celtics next year?
- Defense: So far? Sub par. In 2009, Wafer ranked below league average in defensive efficiency and steals. Compared to Tony Allen, his heir apparent his defensive numbers don’t even come close.
There is really no telling what Von Wafer will bring to the Celtics considering he hasn’t played consistent, organized basketball in a year. What is known, or at least apparent after a quick perusal, is that his Twitter account may be a constant source of entertainment.
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yeah
bud
still there?
TOLLIVER….quick before he signs with GSW or Portland, he is young, cheap, can rebound and shoot…..he isnt Shaq I know, but he is a good cheap young proven player
Yeah about to have my dinner though…..where you at?
maine u?
@kip NZ.
I’m not a fan of undersized centers,unless of course his name is Ben Wallace and i don’t see Tolliver becoming the player Wallace was or is.We need length we all saw that aginst the Lakers and it was obvious throughout the regular season.
Von Wafer can’t get minutes, that’s for sure! I don’t think Danny Ainge made a very good decision with this. Do you really think he can back-up Ray Allen? I personally don’t think so.
rudy can still come wafer can be someone to fill out the bench not nessarily going to be a Role player for us i still think rudy can come
I hope we can still either get Rudy and/or Shaq. I still wouldn’t mind seeing us trade Sheed for Shaq and Moon.
Yea I don’t understand we still have roster space…people act like we don’t if you minus Rasheed we only have 11 guaranteed dudes for next year and that includes Von Wafer and Perk. Assume Harangody gets signed thats 12.
@Shooter you are right! We need a real big and if Danny is patient enough to work hard and convince Shaq he can get another ring with the Celts, we can trade Sheed’s contract for a solid SF to back up Paul Pierce. Once Perk gets back in playing shape we can use Jermaine O’Neal at PF to backup KG. In addition, if Von Wafer plays well at the 2 spot we should go deep into the playoffs with our bench being able to hold its own. Anyone agree???
@ Mark I def agree. I wouldn’t mind flipping Sheed’s contract for Shaq and Jamario Moon. Then realistically you could hvae Quis, Moon and Wafer all back up Pierce and Ray. That was Jermaine, and Shaq can split center duty until Perky gets back. Then I completly agree you could move Jermaine behind KG as a PF. That puts you 2nd full line up as something like
Shaq
Jermaine
Jamario/Quis/Wafer (pick 2 of those 3)
Nate/Avery (as the backup PG)
What about Baby guys.I see our depth like this if we get Shaq:
C JO,Shaq
PF KG,BBD,Harangody
Personally, i don’t think JO is quick enough on his feet to stick with PFs in this league. Also,with the better shooting PFs pulling him away from the basket it takes away his shotblocking.
well who cares about big baby i mean hes good MOST of the time but he is still inconsistent and who is gonna want sheeds contract when everyone knows hes gonna retire and unless you want to make cap space who is gonna wanna trade for basically nothing
has any1 thought about trading sheeds cntrct for matt barnes
@ Shooter -JO as a backup PF/C is a steal. I know he can’t keep up with the more Athletic quick PF’s but he can handle the small men and bangers pretty easy with just his length and size at PF. Also the shot blocking would be on him and Shaq.
@ Celtics Freak -It gives them an exception so helps other teams immensely if needed. So basically it is not nothing.
If these highlights are any indication, this guy is a legitimate player. Is it just me but doesnt he reminds anyone else a little of D-Wade?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfKG9a89u4Y
I know this is only a minor move, the guy is going to be 9th or 10th guy, not a real important piece but this bothers me more than it should. He has a very low basketball IQ and isn’t good enough to step outside of his role as much as he does. It’s good that he has athleticism and can shoot pretty decently but he is not good enough or trustworthy enough for Doc to use him in an important playoff game. They’re still where they were at the end of the season, with nobody behind Paul and Ray who can provide consistent value like Posey did.
@Chris i wasn’t aware JO would be a backup.I doubt Doc will play JO at the 4 with BBD there.
@Anthony you out of your mind kiddo.Stop with the DWade comparisons pleeeease.
What the hell NBA.com has Deshawn Sims birth date @ Jan 1,1900.So he must be 100+ years old.
defense in the nba is all about the system all that is required lateral movement and two hands the guys who cant defend dont pay attention. thabo sefeloshas main defensive attribute is staying down on pump fakes . von should be able to defend just fine.
I don’t think the Rudy trade is off the table. Wafer makes more sense as a 3rd Shooting Guard than as a 2nd. He just doesn’t feel like someone, given Doc’s history, who’d be seeing meaningful minutes. Like Chris O. says, the roster is still very flexible as Gaffney and Lafayette may be waived.
Exactly Tugboat, if they don’t think Gaffney is going to play backup SF (which at this point they might think he can) they can alsways waive him and Lafayette. We could still flip Sheed for Rudy and something or for Shaq and Moon/Parker. As I said before I wouldn’t mind getting Moon and Shaq. Then Jamario can play your backup 3 and eventually your 5 best big men are KG, Perk, Jermaine, Shaq, Baby (in no specific order). That would be awesome…
@shooter…lol… i’m not going crazy… i did say “a little”… maybe i should rephrase and say ” very little”? But he does have some good basketball attributes. He finishes pretty strong around the rim, has a nice shooting touch, and plays hard. Cant go wrong for a vet’s minimum contract.
@shooter….With Shaq it’s always the same tired story. Playing for a contender. Well the contenders need to pay attention to how little Shaq has done in recent years to help these so-called contenders get over the top (Phoenix and Cleveland).
And he doesn’t play through physical problems. He’s missed large portions of seasons before including last year with the thumb problem.
If Perkins can’t return to full status next season following injury, then the Celtics won’t win the East, regardless of the additions they’ve made at center this summer.
If he does return, then there is absolutely no place for Shaq on the Celtics.
@Jason…Your desire for the Celtics to obtain a high quality wing doesn’t reconcile the fact that they aren’t willing to part with anything that another team would value.
Nobody gives up value for a future mediocre, non lottery, back-end of the first round, draft pick.
Nobody gives up value for “D” leaguers who might wind up on your roster at the end of your bench.
Nobody gives up value for an over the hill player’s contract who hasn’t decided if he’s going to retire.
Even if you combined these assets, they aren’t treasured assets except perhaps to Celtic fans. These are assets that a team with a quality wing they’re willing to trade, could get anywhere from anybody without hardly even trying, much less surrendering that quality to the defending Eastern Conference Champs out of the kindness of their heart.
Helping the Celtics at their expense is the last thing they want to do.
For these reasons, you might consider cutting your GM a little slack while being a little less disappointed and a little more realistic.
Just something to think about.
@celticfreak…First of all why would the Lakers ever make a trade that might help the Celtics?
Second the Lakers just signed Matt Barnes as the insurance they need since it looks like Luke Walton may have to retire with his chronic back problems.
And third, what on earth would they want with Wallace’s contract? The Lakers are trying to 3-peat. Not unload cap space.
@ Dave
No matter how soon or well Perk is when he returns and how AWESOME his defense is, Shaq still (even at 38) is a better rebounder and post scorer. Those are two things that the C’s don’t have and will need this year.
@ChrisO….”I hope we can still either get Rudy and/or Shaq. I still wouldn’t mind seeing us trade Sheed for Shaq and Moon”
Boston aside, I would still love to have someone explain exactly what the value of this trade would bring to Cleveland?
They’ve already obtained the cap space from wiping Shaq off the books. What is the amazing value proposition and motivation for the Cavs to re-sign Shaq now so they can trade his paper to Boston in exchange for Wallace’s paper?
Throw in Moon, a player they aren’t necessarily all that motivated to move in the first place, all of which is intended to help the Celtics, the team who incidentally bounced the Cavs out of the playoffs a couple of months ago thus changing their destiny forever maybe;
What alternate universe would make this arrangement something that would compel Cleveland to the bargaining table?
In the immortal words of John McEnroe, “You cannot be serious!”
@Jeff…Yeah but Jeff, at this point he’s a poor fit in so many other ways.
First of all, notice that the Lakers and the Heat and the Magic and the Suns and the Cavs all passed on a guy who played for them before, even though they might have been able to have him at vets minimum salary and in a backup role.
What does that tell you?
If Danny wanted to go the Shaq route then he should’ve concentrated there instead of signing Jermaine.
Then he could’ve brought Shaq in at a price that would properly motivate him and with a clear path of playing time that would fit for Shaq even after Perkins returns.
But with Jermaine being the first choice, this value proposition is muddled.
One thing I can promise you. You don’t want Shaq under circumstances where there is a better than average chance that he will be unhappy with the arrangement.
Right or wrong, his ego hasn’t changed which is why he hasn’t signed with anyone this late.
Just like McGrady and his tryout comments in Chicago, Shaq is a guy who still thinks he’s capable of being the man in any situation and he’s never even come close to conceding that.
It’s a very, very poor fit for the Celtics at this late stage and it isn’t about the attributes or the needed skills that the guy could bring.
He isn’t going to be okay with a role of being the fourth or fifth BIG in Boston for no money when he knows he has at best 2 to 3 seasons left, whether he signs with Boston or not.
If he does sign, it’ll be because in his mind, he’s going to prove to everyone that he’s still the man. But he won’t succeed with that.
Lets say welcome for Shaq