Celtics Summer Vacation

by Jeff Clark on Jun 17, 2009 12:15 PM EDT in Articles Comment 21 comments

Well, it has been over 15 hours since the last Celtics rumor emerged, so to pass the time, lets catch up with some of the Celtics during their summer vacation.

First of all, Rondo is back from China and wrote about the experience on his blog. (sorry, no details on how much money he's asking for in contract extension talks)

I went shopping a couple of places, climbed the Great Wall, had an in store Nike appearance, and caught up with Yao for dinner one night.

Scalabrine and Bill Walker took a trip to DC with some contest winning kids.

As we cruise through D.C., passers-by have no idea that inside this over-sized bus sits two professional athletes instigating rap battles with 14-year-olds and imitating puppets, but neither the kids nor the players could be having more fun.

Danny Ainge took the staff to lunch

Boston Celtics cheese Danny Ainge treating the front office to lunch at the Biltmore Bar & Grille in Newton Upper Falls

....to talk about the blockbuster deal they are about to announce??? (no, probably not)

Don't forget that Perkins is getting married on July 25 and Rondo will be in the wedding. (Will they both still be Celtics at that point?)

Also, a Houston radio show caught up with Ray Allen for an interview. (sorry, no trade rumor talk)

So in summary, life goes on after basketball is done and shockingly enough it doesn't always invovle trade rumors.

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Interesting news about the players vacation

I was hoping to learn about it. I’m listening to Ray’s interview, it seems pretty interesting.

by Drucci on Jun 17, 2009 12:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Distro List

I’m on a distro list with a bunch of celtics fans. We just took a vote. 12-0. No one would trade Rondo straight up for Amare if the salaries matched. Ray Allen is easier to give up, but again, by a 12-0 vote, not one fan thinks we’d get 3/4 of the assets Ray brings to the table. Similarly, no one wants Andrew Bynum over Perk, and Bynum is now considered a top 5 center.

Bottom line: The only viable route is to try and convert the scrubs into a decent player or go the free agent route.

by Black Jack Pershing on Jun 17, 2009 1:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rondo for Amare

Wow. Amare is an all star big man that led his team to the WCF’s to a 7th game I believe. Most gm’s would trade them straight up if salaries matched, and the 2 that wouldn’t would probably be Dunleavy and Chris Wallace.

by jdpapa3 on Jun 17, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't take Amare either

Amare is the worst defensive big man in the league. He also has no back to the basket game to speak of. Without Nash to feed him the ball on fast breaks what does he do beyond rebound? And oh by the way he makes a ton of money and has had knee problems in the past. No way would I trade a guy with the trade value Rondo has for Amare.

by John70 on Jun 17, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

what

Worst defensive big man in the league? Wow.

by jdpapa3 on Jun 17, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

if Zach Randolph is still in the league, then Amare is not even close. I’ve never seen someone play worse defense. maybe not even in a pick up game.

by Berkcelt on Jun 17, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What I did on my summer vacation by Mikki Moore

The first day of my summer vacation, I woke up. Then, I went downtown to look for a job. Then I hung out in front of the drugstore. The second day on my summer vacation, I woke up, then I went downtown to look for a job. Then I hung out in front of the drugstore. The third day on my summer vacation, I woke up…

C&C

If the Cowboys could only play like a team with passion and unity like my beloved
Boston Celtics, I would be happy.

by Captain Comeback on Jun 17, 2009 2:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

good one Captain

I am absolutely certain however Mikki Moore didn’t steal anything from the drugstore as he would have DROPPED IT on the way out..

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Jun 17, 2009 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As I write this...

ten miles away the Lakers are celebrating in their victory parade. Shoot me.

by The Real Large James 2 on Jun 17, 2009 2:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

be glad to LJ!!!! hahahahaha

but first ….bartender!!!

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Jun 17, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kudos Jeff

Great alternative to the trade rumors (and pipedreams). I much prefer imagining how much fun those kids are having with Scal and Walker. My guess is that trip is a scream.

I really do love this post and hope we’ll see more like it over the summer. Our guys are not chips in a poker game, they have real lives outside of basketball. This sort of info helps us better appreciate our Celtics.

by Thruthelookingglass on Jun 17, 2009 3:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Trading Perk or Rondo

Not to bring back all this trade talk………but……I LOVE IT. There is nothing better than hypothesizing about trades that usually never come to fruition.

If I was GM, and I could pull the trigger on Perk/Walker for #2 I would do it in a heartbeat. I love KP. Hes a beast. I just think that the ceiling of Thabeet is MUCH higher than Perk’s. I mean most Division I bball players have been playing competitive basketball since the 6th grade, and most started learning the basics well before that. That means they have a minimum of about 8 yrs of competitive experience to bring to the table, when they enter the NBA draft (that’s if they leave as freshman, which many do, but not all). Thabeet didnt pick up a ball till 15! Division I recruits are starring on their varsity teams by then.

I think he will struggle offensively for the first year, but he seems to have the defensive skills to step in and contribute as the anchor of a defense immediately. Plus if he was a C, he would have arguably the best defender/motivator in the league in KG to guide him to be the best he can be.

While its true that Perk’s offensive game has gotten better each year, thats not his most beneficial feature to the team. Its his defense, which I dont think will fall off much if at all if we start Thabeet as a rookie. Starting 5 of…………….

Rondo
Allen
Pierce
Garnett
Thabeet

DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!

by ebouton2 on Jun 17, 2009 3:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I love the trade talk to

I think Allen and his big expiring contract is going to prove too tempting to cash strapped teams. You can think up all kinds of interesting ideas. For example, if you are New Orleans and you are on the hook for $13 million to Chris Paul starting next year you might look at trading him because you won’t be able to afford him. How about Rondo and Allen for Chris Paul and Tyson Chandler and whatever salaries it takes to make it work. If you are New Orleans you get out from under Paul and Chandler’s salaries, get a young much lower paid point guard and Ray’s and maybe Scal and Allen’s expiring deals. From a basketball standpoint it seems crazy. From a financial standpoint it makes all the sense in the world. Sadly in this economy, that is what matters.

by John70 on Jun 17, 2009 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that doesnt make any sense

Because Rondo’s contract will expire, and they’ll have to pay him.

Chris Paul , I think, will be considered cheap at 13 million. There is no way they trade him. Not for what we have to offer.

by bob3698 on Jun 17, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why Would NO Trade Chris Paul

I get so tired of hearing about teams trading for players with expiring or large contracts to free up money. If NO is “cash strapped” they can unstrap themselves by putting a good team on the floor and selling seats. I can see doing this for a Raef LaFrentz or Theo Radcliff if you’er looking to do something down the road, but you don’t do stuff like this with a Ray Allen or Chris Paul just to save a few bucks.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Jun 17, 2009 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes they do

The Lakers didn’t get Paul Gasol for nothing because Chris Wallace thought it was a good deal. They got Gasol for nothing because Memphis is broke. Basketball is going to start to look lik e baseball with a few big market teams getting all of the prime players because the small teams won’t be able to afford to compete.

by John70 on Jun 18, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Don't Even Know Who Thabeet Is

But no rookie is going to come to the Celtics and understand their defensive system the way Perk does. Also, this starting five, with Perk, know how to play with each other. Perk is underrated in general. He’s not the greatest offensive Center going, but he is one of the best defensive Centers in the league. He’s one of the only ones who can play opponent bigs one on one, as noted in his defense of Howard in the playoffs.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Jun 17, 2009 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs