Von Wafer is a gamble, which is fine, because you can afford to gamble at the end of the rotation. And he represents the sort of gamble the Celtics probably had to take in order to realistically contend for a championship next season. He’s young, he’s an athlete and he’s an offense-first scorer who can create points from all over the floor when nothing else is working. Signing Wafer and Nate Robinson—and quibbling over a third year for Tony Allen—shows that the Celtics understand their offense let them down last season.
But, man, is Wafer a gamble.
Wafer has been around the NBA for a half-decade, but he comes into the 2011 season as nearly the equivalent of a second-year player. Prior to his solid 2009 season for Houston, Wafer had taken exactly 100 shots in bits of three prior NBA seasons. Antoine Walker would have jacked that many in four games in 2000. During the 2009 playoffs, Rick Adelman, Houston’s coach, kicked Wafer out of a game against the Lakers after Wafer threw a mini-fit over playing time. Kicked him out of a playoff game.
Wafer left the NBA for the big money (about $5 million per season) at Olympiakos, the Greek powerhouse, but they quickly decided they wanted no part of him. He shot below 40 percent in Europe and clashed with the Olympiakos coaching staff, so they cut him before 2009 was out.
And so there is almost no record from which we can judge Wafer, and the little record that exists is dotted with attitude flare-ups and a mysterious failed physical last season. It’s strange for a team that came within a few minutes of winning the NBA title to sign an almost unknown commodity for a potentially crucial back-up role.
But Wafer will help if he can be a calmer version of the player who shot 45 percent overall and 39 percent from deep for Houston. Eddie House can shoot threes. Tony Allen can attack the rim and post up smaller guys. Wafer can do both. In 2009, he took just as many shots at the rim as he did from three-point range (about 2.5 per game), and finished those shots at the rim 60 percent of the time—a league average mark for a guard. (League average is wonderful for a back-up). He hit long twos at a solid clip and flashed a usable mid-range game.
In other words: He can score from anywhere on the court. He won’t always do it efficiently or within the flow, but there isn’t a spot from which he is a total non-threat.
His passing numbers in 2009 were dismal, but he turned the ball over on fewer than 10 percent of the possessions on which he tried to do something with it—an outstanding mark for a guy who looks for his shot so often, and a lower mark than every Celtic regular last season other than Rasheed Wallace. (And Sheed wasn’t exactly driving and dishing in 2010).
With Wafer and Jermaine O’Neal on board—and with TA in Memphis, no longer being “overshadowed”—the Celtics have a chance to cut their team turnover rate from league-worst to league-average. That would help, considering Boston’s offense slipped to 15th in points per possession last season and couldn’t create enough decent shots with the championship on the line.
And that’s what the Wafer and Robinson signings are about—offense. The 2009 Rockets scored more with Wafer on the court, and Neil Paine at Basketball-Reference just got through a study that showed (among many other things) Nate Robinson scored more efficiently against elite defensive teams than almost any player in the league.
These guys don’t fit into the narrative of the KG/Thibodeau-era Celtics. They think about their offense first, and they can be flaky about their defense. Signing guys like this shows both an understanding of the team’s flaws and a belief that almost all NBA-level athletes can become good defenders in the right system. The 2009 Rockets allowed about two more points per 100 possessions with Wafer on the floor, but Wafer’s direct head-to-head counterparts—usually the other team’s two guard—produced well below their average levels.
Does this mean Wafer was a good individual defender but a poor team defender? I have no idea, and the sample size is probably too small to tell us anything real. But Wafer’s 6’5”, he’s an athlete, and guys like that have a habit of turning into solid defenders on well-coached teams that stress defense above all else. He played a bit of small forward for the Rockets, meaning he might be able to fill that spot in a pinch more readily than a string bean such as Rudy Fernandez.
The Wafer signing does not necessarily kill the Fernandez trade talks, though it makes a deal with Portland less likely. The C’s now have 12 players ready to go for next season (not including Sheed), and Luke Harangody will soon make 13, the minimum number of required roster players. But with one of those 13 players (Perk) out until February, I’d be shocked if the C’s didn’t sign a 14th player and would not be surprised at all to see them go with the maximum 15. That leaves room for a wing and a big guy, and if they can still nab Fernandez without surrendering more than a first-rounder, they should jump at the chance.
But Wafer provides insurance if they can’t swing a Rudy deal. There were safer bets out there—Damien Wilkins, Antoine Wright, the Graham brothers. Signing Wafer is a higher-risk, higher-reward move. He might shoot 35 percent and pout his way to the end of the bench, but if things go well, we could see Doc turn to him for big playoff minutes during a sequence when the veteran-heavy offense is going to hell.
And if you think about it, Doc was never consistently comfortable doing that with House, Robinson or TA. He fell in and out of love with each of them as a post-season bench spark, but he has yet to fully trust any of them, and they’ve all spent time rotting on the bench as the starters sputtered.
Will Wafer gain that trust? I don’t know, but it’s worth a veteran’s minimum contract to find out, even if he ends up only as a regular-season minutes-sopper for Pierce and Ray Allen.
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@The Ego
How many big SFs are in the league though really?
The like of Lebron James at 6’8 260 or whatever he is, is a freak. Most SFs aren’t that big or strong. And Daniels is more than capable of matching most SFs in the league.
It’s not ideal obviously, and I’m not arguing with you that it’d be great to see a Posey or Battier type at 6’8 with long arms to defend that position. But, that’s just not going to happen. And honestly, even if NO would bite on shedding salary by moving Posey for Sheed’s contract, adding a big man is a far greater need right now than Posey would be.
Now if we could get Battier instead, well that’d be different. But that’s just not going to happen.
By the way they have a player named Jawad williams, 6-9, 220. i saw him a couple of times and he is the kind of player, I think Celtics management has not tried to develop. He was not given much chance in CLE either but I did catch him on a couple of games and he is indeed an interesting prospect.
Zach Lowe says:
July 30, 2010 at 4:18 pm
@Ego: your concerns are legit, but the notion that he has never played SF is wrong.
Ok I grant you that. But then Magic Johnson played Center also….
And Garnett player small forward and 2 guard at Minn…
Playing somebody out of position should’nt be something you plan ahead of a season.
I like Von Wafer pick , by the way: ” Eddie House can shoot threes. Tony Allen can attack the rim and post up smaller guys. Wafer can do both”
And I remember him playing solid D.
Hey, i am really excited
i just got my brand new IPhone 4G for FREE lol!. I wasnt sure it would work but it pulled through. I followed the guide on Free IPhone 4G and i just thought ide share it! Dont forget to tell your friends
“Jay P says:
July 30, 2010 at 1:17 pm
@Steve
All the things you just said about Rudy, Wafer also did extremely well for Houston.
Both are headcases, both bitched about playing time. And Wafer comes at about 1/5th the price of Rudy, since Portlands wants multiple draft picks.
So…? Uh, what you talking about?”
HAHA hilarious Jay P and true, I was thinking the same thing.
@Ego…Still unlikely IMO but if the Celtics had a quality asset to offer Cleveland in return for their trouble, Then they just might listen, but the Celtics don’t have any surplus of quality assets to offer them right now.
The quality assets the Celtics have they need to keep if they’re going to make another similar run to the finals next season.
@Russell Shrawder
Please kill yourself. Are spam bots getting more sophisticated, or are people actually taking the time to post these scams themselves?
@ Jay P….I’m not sure but either way it is annoying and concerning.
@Jay p. haha this is too funny
why not have Shaq sign with Portland and then package Shaq and Rudy for Sheed’s contract?
Sheed for Shaq and Anthony Parker and call it an offseason.
@ Jcbhan – I don’t see that Shaq to Portland thing so we can get Rudy happening.
@ Joe I would rather Sheed for Shaq and Jamario
Jamario is a 5 years younger (30 to 35), 2 inches taller and I think would be a better overall fit at this point. Although I do not see Parker as a bad alternative.
@Chris, I agree. Moon is the better player at this point. My thinking was that the Cavs are probably less inclined to trade Moon and Parker really has no use on Cleveland now.
Good point Joe. I think Cleveland should just straight blow it up though. Would you be willing to include anything to get Jamario in a deal? A 2nd round pick? I just don’t wanter Parker to be next seasons Finley lol (even though he still looks a lot better).
I’d even give a 1st rounder if I had too. This team has a 2 year window and a mid 20′s pick in a year isn’t going to be of much use in that window
I’d be inclined to agree, go after it NOW.
First of all @Russell fuck off idiot,we don’t want your shitty IPhone alright.
Like i said, not only does Wafer look like Artest’s brother he acts like him too.And Artest came out alright.
@Joe a successful off season it would be too,if we got Shaq and Parker for Sheed.
You could get away playing slightly undersized wing players,if they have strength,athleticism and quick hands.Wafer should be able to hold his own playing the 2,3 if Doc decides to go that route.
Von Waaaaaaaferrrrr!
From a Rockets fan, you guys are lucky to get Wafer.
I don’t know what his health problems were last season, but he must have showed something to convince them he’s worth the gamble. He clashed with Adelman in the playoff run against LA, and I think that was one of the reasons for his initial departure – so it seems he might be a head case – I mean, Artest was practically his best bud when they played in Houston if that’s any indication of the type of court-warrior mentality they shared. I think that if Doc was able to mold Robinson and get him to stay intense and playing well, then they’ll be able to do the same with Wafer.
Moon or Parker,i would prefer Moon he’s the better player, but, are Cleveland willing to give him up.
Ya i cannot believe Erden is guarnateed.He better not be getting playing time.
I’m alright with Quis and/or Wafer rotating in at the 3.
This may be off topic, but way hasn’t Kevin Garnett voluntered to take a pay cut? Pierce and Allen both took less money. He gets paid almost more then anyone in the league and is only a top thirty palyer at best.
I think Shaq will become a Celtics in the next 48 hours. Let’s see.
KG wont take less money right now because he has a contract that hasn’t yet expired, PP and Ray both had expiring deals so they took a little less money, but I think they are paid appropriately for what they are at this point in their careers. Furthermore, taking less money wouldn’t even help the C’s that much because they are so far over the cap anyway, it wouldnt help them sign anyone. Lastly, would you want to lose out on 22 million, or however much KG is making?
Jeebus. If somebody else writes in that we should get Moon and Shaq for Sheed’s expiring I’m going to lose it.
Why on earth would Cleveland do that? Shaq’s off their books right now. They get exactly nothing from that part of the deal. They also lose Moon, one of their rotation players who’s under contract for a reasonably 2.75M. And they get back? The chance to dump Moon’s salary??? Oh yes. While helping a conference rival.
They’re the Cavs, not Kahn’s T-wolves or a team GM’d by Chris Wallace. They’re not going to do this.
This is getting to be like those South Park underwear gnomes.
Step 1 – offer Sheed’s contract
Step 2 – ?
Step 3 – Profit!!
Yeah that s&t trade makes no sense for the Cavs.
Why would they sign Shaq just to trade him and add a decent wing player to help us out.
Still, you never know.
NBA TV is showing the 2010 Finals again, and game 6 is just a thing of beauty.
God The Celtics just huffed the green dong in this one. So beautiful.
Sigh.
As you were….talking about your huge signing, right?
@anonymous jackass laker fan
You obviously have no girlfriend, (or boyfriend?) no friends, no job and no life to be watching Game 6 of the Finals on a Friday night. And Game 6 of all games the most entertaining where 1, 2,5, and 7. Six was the most boring game of the series by far. You can’t even have no life and watch interesting highlights.
I’d rib you more but I have better stuff I could be doing.
lol . i hate lakers fans they so fake they hated matt barnes now they love him cuz hes on ya team like stupid band wagonerss . or no yhu shud whatch every game even ones we won and look at every BS call on celtics . then lakers will get a good foul call and they will jump up and down saying they didnt do anything . like in 5 mins c’s wud get 9 fouls on em . and then eevry 8 mins lakers will get one foul and flip out for no reason . celtics shuddda flipped out cuz all tha calls on them were BS . and if yhu notice if any call or shot was questionable they wud reveiw it for tha lakers ! not once did they review something for tha celtics . next year we will come back to the finals to get our stolen nba title . see ya next year buddy .
and look how many times d fish flopss ! specially the one when he got to tha line for faking then he tried it agen and cried to tha ref wen obviousilly hes putting on an act
@ Sophomore and Shooter
Ummm it wouldn’t just b Sheed’s contract for Shaq and Parker/Moon.
It would probably be something like Sheed’s contract and pick(s) for Shaq and Parker/Moon…
and how does it help Cleveland…well they get rid of Parker/Moon both of which are over 30 and they really have no use for as they are not CONTENDERS anymore and they get $$$ off the books with getting rid of Parker or Moon and Sheed’s contract. They would also get a pick (or picks). WTF does Cleveland have to make them say no…well they have Mo Williams and Antwan Jamison so maybe they could lock up the 8 seed in the East (still probably not), they should keep Jamario or Parker for that reason…yea right.
I dont know what Ainge is doing but he is borderline retarted. Shaq is out there and he takes the other O’neal. Shaq can still finish around the basket against the best centers in the league something none of our bigs can do on a regular basis. Look back at the Laker and Magic series. If we had Shaq on the block Paul and Ray wouldnt have had to work so hard on offense. I would rather have a guy who can finish around the basket than a guy who can just play the pick and roll a lil better. Rondo would have a field day with someone like Shaq he can dishoff to and they dunk the ball and not lose it out of bounds or have it stripped from their hands. Shaq is an excellent passer also so Dannyboy needs to get out of the trashbin and sign Shaq ASAP!
@pmd3311
Shaq can finish around the rim but clogs up the paint. That doesn’t help when Rondo’s best attack is driving in and finishing. Sure Rondo can dish the ball off to Shaq but even then, we still need a ranged big man like Sheed was for us last season. Because Perkins and Shaq off your bench doesn’t exactly give you the range needed to threaten offenses.
@ Jrmz we wont need Shaq to sit out at the three point line Garnett can do that. And they can still run iso’s with Rondo and have Shaq crashing if his man tries to stop Rondo. We dont need anymore finess bigs period!
Oh and Rondo cant finish among the trees Dwight still has his nuts.lol
It’d be nice to get Parker along with Shaq but I don’t think that’s realistic. Cleveland doesn’t even have an incentive to trade Shaq for Rasheed straight up unless the Celtics make it worth their while but they’re also going to include Parker as well? He doesn’t have a future in Cleveland but he’s a free agent after this season and will have trade value to contending teams during the season. To get Parker and Shaq, the Celtics are going to have to really give Cleveland something, like maybe Glen Davis but even then, Davis’ impending free agency makes him less valuable.
I think that Shaq has to realize that he is only worth the vet min if he wants to try and win his 5th title with the Celtics. I don’t see Cleveland helping the Celtics in any way with a sign and trade. Would T-Mac take the vet min to be a Pierce back-up? Celtics still need two more pieces.
i think its that time for a new celtics article post .
@Chris O. – that’s the point. We’d have to give Cleveland something more than Sheed’s contract to get Moon and Shaq. Would picks do it? I don’t know. But we aren’t getting them for free – which is what a lot of people seem to be waiting for.
Off-topic, but if you haven’t yet, you owe it to yourself to check out the video – guard Mike James invites the supernanny into his house. It … does not go well.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Mike-James-admires-the-Utah-Jazz-organization?urn=nba-259342
Scroll down to see the vid.
Fan-FUCKING-tastic!!!
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Kendrick-Perkins-Game-7-was-the-worst-time-of-?urn=nba-259371
OFF TOPIC BUT WHY DO MOST HEAT PLAYERS THINK SINCE YOU CANT BEAT THE BEST,PLAY WITH THE BEST
Wow. I thought MY posts were annoying. “Celtics Freak” takes the crown.
it seems that anything is possible