JR Giddens Not In Camp

by Jeff Clark on Jul 2, 2008 3:34 PM EDT in Boston Celtics News & Links

But another draft pick who was expected to be in attendance - first-round pick J.R. Giddens - was also nowhere to be found when Boston brought in 15 players to Waltham yesterday for a double-session of scrimmages.
According to Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge, Giddens elected not to attend the camp - on the advice of his agents - because he had not yet signed a contract. While this makes some sense on the surface, it should be noted that there are rookies all across the league participating in workouts this week in advance of next week’s Las Vegas Summer League who have yet to sign deals.

Not sure what is going on with the agents but I'm not going to worry too much about this one. I'm sure someone will raise a red flag about his character issues, but I don't think that is the deal here. Just an overprotecive representation team as far as I can see. I wonder if it has anything to do with Danny's hinting around encouraging the draftees to look at options overseas for a year.

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Two players who do have residence in Waltham (or the immediate vicinity) who were in town yesterday were Glen Davis and Gabe Pruitt. Both are slated to participate in the camp through Saturday

with Davis saying he intends to spend the entire summer in Boston (more specifically Waltham) meeting conditioning goals heâ€™s set for himself.

â€¦

One can’t avoid wonder what kind of conditioning goals Big Baby sets for himself… More seriously, nice to read that. WTG, Big Baby.

by cordobes on Jul 2, 2008 3:42 PM EDT reply actions

This is definitely not an issue. And I don’t think either Giddens or Walker will play overseas this season.

by P_two on Jul 2, 2008 3:51 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t like the agent. Rookie salaries in the NBA are pretty straightforward. If there were concerns about injuries or whatever, they could take care of that ahead of time. Are the Cs paying for Walker’s surgery? If so, then what’s Giddens’ agent worried about? I don’t get it. Then again, I’m wound pretty tight today.

by amenhotep04 on Jul 2, 2008 4:07 PM EDT reply actions

It’s got to be an issue over insurance, right?

Who is his agent? If it’s one of the big firms, I wouldn’t expect that to be a holdup.

by Roy_Hobbs on Jul 2, 2008 4:09 PM EDT reply actions

Who is his agent? If it’s one of the big firms, I wouldn’t expect that to be a holdup.

Bartelstein (Priority Sports), who else?

by cordobes on Jul 2, 2008 4:29 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe the C’s agreed to draft Giddens in the first round with an agreement that he’d play a year overseas first? I don’t think this is the case, but noone else was drafting him in the first round, so it would have been an attractive option for Giddens. He’d still get his NBA guaranteed contract in a yr, but the C’s avoid the luxury tax hit while KG’s contract is super high.

by johnnyrondo on Jul 2, 2008 4:30 PM EDT reply actions

Here’s the only reason this worries me:

As a 1st round pick there’s very little wiggle room for what the C’s can
pay Giddens, /- 20% of his rookie salary slot as thee #30 pick.

The least is $638,000, the most $957,120. That’s a high/low difference of
$319,000…. chump change for the C’s, luxury tax or no.

Standard practice is for teams to go for the full amount…. I would be
surprised and disappointed if the C’s were trying to get him to take the
lowest poss. salary. Again, we’re talking peanuts to the Celtics, but a significant amount for Gidddens.

that said, If I were him, as a show of good faith (and b/c I cared about playing well for the Celtics), i’d stick around and at least watch the camp… though maybe the C’s said if you don’t sign, you can’t hang out.

by Gainesville Celtic on Jul 2, 2008 4:34 PM EDT reply actions

If giddens is offered 638 k he should just be grateful for it. Now danny can’t angle it like that but i feel giddens was very fortunate danny gave him a chance for the next two years guaranteed.

He will be at camp soon. Dumb agent

by Triboy16 on Jul 2, 2008 4:51 PM EDT reply actions

Telfair is coming back.

by Champzilla on Jul 2, 2008 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

Triboy: granted $600K is more than i’ll make possibly in the next 20 years, but i’m looking at the “why”…. asking 1st round picks to take 80% of the rookie scale is nearly unheard of in the NBA…

Champz: You jokin’ around or you passing along a rumor from your sources :)

by Gainesville Celtic on Jul 2, 2008 5:12 PM EDT reply actions

Fair enough on Giddens not showing

Not like it makes any difference if he’s there or not. It’s a meaningless little get together that has no significant purpose.

by Who on Jul 2, 2008 7:22 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe Danny is trying for a 3 year deal as he always does and what not.

Anyways, it’s good advice by the agents to tell him not to participate until he signs. There could be injuries during workouts etc. that might jeopardize his bargaining power.

Not worried about this one bit.

by BudweiserCeltic on Jul 2, 2008 8:36 PM EDT reply actions

I think Giddens is making a big mistake by not being here. His agents are misleading him if they are telling him otherwise. Hopefully he will have a mind of his own and get here soon. The minute he was drafted he started competing for a job. You can’t compete when you’re not here.

by TrueGreen on Jul 3, 2008 3:46 AM EDT reply actions