SB Nation - Rajon Rondo

What would next year's Celtics look like?

Jeff Clark — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:01:50 -0000

Disclaimer: There's a lot of moving pieces in the trade talks and all of this could fall apart quickly - so this could be an obsolete article in short order. However, I can't help but jot down the names left on the roster and wonder how good they could be.

Let us start with the basics. If we trade Kevin Garnett and allow Doc Rivers out of his contract, chances are very, very good that Paul Pierce will move on in one way or another. As of now, the only piece we are sure would be coming back (again, assuming the trade went through) would be DeAndre Jordan.

So let us look at our new starting lineup, shall we?

PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Avery Bradley (back to his natural position)
SF: Jeff Green
PF: Jared Sullinger
C: DeAndre Jordan

That very well could be a "fun" starting five. It could also be a very average or potentially bad team in the record books.

The good: They would get good rebounding from the 4/5 spots. They would generate turnovers via Bradley and Rondo. Put those things together with some very good transition players and ... dare I say it? Lob(ster) City!

The bad: Who scores on that team? Rondo can get his own shot off and Jeff Green could bump up to 20 a night with high usage and maybe Sullinger gets a few points just by scrapping. But when they aren't running, I don't think Bradley and Jordan are going to be reliable scoring threats. Also, can they play defense, especially without either Rivers or Thibodeau or especially Kevin Garnett around?

So it might depend on the other shoes to drop.

The bench is anyone's guess, but it sounds like Brandon Bass is sticking around (if they are rebuilding, it makes more sense to start Sullinger going forward). Jordan Crawford has another year on his deal. We've got our 16th pick to use and hey, there's always Fab Melo! Will Lee and/or Terry still be here? And of course there's any additional pieces coming back to the Celtics - either as part of the Clippers deal or a theoretical Pierce deal. And if they free up enough space, maybe a free agent?

Also, there would be another coach, but nobody knows exactly who that would be (several writers dismissed the notion that it would be Del Negro - who's name presumably only popped up because he shares an agent with Doc Rivers).

For now, it might be best not to dwell on the specifics until we know more details. So what do you think of that potential starting five? How many games could they win? Would they be a lottery team or perhaps (in the weak East) would they be a middling 7 or 8 seed?

Poll

Where would a Celtics team with that starting lineup end up being in the standings?

NBA Trade Rumors: Rajon Rondo to Pistons might make sense

brgulker — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:38:29 -0000

About three years ago, Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Boston Celtics were seeking to retool on the fly (while adding future flexibility) and offered Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo to the Detroit Pistons for Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, and Rodney Stuckey.

At the time, our own Matt Watson called it a "lowball," and the comments of our readers basically agreed with the sentiment (seriously, the comments of that three year old thread are great, even if they're all "anonymous" after the migration to SBNation).

Almost three years to the day, Boston is selling again. And once again, Woj is all over it.

The individual pieces have changed by now, and Boston hasn't shown any interest in trading with Detroit. However, there might be very good reasons for both sides to pick up the phone and revisit those preliminary talks from three years ago.

In case you haven't heard, Boston is in talks with the Los Angeles Clippers to send Kevin Garnett, with Coach Doc Rivers in tow, and possibly Jason Terry or Courtney Lee in exchange for DeAndre Jordan, a first-round pick, and possbily Eric Bledsoe or Caron Butler.

So what in the world does this have to do with Detroit?

Reportedly, Boston is open to draft picks and financial flexibility. It just so happens Detroit has both. And we know that at one point, Danny Ainge coveted Rodney Stuckey and as part of a larger package was willing to part with Rajon Rondo to get him. Turns out Detroit still employs Stuckey and has a need for a long-term solution at point guard, and Boston employs Rajon Rondo.

So, to Joe Dumars and Danny Ainge I say, let's chat.

How it might go...

Dumars: Danny, (I hope) you like Rodney Stuckey, and I know you could use a lottery pick. So let's start there. Rodney Stuckey (and his not fully guaranteed expiring contract) are yours for the taking. Since I'm asking for your starting PG - who also happens to be coming of a pretty serious injury, mind you - I'll offer this year's lottery pick, with which you can select any number of promising young point guards.

Ainge: Joe, I do like Stuckey, and I like that draft pick, but here's the deal - I need to clear some long-term commitments so I can retool beyond just this year. So here's my counteroffer: take Courtney Lee and the $16 million he's owed through 14-15, and give me Brandon Knight to bolster the backcourt, and you've got a deal. Or, if he's not combo-guardy enough for you, I've also got Jason Terry for sale.

Aside: there'd need to be some filler to make sure it works under the cap, but not much. Think Slava kind of filler.

Lame attempt at entertainment aside, this kind of deal might make sense for both sides.

On Detroit's side: Rondo is a quality player, and he's proven he can produce even without healthy All Stars surrounding him. But, he's not without risk given injuries, and he's owed a hefty sum. And he's a point guard. A real point guard who does point guardy things on offense and defense.

Statistically, Courtney Lee isn't awful, and he plays SG, a roster hole that would need filling in a trade like this. But really, he ought to be viewed as the premium you have to be willing to pay for a player of Rondo's caliber.

On Boston's side: a quality player should be available when the Pistons are on the clock at the NBA Draft, and Rodney Stuckey and Brandon Knight - despite their flaws - do possess value, could benefit from a change of scenery, quality coaching, and there are no long-term costs. All three pieces are young, have room to grow, and are relatively cheap.

I can see two road blocks, one on each side.

On Detroit's side: this draft isn't particularly strong, but there are rumblings that some of the better prospects might drop (think Trey Burke). If a player of Burke's caliber is available via the draft, it doesn't make much sense to part ways with that pick. To which I say, there's no reason a deal like this has to happen today. A draft-day trade might make perfect sense for both sides.

Aside: It's also entirely possible that Joe Dumars thinks Brandon Knight and Rodney Stuckey are equally productive to Rondo, to which I have no response other than this.

On Boston's side: Rajon Rondo emerged as one of the truly elite PGs in the NBA this season. With Allen's departure and nagging injuries to Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, Rondo proved that he could produce like an All Star in the absence of others. The obvious question is whether Boston could get more for Rondo than a deal like this. To which I say, ACL injuries are serious, and full recoveries aren't guaranteed. More than a few teams will be hesitant, and a haul of young, cheap assets might be the best Danny can do.

Maybe this is a homer's dream scenario to get a pet player. It might be. But even if this particular trade never sees the light of an NBA front desk, it's the type of trade that Joe Dumars ought to be exploring with all that cap space.

Now, your turn to put me through the ringer in the comments.

NBA Trade Rumors: Taking stock of the "stalled" trade talks between Boston and the Clippers

Jeff Clark — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 01:22:17 -0000

Source: C's-Clips talks "appear dead." Means it's either over or we're into posturing phase. Leaning toward former, but nothing's certain.
— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) June 16, 2013

Rumor: Clippers, Celtics Reach Impasse - Clips Nation

Here's what the Clippers want:

Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett for DeAndre Jordan and a 1st round pick

Here's what the Celtics want:

Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett for DeAndre Jordan, Eric Bledsoe, and 2 1st round picks

It's not a huge difference- Eric Bledsoe and a future first round pick are the pieces that are stopping this trade from happening. According to Turner, the Clippers aren't willing to give Boston either of the two. I would be interested to know if Boston would accept a trade of Jordan and two picks, without Bledsoe. Nonetheless, it seems like these sides are close. Maybe with the recent news of the Clippers walking away to pursue a different coach, the Celtics will budge and accept the Clippers' offer, or at least drop Bledsoe from their proposal.

According to Bill Simmons, the Celtics' "ideal scenario" would be even more than that, but we'll put that aside for a moment as Danny asking for the moon. Let us look at this deal from both sides.

The Clippers want to hold onto as many assets as possible. Eric Bledsoe is a nice young point guard that has value on the market. So they'd rather not give him and another pick up in this deal. Their backup plan (and leverage) is pushing away from the table and getting Lionel Hollins. They wouldn't be getting Kevin Garnett, but they might be able to get something for Bledsoe and perhaps Jordan and keep their picks. Is that enough to convince Chris Paul to stay? Tough to tell.

For the Celtics, of course they are going to ask for the moon but at some point their demands have to meet somewhat in the middle. DeAndre Jordan is a nice (if flawed) young center and a (low) first round pick seems like pretty good compensation for Kevin Garnett alone. Tossing Doc into the mix it seems to tilt the scales in LA's favor too much to me.

Can both sides agree on a compromise of including either the 1st rounder or Bledsoe? We'll see I guess.

Update:

Celtics-Clippers talks to send Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett to L.A. stall - Yahoo! Sports

Boston general manager Danny Ainge has requested Bledsoe and a second first-round pick, but all involved believe that Bledsoe's inclusion into the package would get a deal done. Rivers has delivered word to Clippers management that they shouldn't include Bledsoe into a package for him, that he wants to coach him in Los Angeles, sources said.

Interesting. So Doc himself could be stalling the negotiations.

There are also several combinations of adding salaries on either side and/or including Paul Pierce in some kind of deal that could push things along. Then there's everyone's favorite "getting a 3rd team involved" scenario.

For now, the Celtics have to prepare for a potential complete breakdown of the deal that involves (potentially) Doc Rivers coming back into an "awkward" situation.

Bigger question becomes whether Doc will feel awkward coming back after showing affection for another suitor. Celts want him.
— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) June 16, 2013

Throughout this awkward dance with Clips, Boston's been clear with Doc Rivers on this: If it all falls apart, they still want him as coach.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 16, 2013

But can they put that toothpaste back into the tube? Is there any return to "normal" from this point?

And then there's the tangential effect here. What happens with Rajon Rondo in either scenario. KG is perhaps his best friend left on the team and Rondo loves Doc Rivers. What happens to him if they trade both away and get his potential replacement in return? And if the deal falls through, how exactly is he going to react to all of this?

What a jumbled mess this is. We knew it would be an interesting summer but this is kind of a ridiculous way to start it off.

Indy Cornrows Mock Draft 1.0: What Key Need Does Indiana Address?

Evan Sidery — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:48:50 -0000

Evan Sidery's Mock Draft 1.0
Round 1
1. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
	Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky: Noel is set to visit Cleveland on June 20, just a week before the draft. There has been a lot of smoke from other media saying the Cavaliers have been leaning toward drafting Otto Porter Jr, Victor Oladipo, Ben McLemore, and Alex Len all over Noel. One, I do not buy that, also those reports all came out really within in a weeks time. What the national media is saying that they have really no clue what Cleveland will do. The obvious choice here is Noel, because he fits a need for a young, defensive force down low. Having Noel do battle with Roy Hibbert, Greg Monroe, and Joakim Noah in the same division will be very entertaining.
2. ORLANDO MAGIC
	Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana: I have been waffiling back-and-forth with this pick the whole weekend and decided on Oladipo. He fits what Rob Henigan is looking for, a culture-changer. Victor would come in and be a major asset on the defensive end, add that with his development on offense he could be a more offensive-oriented version of Tony Allen.
3. WASHINGTON WIZARDS
	Otto Porter Jr, SF, Georgetown: This is an easy pick for Washington here. They get the hometown kid who would put more fans in the stands with Georgetown near by as well. Putting Porter alongside Bradley Beal and John Wall sets Washington up for a potential playoff run. If the Wizards pass on Porter, that will utterly shock me.
4. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
	Alex Len, C, Maryland: This pick I also was undecided on until I published this. Charlotte needs more scoring alongside Kemba Walker, but that glaring hole in the middle can not be ignored another year. Len would be an immediate upgrade over Brendan Haywood, Bismack Biyombo, and Byron Mullens at the center position. Alex's stock has risen to the point he is in consideration by Cleveland at number one. Putting Len with Kemba would be an enertaining combo to watch develop in Charlotte.
5. PHOENIX SUNS
	Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas: McLemore has been questioned by many NBA executives about his drive and motivation to truly be the best. Oladipo has nudged him down to second on most teams boards at the shooting guard position. Phoenix would pick up Ben here, due to him being a top-flight scorer. This seems like a perfect fit to me when you look at the offensive setup in Phoenix. Jared Dudley pack your bags, you are now on the trading block.
6. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
	Anthony Bennett, SF/PF, UNLV: Having Anthony Bennett slip right into the Pelicans' lap would make Dell Demps do a dance. He would fit perfectly alongside Ryan Anderson and Anthony Davis in their frontcourt. Bennett could play small forward or power forward in the NBA, but a team like New Orleans could use him at both. This is a perfect fit, I believe.
7. SACRAMENTO KINGS
	Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse: Also in the chat, Chad Ford did yesterday, he mentioned Sacramento his higher on Michael Carter-Williams than Trey Burke. It makes sense too, due to the fact the Kings need a pass-first point guard to get Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins more involved. If MCW is selected by Sacramento, expect Isaiah Thomas to be on the trade block.
8. DETROIT PISTONS
	Trey Burke, PG, Michigan: Burke's slip has finally ended here with the Pistons. Joe Dumars has been going the best player available route for the last few years now, and it has gotten him Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight, and Andre Drummond. Getting Burke would put more fans in the seats with his Michigan connection and also give Detroit another scorer. Pairing Burke with Knight (moving him to shooting guard), makes more sense for their future lineup plans.
9. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
	C.J. McCollum, SG, Lehigh: Another pick fit here for both parties. Minnesota needs a young scorer, which is what McCollum exactly is. Having a lights-out scorer alongside Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love could make Minnesota a very dangerous team next season out West. If he can stay healthy, McCollum is actually my early Rookie of the Year favorite for next season.
10. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
	Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia: According to NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper, rival executives told him that Portland is expected to select Kentavious Caldwell-Pope come draft night. The fit makes sense when you look at it. Adding another scorer either in a sixth man role behind Wesley Matthews (could be trade bait if KCP is drafted here), or start alongside Damian Lillard would make that young backcourt even more dangerous for years to come.
11. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
	Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh: Even though his game is relatively raw, I love Steven Adams' game. He is a bruiser down low, who could also make the 15-foot jumper if needed. With the terrible year revolving around Andrew Bynum, Philly needs to start over with a new big man. Adams would be a project, but he has a high ceiling to be a stud center in the NBA.
12. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
	Cody Zeller, PF/C, Indiana: If you are an Indiana fan wishing Zeller well on the next level, this looks like the best fit for him. Playing both center and power forward, he could be a useful player off the bench for a year or two in Oklahoma City. Playing behind Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins would also be nice for Zeller to learn under. Cody would take Nick Collison's role on OKC's bench, before he eventually steps in as a starter. Zeller slips here, and it might be what is best for him.
13. DALLAS MAVERICKS
	Shane Larkin, PG, Miami: Dallas' pick is truly the wildcard and big domino that could send a massive ripple-effect throughout the whole first round. They are working the phones trying to trade this pick to clear more cap space (Pacer fans: Danny for Shawn Marion and #13?) for a run at Dwight Howard, and maybe even Chris Paul this Summer. The unknown revolving around Croatian forward, Dario Saric is key here as well. If he ends up withdrawing, which is likely to happen, that puts Dallas' plans in shambles. They need a point guard with the train wreck situation they have with Darren Collison running the show down there. Larkin would be an immediate upgrade and put Collison once again on a new team next season.
14. UTAH JAZZ
	Dennis Schroeder, PG, Germany (NY Phantoms): With Larkin being gone, that makes Utah upset as well. Larkin dominated in his workouts with the Jazz and Bucks. Meanwhile, Dennis Schroeder did pretty bad in his workout with Utah. Schroeder is not a bad plan B for the Jazz though. He is a true pass-first point guard and lightning quick (why he draws Rajon Rondo comparisons). Putting Dennis on Utah would make it much easier for Gordon Hayward to get open on the perimeter.
15. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
	Shabazz Muhammad, SG/SF, UCLA: Shabazz's slip-and-slide ends here in Milwaukee. Muhammad has slipped big-time down a lot of teams' boards due to him lying about his age, and also having a bad year at UCLA. Also, his sub-par performance at the combine did not help much. Putting 'Bazz in Milwaukee seems like a good fit on paper. If Monta Ellis returns, 'Bazz could move to small forward and fit in fine.
16. BOSTON CELTICS
	Giannis Adetokunbo, SF, Greece (Filiathlitikos): You think the Shane Larkin to Dallas had a ripple effect, like I said? This is one of the major ones from it. Boston would love to take Shabazz here, but they have to settle for the "Greak Freek", who Danny Ainge is obssesed with per reports. He does not plan on coming over until the 2016 season (21 years old by then), so this would be a major project to work with. Adetokunbo has the highest ceiling of any prospect in this draft, I believe. This is the year to draft a star and stash him, and Boston just did in this mock draft.
17. ATLANTA HAWKS
	Kelly Olynyk, PF, Gonzaga: Atlanta is in need of a big man who can actually stretch the floor, with Josh Smith likely not coming back to Atlanta. Kelly Olynyk fits that need and more for Atlanta. They would get a forward who can be good inside, but also can shoot threes as well. Having Olynyk and Horford together would cause major mismatches on the court for the Hawks.
18. ATLANTA HAWKS
	Jamaal Franklin, SG, San Diego State: Danny Ferry was hoping Giannis Adetokunbo would slip to Atlanta, but unfortunately not. They get Jamaal Franklin, who is not bad himself. Franklin has drawn comparisons to former Pacers draft pick, Kawhi Leonard. Jamaal has freakish athleticism and would immediately boost Atlanta's backcourt with more defensive prowess. Adding Olynyk and Franklin with their first round picks would round-out their big needs a little bit more before free agency begins.
19. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
	Sergey Karasev, SF, Russia: After a workout in Los Angeles in front of NBA executives, Karasev decided to fly back to Russia and shut everything down before the draft. That immediately sparked word of a possible promise from a team in the middle part of the draft. After looking over all the options for Karasev in my first mock draft, Cleveland makes the most sense. He will be able to come over next season and contribute right away at small forward. Adding in Karasev to an already potent lineup of Irving, Waiters, Thompson, and Noel; that makes it very enticing for LeBron in 2014 (just saying).
20. CHICAGO BULLS
	Mason Plumlee, PF/C, Duke: Mason Plumlee's slide finally ends in the Windy City. His stock is dwindiling down a little bit, due to his low ceiling and being older then most draftees. Plumlee would give Chicago much needed size and athleticisim down low alongside Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah though. Mason is a ton better then Miles Plumlee, and it would be entertaining to see them go at it in the Central Division year-after-year.
21. UTAH JAZZ
	Rudy Gobert, PF/C, France: I am torn on this selection as well. Would Utah really take another foreigner, or take the more complete Dieng? Utah loves to dip their toes internationally, so I had to go with Gobert here. Adding in an athletic freak like Gobert, alongside Enes Kanter would fill out their frontcourt. Taking Schroeder and Gobert might seem like a stretch, but it really rounds-out their team on offense and defense.
22. BROOKLYN NETS
	Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville: Another big man's slide ends, this time in Brooklyn. Gorgui Dieng would be the perfect complement to Brook Lopez's offensive prowess with a defensive backup. Having Dieng even play power forward while Lopez is still on the court would immediately boost Brooklyn's defense. Dieng would give Brooklyn a backup big they have always needed, and if Gorgui rounds out his offensive skills this could be a steal by Jason Kidd and the Nets.
23. INDIANA PACERS
	Tony Mitchell, SF/PF, North Texas: We have finally reached Indiana's pick and this might be a surprise one for some people. From what I have been told, Tony Mitchell was 'special' and was told it was his best workout to date. As we all know, Indiana usually picks a kid who does great in workouts (example: Miles Plumlee). Mitchell has the tools to become another Paul George-like gem for the Pacers, but can he put it all together? He looks like he could play small forward, and occasionaly play power forward at times. He is the definition of a true stretch-4. With the feedback I got from Friday's workout, I feel pretty in confident in picking Mitchell at 23 for Indiana right now. After all, Pacers lead scout, Ryan Carr, visited Mitchell a few times this season. If he develops right, this looks like a massive steal for Indiana a few years down the road with his freakish athleticism. Below are some videos of my first Pacers mock draft pick, Tony Mitchell, from SB Nation partner, Draft Express.
24. NEW YORK KNICKS
	Jeff Withey, C, Kansas: Has Tyson Chandler ever had a legit backup to him while in New York? I do not think so, because Kurt Thomas is not cutting it. Adding in a defensive-minded player like Withey would help bolster their second unit with more size and better chance of stopping people on defense. Also, having Withey learn from Chandler could be huge for him as well. Mike Woodson would benefit by selecting Withey and having an immediate contributor to New York's second unit.
25. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
	Allen Crabbe, SG, Cal: Allen Crabbe took a nosedive down my board, due to their being no real fit for him in the middle of the first round. Crabbe would give Los Angeles a younger and future replacement to Jamaal Crawford off the bench. He is a lights-out shooter, but is known for not being able to create his own shot. Getting Crabbe would go a long way to rounding-out their scoring off their bench for the present and future.
26. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
	Lucas Nogueria, C, Brazil: After hearing a post-workout interview of Flip Saunders, it sounds like he wants to take on a project with the 26th pick. Well, if he wants one, Lucas Nogueria of Brazil is on the board waiting to be selected. Nogueria has been rising up teams' boards since EuroCamp. He has the size to be a contributor on a team next season, or keep him overseas if they want to. As Chad Ford said before, Nogueria reminds him of the Brazilian version of Nerlens Noel.
27. DENVER NUGGETS
	Reggie Bullock, SG/SF, North Carolina: Reggie Bullock falls right into the Nuggets' lap at 27. They will need a versatile SG/SF who can take Danilo Gallinari's spot until the All-Star break due to his injury. Bullock is a great long-range shooter and a tough defender. Adding him alongside Wilson Chandler and a healthy Gallinari would make Denver even more long and athletic at the wing position. He would be a great fit for any team in the 20's, but he goes to Denver here in Indy Cornrows Mock Draft 1.0.
28. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
	Pierre Jackson, PG, Baylor: You might be surprised by this, but from what I was told, Pierre Jackson is shooting up teams' draft boards at a Usain Bolt-like pace. His explosiveness and scoring ability make him a hot commodity for anyone looking for a backup point guard. Pierre's agent told me via email (Tony Dutt), that he has a workout with the Pacers on Tuesday. He will be working out with other likely first round point guard candidates at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, but Dutt did not tell me who. Jackson's range sounds like anywhere from 23-28 now. Tony Parker is getting up there in age, he can not play forever. Adding in Jackson would put him with Cory Joseph and make a nice young duo to take Parker's role once he retires.
29. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
	Tim Hardaway Jr., SG, Michigan: Like Allen Crabbe, I could not find a spot for Tim Hardaway Jr. in the early-mid 20's that screamed perfect fit to me. Hardway Jr. is expected to go anywhere from 20-30 come draft night. He would add in a much needed scoring punch off the bench for the Thunder. This would also take some pressure off of Russell Westbrook's shoulders when he is in there with him. Adding in Hardaway Jr. would be a good thing to do if you are Oklahoma City, after you took your big man in Cody Zeller at 12. Coming away with Zeller and Hardaway Jr. is a nice coup for Thunder fans.
30. PHOENIX SUNS
	Tony Snell, SF, New Mexico: Phoenix needs a ton more wing help then people actually think. After taking Ben McLemore at 5, they need to add another wing who can add some length and scoring. Tony Snell does the trick with this pick. Revitalizing their 2 and 3 spot needs to happen for Phoenix. McLemore and Snell are big upgrades over what is currently on the roster, not named Michael Beasley (Jared Dudley and Wesley Johnson). Suns fans should be happy if they come away with players like McLemore and Snell at the end of the first round.

Nerlens Noel injury: Big man hopes to return around Christmas

JayPatt — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:55:51 -0000

Potential top NBA Draft pick Nerlens Noel continues to rehab diligently from a torn ACL and, though the big man told USA Today that while there's no rush to return, he hopes to be back on the basketball court by Christmas.

More: SB Nation's in-depth scouting report on Nerlens Noel

Noel tore his ACL in a Feb. 12 game against Florida, eventually having surgery on March 12 after the doctors could safely operate. The former Kentucky Wildcats standout recently moved to Alabama to be closer to his physical therapist and claims that he's already ahead of schedule:

"I'm feeling good," Noel says. "I'm still ahead of schedule with the things that I'm doing. It's usually about a seven- to eight-month injury timeline to returning. I'm just taking steps to get back. From when I got surgery, eight months would be probably around Christmas. It's probably November to Christmas. There's no rush. I'm just trying to get back."

Noel has received advice on how to deal with his injury from two other former Kentucky stars in Rajon Rondo and Derek Anderson. Rondo underwent ACL surgery a month before Noel and both had Dr. James Andrews perform their respective surgeries. Anderson tore his ACL while still at Kentucky, but was still selected early in the 1997 NBA Draft and was able to play 11 seasons in the NBA despite the injury.

Noel's injury likely won't affect his draft stock -- as most mock drafts still project him to go No. 1 to the Cleveland Cavaliers -- and even if the Cavs do decide to go elsewhere, it's hard to envision Noel slipping past No. 2 or No. 3.

Cleveland could be a perfect situation for Noel, as the Cavs already have Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson in place as the starting frontcourt. Noel could develop behind those two while regaining confidence in his knee and then, down the road, Varejao could be used as a trade asset.

Wherever Noel ends up, however, he has full confidence that he'll get past his knee injury and become one of the NBA's elite:

"I definitely feel that way," Noel says. "I know it will take a lot of work, but I definitely want to put the time and work in to be one of the top players in the NBA. That's a dream come true, and I'll definitely take advantage of it, so I definitely feel that I can become one of them and reach my full potential."

Noel will learn of his destination at the 2013 NBA Draft on June 27.

More from SB Nation:

• Wade returns to his roots

• How LeBron and Wade manipulated space

• Big 3 ignite Heat | What went wrong for the Spurs?

• Keeping Doc Rivers against his will

• NBA mock draft: Best-case scenarios | Scouting reports | Big Board

Keeping Doc Rivers against his will

Tom Ziller — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:00:04 -0000

Getting to resolution on the Celtics' Doc Rivers saga in eight steps:

1. NBA head coaches so rarely sit in positions of true power and advantage. There are 30 positions available and maybe 100 candidates that can make legitimate cases. (That might be low, frankly.) The Celtics' Doc Rivers has done enough in Boston to truly sit in a position of true power. Gregg Popovich has true power. That's about it. Any other coach in the NBA could get fired tomorrow and it wouldn't really be a shocker, because norms no longer exist in the coaching realm. Three coaches (Lionel Hollins, George Karl, Vinny Del Negro) got their teams to franchise-record win totals and were fired at season's end. The current era of the NBA is not particularly kind to coaches.

2. Doc Rivers, again, has done enough to command power and advantage. Danny Ainge can't imagine the Celtics without Doc at the helm. Doc also happens to be the most highly paid coach in the NBA at $7 million. He has repeatedly flirted with taking a break, and the idea that he'd be comfortable walking away might have something to do with that fat salary. You don't need to be a cold cynic to think Doc is a smart businessman in addition to a good coach.

More: C's deny Clips permission to talk to Doc Mutual interest between Rivers, L.A.

3. Danny Ainge is faced with some tough decisions in Boston, excluding any issue with Doc. Paul Pierce can be waived or traded. Kevin Garnett can be traded, if he consents. Ainge can look to rebuild through the draft, or leverage his assets for players who can jump in with Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green next season and get back to the playoffs. He can move Rondo. He can make Rondo his centerpiece. He can leave Avery Bradley as a key component of the future or peddle him for a more traditional star type. Ainge has been faced with the opportunity to blow it all up every year since 2010, and it must be getting harder to say no.

4. A coach of Doc's caliber does not typically preside over a rebuilding effort. Perhaps it does not make sense, but rebuilding efforts are typically run by first-time coaches, retread coaches or young savants, not one of the few coaches with an NBA championship to his name.

4a. Paying a coach $7 million to preside over a 25-win season makes little sense.

5. If Doc Rivers does not want to coach a Celtics team without Kevin Garnett or Paul Pierce, keeping Doc in Boston because he is under contract is a recipe for disaster. Coaches struggle to reach players even when coaches are working their asses off. Doc's integrity may be unimpeachable, and he may be incapable of giving poor effort. But that's not a risk I'd be willing to take with a $60-million roster.

6. The issue of what is best for Boston's future and how Doc (or KG or Pierce, for that matter) might excel in the future are distinct issues. Ainge should not fear the possibility that Doc and KG and maybe even The Truth go to L.A. and win a title with Blake Griffin and Chris Paul and the Celtics and Ainge himself will be seen as stupid. The Celtics do not have Blake Griffin and Chris Paul! I don't think anyone blames the Celtics for not having Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, nor would they hold the Clippers' success against Ainge.

7. Clearly, the Celtics do have an asset in Doc, and if he does not want to preside over the next phase of the team, Ainge should get something out of that asset. He is under contract, after all. A pick or two to boost the rebuild effort should suffice.

8. Under no circumstance should Ainge try to turn this into Vinny Del Negro coaching a Rajon Rondo-led team.

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If Doc leaves, Celtics may have interest in ...Vinnie Del Negro?

Jeff Clark — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:37:49 -0000

So apparently Danny Ainge does have some backup plans to Doc Rivers leaving. Though they may not be the plans that we would all hope for.

Source: Vinnie Del Negro could fill need | Boston Herald

Two league sources with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed yesterday that if Rivers does indeed leave, former Clippers coach Vinnie Del Negro will receive serious consideration as his replacement.

"Vinnie made about $1 million in his last year with the Clippers, so he’s affordable. That’s the way the league is going. Some of these guys, like (Ryan) McDonough, are being paid like head scouts," the source said of the former Celtics assistant general manager, who is now Suns GM. "The trend is going that way with coaches, too. Vinnie would be the perfect coach for that situation." Ultimately, though, the source expects Rivers to return for one simple reason — the Celtics are the only team willing to pay him that annual $7 million salary.

I'm sorry, but can anyone see Rajon Rondo respecting and listening to Del Negro?

If we are going to have to go "cheap" with a new coach, how about getting an up and coming assistant coach?

Anyway, here's hoping Doc stays. Now for even more reasons.

2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: Top Ten Point Guards

Kevin O'Connor — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:09:55 -0000

The NBA Draft is so fun, isn't it? I would imagine that scouting the draft as a general manager or scout is in one of the most stressful and exhausting aspects of their job. But I am willing to bet that despite all the long, sleepless hours they spend examining these players, they would agree with folks like you and I that the draft is flat out fun; that's what truly motivates them to work so hard. It's also what makes fans spend so much time learning about these players with the hopes that our favorite team selects them on draft night each and every year.

When I rank and assess players, I try to focus on five broad categories. Click on the 'buttons' to reveal my reasoning for each one.

With all of that in mind, here are my top ten point guard prospects in the 2013 NBA Draft. (Disclaimer: I consider prospect C.J. McCollum a shooting guard, so he will not be featured on this list.)

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1. Trey Burke | Michigan

HT: 6'1" | WT: 187 | AGE: 20

Projection: Top 7

Analysis: Trey Burke has it all on the offensive end of the floor. He makes up for his lack of elite measurables with pristine footwork that creates space between he and the defender. He's amazing at creating offense for himself and for his teammates, averaging 18.6 points and 6.7 assists per game. Trey Burke's ability to control the tempo of his team will be of great benefit to him at the next level. Michigan ran a relatively complicated offense but he was able to pick it up and run it at a high level. Burke's potential in the pick and roll, in my opinion, could be similar to Chris Paul.

Burke might not have the overall potential that a Paul has, in large part due to Burke's lack of potential on the defensive end and his consistency, but he's the closest thing you'll get to him in this year's draft. Trey Burke's trademark performance came against the Kansas Jayhawks, when he proved that he has the ability to make clutch plays down the stretch. If you haven't seen this clip, be sure to watch it because Trey Burke shows off all of his strengths and weaknesses over the course of one game. His lack of consistency was put on display in the first half but his intangibles and clutch play won his team the game late in the second half.

2. Dennis Schroeder | Germany

HT: 6'2" | WT: 165 | AGE: 19

Projection: Late Lottery to Late 1st Round

Analysis: Schroeder is silky smooth on both ends of the floor. I believe that Schroeder has the upside to become one of the top perimeter defenders in the league. With a fundamentally sound wide base, he slides his feet extremely quickly, staying in front of the ball handler. His long 6'7" wingspan allows him to bother his opponent, tip passes, and get steals. His biggest problems in the NBA will be his lack of bulk. He might have a hard time fighting through screens and this could lead to him being behind the ball handler, putting stress on the back end of his defense.

This lack of strength also hurts him on the offensive end when it comes to finishing near the rim. Schroeder is not very efficient around the rim, finishing at only 43.6 percent inside the arc, according to Sports Synergy. That statistic will only get worse in the NBA until he develops muscle and can more consistently finish with his left hand. Schroeder's jump shot off the dribble is below average but he is a great spot up shooter from both mid-range and three point land. Schroeder's shot release is a bit slow, which is one reason he might have much more success in catch-and-shoot situations.

Dennis' passing and ball handling is inconsistent at best but he shows elite potential in this category, often making terrific passes and beautiful crossovers to create space for himself. However, he sometimes can get a bit careless with the ball, leading to turnovers. Schroeder is so high up the list because of his intangibles and big time potential. At only 19 years old, he is ahead of most players at this point, but time will tell if he can reach his sky-high potential.

3. Erick Green | Virginia Tech

HT: 6'3" | WT: 178 | AGE: 22

Projection: Mid 1st to Very Early 2nd Round

Analysis: Green was one of the best guards in college basketball last season despite playing on a below average team. Green led the NCAA in points per game, averaging 25, on 47.5 percent shooting from the field and 38.9 percent from three. I originally had Green slated as a shooting guard due to his minuscule 3.8 assists per game but after digging deeper I came to realize that my first impressions were false. Erick Green is indeed a point guard and I believe his lack of assists were more a product of his environment than his own game. He is not a great passer, but is certainly good enough to be an NBA-level point guard.

As Virginia Tech's primary ball handler, Green was able to take his game to another level as a senior. He scores very well in a multitude of ways: as a spot up shooter, off the dribble, in transition, and in the pick and roll. Green elevates well, making his jump shot very difficult to bother. Green's only weakness on the offensive side of the ball is finishing at the rim. Erick Green has a very thin frame, so he can get banged around a bit near the basket. He takes contact well and got to the line at a high clip, but there are no guarantees he will draw those fouls in the NBA. Green's size will also hurt him on the defensive end, where his weaknesses were already exposed at the college level. He struggles getting around screens and has a hard time keeping larger point guards out of the paint. Green does have room to add muscle to his body, so that does add to the hopes that he can, at the least, become an average defender.

4. Myck Kabongo | Texas

HT: 6'3" | WT: 180 | AGE: 21

Projection: Very Late 1st to Mid 2nd Round

Analysis: I believe that Myck Kabongo is one of the most underrated players in this draft and could be a steal for whatever team selects him in the second round. Kabongo shot only 41.8 percent from the field last season, which is horrible, but he makes up for it with his ability to run the point with his exceptionally high basketball I.Q. Not enough can be said about the accuracy of Kabongo's ability to run an offense. He does a great job of controlling tempo and changing speeds; and in the pick and roll he is able to penetrate and accurately dish the ball outside. Kabongo consistently gets the ball right in the shooter's sweet spot, allowing for a quality look at a basket. Kabongo is the definition of a pass first point guard and that is, in large part, due to his weaknesses as a scorer. Kabongo has had some high scoring games, so the potential is there, it seems more about finding consistency and increasing the speed of his jump shot. Defensively, Kabongo is a great off ball defender and is always tipping or intercepting passes. On ball, Myck can get a bit overly aggressive and foul the player he is defending, but his heart and hustle shows off, giving him very high potential on this end of the floor. For the most part, I think that Myck Kabongo's weaknesses are much more correctable compared to some other point guards in the draft.

5. Michael Carter-Williams | Syracuse

HT: 6'6" | WT: 184 | AGE: 21

Projection: Mid to Late Lottery

Analysis: I was very impressed by Michael Carter-Williams when I first saw him play. He is a long, athletic guard that showed promising handles and he is able to get to the basket with ease. At one point I even had him as the number two point guard, only behind Trey Burke, but the more I watched, the more I've come to realize that some of his flaws are potentially uncorrectable.

Carter-Williams' touch around the basket is flat out horrendous, shooting only 39.3 percent last season. Though he can dribble and get through traffic, he throws bricks up at the rim. He relies too much on a floater (that has little touch) and he struggled with contact at the rim. At 6'6" you might think he has a huge advantage, yet he only has a 6'7" wingspan, incredibly small for a player his size. Don't get me wrong; I think "MCW" will be a solid point guard in the NBA because of his tenacious defense and solid passing ability...but can he ever be a reliable starting point guard? I don't see it. A guard like Rajon Rondo may lack a reliable jumper but he can at least score well at the rim, Carter-Williams doesn't look like he has the ability to improve much there or from the outside.

6. Shane Larkin | Miami

HT: 5'11" | WT: 171 | AGE: 20

Projection: Late Lottery to End of 1st Round

Analysis: I have quite a hard time placing Shane Larkin on my draft board for a number of reasons. First, I believe that he will never be a good defender in the NBA because of his lack of length, reach, and size. Larkin was a very good defensive player at Miami, but how will that possibly translate to the NBA when virtually every single point guard in the league will be larger and stronger than him? Not to mention the possibility of him getting matched up with a two-guard on a switch. Despite testing extraordinarily well at the NBA combine in athletic tests, he simply doesn't have an NBA body. With a 5'10.75" wingspan and 7'5.5" standing reach, he would be one of the smallest overall point guards ever drafted. To me, that says a lot about his ceiling as an NBA player.

On the other hand, Larkin can flat out ball. Miami primarily ran a pick and roll offense that allowed Larkin to thrive. In the half court, Larkin was able to pick apart defenses with a slick pull up jumper, strong handles, and passing skills. In transition, his speed and agility allowed him to create space for himself and opportunities for his teammates. My biggest concern is: how does any of this translate to the NBA? Other point guards that are his height (Ty Lawson and Nate Robinson come to mind) have much longer wingspans, making up for their lack of height. Larkin might be the perfect example of a terrific college player that just can't make it in the pros.

7. Lorenzo Brown | N.C. State

HT: 6'5" | WT: 189 | AGE: 22

Projection: Early to Mid 2nd Round

Analysis: At 6'5" and 190 pounds, Lorenzo Brown has the physical tools to be a productive backup point guard in the NBA. Brown is a very good rebounder for his position, averaging 4.3 per game last season with N.C. State. Brown came to college as a shooting guard, but was the point guard his junior season. Brown has drastically improved his ball handling and passing ability; you could make the argument he is one of the better guards in this class at doing that. Lorenzo has the ability to get anywhere he wants on the court with his handles, which helps him score at an efficient rate near the basket.

However, Brown still lacks the intellect to run his offense at a high level. He must take time in the developmental league to further his skills before becoming an effective point guard at the next level. Not only that, but he has an absolutely terrible perimeter game on the offense end. Brown shot 28 percent on perimeter jumpers and 26.3 percent from three-point land. On the defensive end, Brown's lack of athleticism will hurt him in the NBA, since he lacks the lateral speed to stay with most guards.

8. Isaiah Canaan | Murray State

HT: 6'0" | WT: 188 | AGE: 22

Projection: Very Late 1st to Mid 2nd Round

Analysis: Isaiah Canaan is essentially the poor man's version of Trey Burke. Canaan does everything that Trey Burke does well but at a less effective rate. As a junior, Canaan shot 46.8 percent from the field and 45.6 percent from three. As a senior those statistics dipped, respectively to 43.1 and 37 percent. I believe that drop in production can be contributed to the heavier load he had to handle on offense and increased minutes, which added a number of low quality shot attempts. Regardless, Canaan has proven that he can drill shots from the outside. His high shot release and quick handles bode well for his transition to the NBA. Despite facing a weak level of competition, Canaan seems to have the overall offensive tools needed to have some mild success in the NBA. But unlike Burke, he lacks that elite burst in his first step. This limits his ability to get to the basket, something he wasn't great at in college anyway.

9. Pierre Jackson | Baylor

HT: 5'10" | WT: 176 | AGE: 21

Projection: Early to Mid 2nd Round

Analysis: At best, Pierre Jackson projects to be a Nate Robinson type of player, but with better passing ability and natural point guard skills. Like Robinson, Jackson is a small player but makes up for it with incredible athleticism. Pierre Jackson can jump out of the gym; making for many exciting dunks and plays at the rime. However, he's on his way to the NBA, a league where size truly matters. Pierre Jackson had a 46 percent field goal percentage during his junior season but took a few steps back during his senior year, shooting only 42.7 percent. Jackson's ability to finish at the rim will be even lessened in the NBA, making him a purely perimeter player, which is a place where he has success. Jackson shows good, consistent form on his jump shot, shooting 37.9 percent from three in his time at Baylor. But once again, Pierre Jackson is barely 5'10" and only has a 5'10" wingspan, the smallest in the draft. Despite his lack of size, a player like Jackson should get an opportunity to be an energy guy in the NBA, but his lack of size makes one wonder if he can succeed.

10. Nate Wolters | South Dakota St.

HT: 6'5" | WT: 196 | AGE: 22

Projection: Mid to Late 2nd Round

Analysis: Wolters has all the ball handling and passing skills that you look for in a point guard. He knows how to run an offense and has very good court vision. Even though Wolters gained four years of experience playing at South Dakota State, he still hasn't faced off against top end competition to prove he is a capable point guard. Wolters limited time against top schools has created doubt that he will ever be an effective player considering his lack of success in those games. In Wolters' final college game against the Michigan Wolverines, Wolters shot a dismal 3-of-14 and struggled to get anything going. Nate Wolters is a much better defender than people want to give him credit for but he still lacks the athleticism and foot speed required to play at an effective level in the NBA.

---

Overall Point Guard Class Analysis

I think this class of point guards is pretty good at the top but drops off very quickly. Trey Burke and Dennis Schroeder both have potential to be great point guards in the NBA, and both Erick Green and Myck Kabongo could be very good as well. I believe that both Michael Carter-Williams and Shane Larkin have bust written all over them, but they do have more potential than the players following them because after the top six, the talent drops off a cliff.

To be honest, I think you can put the names Isaiah Canaan, Lorenzo Brown, Pierre Jackson, Ray McCallum, and Nate Wolters in a hat, pick them out, and have an equal chance of projecting who will be better than one or the other. Each of those five players have their own weaknesses and it's possible all five of them aren't in the NBA in a few years. I do believe that Lorenzo Brown is a bit better than the others, but the concerns about his game aren't any less worrisome than the ones about the others.

The two biggest surprises on my rankings are most definitely Myck Kabongo at the number four spot and Michael Carter-Williams at number five. Most recently, Chad Ford has talked about how "size rises" in the draft, which is why he has Carter-Williams slated as his number two point guard and number eight player overall. I just don't see it. "MCW" has many of the same weaknesses and strengths as Myck Kabongo but I feel he lacks a lot of the natural skills that Kabongo already has. I think Carter-Williams gets that high ranking from others simply because of his size and the fact he played at a big school. There is most certainly a biased in the media towards players from top-ranked schools, understandably considering the talent they face off against. But when a player struggles against those teams, like "MCW" has, I don't believe they deserve the ranking. Call me crazy if you want, but I see a player with very high potential in Myck Kabongo and I see a bust in Michael Carter-Williams. Both players are raw and need to make improvements to their game, but I believe that Kabongo already has more NBA point guard skills than Carter-Williams.

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What do you think of the point guards in the draft this year? Please comment below or follow and tweet @Kevin__OConnor with your thoughts. Also be sure to let me know what players you'd like to see profiled next!

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CelticsBlog.com 2013 NBA Draft Player Profiles:

Gorgui Dieng | Mason Plumlee | Jeff Withey | Myck Kabongo
Top Ten Lists:
Centers | Point Guards

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Where is Michael Carter-Williams on your point guard rankings?

Blakely: source says Doc's "really tore up"

wjsy — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:30:47 -0000

Blakely is a little more dialed into the team than Chris Broussard or Stephen A. Smith. Here's his update:

Source: Rivers still undecided on future

But a league source contacted by CSNNE.com on Wednesday indicated that Rivers continues to mull over whether he will return to Boston, and he hasn't made a decision one way or the other.

One player contacted Wednesday said, "We're waiting just like you guys."

"He's really torn up about this," the source said.

It is unclear if he has given his players any indication of his plans for next season.

At this point, it's crazy to speculate what's going through Doc's head right now. What's more important is the possible order of the dominoes that need to fall. Those dominoes are Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Doc Rivers, and to some extent, Rajon Rondo. The conventional wisdom has been that with an option to buy out The Captain's final year of his contract, the decision on Pierce had to come first. Subsequently, that would effect KG's willingness to delay retirement and depending on the future of those two Hall of Famers, Doc could decide if he wanted to return to a retooled roster or a complete rebuild with his Rondo coming back from ACL rehab.

If two dominoes have already been tipped over, does Doc have the pull in the organization to stand them back up?

Maybe I'm reading between the lines here, but it sounds to me that decisions have already been made on what to do with Pierce and how that might affect Garnett. My educated guess is that they're both probably gone. When Doc signed a five-year extension, he said he was signing up for the eventual rebuild of the franchise but now face-to-face with it, he's clearly having doubts.

But here's the thing: even if two dominoes have already been tipped over, does Doc have the pull in the organization to stand them back up? If he went to Danny in the 11th hour and said that the only way he's coming back to coach is if his two generals are by his side, would Ainge delay the nuclear strike on the roster?

If you're a fan of Doc like myself, there is one comforting update that has come up over the last few hours: Ainge denied the Nets and Clippers permission to talk to Doc. Pessimists might look at that as a sign that Danny isn't that confident that Doc wants to come back, but I'll take it as DA bunkering himself in with the coach he's worked hand-in-hand over the last nine years in order to hash out a plan for Banner #18 without distraction.

Mailbag Answers: Part IV

Kevin O'Connor — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:53:49 -0000

Once again, thank you guys so much for all your questions for the CelticsBlog MailBag. I received a lot of questions, so this is my second set of answers for the mailbag, and our fourth overall. I still have some leftovers that I may include in a mailbag a week or so from now.

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Q: What do YOU see the team doing as far as FA pickups and the #16 pick? --- craziness@analltimehigh

A: For free agency, it's anybody's guess...I really have no idea. I think everything hinges on what happens with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Doc Rivers. Once that happens, it'll be easier to answer in terms of free agency. As for the draft, I think Danny Ainge might go for a homerun pick...I've just got a weird feeling about it. So that could be a guy like Shabazz Muhammad or Giannis Adetokunbo. Personally, I think he should go with a safe pick.

Q: Although some say otherwise, I've always been of the opinion that at the pro level, the Center position is the most essential to victory. What is your opinion? --- BamaCelt

A: I think so, to an extent. The NBA has kind of changed over the years, gone are the days of the true dominant centers like Bill Russell, but the center/power forward position is extremely important. Whether it's most important is hard to tell, each matchup is different from one another but if you look at the last few NBA champions, you've got a lot of great bigs on each and every team: Dirk Nowitzki from Dallas, Chris Bosh from Miami, Pau Gasol from Los Angeles, Kevin Garnett from Boston, Tim Duncan from San Antonio, Shaq from Miami and Los Angeles, Ben and Rasheed Wallace from Detroit. Each of these teams had a great big man on their roster. Some of them aren't dominant (like Gasol or Bosh), but they made the plays that had to be made to put the team over the top.

Q: Do you think Rajon Rondo will really get traded someday? --- Masterdg52

A: I think Rajon Rondo will get traded if Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are gone and all goes to heck for the team. Perhaps Rajon continues to produce at a high level, potentially raising his value even more, and teams decide to offer a large package for him. At that point, if the Celtics aren't having success despite Rondo, Ainge has no choice but to trade him. On the other hand, I think Rondo is too much of an integral piece to our success to trade him right now or in the near future.

Q: Something unrelated but what kind of music do you like? --- celtics18345

A: Almost everything. I know that's a generic answer but it's the truth. I can list my five favorite bands though: Jimi Hendrix, Muse, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and St. Vincent. (Those artists are in no order, by the way.) I can really get into anything, whether it's post-rock like And So I Watch You From Afar, acoustic rock like City and Colour, electronic like Daft Punk, rap like Odd Future, or jazz like John Coltrane. Seriously, I like just about everything and am willing to give new music a chance. Recommend me stuff.

Q: What do you think Rondo's ceiling as a player is? Can he best player/leader on a championship level team? --- Roz80

A: I think so but he needs a big to compliment him. For example, Stockton had Malone and Parker has Duncan. Of course, the Utah Jazz never won a championship, but they came close. Right now, I do believe that Rondo is the best player on the roster, so if the team contends next year (with KG and Pierce), Rondo has to be the star and Garnett would have to be that complimentary piece that every point guard has to have.

Q: Who do you think the C's should pick in the draft? And do you think they would look at getting another pick higher than their own? --- Duncan1

A: I'd love to see Boston drafted Gorgui Dieng. I personally don't think Danny Ainge can afford to miss with his selection this year. With the end of the Big 3 era looming (it might even be here...) we need to hit on this pick. I think Dieng, at the least, will be a great defensive player, with All Star potential if he can continue to improve his offense. I think Danny Ainge is always looking to move picks and players, so yes, I do think the Celtics could potentially move up. The question is, who would want to trade down? That remains to be seen at this point.

Q: Assuming a completely healthy team in the current state, would the addition of Big Al be enough to fix the rebounding problem and help the Celtics push through Miami/Indiana? I don't think KG's resiliency can be highlighted enough but can the old energy really compete at this point in the playoffs down the stretch even with legitimate front court help (In terms of size)? --- dptdgclick

A: The team would need a lot to happen in order to acquire Al Jefferson, so that would mean Pierce and KG are on their way out, so no, I don't think Big Al would be enough. I do think he would help a lot but he isn't good enough of a defensive player to make up for the impact that Kevin Garnett has. On the other hand, if somehow the team kept KG and got rid of Pierce (for Big Al, don't ask me how this happens), I think it could be enough. A lineup of Big Al/KG/Green/Bradley/Rondo would be terrific on both ends of the floor.

Q: Hey Kevin, 2 fold question, CJ Watson has indicated he will test free agency. As Boston needs a point guard should we try to pick him up? If yes do we target a big in the draft? Cheers :-) --- AlexDanger

A: Cheers to you too, Alex. I think C.J. Watson would be a great fit. The team could potentially get him for a fair contract. He's a good ball handler, doesn't turn the ball over much, and can hit the three. I think it was smart of him to opt out of his contract with Brooklyn since he didn't get the playing time he deserved behind Deron Williams. But that's the thing...would he want to be playing behind Rajon Rondo? Or does he want to get 25-to-30 minutes a game off the bench? I don't think the Celtics can give him more than 20-to-25 per game, especially after Rajon Rondo gets healthy. Until then, sure, Watson could get plenty of minutes.

Q: What are the chances, in your opinion, of us bringing in a legit 5. Moreover, what are some realistic options for us at this position this offseason? --- ROTB_Mattr

A: For potential starters, you've got Al Jefferson, Dwight Howard, and Andrew Bynum. Of course, Howard and Bynum aren't very, very unlikely to come to Boston, but in a sign and trade, I think Al Jefferson is a possibility. For potential backups, there are quite a few players: Chris Andersen, Chris Kaman, Nazr Mohammed, Samuel Dalembert, and Joel Pryzbilla. I especially think Samuel Dalembert would be a quality pickup if we don't draft a center.

Q: DJ White hardly got any minutes last year, but he seemed to play very well every time he was put in. He hit a high % of shots that were not gimmies and displayed good moves against decent defense. Was he that bad in practice that we no longer hear anything mentioned about him? --- Zippittyay

A: I didn't think he was that good on the court. He was usually in the game when it was all but over, no intensity on defense, nobody trying, etcetera. I don't know what he was like in practice, but since other players won minutes over him, I would imagine his defense and rebounding wasn't on par with what Shavlik Randolph was doing...and Shavlik was pretty terrible himself on defense, so that says a lot, in my opinion.

Q: Thanks for this! Why doesn't Doc tell big man subs to crash the boards as if their jobs depended on it like maniacs (including on free throws), and then pull them after 3 or 4 minutes when they get winded -- and hopefully have got at least one board? The Celtics almost never try for an offensive rebound on a foul shot, and lots of other teams seem to get at least one a game. --- DC Celts fan

A: You're welcome, DC! It's all a matter of team philosophy. The Celtics believe that getting back on defense, and thus establishing proper positioning, is a much better option than the slight chance of grabbing an offensive rebound and another possession. To put it simply, I think they believe they have a better shot at getting an extra possession if they get back on defense more than they do by crashing the boards. Whether you or I or anyone else agrees is another story.

Q: I recall that during last year's draft, there was news that one team, prior to the draft, was negotiating to purchase a 2nd round draft pick from another team. Did that happen? Would purchasing the 2nd round pick of the Rockets, for example, by the Cs for 2 million count against the salary cap or have other financial implications for the Cs? --- Shark

A: Yes, a team can offer cash for a second round pick. According to cbafaq.com, "Unsigned second round picks are not included in team salary. This is a loophole teams sometimes leverage by trading late first round picks for second round picks in order to clear cap room. Teams also sometimes trade first round picks for cash for the same reason."

Q: Hey Kevin. I'm really interested in knowing what you think about the possibility of landing D-Cousins. He's a very underrated big man and I think a frontcourt of him and Garnett, with Shav and sully coming off the bench. How high is the asking price boogie do you think? --- CaliCelt

A: CaliCelt...as in California Celtic, are you from California? Hook me up with a place to stay if I visit sometime, haha. As for Cousins...I love him. If I remember correctly, Zach Randolph used to have charled acter concerns in the same way that DeMarcus does now. With time I believe Cousins will become one of the best bigs in basketball. However, I don't think we have much of a chance landing Cousins unless we trade Rondo. But then who plays point guard?

Q: What you think of bringing in Nick Young as FA or sign and trade? --- Neverse4

A: I'm not a fan. I'd rather spend our money elsewhere. Young is a quality player, no doubt, but his defense isn't good enough to play small forward and we have far too many shooting guards as is. If we were to move some guards, sure, I'd be happy with the move. But as the roster stands, I don't see it happening.

Q: Do you think Minnesota is still interested in Courtney Lee and/or Jordan Crawford and/or Terrence Williams for their shooting guard position? Is it possible to trade a combination of those players (maybe including Fab Melo) for JJ Barea and Greg Stiemsma? --- Gardenhome

A: I can't imagine the Celtics would want Stiemsma back, but Barea would be great. I don't know what Minnesota wants but I think that could make some sense for both teams. The Celtics need to unload some shooting guards and Barea is expendable with Rubio and Ridnour ahead of him on the depth chart.

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If Doc leaves, Celtics may have interest in ...Vinnie Del Negro?

2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: Top Ten Point Guards

1. Trey Burke | Michigan

HT: 6'1" | WT: 187 | AGE: 20

Projection: Top 7

2. Dennis Schroeder | Germany

HT: 6'2" | WT: 165 | AGE: 19

Projection: Late Lottery to Late 1st Round

3. Erick Green | Virginia Tech

HT: 6'3" | WT: 178 | AGE: 22

Projection: Mid 1st to Very Early 2nd Round

4. Myck Kabongo | Texas

HT: 6'3" | WT: 180 | AGE: 21

Projection: Very Late 1st to Mid 2nd Round

2013 NBA Draft Prospect Profile: Myck Kabongo

5. Michael Carter-Williams | Syracuse

HT: 6'6" | WT: 184 | AGE: 21

Projection: Mid to Late Lottery

6. Shane Larkin | Miami

HT: 5'11" | WT: 171 | AGE: 20

Projection: Late Lottery to End of 1st Round

7. Lorenzo Brown | N.C. State

HT: 6'5" | WT: 189 | AGE: 22

Projection: Early to Mid 2nd Round

8. Isaiah Canaan | Murray State

HT: 6'0" | WT: 188 | AGE: 22

Projection: Very Late 1st to Mid 2nd Round

9. Pierre Jackson | Baylor

HT: 5'10" | WT: 176 | AGE: 21

Projection: Early to Mid 2nd Round

10. Nate Wolters | South Dakota St.

HT: 6'5" | WT: 196 | AGE: 22

Projection: Mid to Late 2nd Round

Overall Point Guard Class Analysis

Where is Michael Carter-Williams on your point guard rankings?

Blakely: source says Doc's "really tore up"

Mailbag Answers: Part IV