Well Boston's season is over. http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/8887106/rajon-rondo-boston-celtics-torn-acl-undergo-surgery I just hope Pollard was in the building.
I'm feeling more or less what Parker felt. I don't even want to watch another Celtics game all season right now. And apparently, since the Celtics offseason strategy was to double down on vets to make one last playoff run and that clearly isn't happening without Rondo, they're considering trading to shed cap. Including possibly moving Pierce, who has been my favorite player in the league since he was drafted. Somebody hold me.
The only contender I could see trading for Pierce would be maybe Memphis doing a straight-up swap for Rudy Gay.
It's been suggested. It's a plus move for Memphis, but saves Boston no cap money and it's a long deal. For that deal to make sense, Boston would have to believe that they can build a franchise around Rondo, Sullinger, and Gay. Which isn't an absurd idea, but not entirely convincing. People talk about Utah, but I don't know how excited the Celtics are about Jefferson. Kanter doesn't seem like enough by himself, so they'd have to convince them to give up Favors or maybe Millsap. Even Millsap, is that a rebuilding move? I don't know. Atlanta would be interesting, as they're clearly open to major moves and would like to make a play at Dwight or CP3.
And KG probably stays because he's one of four players in the NBA with a no-trade clause (Kobe, Duncan, Dirk being the others).
Sorry MC, that definitely is a tough break, but I don't see CP3 leaving L.A. 1) It's fucking Los Angeles 2) He's having the time of his life. That isn't going to happen based on his decision for any reason, unless Vinny Del Negro kills his son and can't get convicted. The Clippers aren't going to trade him away because he's printing money right now for them. Howard is a completely different conversation. He might bike to Boston to get away from Kobe and D'Antoni. No one pay attention to the Bulls, nothing to see here. We are not third in the eastern conference without our top star. We are not only 2 1/2 games back. Nope, we're in last place, behind Charlotte. Nothing to see here, move along people, move along.
I don't think he will either. Granted, there was a time when they were his favorite team and he wanted to be drafted by them, but that's then. I'm just suggesting that Atlanta wants him, wants to make sure they have the cap room, and that CP3 is not under contract for next year. I don't think the Celtics actually want Howard. A likelier scenario is a three way trade where Howard ends up in Atlanta and Josh Smith leaves.
Pierce is my favorite player too. Some vintage Simmons: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/26601/the-truth-the-whole-truth-and-nothing-but-the-truth" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-trian ... -the-truth</a> <a class="postlink" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060310" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ons/060310</a> I really want him to retire in Boston, if only for the fact that he's never wanted to go anywhere else.
NO NO NO GOD NO! <a class="postlink" href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/07/report-bulls-raptors-discuss-bargnani-for-boozer-trade/related/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... e/related/</a>
I get not having cap space sucks, but the bigger problem is who the fuck are we going to replace him with? Son of a btich don't do this. Trade him for Pau Gasol. D'Antoni would love Booze, he shoots 15-20 foot jumpers.
Seems like Gasol's a non-issue now... <a class="postlink" href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/07/lakers-announce-pau-gasol-will-miss-a-minimum-of-6-8-weeks-with-plantar-fascia-injury/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... ia-injury/</a>
Memphis might be better without him -- he hasn't really been that efficient, and when you're a pretty unidimensional player, that's troublesome. On the flipside, maybe he steps his game up in Toronto and improves his efficiencty -- if nothing else, it gives them a decently sized name to put on posters and whatnot. And he is prone to highlights. I don't love the trade, but I see it.
The thing about Gay is he doesn't do a ton you can't replace pretty capably. The only thing he really does well is handle the ball for his size. He's capable at everything skillwise, but exceptionally at almost none (well, except general "athleticism"). So the trade makes sense for both sides: Memphis loses something dispensable and costly, and Toronto has cap room. Gay's still 26, after all. I don't like many of the guys that Memphis is getting. The one thing I don't really understand is Toronto giving up Davis or Memphis wanting him, since he can't stretch out to the perimeter. He a softer and inferior Randolph. I'm not even sure how much better he is than Darell Arthur. The downside is that this team is now reeaaaaaalllyyyy sluggish on the offensive end. They kind of need Tony Wroten to become a factor offensively.
So Ric Bucher dropped an interesting tidbit on the B.S. Report with Marc Stein and William. He said Derrick Rose is not coming back this year at all, given the team knows that their unit is not as strong will never beat the Miami Heat witht he current roster Derrick Rose or not. They want need to get another piece that can be a go to scorer. Rip Hamilton is too far overhill to be that guy like we wanted him too. Jimmy Butler is on his way there, but he needs a vast improvement in his offensive game to give Dwayne Wade something to worry about. I'm okay with that. The regular season has been pretty solid for the Bulls, but I know, they know, and the rest of the NBA knows, we don't have enough firepower to beat them in 7 games. Also Kobe Bryant is a fucking media genius. <a class="postlink" href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8937440/kobe-bryant-chides-twitter-follower-using-anti-gay-insult" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/stor ... gay-insult</a>
Considering I was that guy who snagged Rose and Bynum fairly early in basketball and have waited it out, he better play. I'm like the real Bulls, hanging in 2nd, waiting on Derrick. Kobe certainly seems to have figured twitter out, or at least is not as retarded as the average athlete on twitter. I can't think of many other players who would be creative enough to set a trap like that, its almost like he's a real person. I really hope he starts messing with Howard on twitter once he gets fed up with him. After watching that Howard/ Stan Van Gundy interview where Stan set him up, I openly pull for people to put him in awkward positions.
That's why Kobe is so interesting and entertaining as an athlete/personality. Not only is he a psychopath, but he's also a very intelligent dude. Whereas Howard was/tries to be gregarious and funny, he seems like kind of an aloof dumbass. Kobe twitter-baiting him would be incredible.
Fixed that for you. Also, sorry gamecocks, Rose isn't coming back this year. ACLs only get better with time. This was posted today on ESPN after Bucher dropped that little tidbit on the podcast. <a class="postlink" href="http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/8940269/derrick-rose-chicago-bulls-said-far-away-returning" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story/_/ ... -returning</a>. You might not want to plan your fantasy season based on him coming back.