Mutombo undecided to Celtics

[phoolishly_insane]

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... rd/?page=3

Not done
Once Dikembe Mutombo passes out his gifts, he hopes to return to the NBA for a final season, possibly with the Celtics.

The 7-foot-2-inch, 260-pound center said last week he hopes to sign with a team after spending Christmas with his family in Atlanta. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year said among the teams that have shown interest are Boston, San Antonio, and Miami. The former Rocket also said Houston has "not answered me." The 42-year-old, who has blocked 3,278 shots during his 17-year career, said he is in "good shape" from working out three hours a day with spinning classes, yoga, and weightlifting.

"You'll see me in the next two weeks," Mutombo said. "I will be somewhere. I really need to go back to playing. I've just got to make sure that I go to a place where I can be happy. There are about four to five teams that I've been looking at and about seven teams that have shown interest. It's up to me to make my decision."

The Celtics have the maximum 15 players and would have to waive one to make room for Mutombo. While Boston's starting center spot is solidified with Kendrick Perkins, his backups include seldom-used Patrick O'Bryant and undersized Leon Powe and Glen Davis. The Celtics have not replaced the veteran experience and length that free agent P.J. Brown brought late last season and have interest in Mutombo, but have not offered him a contract.

"The way Boston is playing right now with [Kevin Garnett], Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, the team is heading in a direction toward winning another championship," Mutombo said. "It will be interesting if I made the decision to go there. It would be very good. I've been to the Finals twice [with Philadelphia and New Jersey]. I got close, but I walked away empty-handed. Maybe going to Boston would give me a chance to win.

"I would love to play until July and then retire after this season," added the eight-time All-Star. "My plan is to play this season. If my mind is set to play basketball, why not?".

Waive POB and sign Mutombo!

[SonicYouth34]

Trade Scal and Baby for a back up SF and sign Mt. Mutombo.

[Harison]

His age scares me, but I would take him anyday anytime over other Perkins back-ups... Mutombo still havent got the ring and its his last chance, I'm pretty sure if its the main reason he wants to play - he'll go to Celtics almost for free. If money will have priority for him, then I'll doubt we'll see him in green.

[BillessuR6]

Bring Deke to Boston!!! I don`t care if he is 60 he is still better than POB!

[Truthiracy]

Deke is better than the Queen of all Sky Hooks

[Kefa461]

Deke might be nice.......on another note Memphis taking Miles was kinda funny....will they now buy out a well behaved Walker and where is a cheap Walker going..... reunion? Just a thought

At 32 years old and with several checkered spots on his 13-year resume, Walker isn't exactly meeting infamous expectations. So the Grizzlies should stop wasting everyone's time and give Walker his freedom. A contract buyout should come about soon, especially in the wake of the Griz signing 27-year-old forward Darius Miles to a non-guaranteed deal over the weekend. Walker's absence would give the Griz another roster spot to develop a player or sign another young veteran (a Miles or Quinton Ross type) they actually care about. Memphis Commercial Appeal

If Walker has been on his best behavior just to compel the Griz to release him, well, so be it. But all I've discerned from numerous conversations with Walker is that he simply wants to play. He wants to contribute somewhere and end a respectable playing career on his terms. Memphis Commercial Appeal

[Dogen]

Deke is better than the Queen of all Sky Hooks

I'd keep POB around if possible, though.

Trade Scal and Baby for a back up SF and sign Mt. Mutombo.

Interesting. Any ideas on who?

In any case, I'd love to see Mutumbo get a ring in Boston.

[Jammer]

He's Coming.

Get ready for a Christmas Day contract inking!

Seriously, the Celtics biggest concerns are dealing with

Illguaskas, who is fantastic
Bynum, who's getting better
Yao, if Houston ever gets it together

Although Joe Smith might be better suited against Utah, San Antonio or Denver,
Smith would cost Brian Scalabrine + (one of Pruitt or Giddens);
whereas Dikembe is clearly more suitable against Cleveland, the Lakers and Houston.

Dikembe is 7' 1.5" without shoes.
4 Time Defensive Player of the Year.
Celtics would only need 12 to 15 minutes per game from him (DOB 6/25/66 ? => at least 42).

Deke would take Patrick O'Bryant's spot on the active roster.

Celtics could move O'Bryant, Pruitt or Walker for a pick or cash;
waive Cassell;
or concoct some trade with up to 3 of them that would net them a decent player back.

[Gant]

sproing.

[KyleCleric]

no Deke and no Walker

[humblebum]

Getting Mutombo would further solidify the Celtics as the best defensive team in the NBA. It would allow the Celtics to always have a 6'10" plus guy on the court which is a huge plus. I think he'd fit great in terms of closing down the paint and playing with an attitude inside. I would love to see this happen.

I do think that with Mutombo there still is some need to have a backup PF who can stroke the outside shot, a la Joe Smith. Unless Doc and co. really believe in Scalabrine... I'm not sure I do.

[Bad-Thoma]

Deke or pj would be great down the strech, I've got no complaints about the the C's but having a big, experienced back-up center would be an improvement. I'm not even comlaining about BBD, I think he's done pretty well for a 2nd round pick, but you can't teach height and can't knock experience.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

We all know that Deke will protect the paint. However, my main concern is his ability to blitz guards on the pick and roll, as well as being able to make the defensive rotations quick enough. I don't know if he's got the ability to force guards out or alter their paths when coming off a pick. Don't get me wrong though - I still think he's an upgrade over POB.

[celticfan42487]

If the Celts sign one of Mutombo or PJ Brown then that will be it.

We can make up the difference between Posey and TA from the improvement of our starting lineup. If Rondo learns to be aggressive in the offense during the playoffs that makes up that difference.

Adding Mutombo or PJ will allow us to get a big player. We desperately need size. It's fine in the regular season and these two bigs won't get much time in the regular season anyways, but come playoff time. CLE and LA are just toooo big. And if we face ORL to completely counter them we need at least one other big.

O'Bryant is a waste of an athlete. Scalabrine is a player with a fat fanboy's athletic abilities. Patrick should of gone to college and learned to do something that involves academia because he's too clumsy to do anything with his hands. God, if he were an electrician all he'd do is go around your house and no matter what he situation was he'd just plug in appliances and hope that works.

[kampalot]

nope i'm sticking with POB, from what I see he is trying and improving alittle and runs the floor nice for a big. I wonder who was better KP or POB their first two years and if KP by how much and just give POB time.

[klemen4]

Well...I like Mutombo, but at 42 years old it it hard to tell if he has much left in him.

But if he comes motivated, giving everything he has to help the team wining a ring Im for it.

Stats last year in Houston:
3points
5 rebounds
1 blok
16 minutes
53% fg
71% ft

Lets see

[return2glory]

We also have the option to waive Cassell and have him as an assistant coach. If that's not an option, and if we can't make a 2 for 1 trade, we would have to waive either Pruitt, POB, Davis, Walker, or Giddens.

I would love a 2 for 1 involving Scal and Davis for Hakim Warrick. However, I wouldn't like to part ways with either player. It's too bad Davis hasn't improved much since last year. He should have dropped some weight.

[celticfan42487]

I think Davis is more important then we're giving him credit for.

I'd rather have Davis as a third string Center then Patrick O'Bryant. And Davis is playing out of his natural position at PF.

3pts, 5rbs, 1blck in 15 MPG!!!

Regular starter minutes that's 6pts 10rebounds 2blcks. I don't think we could ask anymore out of 15 mpg production. And as for if he has anything left I think we all can recall what he did last year as Yao was out and he was starting. He was putting up fantastic stats, he'd play very much like a PJ Brown, he won't win a game for you.. but he'll sure as hell help you out.

[humblebum]

I just don't see room on this team for Gabe Pruitt for the next two years. You have Rondo and Eddie House both playing well, with Tony Allen as a solid 1-2 combo guard. Still, Gabe has talent and definitely seems like he'll be able to stick in the NBA... I could see him having some value to a team that is lacking a young PG to groom. The make Cassell an assistant coach thing could work and IMO would be the best case scenario. Davis has value as a defensive/hustle guy to muscle up on low post bigs and he's developing a niche offensive skill set (offensive rebound, set screens, mid-range jumpshot). It's probably too early to give up Giddens and/or Walker, plus I don't see them having much value. So it seems clear that the Celtics have interest in adding at least one player to the roster and it should be fun to see what Danny is thinking in terms of paring down the roster.

[MaxwellSmart]

Danny isn't stupid... He knows we'll need more size for the inevitable Cavs/Lakers matchups in the playoffs---if he can't talk PJ out of retirement, then Mutombo is an excellent plan B...Cassell becomes asst coach...Alonzo Mourning is also still out there...Mutombo or Mourning would make us an even TOUGHER team physically--Which would give Shasha Vujacic and the rest of the Lakers many sleepless nights.