Ainge Confirms Cassell Offer

Well I’ll call this the first move Danny’s made this offseason that I disagree with.

It’s a decent move. Pruitt is certainly totally unproven, so I understand it. It appears that Danny understands he can’t win a title with a collection of unproven kids – God knows he ought to get that after the three years prior to last season.

And given the downgrade of the bench this summer, it’s at least somewhat comforting to see proof that the roster remains a work in progress.

Another example of clever subterfuge. Ainge says something obtuse and we’re expected to understand what exactly he means. Somehow his comment (re Pruitt) “…we love where he’s at” doesn’t say enough but the fact that Rajon is our “starting” PG, House has a new two year contract and that we’re working on a DEAL to bring Sam Cassell back leaves little room for a fourth PG.

While it’s always in the best interest of management (when working on a deal) not to…. let the cat out the bag ….too soon, such an approach when practiced often enough becomes their modem operandi.

Someone is leaving and it’s unlikely that we will carry 4 PGs and we must get down to the 15 player limit. Logic suggests that Pruitt will go (since the Cassell thing has later implications that include next year). Further, Pruitt NEVER impressed in the PG role but may have a future as a SG. Think of teams looking for “low priced talent” that could be part of the upcoming Celtic DEAL.

For certain it tells Pruitt that he’s not going to coast into anything, or has anything made. Of course, that’s not always a positive way to motivate people. Some respond to pressure, and others wilt.

I’m not a Sam fan, but I believe he can help this team and we shouldn’t look at last year as evidence. He can do things none of our other pg’s can. He can post up, he can create his own shot. He can draw fouls. I think there’s a role for him on this team. It is said that if Sam comes here someone needs to go. Perhaps that someone could be Sam, although I doubt it. But, Sam can retire after training camp and join the coaching staff.

This is not a BAD thing. Expectations are low for him (definitely not as high as last year), He does not have enough influence on this team to be cancer. To wonder too much about Gabe Pruitt is really ridiculous. As much as I hope we becomes a good player, there’s not much stock on him and we can really afford to lose him. Put it this way, we would have won the championship without him.

Whaaaaaaaat??? This is just a dumb move.

Just say no to Sam. As pointed out, signing Sam would show that Doc&Danny have no faith in Pruitt.

Well, I guess Sam is a better 3rd string pg than Gabe.

We don’t really have any use for Gabe anyways. We have a great, young pg who will be our starter for years to come. Its a waste of resource to develop a backup, we are better off sticking with vets to back up Rondo.

I just hope that Sam doesn’t take too many mpg away from House. I really like House as the primary backup pg. Sam will no doubt have his moments, but as age catches up him, they will fewer and farther between.

D Dub, that is a very valid statement… I’ve wondered about this as well.

“We don’t really have any use for Gabe anyways. We have a great, young pg who will be our starter for years to come. Its a waste of resource to develop a backup, we are better off sticking with vets to back up Rondo.”

I like eddie house…He honestly had some of the best chemistry with KG on the team…he knew when and where to get KG the ball down low and KG would always get it back to eddie if he got doubled..so I dont like the move if it means less minutes for eddie, otherwise it’s fine by me.

As pointed out, signing Sam would show that Doc&Danny have no faith in Pruitt.

Well, maybe they don’t.

D Dub may have hit on it. One young PG, a blossoming star, may merit two backup veterans vs another young developer.

But my true guess is Sam doesn’t make it out of camp but dons a suit and tie behind the bench for the season and perhaps gets player status if someone goes down.

I’m surprised people here are so dismissive of Pruitt. What I’ve seen of him is little to nothing (last year’s summer league). But though he’ll never be a classic point guard, it’s possible he may[/u] be able to handle the ball under pressure better than House, and [u]may[/u] prove to be a better defender. His outside shot is apparently good, and his ability to create a shot off the dribble [u]may also be a good deal better than House’s.

With House, you know what you’re going to get: simply a chucker. I’m hoping Pruitt may prove to be a more complete player.

Pruitt was lighting it up him the D league, that kid can play

I’m hoping Pruitt may prove to be a more complete player.[/quote]

Hope is overrated.

[quote]Pruitt was lighting it up him the D league, that kid can play

Lots of terrible players dominate in the D League.

In the end, we don’t know if Pruitt is even good enough to be in a NBA roster. If he’s waived after the training camp, that probably means he isn’t.

This just means that House will be playing some shooting guard as well for us this year, I believe. Cassell can some in and run the point, House can play shooting guard coming off of screens. It will work beautifully.

I don’t know why people feel Pruitt needs to be replaced on the roster. He’s the third string point guard backing up the Celtics’ bench’s most dependable player in Eddie House. It’s not like there is a huge burden on his shoulders …. or a huge risk for the club.

Third string point. Not in the rotation. Where’s the problem?