The Boston Celtics franchise is one that has always been built on talent, superstition, and luck. Lately however, it appears two of those three have run out. All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo has partially torn his ACL and is expected to miss at least six months. Meanwhile talented rookie Jared Sullinger recently underwent back surgery for lumbar discs and is also expected to miss the rest of the season.
As if that weren’t enough, back-up point guard Leandro Barbosa is also out for the season with an ACL tear.
The Celtics are now in a bind. Somehow the team has managed to flourish without their elite floor general – winning six of their last seven games. However the injury bug has forced general manager Danny Ainge to try and work some trade magic prior to the February 21 deadline. With pressure from fans growing, though, is it really the right idea to break this team up rather than just search for an answer out of free agency?
The answer is “no.” The Celtics have plenty of needs, but they have almost nothing valuable to offer in return as Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce – the two most valuable trade assets on the team – aren’t going anywhere. That leaves only Avery Bradley, Jeff Green, Courtney Lee, Brandon Bass, and Jason Terry for Ainge to consider, and with the exception of Bradley each of those players is on the first year of a new deal with the team.
That leaves one option: free agency. At this point, the Celtics would be better off looking for key pieces of the puzzle on the waiver or on their D league team in Maine. For example there’s young point guard Shelvin Mack – who is tearing apart the D league averaging 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds a game. Mack could easily come in and play twenty minutes a game.
There is also former Celtic and fan favorite Delonte West. After his recent stint in Dallas, West has been on the free agent market waiting for the right team. Also, he knows the Celtics’ system well after his two years in Boston.
There’s also another option: Allen Iverson. Yes, THE Allen Iverson. Before anyone questions this, let me explain. Iverson wants back into the league – and not through the D league. And yes, he may have personality problems in the locker room. But if he clashes with Garnett, Pierce or head coach Doc Rivers, the Celtics can cut him.
All Boston would have to do is call up AI and give him a workout. If he can play, great. If not – nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Obviously the Celtics have run out of luck after their run to the Eastern Conference finals last year, but breaking this team up in the middle of the season is simply not the answer. In order to have ANY chance in the playoffs the Celtics will need to shore up their existing roster – and recapture some of that legendary luck.
Could “AI” be their four-leaf clover?
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Reece Funderburk is a fantasy sports blogger/ journalism student at the University of South Carolina. Follow him on Twitter @THE_FUNDERBOLT, and check out his blog by clicking here.
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30 comments
thats a pretty good idea right there
thats a pretty good idea right there
Practice? You want him to practice?
AI is one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. Go and sign him!
This isn’t even the game, the actual game; we’re over here talking about… Practice!
Practice? You want him to practice?
AI is one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. Go and sign him!
This isn’t even the game, the actual game; we’re over here talking about… Practice!
Yeah..a point guard who won’t practice,shoots first and wrecks team chemistry.Thats the answer.
Good
You dont know what your talking bout
Yeah..a point guard who won’t practice,shoots first and wrecks team chemistry.Thats the answer.
Good
You dont know what your talking bout
Why would you want to infect and already festering wound by bringing that idiot onboard?
Hey idiot? he single handedly took the 00/01 76ixers to the finals, he has a hunger to win and has Celtic Mentality about winning nothing but good can come of them bring him in for a workout, after all He is the answer.
Why would you want to infect and already festering wound by bringing that idiot onboard?
Hey idiot? he single handedly took the 00/01 76ixers to the finals, he has a hunger to win and has Celtic Mentality about winning nothing but good can come of them bring him in for a workout, after all He is the answer.
I like the idea, I’m sure Iverson still has enough to contribute off of the bench.
I like the idea, I’m sure Iverson still has enough to contribute off of the bench.
Not a crazy idea, but I dont think the Celtics need any more players about to collect their social security checks on their basketball team
Not a crazy idea, but I dont think the Celtics need any more players about to collect their social security checks on their basketball team
Good fit if he takes the roll accepts it he can help them Period! He’s gotta want it
Good fit if he takes the roll accepts it he can help them Period! He’s gotta want it
I think bringing Iverson in for a workout is nothing but worth it. There is a huge misunderstanding when it comes to Allen Iverson as a ball player. He is hungry, wants to win, proved he wants to be a team player and contribute in whatever role to win a championship. If you disagree, watch his games from the brief stint in philly and tell me he wasnt effective and unselfish. For the record, the only reason you would ever say AI was selfish was because of his legacy in Philly, which Larry Brown designed the team and offense around Iverson to let him do what he did incredibly well- score and win. Look at Kobe throwing shots left and right and turning the ball over, and dont think Kobe has some kind of superiority over Allen Iverson. Kobe just knows how and makes too much of an effort to work the media correctly. Who was Iverson going to pass to? The system was Iverson and it worked. Denver was team ball and one of AI’s best years statistically, assists included. With all that said, you take a 37 year old who is 35 in basketball years with a great mid range ok 3, ability to still get in the lane and O YEAH distribute. Dont hate, The man deserves respect and one last go.
I think bringing Iverson in for a workout is nothing but worth it. There is a huge misunderstanding when it comes to Allen Iverson as a ball player. He is hungry, wants to win, proved he wants to be a team player and contribute in whatever role to win a championship. If you disagree, watch his games from the brief stint in philly and tell me he wasnt effective and unselfish. For the record, the only reason you would ever say AI was selfish was because of his legacy in Philly, which Larry Brown designed the team and offense around Iverson to let him do what he did incredibly well- score and win. Look at Kobe throwing shots left and right and turning the ball over, and dont think Kobe has some kind of superiority over Allen Iverson. Kobe just knows how and makes too much of an effort to work the media correctly. Who was Iverson going to pass to? The system was Iverson and it worked. Denver was team ball and one of AI’s best years statistically, assists included. With all that said, you take a 37 year old who is 35 in basketball years with a great mid range ok 3, ability to still get in the lane and O YEAH distribute. Dont hate, The man deserves respect and one last go.
They need him with out rondo and kg and Paul don’t know when they going to play.
They need him with out rondo and kg and Paul don’t know when they going to play.
Yes
Yes