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Celtics Working to Get Rivers to Clippers in his ‘Dream Scenario’

bwebber — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:51:23 +0000

According to a source from Boston Globe, Doc River’s ‘dream scenario’ is to coach Kevin Garnett on the Los Angeles Clippers next season. The Celtics currently have Rivers locked up for three more years at $21 million, and Garnett under contract for the next two.

This afternoon, multiple media outlets reported that the Celtics and Clippers are engaged in discussions of a trade that would send Rivers, Garnett, and Paul Pierce to LA, for a deal built around DeAndre Jordan, Eric Bledsoe, Caron Butler and draft picks. The Clippers are reluctant to include Bledsoe in any such deal, and his exclusion could derail the talks entirely.

It has been widely speculated since the Celtics were bounced out of the 2013 playoffs that team management want to begin rebuilding now.The Celtics currently have three players over the age of 35 in Pierce, Garnett and Jason Terry. If the Celtics pull the trigger now they may still be able to get a good return on their players. It is believed that Rivers is wary of another rebuilding process and wants to either coach a contender, or return to the broadcasting booth. If Rivers does leave the Celtics with Garnett, the Celtics would need to be heavily compensated.

The Boston Herald reported Thursday night that the Celtics have denied the Clippers any chance to talk to Rivers, unless a deal is already in place. Celtics GM Danny Ainge has been mum on the subject of this season, but if Ainge is given a package that he cannot resist, then it’s probable that the Celtics would let go of their three headliners.

Once Rajon Rondo returns from his ACL tear, the Celtics could feature a fast break offense with an up tempo style of play. It has been a long time since the Celtics have been able to do this consistently throughout a season. The Celtics have played at or near the league’s slowest pace in recent seasons.

Celtics 2013 Draft Targets: Shane Larkin

Nick García — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:22:47 +0000

Name: Shane Larkin

College: Miami

Position: Point guard

Age: 20

Stats: 6’0″, 170 lbs.

Background

The son of Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin, Shane originally committed to DePaul but transferred to Miami just before the start of his freshman year. By the end of his freshman season, he had earned the starting point guard spot. This year, as a sophomore, he led the Hurricanes with his 14.5 points, 4.6 assists and 2 steals per game, and shot 40.6% from three-point range. He was a second-team All-American, first-team All-ACC, and received the Lute Olson Award as the nation’s best non-freshman.

2012-13 is widely regarded as Miami’s most successful season ever. The ‘Canes finished the regular season 29-7 for their best record in history, won the ACC’s regular-season title as well as the conference tournament, and reached the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament for just the second time ever. Larkin is a terrific athlete, who led all attendees to the Draft Combine in both the three-quarter-court sprint and the vertical leap. With a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio last year, he’s also a decent ballhandler.

Does he fit the Celtics?

Outside of Michigan’s Trey Burke and Syracuse’s Michael Carter-Williams, who will almost certainly go in the top ten, this isn’t a great draft for point guards. This makes Larkin a top-five talent at his position in this draft. If Danny Ainge decides to draft a point guard instead of a big man, it’s likely that Larkin will be the best available by the time the Celtics are on the clock. If the Celtics are drafting for need, Larkin is a great fit since the team just needs somebody to back up Rajon Rondo, who averaged 37.4 minutes per game before his injury last season.

Larkin has the speed the Celtics want in their backup to avoid a noticeable change of pace when Rondo goes to the bench. At the end of the day, if they go for a point guard, they won’t be looking for someone to make an immediate impact, but rather a player who can hold Rondo’s place while he rests. Ainge would probably rather have Dennis Schröder if he can get him, but Larkin has the makings of a worthy NBA ballhandler.

Remembering Celtics Legend Red Auerbach During the NBA Finals

bwebber — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:40:57 +0000

Red Auerbach was an NBA coach for the Boston Celtics, Washington Capitals and the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, to two Russian immigrants. Red also served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-47. It was not until Walter Brown, owner of the Boston Celtics, asked Red in 1950 to coach his failing and financially strapped franchise. This, arguably, could prove to be the single most important hiring in the history of Boston sports. It did not take long for Auerbach to make a impact, during the 1950 NBA draft, Auerbach drafted future Hall of Fame point guard Bob Cousy.

Auerbach also broke the color barrier in basketball, drafting the first African American player in Chuck Cooper. Then in 1956 NBA draft, Red drafted the single best player to ever suit up in a Celtics uniform, a man by the name of Bill Russell. Red went above and beyond to be in the position to draft this future dominant player that was said to be better than Michael Jordan by Phil Jackson, who coached Jordan to his six titles in Chicago. Thanks to Red and Russell, the Celtics created a dynasty, winning 11 titles in 13 years and becoming the most dominating team in the NBA.

Thanks to Red, the Celtics have won an NBA-best 17 championships, which is still a record to this day. Red was also known as one of the only coaches in the NBA who would choose players based on talent and motivation, regardless of skin color or ethnicity.

Red was a great writer, as he wrote seven books. Some of his works have been translated into seven languages and have been awarded best sellers.

After Red stepped down as coach of the Boston Celtics, a position he later gave to player coach Bill Russell, he then served as general manager from 1966-1984. In 1978 Red would draft another superstar and an all time NBA great Larry Bird. The Celtics won another championship in 1986, with Red as the President. Red served as the Vice Chairman and President from 1984-2006.

Many remember Red Auerbach for accomplishing a feat that still to this day has not been done in the NBA and perhaps ever will: winning nine consecutive NBA championships.

Red was not only a great coach but a even better mentor, always willing to help and listen to his players. Many of Red’s players would go on to coach and be successful in the NBA, such as Celtics greats Tommy Heinsohn and Bill Russell.

Red passed away at the age of 89 due to heart complications in October of 2006. The Celtics hold a yearly award in his name, as the trophy is awarded to the player that exemplifies the true spirit and heart of a being a Celtic.

Significance to Boston Sports

Held all time record for wins at time with 938 wins as a NBA coach
Broke the color barrier in basketball
Won a record 9 titles consecutively
Drafted future NBA Hall of Famer’s in Larry Bird, Bill Russell and Bob Cousy
Mentored future Celtic Coaches such as Bill Russell and Tommy Heinsohn, both of which won multiple titles for the Celtics franchise
Named NBA’a greatest coach of all time in 1980 by the professional basketball writers association of America

Key Links:

http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Red_Auerbach.html‎
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/specials/auerbach/‎
http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/boston/halloffame/jersey?id=6857764‎

Pierce’s Future with Celtics in Question

Ying Tao — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:00:02 +0000

With the basketball season unfortunately ending for the Celtics last month, many questions remain about the future of the team. One of the biggest questions, with perhaps the biggest impact on the team’s future, is the return of Paul Pierce. The 36 year old Captain has spent his entire 14 year career with the Boston Celtics and helped the team to a championship in 2008. However, with the recent disappointment of an early playoff exit and the obvious signs of father time wearing on the Captain’s body and game, the return of Pierce next season seems slim to none. With a $15 million contract on the line, there is speculation Celtics general manager, Danny Ainge, will buy out Pierce’s contract by the end of the month at the $5 million buyout in his contract, making him a free agent.

Ainge will have the next couple of weeks to contemplate the best decision for the franchise as this decision will have a ripple effect on the rest of the team. Teammate Kevin Garnett has been publicly adamant on the return of Pierce to secure his own return. Coach Doc Rivers has expressed a desire to return to coach Pierce and Garnett but would feel differently if the two stars were no longer with the team.

Could Pierce Return as a Celtics?

With the Pierce decision affecting the future of the franchise, the choice for Ainge will be difficult to say the least. Despite multiple reports of a likely buy out, there are other options for Ainge to consider. One option would be to trade Pierce, but with age as a factor, a lottery pick and a young prospect is likely a long-shot and the best the Celtics can probably hope for is a mid-to-late first round draft pick and the contract of another high paid veteran. One of the more viable and beneficial options for all parties involved would be to award Pierce’s loyalty to the team by honoring his contract for next season, but ask the veteran to come off the bench so a younger player like Jeff Green can flourish.

Benefits of Keeping Pierce

One of the main benefits of keeping Pierce would be the package deal of Garnett and Rivers. Instead of thinking of Pierce’s contract as a money pit, the Celtics should view it as an investment in next season by keeping three of the major components that won them a championship. The chances of Garnett and Rivers returning to the team are higher with the return of Pierce. Some may argue Pierce is not worth the $15 million coming off the bench. True, that is a steep price to pay a bench player but Pierce would would act more like a starter, just coming off the bench, ala Manu Ginobili of the Spurs.

The Celtics would also benefit from having increased bench production from the veteran player. Critics of Pierce argue his numbers and production have declined over the past seasons. Although there is no question Pierce, along with the rest of the team, struggled to close out games in the fourth quarter, coming off the bench would provide a solution and increase bench production. In a game based on momentum and timely runs, the fourth quarter represents a crucial time in deciding the outcome of games.

Along with increased bench production, Pierce will be able to provide a strong veteran presence for the rest of the team. Pierce is a proven competitor, winner and Captain, and brings intangible qualities to a team that no one else can. This team needs a strong leader that understands the organization and that is something Pierce can deliver on.

More importantly, the Celtics will be keeping one of the franchises most storied players. Pierce is second all-time in the franchise in points scored and is one of only three Celtics, along with the incomparable Larry Bird and John Havlicek, to score over 20,000 points in their careers. He also holds the Celtics record for three-point field goals made and ranks in the top five in other categories such as total assists, steals and defensive rebounds. With numbers like those, it seems like a no-brainer as to the value of Pierce and his importance to the team.

Benefits for Pierce to Stay

There are two crucial reasons for Pierce to stay a Celtic. The main reason to stay and come off the bench is so that he can retire as a Boston Celtic, the only team he has played for his entire career. His jersey is pretty much guaranteed a spot in the TD Banknorth Garden rafters, and will join the likes of legends such as Bird. For Pierce to have his name mentioned in the same sentence as Bird, Bob Cousy, Havlicek and others is an really impressive accomplishment. He is already a legend in Boston and the fans would love to see him end his career in green.

The other reason for Pierce to stay with the Celtics is to pursue another championship with a coach that helped elevate his game to a championship level and a teammate who believed in Pierce’s ability enough sign with the Celtics again. Anything can happen in an NBA season, and the way the Spurs are thriving with an elite point guard, a hall of fame coach, and aging stars, has to resonate with Pierce, Garnett and Rivers.

Retiring as a Celtic and the pursuit of another banner with a team he has put on his back should compensate for coming off the bench and convince Pierce this is where he belongs.

Doc Rivers Unsure About Future With Celtics

Nathan — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:54:45 +0000

ESPN is reporting that sources close to Doc Rivers say that the Celtics coach thinks it “might be time for a change”, in regards to his relationship with the club. Rivers has been non-committal about his coaching future over the last several weeks following the Celtics first round playoff exit. Rivers has been around the team as they evaluate players for the upcoming NBA Draft.

The obvious reason for Rivers uncertainty regarding his future most surely comes from his close relationship with stars, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Pierce’s future with the Celtics is murky given that only $5 million of his $15 million contract is guaranteed for next season. The Celtics don’t appear to be close to championship contention with the way the team is currently constructed, and many think it might be time for the Celtics to move on from the Pierce era.

Garnett has made it known that he may not want to return to the Celtics if Pierce is released. Garnett may simply decide to retire, or ask to be traded if Pierce and Rivers do not remain part of the equation in Boston. If Garnett and Pierce do not return to the Celtics it seems clear Rivers would not want to be part of a long rebuild. It appears that everything hinges on what Danny Ainge decides to do with Pierce in the coming weeks.

The Nets, Nuggets, and Clippers, all have interest in Rivers as a potential hire for their respective coaching vacancies. Danny Ainge has denied any clubs the right to speak with Rivers about head coaching jobs given that Rivers is still under contract with the Celtics for the next three seasons. If the Celtics and Rivers do decide to part ways amicably, don’t be surprised if the 9-year Celtics coach is offered a high profile job elsewhere for next season.

The future of the Celtics hasn’t been this uncertain in a long time. Stay with Sports of Boston for more coverage as this story develops.

Celtics 2013 Draft Targets: Rudy Gobert

Nick García — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 23:33:13 +0000

For the first isntalment of our Draft preview, on Louisville’s Gorgui Dieng, click here. For part 2, on German PG Dennis Schröder, click here.

Name: Rudy Gobert

Club: Cholet Basket (France)

Position: Center

Age: 20

Stats: 7’2″, 240 lbs.

Background

Gobert will enter the NBA largely on the strength of his physique, much more than on his skill. Not only does he stand 7’2″, but he set NBA draft combine records with his wingspan (7’8½”) and standing reach (9’7″). This year, his third pro season with Cholet Basket, the same team that produced current NBA players Rodrigue Beaubois and Kevin Seraphin, he averaged 8.4 points and 5.4 rebounds and was selected to his first all-star game. Last summer, Gobert helped the French team to place second at the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, and was named to the all-tournament team. He subsequently joined the Olympic team for training camp, but didn’t make the trip to London.

Does Gobert fit the Celtics?

Gobert has two factors going against him: he’s going to have to build significant muscle mass to be competitive in the NBA, and his offensive game is still very limited. That said, the potential is always very high for a player his size and his age (he’ll turn 21 on the day before the Draft). With proper guidance he could be a very good NBA center for years to come. The issue with the Celtics is that they already have a young, offensively-challenged seven-footer in Fab Melo, and they may not have the patience to groom another.

If Melo and Gobert both fulfil their potential, they could team up to form an elite frontcourt a few years down the road, but that seems like quite a longshot at this point. Gobert at number 16 may be a reach for the Celtics, and it’s more likely that he’ll go closer to the end of the first round.

2013 NBA Playoffs Expert Picks: NBA Finals

John — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 23:18:17 +0000

The Finals are upon us. LeBron James leads the Heat in their title defense against Tim Duncan and the Spurs. The Heat have the stars, but San Antonio has the rest. Indiana did give Miami all they could handle and then some, so what could a wily group of veterans like San Antonio do?

Either way, it looks to be a difficult series, with all our experts picking it to go the full seven games. The Heat are favored, but the well-rested Spurs are getting attention as well. That will make for an exciting final round, for sure.

In addition to the usual scoring categories, we’re also picking the Finals MVP for this last round, and in addition, all point values are doubled!! Therefore, picking the winner of a series is worth four points, while picking how may games each series will last is worth two points. Picking the MVP is also worth two points.

Also, in the event any of our experts finish tied in the final standings, we’re also picking the combined point total of Miami’s Big Three (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh) in the final game of the series. Whoever guesses closest, above or below, will get the nod.

So check below for everyone’s picks, and come back once the Finals are complete for the final results and standings.

	Name	John	Nick B	Nick G
Heat vs Spurs	Winner	Heat	Heat	Spurs
	Series Length	7	7	7
	MVP	LeBron James	LeBron James	Tim Duncan
Tiebreaker	Big 3′s Points	60	68	71
Total	Points	19	23	23

Previous Results:

2013 NBA Playoffs Expert Picks: Third Round Results

John — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 22:36:10 +0000

The third round is complete, with San Antonio sweeping Memphis and getting plenty of rest while Miami had to resort to Game 7 to take down Indiana. Whether the rest will help remains to be seen, but for now, the results of the third round are in.

With the picks all being for Miami and Memphis, not much was able to change in the standings. In fact, only one point overall was awarded for a correct guess of Miami’s series going seven games.

Still, updated standings are below along with the results from this past round. Feel free to refresh yourself on how everything is going, and check back Thursday night for the NBA Finals picks.

	Name	John	Nick B	Nick G
Heat vs Pacers	Winner	Heat	Heat	Heat
Heat vs Pacers	Series Length	5	6	7
Spurs vs Grizzlies	Winner	Grizzlies	Grizzlies	Grizzlies
Spurs vs Grizzlies	Series Length	6	6	7
Total	Points	19	23	23

Table Legend

Two-point picks are boldfaced.
One-point picks are italicized.
Zero-point picks are crossed out.

Previous Results:

Four Buy-Low Options for Celtics

Nathan — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:00:41 +0000

Let’s assume for a moment that Doc Rivers, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett all walk back through the proverbial door (as Rick Pitino might say). If this indeed is the case, then Celtics GM, Danny Ainge, will be hard pressed to find ways to improve the Celtics roster given the strict rules of the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement.

Currently, the Celtics are right on the cusp of the NBA’s luxury tax threshold, meaning that the only money available to them in free-agency is the $3 million mini-midlevel exception and minimum salary contracts.This means that the Celtics best option to upgrade their roster will be with trades for ‘buy low’ players- Players who have talent but haven’t lived up to their contracts with their current teams.

These players are high-risk, high-reward prospects, but if the Celtics want to let Pierce and Garnett ride into the sunset in green, this may be the only type of move that could propel the team back into contention. Below are four players to keep an eye on:

Andrea Bargnani

Bargnani can certainly be had for cheap, basically for free, but the problem is he’s owed over $20 million over the next two seasons. The Raptors new GM has made it know that his first order of business is to try and trade Bargnani. The former number one overall pick struggled mightily last season with his health and efficiency, and seemed to fall out of favor with everyone in the Raptors organization. Bargnani posted career lows in several statistically categories last season and appeared in just 35 games.

Why would the Celtics be interested in Bargnani?

Bargnani is just 27 years-old and averaged 20 points per game in the two seasons previous to this past one. At a legit seven feet tall, Bargnani has solid three point range, and from 2010-2012 was getting to line over five times a game. A big man with serious inside-out game is a rare commodity in the NBA, and Bargnani’s talents would be a welcome addition next to Garnett in the paint.

Derrick Williams

The Timberwolves will part with Williams if they get something for him. A package of Courtney Lee and a future pick might be the best the Wolves are going to get. Williams has struggled to find a role in Minnesota, and the revolving door of injuries the team has faced has made Williams minutes incredibly inconsistent. It’s been a tough situation for a former number two pick in the draft.

Why would the Celtics be interested in Williams?

All accounts say that Williams is a hard worker. He worked his way from a barely recruited high-school player to the second pick in the NBA draft. Williams shot hasn’t fallen in his first two seasons in the league, but it’s nothing a little hard work can’t fix. Williams combination of size and athleticism makes him the ideal player for NBA small ball. Doc Rivers and the Celtics have always done a good job of resurrecting the careers of versatile forwards (see Jeff Green, James Posey, and Brandon Bass), and Williams certainly fits the mold.

DeMarcus Cousins

The buy-low of all buy-low options, Cousins possesses all of the talents of a superstar NBA player, but none of the poise. Cousins fought with his coach, the refs, and even opposing announcers last season, and continually found himself suspended by his team and the league all year. Despite his struggles with maturity, Cousins improved his stats across the board and finished with career highs in points, rebounds and field goal percentage. The Kings have tried to unload Cousins for about a year, but haven’t been able to find a package that makes giving up on their big man worth it. If the Celtics offer something like Avery Bradley, Jared Sullinger and a first round pick for Cousins, will the Kings pass?

Why would the Celtics be interested in Cousins?

At, 6’11″ 270lbs, Cousins is a legit NBA center, something the Celtics have lacked for several seasons. If we’ve learned anything from this season’s NBA playoffs, it’s that size still matters in professional basketball and players with Cousins size and skill don’t come around very often. If Garnett and Rivers are still with the Celtics next season, a project like Cousins is a real possibility, and one they’d be foolish to pass up. Even if Cousins never reaches his potential as an NBA superstar, he’s one of the few talents out there that’s totally worth the gamble.

Amar’e Stoudamire

I know, crazy, right? Hear me out. Stoudamire is only 30 years old and despite his injury problems the last two seasons, has played over 84 percent of possible games in his career. That’s an incredible number given Stoudamire’s reputation. Additionally, Stoudamire continues to produce offensively and on the glass at very efficient numbers. The sweetener here is what the Knicks might be willing to give up to get out of Stoudamire’s contract. If the Knicks are willing to give up Iman Shumpert or a first round pick to get out from Stoudamire’s contract, then it might be easier for the Celtics to take on the risk.

Why would the Celtics be interested in Stoudamire?

If the Celtics are trying to prolong the careers of Garnett and Pierce, then rolling the dice on Stoudamire and whatever the Knicks toss in the deal for Jason Terry, Bass, and Lee doesn’t sound too far out of the question. It’s the type of deal the two teams might be both desperate enough to explore. 14 points and seven rebounds a game from Stoudamire for 60 games a year doesn’t sound unreasonable. That, coupled with the possibility of Shumpert’s continued development, might be enough to propel the Celtics back to the conference finals. The Celtics hands are tied to the salary cap, so rolling the dice in a big way may be the only way to justify holding onto Garnett and Pierce for another season or two.

Celtics 2013 Draft Targets: Dennis Schröder

Nick García — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 23:29:19 +0000

Today we continue our look at potential Celtics Draft selections. Read the first instalment, on Louisville’s Gorgui Dieng, here.

Name: Dennis Schröder

Club: Phantoms Braunschweig (Germany)

Position: Point guard

Age: 19

Stats: 6’2″, 165 lbs.

Background

One of several European players projected to go in the first round, Schröder is often compared to Rajon Rondo, and has himself admitted that he models his game on that of the Celtics’ point guard. Schröder’s body type is similar, although he is an inch taller and about 20 pounds lighter than his idol, Rondo. On paper, it could appear somewhat mystifying that Schröder should be ranked as high as he is on teams’ radars, playing as he does for a team that finished near the bottom this season in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga, not one of Europe’s top leagues.

At age 19, Schröder had the kind of breakout season that attracts the attention of NBA scouts, winning both the Most Improved and the Best Young German Player awards on the strength of his 12 points and 3.2 assists per game. Better yet for his NBA aspirations, he had 18 points and a game-high 6 assists at last month’s Nike Hoop Summit, helping the World team to a 112-98 win over the USA.

Does Schröder fit the Celtics?

If he fulfills his potential as ‘the next Rondo’, then he fits on any team. The consensus among scouts and analysts is that Schröder will, indeed, be an NBA-worthy starting point guard in a few years, as he’s the kind of pass-first player that American colleges don’t seem to be producing as much as they used to. Still, you can’t help but feel like any team that picks him will be taking a gamble. After all, this is a guy who’s had one good season in a very minor league, and has no experience playing against elite talent, as opposed to say, Ricky Rubio, who had played at the top international level before coming Stateside.

In the Celtics’ case, they don’t need a starting PG right away, which makes Schröder that much more enticing. Rondo has many years left ahead of him, so if Danny Ainge decides to draft a point guard, he will do so knowing that there will be plenty of time to mold him into an NBA-caliber player. The idea of having a very similar, younger player backing Rondo up has to be appealing to Ainge and Doc Rivers, since the lack of a true point guard in Rondo’s absence cost them so dearly in the playoffs this season.