Not looking good for either Miles or Giddens in Boston

[nasbahceltic]

In a perfect world we'd be getting rid of Scal as he is without a doubt the weakest link on the entire team.

Realistically though its become pretty clear that Miles isn't going to make the team. I'm really disappointed to say that, but the guy just does not seem to have the ability he had before the injury. I hope he can regain his old form, but don't look for it to happen with us.

The real question is who makes the 12 man active roster. I thought that the inactives would be Scal, Giddens and pruitt, but after the way the team has used Pruitt coupled with his performance thus far in the pre-season it seems that the team intends on grooming him into the primary backup for Rondo.

Therefore it comes down to walker and cassell. I'm hoping Cassell ends up being the odd-man out.

[sunshinekids99]

It is either going to be a late 2 for 1 trade or Darius Miles is going to be cut from this team.

I would go with an active roster of Perk, KG, Pierce, Ray, Rondo, Tony, O'Bryant, Baby, Powe, Walker, House, Pruitt.

Let Scal and Cassell be the inactive guys. And let Giddens go down to the NBDL. Unless they are just going to burry Walker or Pruitt on the bench, then let one of them go down there with Giddens.

[humblebum]

As much as I'd like to see Walker on the 12 man roster I definitely see the possibility of Scals making it on the 12 man over him at the start of the season. Still, I hope that Giddens, Scals, and Cassell are showing up in business suits for the good part of this season.

[campybatman]

Yeah, I can see Scalabrine ahead of Walker (knowing Rivers). However, like Pruitt, Walker could prove to be a wild card. I would think Ainge knows this and fully expects to see both players being active off the bench and playing important roles next season. But, it might come down to the match-ups from game-to-game. I mean Walker reads like he could someday be a "power three" (in terms of being able to post up and rebound some) and/or a combo forward. Perhaps, occasionally, seeing time in the back court as a guard. Oddly, Scalabrine is listed on the Celtics official page as a forward/center. Conversely, I see Scalabrine more as a power forward by default and a passable backup small forward in a pinch. But, a center?

[Dave_From_NB]

I think Giddens and Walker would be better served by playing a ton of minutes in the Dev League to start, especially rather than being in street clothes.

Cassell is sure to be sitting at the start of the year - the only thing I can come up with regarding the Celtics strategy for guaranteeing him (through contract and comments from Ainge) a player position this year and then not playing him in the pre-season, is that they're going to keep him injury free in case they need him down the road.

If they're going to keep Scal around, and it seems they will, he may as well be on the active roster. He's got fouls to burn, and can play any of the forward positions (although not well).

[cloverleaf]

I think they think the developmental league helped Pruitt last year, so maybe they'll embrace it a little quicker for their rookies this year.

[Red2]

its been an odd camp as far as pt for the guys trying to make the team but as far as I can see Miles is gone. giddens still has value whereas this is more or less it for miles. sure he may get himself in shape to the point where he can help a team but his conditioning is clearly not there.giddens hurt himself with his holdout but he has potential and I'm not ready to give up on him yet. he will go the d league like gabe did and get somevaluable PT. as for cassell I'm not sure there is a bigger farce in the nba right now than the celtics pretending that there isn't a deal in place for cassell to be a coach. he is on the squad simply as an emergency backup/elder stateman/pseudo coach. we still need a tall wing player and it kills me to think we gave up Posey and a chance at one or more titles in order to avoid the luxury tax three years from now but that ship has sailed. scal ,cassell and giddens are my candidates as the three guys who don't make the active squad but walker might be substituted for scal. I still think the back up 3 is a hole on this team and for that reason Walker has the edge over scal who is fighting guys like leon and baby for minutes. the thing scal does though is shoot the three but he hardly ever seems to make them when it counts

[sully00]

Nobody cuts a first-round pick this quickly unless he's a MAJOR character problem or other head-case. I doubt there's a single counter-example to that rule in the past 15 years, and I'd be utterly shocked if there were as many as five counter-examples.

While cutting them after signing them is rare not adding them at all is pretty common especially for championship teams. The Bulls waived Travis Knight and the Spurs have added 2 1st round picks in the year selected since drafting Duncan 11 years ago. Ainge was trying to unload this pick he just couldn't.

I think they were entertaining waiving him before signing him but now that he is signed and Miles has done little to turn heads to the point it is worth cutting a guaranteed contract over I think he makes it of camp but I don't think he has a solid future in Boston right now and is most likely trade fodder.

[Tenbomber]

It is either going to be a late 2 for 1 trade or Darius Miles is going to be cut from this team.

I would go with an active roster of Perk, KG, Pierce, Ray, Rondo, Tony, O'Bryant, Baby, Powe, Walker, House, Pruitt.

Let Scal and Cassell be the inactive guys. And let Giddens go down to the NBDL. Unless they are just going to burry Walker or Pruitt on the bench, then let one of them go down there with Giddens.

Good logic... and I agree...I think Pruitt has arrived....Off yesterday's performance, I can see him making an important contribution to this team...Seems like Giddens and Walker have some raw talent....they will probably be the ones headed out to the "D" league....

(it was just reported that Miles was cut)

I was rooting for Miles to make good on his comeback..... hope he is still able to do that ...if not here....than somewhere else....

You know, I still can't believe how things have turned around from just a couple of years ago...

We should all count ourselves lucky to be Celtic fans!...

It has been an interesting preseason...

This should be another fun season for New England hoop fans....

[campybatman]

I would say, Giddens, Cassell and Scalabrine begin on the inactive list with Giddens going to the NBDL. Ultimately, I see either Giddens or Scalabrine as a regularly listed inactive player all season. But, Scalabrine and Cassell could play due to injuries.

The minimal twelve active players for Boston will likely be: Pierce, Garnett, (Ray) Allen, Rondo, Perkins, House, (Tony) Allen, Powe, Davis, O'Bryant, Walker and Pruitt.

Now that Miles has been waived, it looks as if I'll be correct.

I predict the order of the bench could be: Tony Allen, House (split with Pruitt), Powe, Davis (heads or tails with O'Bryant) and Walker.

[Kefa461]

Giddens has showed nothing......I think he was picked to show favor to an Agent to try to get Posey to stay home but it didn't work, some home town discount. If Danny was to do it over again He would have chosen someone else, that's how it goes. Win some lose some. Down to the DLeague. Walker was a real good fine and has out played Giddens and I hope sticks with the main squad. Scal is just Scal. Just a bad contract. He should play alot better with the great guys around him. It's a shame.

[campybatman]

If Danny was to do it over again He would have chosen someone else, that's how it goes.

I remember reading on ESPN's chat during the draft that some thought that other [popular] choices were still there such as DeAndre Jordan and Chris Douglas-Roberts who I'd believed was going to be the pick.

[TheSheriff]

I think he was picked to show favor to an Agent to try to get Posey to stay home but it didn't work, some home town discount.

It doesn't work like that.

[JMillott]

Why are people so quick to dismiss Giddens on this board? He was drafted here for a pretty obvious couple of reasons, one being our need for athletic ability on the wings which is still why he made so much sense here. Two, because our back up wings on draft night were both free agents one of whom stayed (T.Allen) and one who didn't (Posey). Third, because we are a contending team who requires its role players to be capable defenders on a team built around three stars and a bunch of role players who play defense.

[GregB]

Why are people so quick to dismiss Giddens on this board? He was drafted here for a pretty obvious couple of reasons, one being our need for athletic ability on the wings which is still why he made so much sense here. Two, because our back up wings on draft night were both free agents one of whom stayed (T.Allen) and one who didn't (Posey). Third, because we are a contending team who requires its role players to be capable defenders on a team built around three stars and a bunch of role players who play defense.

I agree. Giddens is simply in a minutes crunch like Gabe Pruitt last year and possibly this year. He has Ray Allen and Tony Allen in front of him. Bill Walker is likely to get minutes because he fills a need as backup SF.