Is Rumor Season Officially Over? (Maybe Not...)

(Photo courtesy of DGA Productions)

By: Greg Payne

The great thing about sports blogging is the freedom to write about anything and everything without any backlash from a higher authority. I suppose we're arguably at our best during this so-called "rumor season", when speculation and interpretation are at an all time high.

Even professional newspapers will not necessarily dive into the vicious trade rumors that appear so outlandish because it would almost be foolish to embed any unnecessary thoughts in the public minds. And since for the time being we're merely bloggers with very few, if any, "sources" within or around the league, we're very unlikely to unearth any dirt worth writing about. Which is why we resort back to speculating, interpreting and inevitably, forming our own opinions and defending them by attempting to spin the rumors we hear in our personal favor.

But the professionals do understand these rumors will spiral out of control one way or another, so they, like us, turn to Celtics' management for answers. We understand that only guys like Danny Ainge, Doc Rivers and Wyc Grousbeck can squash or cement any such rumors, because they are the very men responsible for making the moves.

So while none of the writers have tried to halt the rumors on their own with stories or columns, they let the whispers grow into dinner talk and eventually into legitimate discussion because only then will someone from management come forth to extinguish the early fabrication flames before they have to deal with a full fledged fire.

A classic example was yesterday's Boston Globe, where Marc Spears dedicated the gut of his Sunday column to the NBA Draft, which takes place on Thursday, before adding the following morsel at the very end:

Celtics president Danny Ainge said yesterday that he doesn’t expect to make a trade during Thursday’s draft, and any roster additions will likely come via free agency, which starts in July. The Celtics have only the 58th pick in the draft, in the second round. “We have nothing close to happening,’’ Ainge said. “I would guess that there would not be anything [on draft night]. We like the free agent market of veteran players much more than we like the draft.’’ On the wild trade rumors concerning some Celtics, Ainge said, “I just assume all of them are jokes when I read some of the junk out there and some of the things involving us that seem invented out of the blue sky."

So, with those comments now out on the table, can we wave the rumor season checkered flag? Because when you add those comments to all of the ones here, it seems extremely unlikely, damn near impossible actually, that any deals will be executed before, during or immediately after the draft on Thursday. Because after Thursday, only five days remain before moratorium begins, and the Celtics can finally begin negotiating with the free agent class that Ainge likes so much.

So thank you, rumor season, for holding our attention and entertaining us these first few weeks off the offseason. But, we don't need you anymore. The real stuff, the good stuff, is about to begin.

UPDATE:

But then of course, this happens:

* There’s another trade rumor floating out there seemingly even more far-fetched than the Al and No. 6 to Phoenix for Amare: This one says the Wolves send Mike Miller, Randy Foye and Ryan Gomes to Boston for Ray Allen.

Since Kahn lamented Friday how nobody in the media business calls anymore for confirmation and denial of such rumors, I texted Kahn about this one and asked if there was possibly any truth to it.

He sent back a one word answer:

“No.”

Good.

Stay Tuned.