Rambling About the Latest Headlines

(CBTC)


By: Greg Payne

Let's ramble a bit, shall we?

Where is Marquis Daniels? Why hasn't any deal been executed yet? Why is he not officially a member of the Boston Celtics? Last Friday Marc Spears reported that a decision between the Celtics and Pacers would be made by the "end of the week". Maybe he meant this week?

I know Daniels has verbally committed to the Celtics, but that doesn't mean he can't back out of such a promise. Sure, we'd loathe him for it, but he can still technically do it. Maybe there's really nothing to worry about at all. But we keep talking about him as a member of the Boston Celtics, but in reality, he's still just a free agent.

I think the majority of us were hopeful that we would see the end of the Tony Allen period in Boston with this whole Daniels thing, but, because of his various off the court issues, they seem unwilling to take him on. Darn. That would have been an absolute steal. Not exactly Russell for the Ice Capades, but it's a pretty big deal when we can jettison one of our worst bench players in exchange for a high quality veteran poised to help make a run at a championship.

I love how people assume because Danny Ainge and Larry Bird are buddies, Bird will automatically do us a solid and give us Daniels in a great deal. BUT, people must be forgetting that Bird still has his own team to run and has been trying to re-create the entire image of that franchise since The Brawl, so I can absolutely understand him not wanting Allen.

Speaking of making a run at a championship, it appears Ainge might be attempting to move anyone and everyone who won't readily contribute next season.

Gabe Pruitt's tenure is essentially over. Bill Walker isn't safe (J.R. Giddens can't be, either) and there can be no doubt the team would ship out TA if a reasonable offer came their way.

A team can only carry 12 healthy bodies into the postseason, but that doesn't necessarily have to stop Ainge from compiling a team full of vets ,while letting men 11-15 essentially duke it out the entire season for the right to compete in the postseason. That way, we're sure we have the best team possible heading into the 'real' season.

As of right now, our first eight will be: Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace, Eddie House and (hopefully) Marquis Daniels. That makes for a very, very solid eight man rotation as is, but we clearly need to keep adding more pieces. Maybe Glen Davis will make a return. After Davis, if we can add at least one more suitable role player, we'll arguably have the best 10-man rotation in all of basketball. We already possess the best starting five in basketball, so why not add on five more?

With moves both teams have made and in light of the transactions still to come, I'm willing to say that San Antonio comes the closest to matching us, purely from a talent stand point, with their additions of Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess.

...Jamaal Tinsley, anyone, yet? Anyone? Anyone at all?

Stay Tuned.