Not sure if this is really new news, but it gives us a timetable to work with.

Wallace weighing offer - Boston.com

Rasheed Wallace is not expected to make a decision on the Celtics' offer of a mid-level exception contract for at least a week.

Update: Interesting to learn of the Cavs lack of interest.  Also, it seems like the Celtics might be willing to go to 3 years (not confirmed):

'Sheed receptive to Celts, but will shop - CBSSports.com

Contract parameters were discussed -- it is believed Wallace would get the mid-level for 2-3 years -- but Wallace wants to hear other offers. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Cavaliers have yet to contact Wallace, indicating their lack of interest. San Antonio has expressed interest, and the Orlando Sentinel reported Friday that the Magic have contacted Wallace's agent, Bill Strickland.

More photos » by Frank Franklin II - AP

Pick your bust!

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As Jeff mentioned earlier today, Roy Hobbs is at MSG tonight .  He's updating me with some behind the scenes commentary via text message (if its good enough for DA and Spears, txting will work for Roy and me too).

I [Roy Hobbes] was on TV, in front of the guys with the Israeli flag

Word is that Rubio is staying in Minn and Hill will stay with the Knicks

Lots of talk linking the Knicks and the Wolves but Lawson just traded to the Nuggets.

Jrue Holiday finally picked.  He looks upset.  Last guy in the green room although there are other guys here.

Rumor via Slam is Nate Rob + Hill for Rubio.  Would have to be after July 8.  

 The Cats shock the world and pick...Gerald Henderson, local college product.  DeJaun and Jrue are Jslippin

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More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

Thanks Kevin!

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Looks like Kevin McHale is out in Minnesota.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love says on Twitter that Kevin McHale will not return as coach next season.

In an update posted early Wednesday, Love tweeted, "Today is a sad day ... Kevin McHale will NOT be back as head coach this season."

More photos » by Tony Dejak - AP

No Wally, you can't come to NY with me.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers have some soul searching to do this summer, but that's not all.  A few players have options they have to decide on picking up or not and of course there's the elephant in the room of LeBron's future plans after next year (did anyone else notice that he was wearing a Yankees cap when addressing the media on ESPN?)

One big bombshell is that Anderson Varejao is opting out of his contract to become a free agent.  Another big news item is Ben Wallace thinking about retiring and leaving 14 Million on the table (I'll believe it when I see it).  Both stories come via the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

For those interested, Joe Smith is a free agent and expressed interest in returning to the Cavs once again.

Kelly Dwyer at Ball Don't Lie doesn't expect much change this offseason.  Personally I think that would be a mistake.

So what do you think the Cavs will do?

More photos » by John Raoux - AP

Gotta say...this is somewhat surprising.

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Wow - I can't believe I just wrote that.  The Cavs' bigs sure did make Perk's effort on Dwight look even more incredible than we all knew it was.  

However, this is definitely bittersweet, the Celtics surely had their chances against the now dominant Magic, they just could not get it done.  The Cavs on the other hand were pretty much dominated this series. 

The key to stopping the Magic is being able to cover Dwight one on one and making sure you stay with their shooters.  I have no idea if Bynum can man up Howard, I tend to think no.

Hats off to the Magic for taking yet another step.   Welcome to the show.  And....

BEAT LA!

Oscar the Grouch's alter ego takes a temporary sabbatical.

View full size photo uploaded May 29, 2009

A Daily Babble Production

By definition, this is not an easy piece to write.  That's because it will be the final edition of the Daily Babble to come your way for the foreseeable future.

I received an offer from the National Basketball Association for temporary employment this summer, and I have accepted what I consider an opportunity I can't pass up.  For the next couple of months, I will be working in the league office, completing a myriad of tasks for the NBA's marketing communications department.  I'm thrilled to have the chance to expand my understanding of the league's operations and sports media relations, and I'm looking forward to meeting any number of new people and engaging in a set of new experiences in the time to come.  Thanks to Heather Roberts, Michael Bass and Adam Silver at the NBA for helping make this possible.

I'm proud to say the offer from the league came about largely as a result of the work I have done since arriving at CelticsBlog nearly a year and a half ago.  However, while working for the Association, I will be unable to continue writing for a team-oriented site such as this one.

At this point, I expect to be with the NBA through early August. As WFAN's Eddie Scozzare once told me, there are no guarantees in this life, and I have no idea what the next couple of months will hold for me on a personal level.  But as it stands now, I have no reason to doubt that I will return to my role as your humble Daily Babbler here at CelticsBlog during the latter portion of the offseason's dog days.

But as long as I've got your attention one last time for now, if you wouldn't mind, please indulge me for just a few more minutes for some scrambled thoughts as I offer you my temporary farewell.

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More photos » by Winslow Townson - AP

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A Daily Babble Production

Over a three-day span in the final week of February, Danny Ainge added the last two pieces to the roster with which the Celtics attempted to defend their title this spring.  One of them caused me great internal tumult beforehand, and the other struck me as most likely to make a marginal positive impact rather than one significant enough to merit his round-the-clock news cycle among Celtics fans in the week leading up his acquisition.  With free agency impending for both of them, it's time for an evaluation of the respective green tenures of Mikki Moore and Stephon Marbury.

In Moore's defense, the Celtics signed him with the expectation that he would be the fifth or sixth big man (depending on Brian Scalabrine's role) if the team reached full health for the stretch run, which it never did.  The various injuries to Kevin Garnett, Leon Powe, Glen Davis and Scalabrine forced Moore into a more expanded role than projected, and averaging 19 minutes in 24 regular season games no doubt accentuated his flaws.

But the blame deflection disclaimer ends there, and it doesn't change the fact that Mikki Moore is a subpar NBA player who did not do a good job as a Celtic this season.  Rewind for a moment to February.  In his writing at FanHouse, top-of-the-line Kings blogger Tom Ziller offered us a scouting report before Mikki came to town:

Moore has springs in his legs, but he does not block shots (6'6 Francisco Garcia had more per-minute last season). He can do three things well: take charges (though he'll also rack up a ton of fouls trying to get those), hit the elbow jumper and finish at the rim, provided the ball is handed off to him within five feet of the basket and there are no defenders within 10 feet.

While TZ drew the ire of Celts fans by referencing Mark Blount (whose effort level is nowhere near Mikki's), albeit strictly in terms of rebound rate (where the two are comparable over the courses of their careers), his assertions about Moore proved spot on.

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More photos » by John Raoux - AP

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A Daily Babble Production

In an Eastern Conference Finals series that has thus far made me look every bit the idiot I so often am, the latest installment provided a cherry on top: Rafer Alston submitting a huge performance in yet another victory for the Orlando Magic.

As our archives demonstrate, I have made no secret of my distaste for Alston's game, and I have berated him at just about every turn in this postseason.  While one night won't turn me into the president of his fan club, it seems the least I can do is omit the usual preface of laying out my case for not liking Alston's game.  Because the Magic's 116-114 overtime win in Tuesday's Game 4 came on a night that belonged to him as much as anyone.

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