Making The Cut: Boston Celtics
Who will walk down the tunnel with KG?At the Celtics’ training camp in Newport, Rhode Island, all sixteen guys wearing green-and-white have had to endure the same preseason rites of passage – whether it’s bringing Gatorade to Mr. Garnett or having to wait for Brian Scalabrine to finish his suicides. But all sixteen guys won’t end up making the squad.
The official NBA roster includes 12 active players with a maximum of three other guys, any of whom can suit up as long as another guy gets back into dress code. That makes 15 total. That being said, there will be one guy currently playing with the team who doesn’t end up getting a check from Danny Ainge.
Here are the sixteen guys on the roster:
* Kevin Garnett
* Paul Pierce
* Ray Allen
* Rajon Rondo
* Kendrick Perkins
* Leon Powe
* Big Baby
* Tony Allen
* Brian Scalabrine
* Eddie House
* Sam Cassell
* Patrick O’Bryant
* JR Giddens
* Gabe Pruitt
* Darius Miles
* Bill Walker
There’s an argument to be made for everyone on the roster to be kept. Even if 6-6 F Bill Walker is the only one without a guaranteed contract, he isn’t necessarily bound for the D-League or the free agent pool. Doc Rivers has been raving about the rookie’s athleticism, naming Walker among the small forwards who could pitch in to replace James Posey.
Sam Cassell provides veteran leadership, but even more importantly, he isn’t afraid to take a shot during crunch time when one part of the Big Three isn’t hitting. D-Miles is trying to make a team for the first time since “probably sixth grade or maybe fifth” right now, and is acting like it. Some of KG’s work ethic might have rubbed off on him, as he’s been the first guy to the practice facility on at least one occasion. Patty O’Bryant is playing the pivot well enough to try to take his name off of the list of ‘worst lottery picks ever.’ (He’s also got the perfect name to play for the Celts.) And Gabe Pruitt has the size (6-4) and familiarity with the system on his side.
I’m sure someone can make an argument for Scalabrine too, right?
Who is and who isn’t going to make the cut to 15?
Source: Boston Herald
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October 15th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Big Sia says:
Cut Brian
October 15th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Big Sia says:
Although Scal would probably still chill in the basement like the guy from Office Space
October 15th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Honestly, without judging Scalabrine on his idiotness, I’d say he has the least going for him of the 16. I initially thought they should cut D-Miles but at this point I don’t see that happening. Walker, Pruitt, and Giddens have too much upside to let go of right now.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Prof. TX says:
They could give Scalabrine a job selling popcorn in the cheap seats and he’d still find a way to screw it up while somehow taking credit for every win.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
Scal has been around for a minute now. He’s played for several different teams. I’m sure he one of those great locker room guys, won’t complain about playing won’t start sh*t, won’t get into trouble with the Law.
Darius on the other hand has headcase written all over him.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:38 am
SayItAintSo says:
Brian Scalabrine for being a tool.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Jeffrey says:
Odds are that Darius Mailes will get the boot!!!
October 15th, 2008 at 11:46 am
J says:
you have a mistake, darius miles is the only one without a guaranteed contract. go to espn or cnnsi or the boston globe and you can read that.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:48 am
loganlight says:
JR Giddens… But Scal should be no where near the NBA.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Bob says:
Bill Walker has a gaurantee Andrew, Darius Miles is the only one without one
October 15th, 2008 at 11:59 am
DimeReader says:
ISNT CASSELL GOING TO BE AN ASSISSTANT?
October 15th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
YOUNGFED says:
FUK THE CELTICS!!!! They going nowhere this year.
DEEEEETROIT BAAAAAASKETBAAAAAAALLLL!!!!
October 15th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
srb says:
cut Youngfed
October 15th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Chaos says:
cut the pale chump scalabrine cuz he’s a jackass, giddens is part of the 15, and make sam cassell retire and be an assistent coach. cassell can hit a big shot and can lead an offense but he is beginning to become a liability now on the defensive end.
October 15th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
jace says:
scal shouldve been gone a long time ago. CUT HIM.
but if theres no intention to cut him out.. i gotta say itd have to be either jr giddens or darius. maybe bill walker.. but i like him better than the others. or yea.. just let cassell assistant coach.. and u can keep all of them. looks like gabe pruitt is gettin better.
October 15th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Kobeef says:
Youngfed is Brian Sclabrine
I’d say Sclabrine, Pruitt, Allen, Cassell deserve to be cut in that order. But somehow I can see Giddens Walker or O’Bryant getting the boot.
October 15th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Celts Fan says:
Giddens, Walker, and O’Bryant are all safe. Giddens was a 1st rounder, O’Bryant’s the only 7 ft. backup we have, and Walker’s played too well.
It’s gonna come down to Pruitt vs. Miles, and I’d say cut Miles, no question. Even w/out all the baggage, the injury concerns would be HUGE…
October 15th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
A-Slam says:
Darius Miles, only because he was such an asshole on Portland and also doesn’t really have a winning attitude which the Celtics really dont need
October 15th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
ENEW says:
Amazing how many people comment on the champs without knowing what is going on…first off, YOUNGFED, hope your summer has treated you well, good to see Joe Dumars decided not to trim any of that old crust off of the roster from last year. Yes the Pistons have some young pieces but they need more minutes, not happening just yet, especially with Sheed’s tired ass on the floor. Can’t wait for that first Celtics Pistons game this season.
As for the CHAMPS, yes, the CHAMPION CELTICS, P. O’Bryant and B. Walker are as close to guaranteed roster spots as it gets. O’Bryant is the back-up 5 for Perkins, as he was acquired because PJ Brown will not think about returning to the court again until March. Walker has had a very strong pre-season and will try to fill “some” of the void left by Posey’s departure. With Walker playing minutes behind Pierce at the 3, and Tony Allen behind Ray Ray at the 2 guard this leaves Giddens in a tough spot. But he was taken in the 1st round of the draft, to be cut would be kind of crazy, D-League for him?
That leaves Miles, Cassell, Pruit and Scal for the last spot. Cassell could become an assistant only as was reported in the Boston papers today and then no one has to go. By mid-season an unjury is bound to happen and Sam could start dressing for games. Now the only way the Celtics would do this is if they felt Pruitt was ready to start contributing. Scal has guaranteed money and could be a good trade chip next season. That leaves Miles. With Powe and Davis off the bench upfront and Walker showing he is a pro, I think Darius who is not guaranteed any real money from the Celtics will probably be the odd man out. It is too bad, i really wanted to see him comeback and be a solid bench player with the Celtics.
Maybe something will change in the next week…
October 15th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
YOUNGFED says:
@Kobeef
That might be true if I were White and had red hair.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Dave says:
Cut Darius Miles …. or Sam Cassell if they think Miles can get in shape as the season progresses
October 15th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
doc says:
Cut the big white one with the orange hair.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
chiaki says:
they should cut the douche