Cassell to Sign Contract With Celtics Next Week!!!

[thebirdman]

Link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bask ... ?track=rss

"This is my last year playing with the Celtics," he said. "Next week, I'll sign the contract."

"I am playing this year," he said. "After that, I have the option to do coaching for them."

What? I am shocked!

Bad news for Pruitt...I guess Danny doesn`t have much confidence in him. And bad news for Miles we will have 15 guaranteed contracts if Cassell is signed...

I am baffled by this...

[Dave_From_NB]

Cassell as assistant coach I have no problem with.

I hate the idea of him playing another year though. Perhaps he'll be more valuable with some time with the club learning the offense, but I really wasn't impressed with him playing ahead of even House, who I'm not crazy about running the offense. Pruitt, I hope you liked the Dev League.

His signing would mean Ainge would likely need to make a move or two, some players could be moved/cut/bought out coming out of camp to make the 15 man roster. Same thing moving to the deadline and buy-out pickups, Ainge could also make a move. So Cassells signing I don't believe means the end of Miles' chances, just would mean that Danny needs to get on the phone.

[buckner1976]

Someone HAS to be "punking" Sam. There's no other rationale for this. As is, I'll believe it when I see it.

[underneathtoDJ]

I know Sam was pretty bad for us last year, but I think that was about as bad as he can play. I think there were times he was trying to live up to being a clutch veteran and was trying to do too much. With some familiarity with the offense and an entire preseason to get comfortable with the guys around him, I'm ok with Sam coming off the bench for 15 minutes a night. I've yet to see anything in Pruitt that shows he can get the job done, despite his potential. We're trying to win championships and it's tough to do with such a young/inexperienced backup PG. Hopefully Sam can get back to his big shot, testicle dancing ways and hopefully Doc let's him know that if he dribbles the ball up court and jacks a 3 with 15-20 seconds left on the shot clock (like he did so many times last year) he will find himself 'coaching' from the bench a lot sooner than he expected.

[mrautobahn]

Sam I Am has a way with words... I noticed that the Celtics team has "no comment"...

Didn't he say that he was going to be playing for Denver at one point during the summer?

And besides... I never thought DA was serious about Darius Miles... I thought Danny was thinking longer term... messing up Portland's salary cap because they are probably one of the biggest competition for FA next year...

But if it turns out to be true... that Cassell is signing up with the Celtics... and DA wants to keep DM... then we got to look forward to a 2 for 1 trade...

Count on it... some poster on this board is going to start a thread about who goes and who stays...

The fun never stops... NBA... it's Faaaannnntastic!

[buckner1976]

I know Sam was pretty bad for us last year, but I think that was about as bad as he can play. I think there were times he was trying to live up to being a clutch veteran and was trying to do too much. With some familiarity with the offense and an entire preseason to get comfortable with the guys around him, I'm ok with Sam coming off the bench for 15 minutes a night. I've yet to see anything in Pruitt that shows he can get the job done, despite his potential. We're trying to win championships and it's tough to do with such a young/inexperienced backup PG. Hopefully Sam can get back to his big shot, testicle dancing ways and hopefully Doc let's him know that if he dribbles the ball up court and jacks a 3 with 15-20 seconds left on the shot clock (like he did so many times last year) he will find himself 'coaching' from the bench a lot sooner than he expected.

I'm sorry I'm just not buying it. I think people are trying to trick themselves into believing that Sam is something he's not(or not anymore). And all this simply because of the Sun report which is by no means fact. Danny hasn't said anything about it all summer. Pruitt hasn't shown he could get the job done because he hasn't gotten the opportunity yet. Cassell on the other hand has gotten the opportunity and failed far more often than he's succeeded. Sam hasn't proved yet that he's capable of dropping his gunner attitude. No thanks. This is a TRULY bad idea.

[avi623]

It's not really a bad idea. Sam will technically be a player on the team, but his role would be as a player/coach, which is great. I have read several stories where a lot of coaches and players in the league think Sam will make a great coach. I would love to see him get his feet wet in Boston. I think he knows as a player he is done, maybe play a few minutes every other night, or in very specific situations. But I would love to have him on the staff helping a guy like Gabe Pruit.

[LenBiasBaller]

idk about this man Sam is Dikembe old now...he does talk, a lot....so who knows sam seems like he says whatever he feels at any given time whether its true or not...

[Dogen]

At this point, there isn't a single player on the roster--- aside from Scal-- that I want to part with. But if Samuel is coming back to play for the year and then move into coaching it wouldn't be a bad move for the long term. But who goes? POB deserves a chance, IMO, just because of his size and potential. I don't think we've gotten a real sense of what Pruitt can do, but maybe Danny has and may look elsewhere for a young point. Scal is trade bait later on in the year because of his expiring contract. Big Baby is also in a contract year. If Miles shows some of his old form (as a player, not a 'playa'), Baby could be the odd man out to be packaged in a trade.

[Dave_From_NB]

It's not really a bad idea. Sam will technically be a player on the team, but his role would be as a player/coach, which is great. I have read several stories where a lot of coaches and players in the league think Sam will make a great coach. I would love to see him get his feet wet in Boston. I think he knows as a player he is done, maybe play a few minutes every other night, or in very specific situations. But I would love to have him on the staff helping a guy like Gabe Pruit.

Unfortunately, Sam on the 12 man game roster means an additional young guy is in street clothes or the Dev League - Giddens, Walker, POB, Pruitt. Nice to have Sam coach Pruitt, but if it is at the expense of Pruitt not being on the game roster then I think that stunts his growth. Even if it is garbage time minutes, I'd like to see Pruitt getting some playing time in this year.

[Dave_From_NB]

idk about this man Sam is Dikembe old now...he does talk, a lot....so who knows sam seems like he says whatever he feels at any given time whether its true or not...

I can't say I've been impressed with all the yapping Sam has done in the past year. Talking about who to sign with while he was still on contract with the Clippers was bad, and pre-announcing the Celtics about a signing is also bad. If I was Ainge, I'd be pretty mad about Sam being quoted on being signed. Surely part of being a coach, is knowing what to say, and what not to say.

[canman1971]

I think Cassell could do better just being with the team last year and a full training camp only due to the fact he can't be worse can he? But, I'll believe it when I see it. He like to talk, but that doesn't bother me. You don't just forget how to ball, regardless of age. It is a matter of playing within yourself and knowing the system. I think the Sam we saw last year tried too hard to fit and looked awful at times. If he has time, I think he'll do what he has always done, albeit a lesser role.

[Prophet_C]

Tombattor is going to absolutely love this thread. lol

[Godmoney]

Can't believe Boston would consider signing another PG when we have Gabe Pruitt who is Gilbert Arenas' equal without the attitude problems.

[GregB]

I don't completely hate this move. I was behind getting him last year. That turned out pretty poorly but He still hit some big shots for us.

I am just a little concerned about the roster implications. You have no idea how much I wish the Cs would just buyout Scal. But, I know that is highly improbable. So, They will most likely cut Miles if they sign Sam to a guaranteed contract. I am not so sure that says as much about Miles as it does about How high the Cs are on Bill Walker.