No celtic summer league team this off-season?
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:42 am
The Celtics have been regular participants in the Las Vegas Summer League these past few years, but that is going to come to an end this July. With a veteran-laden roster, many of them free agents-to-be, it might be hard to get a team of Definite Celtics together for 2008-09.
"Baby [Glen Davis] would have to play point guard," Doc Rivers cracked.
But, seriously, Davis, Gabe Pruitt, and Mr. First-Round Draft Pick would be the only real Celtics on the roster, so, for that reason, the team will instead hold a minicamp in Waltham for undrafted players and assorted other mid- to lower-level free agents. (In other words, don't expect to see Antawn Jamison show up.)
"I think we're going to put as much time in this summer as we always have, but not in the form of participating in a summer league," Danny Ainge said. "We're going to try something different.
Link: http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... ed/?page=3
I always enjoy watching young prospects, so this is disappointing. But it doesn`t make much sense with the way our team is built now, I guess. Still for someone like Pruitt summer league would be a good test.
And for our first rounder this season, of course, if we actually pick someone, I have a feeling we are going to trade the pick...
Ainge on scouting and draft process this year:
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 3:02 pm
So that means we'll trade the pick if we don't find a better player. And if we take a player, it will probably be a college senior.
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 3:54 pm
As much as I love usually following the summer league, this is in some ways up there with the best C's news I've ever heard.
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:34 pm
P2 wrote:So that means we'll trade the pick if we don't find a better player. And if we take a player, it will probably be a college senior.
Or it might be an international who is left overseas for another year or two.
Rules being what they are, the Celtics may *have* to pick someone this year. They won't have a first round pick next year, unless they go out and get one in trade, and by league rules you can't go two years in a row without picking in the first round.
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:37 pm
Looking at a positive-less chance for injuries to Baby and Pruitt. I don't mind this at all, we'd probably win 1 game or so. I have a feeling the Celtics will draft at 30, then trade the player for a future first. We'll see.
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:22 pm
I'd like to see Pruitt get more game experience in this summer.
I guess with his being from LA he might be one young player the C's wouldn't mind have stay home and play with the local NBA talent there.
I guess with his being from LA he might be one young player the C's wouldn't mind have stay home and play with the local NBA talent there.
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:50 pm
That's great to hear!
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:44 am
eris wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
Or it might be an international who is left overseas for another year or two.
Rules being what they are, the Celtics may *have* to pick someone this year. They won't have a first round pick next year, unless they go out and get one in trade, and by league rules you can't go two years in a row without picking in the first round.
They have to pick someone. But they can make the pick and then trade that player for a veteran if they want.
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:10 am
EdSkae wrote:
They have to pick someone. But they can make the pick and then trade that player for a veteran if they want.
True. But cap considerations make a trade tricky, and the fact that they guy has to be picked first and then traded take some of the deal structuring possibilities off the table.