So We DID Offer A Deal To Maggette

Danny’s denials be damned… the Celtics have made an offer to Corey Maggette.  Not only that, The Globe reports he got a call from Doc Rivers. 

“I talked to Doc… I’m not going to hold them up.  I know they are still looking at James Posey.  But I’m still weighing my options.”

As for his potential reserve role with the Celtics:

“I don’t mind.  If you want to win, you have to make sacrifices.  With their caliber of players, that’s what you have to do.  Going to a championship team would be exciting to me.  Going to a team that can win and has tradition is exciting. 

Another person who talked to Maggette is former teammate Sam Cassell… who told him “come out to get a ring.”

No one’s taking the 4th of July off in Waltham… with Patrick O’Bryant coming into town to work out.  Pacers free agent David Harrison and Timberwolves free agent Kirk Snyder were in town, along with Chris Andersen, for workouts yesterday.

I love where the Celtics are now.  Check out what Harrison said about working out for the C’s:

“It’s a great opportunity when the world champs call you to work out.  They see something in me.  It’s an honor to work out for them.”

A year ago, no one would really even return Danny’s phone calls… now they’re all kissing his ring and thanking him for the opportunity to walk through the door.

Latest Posey Rumor: Houston

Quiet day today for the most part, although Hoopsworld has this little blurb on The Mongoose:

James Posey has been to Houston before, and one of the predominant rumors of the day has him pondering the chance to play there again. The Celtics would be happy to re-sign Posey, who was a crucial part of their championship equation, but they don’t want to ink him to a long-term deal. Several other teams, including the Rockets, would like to lure him away from Boston and will give him the long-term deal he wants.

Not much new there, but its something.

Also out there:  We know about Doc’s son, Jeremiah, who just transferred to Indiana.  Doc’s younger son, 15-year-old Austin, has already committed to Florida (where his sister plays volleyball).  Apparently, it’s a big score for Billy Donovan:

“He really knows how to play,” Rivals.com recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer told Gatorbait.net. “He’s got a maturity level to his game that you don’t see in a lot of college players. He’s got the size and the skill to make all the plays and he’s a true combo guard that excels at both the point and shooting guard positions. He’s one of the best guards, if not the best guard, that I’ve seen in the 2011 class.”

Man… that Rivers family is just full of athletes.  Congrats to Austin… and best of luck.

Diop Returning To Dallas

In a move that could have some ripple effect on who gets paid what in free agency..  DeSagna Diop is going to return to Dallas.

Sources told ESPN.com that Diop, traded by the Mavericks to New Jersey in February as part of the Jason Kidd deal, will receive the Mavericks’ full mid-level exception in a five-year deal starting at nearly $6 million.

He’s a 26 year old who avearaged 3 points and 5 boards last season… and 2 points/4 rebounds over a 7 year career.  I was wondering if he might be in the mix for back-up center… and then Dallas gums up the works by throwing $6 mil a year at him.  How can this guy make more than James Posey next year?

Thanks Cuban.  Hope you enjoy not winning a championship over the next 5 years.  Everyone realizes that Dallas isn’t getting over the hump… right?

It’s This Crap Again

One thing ruined the 1992 Dream Team steamrolling of the World for me:  All that crap about the logo on the official warm-ups.  Jordan and other Nike pitch-men didn’t want to display the Reebok logo.  Some guys wore the warm-ups wide open… others (like Jordan in the above photo) concealed the logo with a flag.

I always hated that.  I thought it was tasteless.  And now this whole logo thing coming up again.

Nike put out this photo out because it got to design the new uniforms.  Can you guess which member of Team USA is NOT a Nike guy?

Yep… it’s Dwight Howard… who happens to be an Adidas guy.   CNBC has a fantastic breakdown of how this photo was arranged so Dwight didn’t display Nike’s logo.  Among them:

Coach K is sitting. When a team stands, a coach normally stands. Why is this significant? Because Coach K’s left foot just happens to be blocking the adidas logo on Dwight Howard’s left foot. Intentional?

Yeah… I’d say so.  And Coach K looks thrilled to be involved.

I Wanna Be Paul Pierce

 

According to TMZ.com, Paul Pierce had a four-hour swedish massage at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas last weekend. He also tipped the two hot masseuses $500 each. You think Pierce realizes that hot ass is inches away from his face? Or maybe he’s reminiscing about torching Kobe and the Lakers in the Finals….

Thanks to BarStool Sports for the story…. 

In Appreciation Of… Ray Allen

We are spending some time looking back over the Boston Celtics championship season… in an effort to truly appreciate the efforts of those involved. In our eleventh installment of the series, we continue saluting our starters.

Sacrifice.

That’s the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Ray Allen this year.

Sacrifice.

No one gave up more of his game to be part of this team.

Ray, more than anyone, had to “buy into the team concept”… which is really code for “not consider himself the number 1 offensive option.” He’s the one that had to make the biggest adjustments. Kevin Garnett’s game really didn’t change… and Paul Pierce, being the guy who’s been here, was the one the new guys would defer to early on.

So it was up to Ray to do some things he’s not used to doing. And not only that, he had to do it with new teammates, in a new city. That’s not easy.

R.I.P. Seattle Sonics

Clay Bennett got what he wanted all along… The Sonics are leaving Seattle.  And David Stern sat back and watched.

“We made it,” Bennett said after stepping to an Oklahoma City podium featuring the NBA logo and the letters OKC. “The NBA will be in Oklahoma City next season.”

The settlement calls for Bennett and his Professional Basketball Club LLC to pay as much as $75 million to the city in exchange for the immediate termination of the lease. The team’s name and colors will be staying in Seattle.

Bennett bought the team under the false promise to keep the team in Seattle… even though he wanted to move that team to Oklahoma City from day 1.  David Stern knew it all along and he just sat back with that same smirk on his face… and he let it happen. 

I feel bad for hoops fans in Seattle.  They got robbed.  I know people in OKC proved to be good basketball fans in the after the post-Katrina Hornets days… and this is no commentary on their fanhood… but Clay Bennett robbed the people of Seattle. 

Just makes you appreciate our owners more.

Giddens Goes Home, No Maggette Offer

So JR Giddens was SUPPOSED to be in camp today… but he went home because he has not signed a contract.  Also… Celtics higher-ups say there was no offer made to Corey Maggette, despite published reports.  Danny Ainge DID, however, speak to Maggette… without making an offer.

Also… Perk had surgery on his injured left shoulder… which he hurt in the Finals. 

I’m kinda surprised Giddens isn’t signed.  Isn’t a first round pick’s contract automatic?  What’s the hold up?

 

Championship Banner… blah blah blah… players something or other

That could be a topless Angelina Jolie in the foreground for all I care… because all I see in that picture is the most beautiful wall hanging in the world.  Sure, you could be a schmuck and spend, like $80 mil on a Monet if you want… I’ll take that gorgeous banner any day.

By the by… that’s Omar Cook obscuring our view of the championship banner.  He’s one of the many people in town with no chance of making the team… but giving it a try.  There are about 16-20 guys in town for a mini-camp (photos here)… because the C’s are not fielding a summer league team.  Actual Celtics who are working out over the next few days:  Glen Davis, Gabe Pruitt and JR Giddens.  Bill Walker would love to be there, but he’s having a torn meniscus surgically repaired today.  He’s essentially out for July.  Let’s hope he’s back at 100% by camp so Danny can claim official ownership of the NBA Draft’s second round. 

As for free agents… not much new on Posey.  A lot of teams want him, but all of them can offer him the MLE.  I’m sure Danny is holding out for a hometown discount. 

Other items:

2 notes via TrueHoop:  Not everyone in Minnesota is happy to see KG win a title.  And a lot of people watched the Celtics dismantle the Lakers:

“The six games of the NBA Finals, which aired on ABC, are the six highest-rated and most-watched television programs for the month of June. The Finals concluded June 17 with the Boston Celtics beating the Los Angeles Lakers, 131-92, to win the Finals, 4-2, and earn the 17th NBA Championship in Celtics history. The Finals not only attracted viewers on television, but also set all-time traffic records on NBA.com with nearly 70 million visits and more than 15.5 million video streams throughout the series.”

So not only did LA poop their pants… everyone saw them do it.  Sweet.

I know there are some Gerald Green fans still around.  You’ll be happy to know he’s getting a shot with the Dallas Mavericks.  I really do wish him well.  I hope he gets his act together and makes it.  He’s so damn talented… it’d be a shame for that to go to waste.

And if you’re into the ESPY’s… the Celtics are up for four awards.  Go here to register (it’s free) and vote.  Might as well flood the vote… because everyone hates us already… might as well make it worth it. 

In Appreciation Of… Rajon Rondo

We are spending some time looking back over the Boston Celtics championship season… in an effort to truly appreciate the efforts of those involved. In our tenth installment of the series, we continue saluting our starters.

Two years ago, all the draft talk was about guys like Brandon Roy and Rudy Gay. Names like Marcus Williams and Ronnie Brewer came to Boston to work out for the Celtics. But we kept hearing about this kid named Rondo from Kentucky. It was always a few big names and then that Rondo guy.

It didn’t take long to figure out why Danny Ainge wanted this kid so badly. You could see right away that he had all the physical tools to become a great point guard, but he had to work on a few things. He needed to learn the offense… he needed to take charge a little more… and he need to work on that shot.

Oh, that jump shot.