Von Wafer's Plan B Is China
by Jeff Clark on Sep 27, 2010 6:04 AM EDT
in Boston Celtics Rumors
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PrintIt sounds more and more like that last roster spot will come down to a battle between Von Wafer and Tony Gaffney. Wafter, it seems, has a fallback plan should he get cut.
NiuBBall.com " Zheijiang prefer Wafer over Alston
With Flip Murray expected to stay in the NBA this season, Zhejiang Guangsha has set their focus on signing one of either Von Wafer or Rafer Alston, according to Hoopchina.com. ...He is seen to be competing with former UMASS standout, Tony Gaffney. If Wafer is cut, Zhejiang will move to formally negotiate a deal with him first. If Wafer remains a Celtic, however, the team will move onto Plan B, which is Alston.
Wafer has already spent some time overseas but it doesn't seem like that worked out so well. It is interesting that Von would be more highly sought than Skip To My Lou.
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So wait
Alston can’t find a job in the NBA anymore?
Sad. And to think we supposedly wanted him as a backup PG last season (or some people did).
It says a lot that Zhejiang would prefer Wafer over Alston, too.
After what he did to the Heat organization (ran away)
Nobody is going to accept him anymore.
"The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot." - Bill Russell
by Marjun Raposon on Sep 27, 2010 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Wafer
we’ll end up keeping Wafer. better shooter to use on the floor when needed. C’s need some shooting from the bench. Nate and Delonte can be very streaky. Also, Wafer offers another option than Daniels behind PP. Smaller than Gaffney, sure. But Gaffney will never see the floor while Doc is coaching whereas Wafer could.
You never know about Gaffney
If he can play D half as well as people claim he can, assuming he makes the roster. Wafer I think will do fine, though, if he’s put on the team.
Keep in mind, the season is going to start off with West suspended and Bradley unable to play.
Doc’s going to be worried about who’ll back up Ray Allen during the first few games of the season. This should tip the balance and cause the Celtics to keep Wafer over Gaffney. Personally though, I’d prefer Gaffney.
Gaffney
I’m rooting hard to Gaffney. Not sure if he will be what the C’s need in a last spot player — but he is a tough defender. He is a good dude too.
I think it should come down to
Who is a better option at small forward on defense.
I don't see how anyone can vote in this poll...
… until we, you know, actually see Gaffney defend against NBA players. I didn’t see any Lakers preseason games last year, so I don’t feel qualified to offer an opinion. IF Gaffney shows that he can at least slow down some of the bigger 3s (defending Pierce in camp should be a good baramoter), he may well get the nod.
I expect Doc can assess this situation rather easily.
Doc should simply set up a scrimmage where Gaffney is guarding Wafer. If Wafer can get his shots off, and make a reasonable share of them, then he stays. If Gaffney shuts him down, then Wafer goes.
nope....
… the answer is going to be whether Gaffney can play D on Pierce. Pierce is the kind of big, strong small forward that we’re worried about being able to defend; if Gaffney can do a credible job in camp on PP, then he may be able to help out a little bit (if Quis gets hurt) on guys like ‘Melo and LeBron. If they think he can do that, that’s more important to the team than having a fifth off-guard.
I mostly agree with you, but I was speaking in terms of simplicity.
Unfortunately, the essential question isn’t whether Gaffney can play defense on a player like Pierce. Rather, it’s who would be of more value to the Celtics, Gaffney or Wafer? And that question involves a lot of scenarios. But it mostly boils down to this: can Gaffney can play defense against a guy like Pierce better than Wafer can produce on offense against tough defense? A simple way to find out is to match up Gaffney and Wafer. But yes, it might be better, though more complicated to judge, to match up Gaffney on Pierce, and then Wafer on Pierce, and then perhaps Gaffney on Wafer. Remember, if they keep Gaffney and cut Wafer, then they’re going to be thinner at the backup 2 spot.
In any case, again, I was just speaking of making things simple.
everybody should watch a clip from Gaffney before voting on this Poll!
this man has incredible defense-abilities – 6’9, fast with a wingspan of 7’2.
Pls guys watch that clip on youtube: Tony Gaffney Highlights
Still a Wafer Fan
Ok I watched the clip on Gaffney…..he can block shots but I didn’t see that one on one shut his player down.
If you watched the Summer League he was out of his league…too slow for the players he was covering and picked up those reach-in fouls.
Wafer has a tremendous ability to score from anywhere on the court. Don’t forget he averaged 9.7 PPG and 45% FG with the Rockets. Not bad stats!!
Wafer highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfKG9a89u4Y
this clip isn't available in my country
but I already watched highlights of him and I’m very skeptical about the defensive abilities of Von Wafer – he is a one-side guy and not a replacement for TA – tough Gaffney isn’t that too.. but he brings strength, length and size in defense and also has a good outside shot on offense – I hope he will convince in training camp. Since we have West, I don’t see the need for Wafer, if he isn’t able to sacrifice his game for the defense, we should waive him and keep Gaffney. I know his stats BigT but we don’t need his points anymore – we primarly need a strong defender on the SG/SF position. Sure Gaffney maybe is a little slow because he is already to big with 6’8/6’9 but I guess he is a better small forward on the defensive end as harangody.
gaffney and the 3 ball
We really need a good defender off the bench. TA did an admirable job at this last year though his offense was painful to watch. if TG shows up with a respectable 18 foot jump shot to go with his (still theoretical) hard nosed D it should be a no brainer. even with out a jumper i think it will be a close race. tony played the role last year with the ugliest jumper i’ve ever seen, and we did pretty good.
just watched the highlights
thanks for the link Greenmech.
not much of a jump shot but hot damn i love this kids athleticism and anticipation, obvious fire and ally-oopability.
rondo is going to love this guy.
I'll take Gaffney
I don’t the Celtics expected to get Delonte West in and Von Wafer will certainly be behind Redz. Gaffney simply brings the defensive prowness at the 3-spot that the Celtics need as a specialist off the bench.
The C’s pushed Gaffney to actually play shooting guards in the summer camp to see how he’d do – it will be a better fit when he plays the SF where the Celtics need him most, because Marquis Daniels is NOT going to stay healthy, and besides Harangody – who would be the offensive specialist at the 3 and work in combination with Gaffney if either ever see the light of day.
Delonte could easily take Tony Allen’s role and have Ray Allen shift over to the 3 for spot minutes – this is what happened last year when Quisy and Finley were useless.
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