Destination Boston
by Jeff Clark on Aug 24, 2007 5:00 AM EDT
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21 comments
Reggie Miller has called off his comeback attempt, so we won't be seeing the future Hall of Famer in Celtics green. Still, it seems incredible to me that he was even considering it. It wasn't long ago that players were refusing to be traded to the Celtics. Now all of a sudden people are name dropping Boston left and right.
Consider that Miller indicated that he would either play for the Celtics or nobody. That means he had no interest in playing for the World Champion Spurs or even his former team the Indiana Pacers. He just wanted to come here. That's saying something.
Now he'll go back to the booth and Boston turns its attention to the other free agents that have been making doe eyes at Danny.
Some thoughts on more players who have stated interest in coming to Boston after the jump.
Ruben Patterson:
"You look at those squads (Boston and Miami) -- where's the stopper? The energy guy? The defensive guy? That's me. I'm the only guy they're missing."
There's no debating his talent. The guy can play. And he's right that the C's could use an energy stopper type of guy.
However, there are some pretty big questions about his past. Patterson is a registered sex offender as the result of an accepted a plea in an attempted rape case. I'm all for giving guys a second chance, but that might be too big of a red flag for me to accept. Especially since the team has worked very hard to rid itself of attitude players (Blount) and players that can't stay out of trouble (Telfair).
While he is a good fit as an energy guy, I don't think that role is our highest priority. We don't need his points (he scored 15 a game for the Bucks last year). He plays Paul's position so there aren't a lot of minutes to go to him. I'm actually pretty optimistic that Tony Allen can get healthy and if we need a defensive 3, we can use Wallace or Manuel in a pinch. Most of all, he doesn't play point guard.
At this point in the summer, I don't really want to see anyone else signed until with have another point guard on the roster.
Sarunas Jasikevicius:
Saras is telling anyone that will listen that he wants out of Golden State and his name has been tied to the Boston Celtics.
I think he's the best option we have at point guard at this point. He hasn't had a ton of success in the States yet, but he was a proven winner overseas and one could make the arguement that he hasn't had a lot of opportunities to get minutes on the teams he's been on. Danny showed interest in him when he originally signed with Indiana, perhaps he'll wind up in Boston afterall.
I also like that he'll probably come cheap. If he gets bought out, he'll have less incentive to seek a bigger paycheck and since he's looking for a shot to prove himself, he might take one of those one year deals that Danny has been giving out this year (to maintain some flexibility for next year).
Some Other Players To Consider:
- One Knicks writer thinks Demetris Nichols could be waived by the Knicks and picked up by the Celtics.
- Mutumbo hasn't signed anywhere yet, but was mentioned as a possibility in Boston. His other options are Houston and retirement.
- Gary Payton's name seems to come up a lot, but I'm not sure there is interest from Boston. We now know there isn't any more interest from Miami.
- For a brief moment, PJ Brown was mentioned, but it appears that the Celtics don't have enough cash lying around to pick him up.
- It was reported that after the KG trade, several agents of free agents were calling the Celtics (instead of the other way around). I'm sure there are several others that haven't even been mentioned in the media yet. Did anyone hear Eddie House or Scot Pollard connected with the C's before they were signed? The next guy could be anyone.
- Here's another breakdown of remaining available players from Hoopsworld. The only name on there that really interests me is Posey. If he gets no other offers, he's just the kind of guy that might take less to sign with Boston for a year and prove his worth.
Destination Boston:
For years we had to hear the excuses. Nobody wants to play in the cold weather of Boston. Players (and columnists) were concerned about racial tensions in the city. Some didn't have any faith in what Danny Ainge was doing.
Funny how none of that matters now. Which proves a point that may have been forgotten around here. Winning cures all ills. The team hasn't even played a game yet and already they are winners. This is the new destination. Everyone wants to play for Boston.
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Sarunas is not someone I would want on the team. From what I saw of him, he is a Dickauesque defender. He got his chances in Indiana with all their injuries but failed to show much. He looked like a shorter, slower version of Jiri Welsch.
I still feel Ainge should place a call to Atlanta. The Hawks are overstocked with point guards, three of them veterans. Also, the Spurs are in the process of trying out Troy Hudson. Ainge might take a look at him if he doesn’t sign in SA.
Besides the point guard situation, Ainge should address the need for a good back-up wing. It looks like Tony Allen won’t be at 100% for some time (and who knows if he’ll ever be). Allen loses a little spring and he becomes a borderline NBA player. I’d go after Devin Brown. He is a former San Antonio guy who, by all accounts, is a good teammate, plays decent defense, and can provide some bench scoring without needing lots of minutes.
by lemonadesky on Aug 24, 2007 6:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Weren’t Patterson’s problems several years ago? I think he is an excellent fit, seeing as the only backup to PP is an undrafted rookie. I don’t think there would be a problem with him, as he’d be surrounded by quality vets. If we get him for short money, he can always be cut if he causes problems.
Sarunas would be a decent pickup as well, seeing as there isn’t much left to choose from.
by Bankshot on Aug 24, 2007 6:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Tony Allen is already a borderline NBA player. I have no idea why Celtics fans are so high on this guy. Eddie House will be our 6th man.
by Mr Freeze on Aug 24, 2007 6:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m happy about it.
Yes, it could’ve been great.
But at the same time it could’ve been a huge distraction.
And throw in the added pressure of winning a championship ‘for Reggie’?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t REGGIE famously make the ‘choke’ symbol (putting his hands to his neck) and glare at Larry Bird once, or at least a team with Larry Bird on it?
I’m serious when I ask that…it sticks out in my memory.
by mcpu40 on Aug 24, 2007 7:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Miller made the choke reference in New York when he scored 2 3pt shots within 8 seconds. Secondly even at 42 he would have given a little legitamcy to our bench.
If your talking about winning the Championship this team has a point guard who has never been in the playoffs and a bench who’s best player is (excluding TA) who?
by FatJohn on Aug 24, 2007 7:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I could’ve sworn Miller directed a well focused choke sign at the Celtics once too…and that Larry Bird was on the team.
Maybe I’m wrong.
Regardless, IMO it would’ve been a distraction.
by mcpu40 on Aug 24, 2007 7:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This stinks. I really thought he was going to do it since everything sounded so positive. I was convinced that this could work with Reggie.
It’s kind of weird that he said physically he would be fine but not mentally. I thought it would be the other way around. Oh well.
by DJ RYB on Aug 24, 2007 7:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Whatever we do, I hope it’s just for one year, or a non-guaranteed deal. We hit the free-agent market late this year, and there will be far better options in the future than exist at the moment.
by Eeyore III on Aug 24, 2007 8:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It’s exciting that players want to come to Boston. But the reason they want to come to Boston instead of, say, San Antonio, is because there’s no room for them on the Spurs. Players look at Boston and see three great players and lots of room. (Patterson’s comments illustrate this perfectly.)
Still exciting, though.
by PJ Martinez on Aug 24, 2007 8:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree on Saruanas as the back up pg if the money is right, etc. He’s a good shooter which will at least force defensive pg to play him honest. He’s a decent playmaker.
Although he lacks it on D, he can’t be any worse than Telfair.
PG is the most needed position, he fits the bill.
by docextension on Aug 24, 2007 8:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If Reggie wasn’t 100% into this comeback then he did us a favor. It was going to be tough enough physically without not being committed mentally. I take that as a class guy being honest with us and not taking our slot or money.
Bankshot – I don’t care how long ago someone pleaded guilty to attempted rape. There has to be a line and that one is not one we should cross. We don’t want to become the Jailblazers thank you.
Shouldn’t we have our backup PG be a change of pace guy that has different qualities and strengths than Rondo? Maybe a more offensive minded guy? That is why I think House will be just fine. Spend that last spot on a big man.
by EJPLAYA on Aug 24, 2007 8:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Honestly, like Bill Simmons I don’t see this year as the year we make the big push. That will be next year. I’m okay with starting with what we have and maybe picking up someone at or around the trade deadline. Let’s see what we’ve got this year, then make a serious effort to plug up the holes for next season.
by Wycsend on Aug 24, 2007 9:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
hmmm. I’m missing the dropping Boston’s name left and right, part, I guess. I’m just not impressed with other teams’ rejects like Patterson showing interest, and I haven’t heard any one else say diddly about it.
If guys like Motumbo or Webber or Brown were saying they wanted to come here, sure, that would be somewhat impressive, but I haven’t seen or heard anything to that effects. After Miller and the two mentioned above, which players have shown any outward interest at all? I count … none.
I’m saying this not to be negative, but because I’m bummed that free agents AREN’T publicly clamoring to come here, and I think it’s a falacy or myth to say Boston is now a hot destination for free agents. Wishful thinking vs. reality.
by Cousin It on Aug 24, 2007 10:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Miller actually made the choke reference at Spike Lee the previous year, 1994, when he went crazy in the 4th quarter of Game 5 scoring all those points. Game 1 in 1995 was when he scored the 8 points in the final 8 seconds.
by tb727 on Aug 24, 2007 11:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
definetly saras is the best option. he is such a POINT guard, but you have to let him be the director…
by solojay on Aug 24, 2007 12:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Damn. I had high hopes of Reggie coming back.
I don’t think we should look in Payton’s direction but at the same time, where else are we going to find a point guard that can actually teach Rondo a few things?
by MBurke15 on Aug 24, 2007 1:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ah its come down to Gary Payton and who? Sarunas Jasik. Geez sounds a little desperate. What stinks is neither is very good and we would have to OVERPAY for both. I got a idea LETS HOLD OPEN TRYOUTS for the backup point guard posistion. Maybe you find a gem. Or we could sign Troy Hudson, Damon Stoudamire(buyout.) or some other carwreck. “OPEN TRYOUTS FOR THE BACKUP POINT GUARD POSISTION” its a PR jackpot. DO IT DANNY!!
by FatJohn on Aug 24, 2007 1:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Fat John,
Exactly my point. If free agents are so hot to come here, why has it come down to that?
solojay,
Who is Saras? Do you mean Bobby Sura?
by Cousin It on Aug 24, 2007 2:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
he coulda, shoulda, nah. i give him credit for giving it a go and then knowing himself and what he was willing to do or not do.you can’t ask for more. wouldn’t it be nice if we could all be in a similar position in life, where we can either take it or leave it like that.
by nazzbo on Aug 24, 2007 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Maybe Miller isn’t 100% into the idea of a comeback. But if he is 50% into it, I sure wouldn’t mind signing him around the all-star break for the play-off push …
by ForexPirate on Aug 24, 2007 10:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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