Archive for the ‘Offseason’ Category

« Older Entries

Memory Lane: Delonte & The Truth

September 2nd, 2010

Back at the end of the 2005-06 season, Delonte West and Paul Pierce filmed a segment over at Fox Sports Net (Now CSN) together breaking down their own fashion styles and discussing the team’s prospects for the upcoming season.

The five minute interview’s highlights include Delonte discussing “future All-Stars” Tony Allen and Al Jefferson, (2 minute mark) and Paul Pierce anticipating a trip to Europe (3:30) to scout for the team’s trip there for next year, that we all know will go down in history.

An entertaining few minutes if nothing else, and you have the sense that both West and Pierce genuinely get along here. You know Danny wouldn’t have brought in West without the blessing for the key members of his roster, so it’s apparent here just how comfortable Delonte was in Boston back then. Here’s to hoping he can return to that place next season.

Bonus goodness after the jump » More: Memory Lane: Delonte & The Truth

9 Comments »

Posted in Offseason, Videos

Ainge Talks About West Signing

September 1st, 2010

Upon confirming the C’s will be signing Delonte West to a deal this afternoon, Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge spoke with the media this afternoon about the signing and other concerns relating to the team. Our man over at ESPNBoston.com. Chris Forsberg has us covered with the latest the C’s top dog had to say on West, training camp, and the rest of the roster.

On Trading Delonte West in 2007:

“He was one of the toughest guys for me to trade, I’d do it again, of course, but we really liked Delonte when he was here. Even though we knew the issues and the challenges he needed to take care of, we also think Delonte is in a better place today than he was the day he left. He wasn’t perfect, but we still liked the player.”

On Team’s Familiarity with West:

“There’s a familiarity with the roster and a familiarity with the players, Paul [Pierce] and Rajon [Rondo], especially, were big fans having played with him. I’m a fan of Delonte.”

On  Training Camp Plans:

“When I played for the Celtics, we never went away… It’s a long season, guys can sleep in their own beds.”

On Prospects of Tony Gaffney and Oliver Lafayette of Making The Roster:

“We’ll keep the best players.”

A couple other key notes from Forsberg’s column include the admission that Ainge wouldn’t close the door on making any more moves before the start of the season. » More: Ainge Talks About West Signing

20 Comments »

Posted in Notebook, Offseason

The Importance Of Quisy

August 31st, 2010

In the midst of Chris Forsberg’s terrific Summer Forecast over at ESPN Boston we’ve reached a question of utmost significance in the C’s hopes next season, the importance of Marquis Daniels. Here’s what I wrote today, over at the Forecast:

Daniels’ performance next season is one that bears close watching for C’s fans. Brought back on a one-year $2.4 million deal, purely out of necessity more than anything else, Daniels follows up last season’s disappointing campaign as the team’s top reserve at a wing position thin on depth.

The C’s can’t afford another down year from Daniels, with Tony Allen out of the picture and Ray Allen and Paul Pierce one year older. Those guys need to have their minutes kept down during the regular season more than ever, and Daniels needs to hold his own as a key reserve.

The good news is I expect Marquis to step up to the challenge. A clean bill of health and not having to learn a new system should do wonders for Daniels’ play as he becomes more comfortable in Celtic green without having to battle TA for minutes.

The guy has the overall skill set to be a big contributor; I just don’t think we saw him really healthy at all last year. If he can stay healthy (a huge if, I know), Daniels has both the ability and a strong supporting cast on the bench to excel in his role this season.

I don’t expect him to play 82 games, but a strong bounce-back performance — in a make-or-break season for his career — should be in the cards.

Let’s get a bit more in-depth here as there are a few more points I want to dig into more in discussing Daniels’ prospects next year » More: The Importance Of Quisy

17 Comments »

Posted in Commentary, Offseason

FIBA Watch: Durant leads way against Croatia

August 28th, 2010

Rajon Rondo may no longer be with the squad, but that doesn’t mean CelticsHub won’t be keeping an eye on Team USA as they try to bring home their first World Championship since 1994. The National “B” Team opened up in pool play this afternoon against Croatia on the slow side, only leading by two after the first frame.

Luckily, Coach K’s squad used their defense and athleticism to break things wide open in the second period, holding Croatia to just 6 points, while opening up a 22 point halftime lead they never looked back from on their way to a 106-78 victory.

Kevin Durant led the scoring with 14 points, but it was a couple NBA sophomore stars that stole the show with Eric Gordon (13 points) and Kevin Love  (10 rebounds) serving as terrific sparkplugs off the bench in the balanced effort.

Everyone on the team scored at least 4 points, and 9 of the team’s 12 players made a 3, as Coach K put a premium on shooting by going with a small lineup with 3 guards (Rose, Curry, Billups) to start. I am curious to see if they will stick with this lineup heading into tomorrow’s game against Slovenia (9:30 a.m. ESPN2)

In honor of the win against Croatia, naturally we had to bust out some highlights from the greatest Croatian Celtic of all-time, the one and only Dino Radja. Incredibly, someone made a mix tape on Youtube, combining both Dino Radja and Eric Montross highlights, which will make any 90′s Celtics fans weekends.Enjoy the goodness.

A look at how the C’s newest European import Semi Erden fared in his FIBA debut, after the jump » More: FIBA Watch: Durant leads way against Croatia

6 Comments »

Posted in Lazy weekend post, Notebook, Offseason

Ainge Talks Final Roster Spot

August 26th, 2010

Julian Benbow has the scoop in his article in today’s Boston Globe, getting a interesting quote from Danny Ainge, regarding filling the team’s final hole at the wing:

With reports circling about interest in fiery if disgruntled Portland guard Rudy Fernandez, Ainge acknowledged that he was pursuing trade options, though he wasn’t sure a deal would fall in place.

“We’re just continuing to explore available players and trade possibilities and see what sort of options are there,’’ said the Celtics president. “There are some trade discussions that we’re having. I don’t know the likelihood of those happening, but we’ll continue to not rush into something unless it’s something that we’re really excited about.’’

Can’t ask for anything more than this team doing it’s due diligence in addressing the need, and that’s exactly what Danny seems to be doing here. You would think the trade discussions he is referring to here involve Rudy Fernandez, who did no favors for his trade stock while looking unimpressive against Team USA last weekend.

A closer look for Ainge and all C’s fans will be in order this weekend at the official start of the FIBA Championship in Turkey. So even if the cutting of Rajon Rondo eliminated your interest in watching this tournament next weekend, do your best to catch a glimpse of what Rudy Fernandez can bring to the table.

As far as other trade possibilities though, this is the only one you’d think the C’s would be considering right now. I can’t see any player on their roster right now they’d be willing to move, given pretty much everyone right now is filling a need, or is a inexpensive young prospect (Harangody, Bradley, Erden).

We know a 1st Round pick has been offered for Fernandez, so it’s likely those talks are in a holding pattern right now, as each side waits for the other to blink or sweeten the pot. Could the C’s be willing to offer that 1st Rounder for someone else that could help? Don’t hold your breath.

Also from the same piece, Danny Ainge also looks to be taking seriously Paul Pierce’s request for a new training camp spot » More: Ainge Talks Final Roster Spot

27 Comments »

Posted in Notebook, Offseason