Cassell to the Celtics (*fingers crossed*) http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2008/02/cassell_update.html Los Angeles Clippers point guard Sam Cassell is expected to sign buyout papers with the franchise soon and will sign with the Boston Celtics once he clears waivers, according to an NBA source. Cassell and the Clippers have agreed to buyout terms. He is expected to receive some of the money remaining on his $6.1 million salary this season. Once the 38-year-old's buyout is official, he has to clear waivers (which takes 48 hours) before he can become eligible to sign with another team. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder is expected to clear waivers by Saturday and would be eligible to play the rest of the season and postseason for the Celtics. Cassell is averaging 12.8 points and 4.7 assists this season. He has said he would have no problem backing up starting point guard Rajon Rondo if he came to Boston. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge has said he is interested in finding the "right veteran point guard." Cassell will not travel with the Clippers to Denver, where they face the Nuggets on Friday night. The Clippers are expected to sign guard Flip Murray, who was let go by the Detroit Pistons, to replace Cassell.
Fingers crossed because he won't join a Western conference team or because you like the Celtics? As good a shooter as Sam is, he doesn't do much of anything else. He is slow, he doesn't play defense. At this stage of his career he's very comparable to Damon Jones I think his value and PJ Brown's value is overrated.
Damn Boston added depth in PJ and Sam for nothing but a little cash. Not bad. Cassell will be able to backup Rondo in the playoffs, and maybe even hit a big shot or two.
I'm a diehard Celtics fan (Rockets and Nuggies my second teams). Before you kill me, here's my analysis of the two pickups: 1) The Celtics have a hole in their big-men rotation. Perkins' offense has improved astronomically but he's proven to be a below-average rebounder for his size. He, Powe and Davis also don't get much respect from officials, nor -- Davis excepted to an extent -- do they shoot very well. Brown compensates for these failings perfectly. Plus, he's been rested and supposedly in very good shape-- perfect for a late-season push. 2) The Celtics backcourt needed another distributor -- House isn't a conventional point-guard -- so here Cassell steps in. The Celtics were looking for a tall, athletic point-guard who can guard Chauncey Billups-- but Cassell is a good plan B. Plus he's played with Ray Allen and KG during their most successful runs.
I'm wondering if anyone has the means to pick him up off waivers...to help themselves and/or keep the Celtics from snagging him Saturday. He makes a little over $6 mill this yr, but is it prorated at this point? As in could someone pick him off the wire with part of the MLE? LLE? Evan
Considering that a team would have to pay millions just to ****-block the Celtics, I doubt that will happen. BTW, how does priority in the waiver wire work? Is it based on this years or last year's standings?
Also as a side-note, can a trade-exception be used to pick up a guy off waivers? I think GS has one, but no way in hell does a team mess with Cassell and his superagent Faulk.
yep and not only that, Payton was a huge part of that team, he played big minutes and hit some big shots in the NBA finals.
