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Scouting report on ex-Nets joining the Celtics from a Nets blogger

Who better to turn to for a scouting report on the Nets than the wonderful NetsDaily.com?

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NetsDaily.com is one of the biggest and best blogs in the SBNation network (and really across the NBA blog world). So of course I reached out to them to get a scouting report on our new Celtics. That is assuming the agreed upon trade isn't tweaked between now and July 12th. Yes, I said the 12th and not the 10th. Apparently there's some restriction that won't allow Kris Joseph to be traded till the 12th.

Here's what Tom Lorenzo of NetsDaily.com had to say.

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MarShon Brooks: The book on Brooks is that he's a one-dimensional player, a true scorer who at times reminded (still, reminds...) some of a young Kobe Bryant. Minus, of course, the heart, desire, skill-set, pedigree, championship rings, first-ballot Hall of Fame-iness, etc. Brooks can score, yes, and his turnaround jumper looks -- emphasis on "looks" -- a lot like Kobe's, but he's no Kobe Bryant. That said, he's an effective, at times less-than-efficient scorer who needs to be coached. In his rookie season he played well for a very bad New Jersey Nets team. They set him free, starting him 47 times as a rookie, and at times he actually led the team in scoring (finishing with 12.7 points per on 43.7 percent shooting). And while he showed signs, he certainly had bouts of immaturity -- on the basketball court, not off it. Then, in his second season, playing for a better Brooklyn Nets team, he couldn't get into a rhythm on the basketball court because he wasn't locked into the rotation. Somewhere along the way both Avery Johnson and P.J. Carlesimo fell "out of love" with Brooks. He struggled with rhythm, and thus couldn't work his way back into the rotation. I believe, if coached properly, Brooks can be a very good basketball player, more so on the offensive side of the ball than defensively. Celtics fans will be frustrated at times with his boneheaded plays, but at other times it's possible that Brooks leads the team in scoring on a given night. The key is to remain patient, which is probably going to be the M.O. in Boston over the next season or two, but Brooks has the given ability to be a very good scorer, he just needs to be coached on defense and to keep his head in the game at all times.

Gerald Wallace: Wallace had a "funny" season. His scoring (see: shooting) was just horrific. He had no confidence in his jumper, yet he continued to step out and take them; until, of course, the wheels feel off and late in the season he just wouldn't shoot at all. Wallace shot 39.7 percent from the floor on the season, and to be honest that feels "high." He just had nothing going offensively, and he knew it. Post-game after post-game, he talked about trying to find his touch, find his offense. And, nothing worked. Until the playoffs, where at times he was the team's most effective scorer during stretches against the Chicago Bulls. It was a strange season for Wallace. But, with that said, I do not believe one bit that he's done. He still moves pretty well, for a guy whose nickname is "Crash," and he is long and tough enough to defend some of the bigger '3s' in the league. The other thing you'll get in Wallace is a guy who will hold himself, along with his teammates, accountable for his/their play. No excuses. He'll call himself out when it's warranted, and he won't be afraid to speak his mind on what the Celtics need to do to be a better basketball team. Sure, you may not like to hear that the biggest impact he'll have on the team may be as a veteran voice, a leader of sorts, but it could really help a young team to have an outspoken veteran on the team, holding the players accountable.

Kris Humphries: Hah. Enjoy. I mean, the best advice I can give to you is to get used to reading monthly pieces on TMZ about Humphries personal life. Look, as a basketball player, I used to get a lot of flack from the NetsDaily readers for being a Kris Humphries apologist. I mean, we are a year removed from Humphries averaging 14 and 11 -- with the counter argument being, "yeah, but he averaged back-to-back double-doubles on absolutely terrible Nets teams...." I think Hump is a better basketball player than he is given credit for. True, the Nets gave him a 2-year contract extension for the simple reason to trade him as an expiring contract (and, hey, it worked!), but he does have a knack for getting to the rim and picking the ball off the glass. He's a good rebounder. Not a very good defender, but he serves his purpose. Again, on a rebuilding team, you might see him post double-doubles, but I doubt you'll be all that impressed. He's an expiring contract for Boston. Nothing more. But he was married to a Kardashian, so, that's...something?

Keith Bogans: Shoot corner threes, that's what Bogans does. He makes the money work, which is a thing, so that's why he's a Celtic. As for what he brings, well, he's a quiet guy who has a moment here or there on the basketball court. But you're probably not going to see much of him. He's a backup point guard, probably better suited for a third-point-guard-off-the-bench role. He's a means to the end, though, and a nice guy. So, there's that.

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Thanks Tom! Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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