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Will Noc be a Celtic?

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Marc Stein give us the following scoop on TrueHoop.

There is some hope, according to NBA front-office sources, for a three-way deal that is currently in the exploratory-discussion phase.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings, in considering the feasibility of a Samuel Dalembert-for-Kenny Thomas swap, have discussed expanding that concept with Boston by trying to draw in the Celtics on a potential three-way deal that would land Andres Nocioni with the Celts.

Sources further stressed over the past 48 hours that this should be classified as an ongoing conversation as the teams involved decide how much they like what's on the table.

But the full deal as it stands, if it eventually gets that far, would send Nocioni to Boston, Kenny Thomas, Tony Allen and Brian Scalabrine to Philadelphia and Dalembert and J.R. Giddens to Sacramento.

Taking the teams one by one:

*Boston has had interest in Nocioni from the minute Sacramento acquired him in February in the deal that dispatched Brad Miller and John Salmons to Chicago. That said, Boston has also been hesitant since February about acting upon that interest because Nocioni has three years and more than $20 years left on his contract after this season. That's a lot of long-term cash for the Celts to take on -- even if Nocioni turned out to be a James Posey-style Mr. Versatile for them -- after they just signed Rajon Rondo to a lucrative extension and with decisions about the futures of Paul Pierce and Ray Allen looming. So Boston pulling out because of financial concerns likely ranks as the biggest impediment to this deal.

Very interesting.

As Stein stresses, this sounds like an ongoing discussion rather than something imminent, but it is good food for discussion on a non-game day.

I've detailed the pros and cons of such a deal in the past.  It only makes sense to discuss it and we know a similar deal was discussed last year.  

Personally I think I'd roll the dice.  He's a hard nosed competitor that needs a winning environment to really shine his brightest.  His deal is rather large, but the cap number actually decreases each year and the price of picking him up is dirt cheap (expiring deals).  He's even on the south side of 30, so he'll be a good piece for the present and near future.  

Still, that's a big check to cut, so I wouldn't be shocked or dismayed to see the team pass.

What do you think?

Update:  Via the Herald

On another front, a team source denied that the Celtics are in discussions to join a three-team deal that would land them Sacramento swingman Andres Nocioni. The team simply doesn’t have the flexibility to absorb Nocioni’s contract, which pays him $20.5 million over the next three seasons.

More photos » by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

Keep those elbows in young fella.

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via Gant on RealGM

Former Providence coach Tim Welsh said on CSN that Rondo went to Atlanta and worked with Mark Price on his shooting all summer. Welsh said before Rondo was a bad shooter and now he is an average shooter. Apparently Rondo has corrected the flaw in his shooting form.

Welsh said Rondo worked out every day all summer with Price and that he's keeping his elbow in now. Welsh expects him to take many jumpers in preseason to get his confidence [up].

There's a lot of "if's" on this team that hedge expectations on the downside.  If KG isn't healthy... If the old guys get worn down... etc.

So it is nice to balance that with a few "if's" on the upside.  If Rondo can develop an "average" jump shot, ...well, wow.

A couple of rumors that may be of interest to the Celtics.

The Star Tribune reports:

Newly acquired Antonio Daniels won't play for the Timberwolves after all.

As they also did this week with veteran center Mark Blount, the Wolves have given Daniels permission to find a trade that will allow him to play more elsewhere. If the Wolves can't trade Daniels, 34, for a contract similar to his $6.6 million deal, the two sides already have agreed to a contract buyout.

Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted:

The Bobcats Raja Bell continues to be shopped around the league, GM's say. No doubt he'd love to get back to a contender.

by Darren Hauck - AP

Shhh, he's sleeping.

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TalkBasket is reporting that Ty Lue may be close to signing with a Greek team.

The rumours which insisted that PAOK was close to signing an NBA player whose name would have an impact in Europe are coming true as the club is close to getting Tyronn Lue.

Will Daniels be in green tomorrow?

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Steve Bulpett reports that the Marquis Daniels saga may be coming to an end:

The long wait for Marquis Daniels is nearing its end. According to sources, the Celtics expect to sign the 6-foot-6 swingman tomorrow to a contract for the biannual exception.

The delay in getting Daniels officially into Green was caused by the team trying to work out a sign-and-trade that would benefit both the Celts and Indiana, the club Daniels is leaving.

The Celtics were hoping to make such a move to clear some roster space while getting Daniels more than the nearly $2 million he will get for 2009-10. Had they been able to come up with something palatable for all sides -- a three-team trade was being sought -- the Pacers would have been able to get something for their departing free agent.

Stop me when you've heard this one before:

Walker hasn't been affected by the offseason rumors that he could be traded. The interminable process of acquiring Marquis Daniels should be resolved this week and that will likely end any speculation on Walker's future. He wants to return to the Celts for a second season, and that seems to be the most likely scenario.

As you all know, Ray Allen's deal expires after this coming season.  However, Peter May reports on speculation that he'll be back in Boston beyond this year:

File this under the "Hot Rumor’’ category. Ray Allen’s contract is up at the end of the season and Celtics president Danny Ainge reports that no serious talks have taken place regarding an extension. But there is considerable chatter in Wellesley, where Allen lives, that his teenage daughter may move in with him. Tierra Allen has lived with her mother in South Carolina and plays volleyball and basketball in high school. She would be a junior at Wellesley High (and why would she come if dad wasn’t planning on playing beyond this year? Just an observation). Needless to say, the Wellesley basketball community is watching all this with great interest. With volleyball starting this week, one would think something has to break pretty soon.

No idea if this has any validity, but if it does, consider me on board.  I'd love to see Ray sign a two year extension, maybe with a third year team option.

Rich Levine of CSN reports:

In other Celtics news, the long-awaited Marquis Daniels trade still isn’t official, as the C’s and Pacers search for a third team to facilitate the process.

Danny Ainge expects things to be resolved by next week, when Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace gets back from vacation.

He also reports:

Earlier this week, former Celtic Bruce Bowen reportedly turned down an offer to come back to Boston. Instead, Bowen will now likely sit until February

Update:  Upon further review, I'm not sure how much of this you can take for news because it appears to be a joke article (take that however you like).