Celtics Sign Former UMass Standout Tony Gaffney and D-Leaguer Oliver Lafayette

by Jimmy Toscano on Apr 13, 2010 11:38 AM EDT

First reported by ABC40 in Springfield

A 6-foot-8 forward, Gaffney went undrafted out of UMass, but played for the Los Angeles Lakers' summer league team last year and earned an invite to training camp, where he was a final cut. Gaffney latched on with Hapoel Gilboa Galil Elyon in Israel before suffering a broken foot that forced him to return stateside to rehab.

Gaffney, a Somerset native, spent his freshman season at Boston University before transferring to UMass, where he earned Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

Can't see this meaning a whole lot, obviously. Tony Gaffney may get some garbage minutes to end the season, but can't see him playing at all in the playoffs. Might make for a good body during practices.

There are also reports that the Celtics will sign guard Oliver Lafayette from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the D-League. Lafayette averaged 17 points, 6.5 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.83 steals per game in 42 games this season. He is 6-2 190lbs and played college ball at Houston.

Ridiculous Upside has more on the signings- worth a quick read. They also report that both players were offered non-guaranteed contracts for next season.

They quote Mad Ants President Jeff Potter's blog post on Lafayette's improved play towards the end of the season:

Oliver Lafayette is not a name that jumps out at people, but he has been unbelievable the past few weeks and is a real stat stuffer. Here are his numbers for the month of March: 22 ppg, 6.5 apg, and 5 rpg.

During our last seven games, where we have won six of those games, Oliver has been at his best. During that stretch, he is averaging 24.15 ppg, 8.58 apg, and 5 rpg. And, impressively, he has been doing that against excellent competition in Keith Mcleod, Cedric Jackson, Jackie Manuel (one of the best defenders in the league) and Russell Robinson.

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Ridiculous Upside has some more on this...

… and reports that the Celts have also offered them non-guaranteed contracts for next year.

http://www.ridiculousupside.com/2010/4/13/1418886/celtics-to-sign-oliver-lafayette

All the negativity in this town sucks. It sucks, and it stinks, and it sucks. - Rick Pitino

by Roy_Hobbs on Apr 13, 2010 11:43 AM EDT reply actions

thanks roy, will update the post with that link

by Jimmy Toscano on Apr 13, 2010 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I wonder if Austin Ainge scouted Lafayette for them.

by clover on Apr 13, 2010 12:03 PM EDT reply actions

NBA has a talent Glut

I feel like the NBA (and NBDL) has a talent glut. These two players may turn out to be the next Carl Landry or the next Gerald Green. What makes the difference these days is probably coaching. And not just the head coach, but more so, all of the assistant coaches that are there for the development process.

I’ve never been one to value the coach over the players but the time has come. With the right combination of fundamental development and creative play design, a team of undrafted players could make the playoffs. Handling the pressure and clutch play are the intangibles a GM should look for in these players but the athleticism will always be there.

Doc and his staff are not the men for the job, I am sad to say. And at best, these two guys will probably be shipped to detroit for Rodney Stuckey or some other short, under performing, over hyped SG who can’t play PG (cough…Nate…Let me clear my throat…Rob) Lets just hope they win some dunk contests.

by taxbax on Apr 13, 2010 12:09 PM EDT reply actions

these two unproven guys for stuckey?

done deal in a heartbeat if salaries can be worked out. 16.6ppg, 3.8rpg, 4.8apg, and not even 24 years old. +14.71EFF in 34 minutes. Only ugly thing that pops out is his 40%FG (23% %3pt) and a 26-55 record.

the few, the proud, the boston celtics

by bleedgreen34 on Apr 13, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Lol

Joe d is coming at ya!

by friedgreentomatoes on Apr 13, 2010 3:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Well, I guess you can never have enough Kevin Gambles

by Wildblu1 on Apr 13, 2010 12:10 PM EDT reply actions

Could this be commentary already on their view of the tail end of this year's draft class?

by clover on Apr 13, 2010 12:12 PM EDT reply actions

is the bloom off the Baby and Nate rose already?

by clover on Apr 13, 2010 12:12 PM EDT reply actions

Is this part of their new strategy to rest the vets but practice the rest of the team through the playoffs?

by clover on Apr 13, 2010 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

gaffney + lafayette = banner 18!!!!

by Jimmy Toscano on Apr 13, 2010 12:14 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

and 1

the few, the proud, the boston celtics

by bleedgreen34 on Apr 13, 2010 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

What the heck are the Maine Red Claws for then?

Good thing we have our own D-league team but don’t even sign guys from it.

by bdm860 on Apr 13, 2010 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

good thing we aren't limited to just one team's worth of players to choose from

by incoherent. on Apr 13, 2010 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

?

The value of the Maine team is for placing young players ALREADY under contract, like Giddens or Landry. There is no reason why we should look to Maine over other teams for unsigned players.

by guava_wrench on Apr 13, 2010 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

One, my comment was not that serious. Two, you are wrong about the value of the Maine team. What you said is true, but it’s not the only reason. If you have guys you like and are interested in signing, they should be signed to your D-League team. Think they just discovered Gaffney and Lafayette?

by bdm860 on Apr 13, 2010 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Gaffney was hurt all season

And didn’t play in the D-League.
Lafayette wasn’t a player that Maine had its roster. They had a pure point – Russell Robinson – and a scorer – Mo Almond – but no sort of combo guard.

I blog at Ridiculous Upside. I know you'll love it.

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 13, 2010 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't underestimate Gaffney

I hope he takes the non-guaranteed deal for next season and plays with the Celts in the summer league. He may never make it in the NBA, but I have never seen a guy player harder.

by vinnie on Apr 13, 2010 12:26 PM EDT reply actions

yea

I respect Tony a lot for that. Everywhere he goes, you get people ranting and raving about his tenacity and heart

by jdpapa3 on Apr 13, 2010 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow

I’m totally confused by this. Are they bodies for practice?

What I’d like to think is that Danny is looking at these guys prior to the draft, as well as off season moves. If they fit, or can make the team, then that could provide him with more flexibility in terms of moves he can make during the summer.

by amenhotep04 on Apr 13, 2010 12:29 PM EDT reply actions

It’s about time we give someone else some chance to play and try. I still think we need someone who can rebound! Rasheed can not rebound. He’s to old.

by Blackberry33 on Apr 13, 2010 12:36 PM EDT reply actions

Puts Landry move into perspective

This puts the Landry cut into perspective. Clearly Ainge was more interested in these other guys than in Landry.

by guava_wrench on Apr 13, 2010 12:39 PM EDT reply actions

I guess Sean Williams is off the table, huh?

by footey on Apr 13, 2010 12:45 PM EDT reply actions

Danny

So we get rid of Walker and House to get Nate Rob who can’t (can?) crack the rotation……cut Landry, sign these 2…

hmm…puts the whole “In Danny we Trust” idea into question…….

Please prove me wrong again Danny……please…….

by celticrobm on Apr 13, 2010 12:51 PM EDT reply actions

Including Walker in the deal was a mistake.

by clover on Apr 13, 2010 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

We'd have never known how good Walker would be without replacing Rivers.

He’d never see the court with us.

by Finkelskyhook on Apr 13, 2010 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

well

Walker or a pick…I think Danny made the right move

by jdpapa3 on Apr 13, 2010 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Red's Army just updated that they were signed for summer league

by KY Celts fan on Apr 13, 2010 1:00 PM EDT reply actions

lol

if the celtics were coached by nelie than i might be excited by these signings… lol
I do wonder if this is a sign of were danny wants to go, next season?

by businessbmw on Apr 13, 2010 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

AMEN

nellie and the warriors office has this amazing way of picking up the best d-league guys and using them to their maximum potential. they just did a 20-point comeback against the west’s 8th seed the other night with a roster filled with call-ups.

i wish these signings foreshadow a similar trend

by paolost on Apr 13, 2010 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah, being like the Warriors would be awesome!

playing no defense and winning only 20 games a year! that’s exactly the direction we need to go!

by KY Celts fan on Apr 13, 2010 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

dont be ignorant dude!

you know we are talking about going young, weare not talking about becoming a run and gun offence.

by businessbmw on Apr 14, 2010 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions

bodies

summer skins and shirts stuff

by Snowball on Apr 13, 2010 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

Gaffney is the second coming of ...

Bill Walker.

by stoyko on Apr 13, 2010 2:32 PM EDT reply actions

that's not saying much

by KY Celts fan on Apr 13, 2010 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

You meant he will be traded to the Knicks ??

by getthat18now on Apr 14, 2010 4:59 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd like to see Steve Weinman weigh in on this

But my opinion is that the D-Leaguers can often really play. The problem is when they come up to the NBA, they don’t get the minutes or shot attempts necessary to replicate their work in the minors. Thusly, the guys who often get the chances to and actually do make an impact are high-energy role players, guys with strong rebound rates.

All totally uninformed, I might add.

by TheOutletPass on Apr 13, 2010 2:39 PM EDT reply actions