Pruitt waived

[MVP16]

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/celtics/

After spending two seasons with the Celtics, point guard Gabe Pruitt will be waived by the team tonight, according to a league source.

The Celtics had until tomorrow to pick up the option on the final year of his contract worth approximately $900,000, but declined. Pruitt, a highly skilled point guard from USC, never managed to crack Doc Rivers’ rotation – in part because the C’s coach often questioned Pruitt’s aggressiveness.

Pruitt also upset members of management in February when he was arrested for driving under the influence in Los Angeles the night after the team signed Stephon Marbury as a back-up point guard. But Pruitt impressed coaches with a relatively strong performance in the Orlando Summer League earlier this month.

Pruitt played in just 62 games in his two seasons, averaging 2.0 points.

The decision comes as the C’s face a number crunch as they attempt to clear roster space for free agent swingman Marquis Daniels. Pruitt’s departure may also enhance rookie guard Lester Hudson’s chance of making the team. The C’s second-round draft pick is currently unsigned and recovering from finger surgery.

[C-West]

I predict we'll regret this, but I'm prepared to move on (snif snif). I'm all about Lester now!

[cloverleaf]

Yep, hope springs eternal and I want to see Hudson's potentiaL now. (He'll be this year's Billy Walker.)

[BRUNiNHO91]

I predict we'll regret this, but I'm prepared to move on (snif snif). I'm all about Lester now!

Yeah..im going to remember his 2.0 pts everytime the Celtics lose a game by 1..

[Dirty Water]

I predict we'll regret this, but I'm prepared to move on (snif snif). I'm all about Lester now!

LOL we will not regret this. He may be talented, but is simply just not quite NBA material.

[gocelts]

No big deal. I was listening to Larry Brown the other day and he made a great comment about NBA players on "the bubble" . He said "Evaluating basketball players is easy. They can either play, or they cant". The point he was making was that we tend to overthink some of these guys.

In Pruitt's situation, based on or roster, playoff position, and after two years with the team.....he isnt a fit for us.

We NEED a backup point guard (that could start in a pinch), a back up SF, and maybe another backup big. We dont need Pruitt and we wont regret this.

[BillessuR6]

I don`t get how Danny couldn`t put together a trade. I was hoping Gabe would be in the Daniels deal...900k was a nice asset to have...now, we lost it for nothing...

[SonicYouth34]

Damn. I liked Gabe

[Celtics_Champs]

Thanks for the memories gabe! Hopefully he can catch on elsewhere.

[Banks2Pierce]

Yea, i already liked Lester more. Retiring the avy though.

[Rocky5000]

So our current roster now stands as
Rondo, House
Ray, Tony, Giddens
Paul, Walker
KG, Scal
Perk, Sheed

11 guys under contract, 12 with Daniels expected to sign. 13 if we don't get outbid with Glen. That leaves 2-4 open roster spots. Scal, Ray, Eddie, Tony, Giddens, & Walker are all expiring contracts. Our salary situation is almost too good. It makes trading difficult.

[joneb]

I agree that this move may end up in the regret category someday. I think Gabe had all the necessary skills, but wasn't really given a chance to put it together. He never got consistent minutes, to the point where he wasn't looking over his shoulder every time he made a mistake. I hope this means that they think Hudson will be better. Because that's about the only way I can take consolation from this move. It is very un-Danny like to jettison an asset in return for nothing, so I guess that can be taken as a sign that the league in general didn't have much interest in Gabe.

[canman1971]

I agree that this move may end up in the regret category someday. I think Gabe had all the necessary skills, but wasn't really given a chance to put it together. He never got consistent minutes, to the point where he wasn't looking over his shoulder every time he made a mistake. I hope this means that they think Hudson will be better. Because that's about the only way I can take consolation from this move. It is very un-Danny like to jettison an asset in return for nothing, so I guess that can be taken as a sign that the league in general didn't have much interest in Gabe.

How can you say this? He had two years to show the team what he could do. If he wasn't showing anything in practice, he sure as hell wouldn't in a game. It is not like Ainge to jettison an asset and get nothing in return, but I think Pruitt has proved he was not an asset. Hell, the contract was only 900G, so he must not have any value whatsoever. Pruitt's phone will be ringing, but it will be someone speaking another language when he picks up.

[ParticleMan]

I'm not sure what kind of an "asset" Pruitt was. Nobody was going to give anything for him when it was pretty clear there was a good chance we would waive him. Lots of 2nd round picks end up getting waived after a year or two. Ainge didn't hit his usual home run (or at least extra base hit) like with Powe or Baby, but hey, you can't win every time.

[Jammer]

I predict we'll regret this, but I'm prepared to move on (snif snif). I'm all about Lester now!

Yeah..im going to remember his 2.0 pts everytime the Celtics lose a game by 1..

Brilliant. Absolutely friggin Brilliant.

[Jammer]

No big deal. I was listening to Larry Brown the other day and he made a great comment about NBA players on "the bubble" . He said "Evaluating basketball players is easy. They can either play, or they cant". The point he was making was that we tend to overthink some of these guys.

In Pruitt's situation, based on or roster, playoff position, and after two years with the team.....he isnt a fit for us.

We NEED a backup point guard (that could start in a pinch), a back up SF, and maybe another backup big. We dont need Pruitt and we wont regret this.

I've been saying this for a while. It's so tiring to argue about spots 13-15, which don't mean diddily anyway.

The Celtics real Depth Chart, in terms of winning a championship, is:

Position *** Starter ************** Backup *********** Active 12 ********** Inactive Anchor
Center **** Perkins ************* Rasheed ********** Job Available
PF ********** KG ****************** Big Baby ??? ********** ********************* Scalabrine
SF ********** Pierce ************** Daniels ??? ********************************** Billy Walker
SG ********** Ray Allen ********** Giddens ************************************ Tony Allen
PG ********** Rajon ************** Eddie ************* Job Available

That's 15 players if Davis is re-signed, Daniels comes, and the Celtics can't trade Scalabrine or Tony Allen, who they've been trying to sign and trade for Daniels for 3 weeks. Looks pretty bleak on a sign and trade.

My guess is Robert Swift might be the backup center. As for 3rd PG, Hudson would be cheapest. Although, if Iverson would come, I'd take him.

Too bad Danny can't give Tony Allen away.

[szimab01]

Magic Fan here.

The magic are looking for a point guard who could back up Jameer or split minutes with Anthony Johnson. Would Pruitt be a good fit if given the opportunity?

Orlando can only afford someone for the minimum as they are now well and truly over the cap. Can Pruitt shoot at all?

[AlCelticFan]

Pruitt is *supposed* to be a good shooter, but his stats don't agree. He seems to play a little timid as well. I don't think he played SO bad that they would just let him go for nothing, but maybe they know something we don't about him...

[Dirty Water]

Given consistent minutes like maybe 10 a game, I could see Pruitt's shot coming around, he showed flashes, but unfortunately did not get enough PT

[Killua]

Laker fan here how fast is he? if the rumors of him being able 2 shoot are true he could prob fit in LA if he has speed