Celtics assistant coach Tony Brown, who has been with the organization for three years, will not be on the bench alongside Doc Rivers next season. The organization and Brown failed to reach a contract agreement, as the Celtics offered Brown a one-year deal while Brown wanted a two-year deal and more money. Therefore, Tony Brown will be pursuing other options this offseason, and he will begin his search for a new job at the Orlando Pre-Draft Camp.

Brown, a likable guy, will be missed by the Celtics organization, but at the end of the day this league is a business. Best of luck to Tony Brown in the future, hopefully he can land himself a bigger deal elsewhere.

I have absolutely fallen in love with the idea of Jermaine O’Neal in Boston. He’s a legit 20/10 guy that can score in the post as well as knock down the mid-range J, he can play both the 4 and the 5, but the biggest thing is that he’s a defensive force. He’s one of the better low-post defenders in the league, and that doesn’t just mean his shot blocking ability. Not to mention, he hasn’t hit 30 yet. Also, he could be had cheaper than Garnett and he’s a much better fit than Gasol.

Boston Trades
Theo Ratliff
Delonte West
Sebastian Telfair
#5 pick

Indiana Trades
Jermaine O’Neal

Boston’s Post-Trade Lineup
C: Jermaine O’Neal
PF: Al Jefferson
SF: Wally Szczerbiak
SG: Paul Pierce
PG: Rajon Rondo
Bench: Tony Allen, Ryan Gomes, Kendrick Perkins, Leon Powe, #32 pick, free agent
Indiana’s Post-Trade Lineup
C: Troy Murphy
PF: Al Horford
SF: Danny Granger
SG: Mike Dunleavy Jr.
PG: Jamaal Tinsley
Bench: Delonte West, Jeff Foster, Ike Diogu, Marquis Daniels, Shawne Williams, Sebastian Telfair
I think this is perfect for both sides, it makes a hell of a lot of sense for both sides, and Indiana fans (see RealGM) love it.

Tuesday night’s NBA Draft Lottery was absolutely shocking. There was a 1/155 (0.6%) chance that the worst 3 teams would all slip out of the top 3 in the lottery, and it happened. Unfortunately, our beloved Boston Celtics were one of those teams, slipping from 2 to 5. The Celtics own the 5th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, after a devastating night that echoed flashbacks of 1997 (where we saw Tim Duncan slip out of our hands), except this time it’s worse. There were two franchise talents (Greg Oden and Kevin Durant) that slipped away and the Celtics dropped to the worst possible outcome at 5.

What does this mean for the Celtics? In my opinion, it means that the Celtics are absolutely the most desperate team in the league this summer. I think that if the Celtics can’t package this pick with Theo Ratliff’s contract and extra pieces for an All-Star caliber veteran, Paul Pierce will be gone by the trade deadline. That also, in my opinion, would be best for both the organization and Paul Pierce (if we can’t get ourselves a veteran All-Star this summer).

After the lottery, Danny Ainge appeared on FSN. Greg Dickerson asked Ainge if he would be the aggressor in trade talks this summer, and Ainge said that he would. Danny knows what he has to do this summer, and that is acquire a guy like Pau Gasol, Jermaine O’Neal, or a long shot in Kevin Garnett. If that does not happen, Paul Pierce won’t be wearing green and white for much longer, and that would be best for both worlds.

The time has come, Boston fans. The 2007 NBA Draft Lottery will take place tonight at 8:30 pm ET on ESPN, right after Kia NBA Shootaround and right before Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals (Utah @ San Antonio). We can only hope for the best, as the Celtics have the second best chances in the lottery. With the prizes being 7′0” manchild Greg Oden and infinitely talented Kevin Durant, this is clearly a huge day for this franchise.

Do you have any superstitions, any type of ritual, or are you just going to dress/act casually? I’m doing whatever I can to help this franchise succeed in this lottery. How, you ask? First of all, I am not a religious person by any means, but I have been praying on a nightly basis for luck in the lottery. I will also be absolutely decked out in Celtics apparel tonight. This is what I’ll be wearing:

• A Celtics t-shirt with a Paul Pierce jersey over it.
• A pair of Celtics night pants with a pair of Celtics shorts over them.
• A pair of Celtics boxers.
• A pair of Celtics socks.
• A Celtics hat.
• A Celtics headband and wristband.
• An “I Am A Celtic” bracelet (from 2005).
• A Celtics pin.

Also make of note that I will be holding up my bobblehead of Lucky in one hand and drinking green kool-aid out of my big Celtics mug that I have never drank out of before. I’ll also be sitting on my Celtics bedspread, I’ll be in the CelticsBlog chat room (or Celticsstuff Live, whichever is more packed), and I have an Oden/Durant wallpaper on my computer.

Hopefully Celtics lottery representative Tommy Heinsohn, the truest Celtic alive, can bring us home a prize. Hopefully Red is looking down on us and will lead us to happiness and glory. We can only hope, because God knows we’ve waited long enough.

Good luck, Tommy!

Center

1. Greg Oden (Ohio State)

• Could develop into one of the all-time great centers in the history of the game.

2. Spencer Hawes (Washington)

• A legitimate 7 footer with the ball skills of a wing.

3. Roy Hibbert (Georgetown)

• A 7’2’’ monster with an outstanding touch in the post.

4. Aaron Gray (Pittsburgh)

• An excellent rebounder who can clog the lane with his massive size and good hands.

5. Sean Williams (Boston College)

• A freakish shot blocker with great athleticism, but is his head in check?

On the Bubble: Marc Gasol (Spain), Jason Smith (Colorado St.), Ante Tomic (Croatia)

Power Forward

1. Brandan Wright (North Carolina)

• A great athlete with great length, offensive skill, and a ton of potential.

2. Yi Jianlian (China)

• A 7 footer with a shooting touch and agility eye-popping for a man his size.

3. Al Horford (Florida)

• A solid all-around basketball player on both ends, with soft hands, and a great work ethic.

4. Joakim Noah (Florida)

• A passionate athlete with good defensive skills and leadership qualities.

5. Josh McRoberts (Duke)

• A forward with great all-around offensive talent and athleticism.

On the Bubble: Tiago Splitter (Brazil), Nick Fazekas (Nevada), Glen Davis (LSU), Herbert Hill (Providence)

Small Forward

1. Kevin Durant (Texas)

• A jaw-dropping talent with the potential to be the player of the century.

2. Corey Brewer (Florida)

• Great all-around talent with great defensive anticipation skills, length, and athletic ability.

3. Julian Wright (Kansas)

• An absolute jaw-dropping athlete with the ability to do literally everything on the court.

4. Jeff Green (Georgetown)

• A good, athletic combo forward with the court vision of a guard.

5. Al Thornton (Florida St.)

• A talented forward with the athleticism of a wing and the ability to play the 4.

On the Bubble: Thaddeus Young (Georgia Tech), Brandon Rush (Kansas), Alando Tucker (Wisconsin), Dominic McGuire (Fresno State)

Shooting Guard

1. Marcus Williams (Arizona)

• A very versatile talent with the ability to play all three perimeter positions.

2. Arron Afflalo (UCLA)

• An outstanding perimeter defender and outside shooter who will be a great role player for a long time.

3. Nick Young (USC)

• An athletic swingman with the ability to score in many ways.

4. Derrick Byars (Vanderbilt)

• An NBA-ready, defensive minded swingman with good ball skills and a long career ahead of him.

5. Morris Almond (Rice)

• An outstanding scorer who can score in bunches.

On the Bubble: Rudy Fernandez (Spain), Daequan Cook (Ohio State), Rodney Stuckey (Eastern Washington), Marco Belinelli (Italy)

Point Guard

1. Mike Conley Jr. (Ohio State)

• A outstanding young floor general with the basketball IQ and poise of a veteran.

2. Acie Law IV (Texas A&M)

• A true leader and clutch performer who will carry his team to victory virtually single-handedly at the end of games.

3. Javaris Crittenton (Georgia Tech)

• A heady young guard with outstanding size, athleticism, and control.

4. Sean Singletary (Virginia)

• A lightning quick guard who can get to the rack at will.

5. Dominic James (Marquette)

• A stocky guard with the strength of a running back and the determination to get to the basket almost whenever he wants.

On the Bubble: Taurean Green (Florida), Petteri Koponen (Finland), Aaron Brooks (Oregon)

1. Greg Oden (Ohio State, Freshman Center)

Oden has phenomenal shot blocking ability, and his timing is beautiful. He is a very strong man, and he gets position with ease. He’s an excellent rebounder on both ends. His combination of size, strength, and athleticism is outstanding, and very rare. He can finish with both hands well. The potential is unlimited. He does need to improve his offensive assertiveness and low-post arsenal, and maybe extend his shooting range to 10-11 feet, but this kid is a once in a decade opportunity. True centers like this just don’t come along often nowadays. This is a once in a decade player.

2. Kevin Durant (Texas, Freshman Forward)

His size and freak athleticism is unbelievable. He can score in any way, shape, or form. He has great range. His jump shot is unblockable due to his height, athleticism, and length. He is a very good rebounder. He is an above average defender who can block shots. He knows he’s a star and he has a scorer’s mentality, but he is not a selfish player. He is a good ball handler. He runs the floor well. He has a lot of heart and expresses his passion for the game every time he takes the floor. Kevin Durant has NBA franchise player written all over him.

3. Brandan Wright (North Carolina, Freshman Forward)

He is a freak athlete. He is very quick for a big man. Despite his lanky frame, he will be a good rebounder in the NBA due to the good positioning. He has large wingspan. He’s a smart player. He has a very soft touch but will also finish emphatically if he has an opening. He does need to add a little weight, improve defensively, and try and develop more of a killer instinct, however. I see him as the Chris Bosh of this draft. What I mean by that is that he is overlooked by the superstar talents in front of him, but he could very well be an multi-time NBA All-Star.

4. Yi Jianlian (China, Forward)

He’s very long and athletic, and is very mobile for a 7 footer. He has a very soft touch, good shooting mechanics, and good shooting range. His ball handling skills are great for his size. Runs the floor very well. He must add weight and get stronger, he must improve defensively, and he must develop some kind of go-to move or two in the post. We are also not 100% certain what will be his primary position in the NBA (small forward or power forward), but he has boatloads of potential. That size mixed with those natural skills and athleticism will turn out to be at least something decent. Will he be more than decent? Only time will tell, but most people associated with him think that he will be a good player in this league.

5. Al Horford (Florida, Junior Forward)

First off, he’s a very hard worker. He is very strong and he is a very tough player. He is an excellent low post defender. He can score in the post, although his offensive game needs to be polished. He has great hands and is an excellent rebounder. He does need to work on his post game, he does need to develop some consistency, and he does need to maybe get a bit quicker, but Horford is hands down one of the most NBA-ready players in this draft class.

6. Corey Brewer (Florida, Junior Forward)

He is a complete lock-down defender who was capable of shutting down virtually anybody at the college level, and that skill mixed with his length and athleticism should translate for him defensively in the NBA. He’s very long and athletic with a lot of speed and quickness to go with it. He’s a very unselfish player, moves the ball around well. Brewer is a good slasher, good finisher, and he can shoot the ball from the perimeter. He needs is work on his ball handling skills and he could get a big stronger, but he has the total package and can contribute in the NBA right away.

7. Mike Conley Jr. (Ohio State, Freshman Guard)

He has an outstanding feel for the game and is a very heady player with an incredible basketball IQ for a point guard his age. He’s always aware on both ends of the court. He’s not going to boggle your mind with flashy passes, but he continuously makes the right play. He’s an excellent ball handler with either hand, and he can finish at the rim with either hand. He is capable of running a halfcourt or up-tempo team. He’s not an outstanding shooter, but you have to respect him. He may not be outstanding right away, due to the fact that he’s coming out after just one year in college (and also has to work on his shot a bit, as well as his man-to-man defense), but in a couple years he will be one heck of a point guard.

8. Julian Wright (Kansas, Sophomore Forward)

Julian is an absolute freak athlete and a great finisher. He’s an excellent defensive player who can lock someone down 1-on-1 or play the passing lanes, he also has great anticipation/reaction skills. His basketball IQ is off the charts. He’s a good rebounder. He is a very good passer for a forward. He is a solid ball handler who is very unselfish. He runs the floor very well. He must improve his consistency at the offensive end, he must improve his jump shot, and he must learn to try and take over offensively more than he does, but Julian Wright is an excellent all-around player that does everything well on both ends, and will be a very good player in the NBA. Think Andrei Kirilenko with a better offensive game and more coordination.

9. Jeff Green (Georgetown, Junior Forward)

Green is very long and athletic. He possesses excellent ball skills and excellent court vision for a forward. He’s an above average defensive player. He can play in any style, due to his versatility and ability to play either forward position (although he’s better suited for the 3 right away). He is a good finisher who can slam it home or lay it up with his soft touch, he has an above average mid-range game, and he has 3-point range (although he needs to work on his outside shot). The biggest knock on Green is that he is passive at times, and he will sometimes completely shy away from creating his own offense. He reminds me of Lamar Odom in a lot of ways, and he has a lot of potential. Another note: don’t look at his college numbers and think he is overrated, because his individual success was held back due to the style of play Georgetown runs. He’s NBA ready, and he’s going to be a fine player for years to come.

10. Spencer Hawes (Washington, Freshman Center)

Hawes is a legit 7 footer who can really score in the post. He has the ability to knock down some 15-18 foot jumpers on a pretty consistent basis. He’s an excellent passer for a 7 footer. He is one of the most consistent freshman in the country. He’s a very solid shot blocker. He does need to get a bit quicker, he sometimes settles for outside shots rather than scoring in the post (which he can do), and he is just an average rebounder. You look at comparisons of this guy all over the place, and you see Brad Miller. To me, that is spot on, I think he will have a similar career and be a very similar player, but he also has potential to be better than Miller was.

On the Bubble: Al Thornton (Florida State, Senior Forward), Roy Hibbert (Georgetown, Junior Center), Acie Law (Texas A&M Senior Guard), Joakim Noah (Florida, Junior Forward), Thaddeus Young (Georgia Tech, Freshman Forward).

According to Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald, Doc Rivers’ coaching staff will also receive contract extensions. The terms of the deals have not been disclosed, but Murphy states that the length of the contracts will match Rivers’ contract.

The Boston Celtics and head coach Doc Rivers have agreed to a 1-year contract extension. The terms of the deal are as follows: Rivers will continue to get $5 million per year throughout this extension, which will run until the end of the 2008-2009 season, and the deal also includes a second year option.

My thoughts: I am not the happiest fan in the world, but at the same time, we all saw this coming. At the least, I am relieved that it was only a 1-year deal. However, I most certainly think that not contacting either Rick Carlisle, Rick Adleman, or Paul Silas was a bad move by the organization. I was pulling for the organization to either fire him this summer or at least let him run through the last year of his contract as a “lame duck” coach. The injury excuse is valid and understandable, but healthy or not, Doc Rivers does not make good in-game coaching decisions. He’s a great guy, he’s a great practice coach, and he is an outstanding motivator that gets his players to play hard at all times, but his in-game coaching skills are questionable at best.

If they really wanted to keep him around to see how he can do with a healthy roster and new additions, then they could have done that without shelling out an extra $5 million. If they truly want to see what he can do, then they should have lame ducked him to see how this team performs next year before they give him an extension. That is the biggest reason I’m unhappy, they gave him an extension without seeing what he can do with a healthy/new roster. I’m not a very happy camper right now.

Celtics All-Star swingman Paul Pierce will not participate with Team USA this summer, or the Olympics in 2008. Due to the injury difficulties he has experienced this season, Pierce decided that passing on the opportunity to play for Team USA was the best decision for himself and the Boston Celtics organization. Pierce, a once touted “iron man” in the NBA, struggled mightily this season with injuries to his elbow, foot, knee, and he even got a black eye in late March. Hopefully “The Truth” can come back strong and put together a healthy season next year, and sprinkle some Celtic Pride over the city of Boston with a postseason appearance.

Celtics rookie guard Rajon Rondo was named to the 2007 NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team. Joining Rondo on the All-Rookie 2nd team is Bobcats forwards Adam Morrison and Walter Herrmann, Nets guard Marcus Williams, Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas, and Wolves forward (also Boston College native) Craig Smith.

Rondo led all rookies in total assists (237), total steals (128), and steals per game (1.64), while also leading the entire league in steals per 48 minutes (3.36). Rondo averaged 6.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. As a starter, Rondo put up 10.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game to go along with 2.4 steals.

• Tony had an outstanding season going for himself, until the unfortunate injury happened. TA is a tough grade, since he started off slow and then ended his season in January. However, I’m going to grade him based on what happened before the unfortunate accident. He’s easily our best defensive player, very explosive, our emotional leader, and he really took the load when Paul/Wally went down. He was expected to lead our defensive energy, but he led our team on both ends of the floor. He make some big improvements, it was terrible to see him go down.

• Ryan Gomes, AKA Mr. Reliable, had a good year. He worked hard on his jumper this past summer and he extended his range steadily. He went from having a decent 12-14 foot shot his rookie year to having a deadly (and consistent) 15-19 footer, and by the end of the season he was hitting three’s. He proved that he can be successful at the 3 in this league, as well as the 4. He was clearly our most consistent player this season, in my opinion, and I think he had a nice year.

• We knew Gerald was going to be a project from the start, and even though he still has his flaws, he has come along faster than anybody expected. Had it not been for the injuries, Gerald might have only played 5-6 minutes per game (Doc even said that himself). He still has that deer in the headlights look, he still gets lost at times defensively, he still can’t handle the ball very well, and he still is inconsistent, but he did make improvements. While he still has his deficiencies on the defensive end, he has improved. While he is still inconsistent, he has improved his long range jumper and he moves much better without the ball than he did in his rookie year. Most importantly, he’s a worker and he wants to improve. He knows he has to work harder and harder every summer, but the most promising aspect of it is that he actually wants it. We all know talk is cheap, but Gerald has a good head on his shoulders, and after all he is only 21.

• He went from an injury plagued, out of shape young player with questionable work ethic to a consistent double-double, a big time low post presence, and a guy that will be in All-Star consideration next season. Al was phenomenal this year, nobody expected what he did. He’s really beginning to reach his potential, he made huge strides this year. We always knew he could score, but he added a few extra tricks to his post game, he added a short jumper that extended its range as the season progressed, he has proven to be a very solid shot blocker, he has gotten much quicker due to the 30 lbs. he lost this past summer, and he has become much more of a vocal presence out there. He’s only 22, but he’s stepping up as one of the leaders on this team. What a great year.

• The Kandi Man was a surprise to everyone, including Doc and Danny. He surprisingly showed up and asked for a chance to compete for a roster spot in training camp, and he ended up earning himself the last spot on the roster. He is a career underachiever, we all know that, but he was somewhat of a nice surprise for us this year. He even had a few games this year where he actually played very well, he’s not a bad 3rd center. He never complains, he never talks back, he stays professional and gives the team whatever is asked of him. I can’t give him an F.

• Perk had a lot of issues this year. He started off alright, then he got hit with the plantar fasciitis (that really didn’t start to truthfully clear up until about late February). Ever since he has felt healthy, he has been awesome. He closed the season out on a high note, and he was consistently a nice presence for us throughout the last couple months of the season. The one thing that has surprised me about Perk this year is his passing ability out of the high post. I always knew he was a good outlet passer, but his passing abilities in a half-court set are nice to have at the center position. While Perk didn’t have a great year, or what we expected, he did have the legitimate excuse of injury and he closed it out nicely.

• Paul came into camp in outstanding shape, and stayed in good shape for a while. Then, like practically every other Celtic, the injury bug bit him hard (in the foot, elbow, knee, and eye). It’s tough to grade the captain this year, seeing how he was only in uniform for roughly half the season, but these injuries don’t take away from his value to the team as a player and leader. He means so much to this team, to the young players, and to the fans. He’s a true leader and he never gave up on that, no matter how badly he was hurting (inside and outside).

• The Powe Show can play. Sure, he was a late 2nd round pick, but he’s going to be in this league for a while. He works ridiculously hard at all times, he is an outstanding rebounder, he’s very strong, he’s very tough, he’s very athletic and explosive, and he disrupts the opposing bigs. He’s so physical that he has frustrated numerous opposing bigs (such as Lamar Odom, Carlos Boozer, and Chuck Hayes). He still has a lot of work to do on the offensive end and with his footwork, but he’s going to be in this league for a while.

• It’s disappointing that he only was able to play in two games this season, due to the chronic back problems. I never expected him to play more than half the season, but the fact that he could only suit up for two of them was very disappointing. He would have been our starting center, and his veteran leadership and defensive abilities were key losses for us. I hope this surgery can set him on the right track so he can stay relatively healthy next year.

• Ray had some good moments, some bad. He was never expected to do much at all, obviously, and the only reason he got a chance to play is because all of our key players were hit with injuries all year long. Regardless, he’s a career journeyman (think Eddie House 2.0). He has a beautiful shot, though it is inconsistent, but that’s about it.

• I am so incredibly happy/relieved that Ainge found us another gem in the draft. Pre-draft, I didn’t think Rondo was the answer and I thought he was going to be a project, but the kid has proved me wrong big time. He does absolutely everything well out on the floor, except shoot the basketball. He’s an assassin defensively, he’s a great athlete, he’s very quick, he always pushes the ball, he’s a very heady player, he’s a playmaker, he’s a wizard with the ball, he’s one of the best rebounding point guards this league has seen in a while, he can finish, and he already has leadership qualities (as a 21 year old rookie point guard, that’s rare). He is clearly the point guard of the future (after 15+ years of searching for one, we finally found him). If this kid ever develops a somewhat reliable jumper, he’s going to be one hell of a player.

• Scal was a nice surprise this year. He lost some weight, he improved his jumper, he brought the hustle, and he came up big for us defensively quite a bit. He still has his “haters,” but he definitely gained some more respect from the fans this year. I’ll be honest, last season I did not like him at all. Now, I actually like Scal a lot. He knows his role and he has a great personality. You can crack your jokes about him, I’m not going to act like I don’t (hey, it’s fun), but he had a solid year.

• Wally was a big disappointment this season. In October and November, Wally was on fire. He shot the ball extremely well on a consistent basis. Then, he rolled his ankle a handful of times, he had some knee difficulties, and he tried to rush himself back after every single injury. Wally has been a walking injury since he caught his first flight to Boston. It’s a shame because when healthy, he’s one of the better shooters in the league, but he was very inconsistent this year and the injuries were out of hand (I know they aren’t his fault, but still).

• What a disappointment. In summer league, October, and November, he played well. He pushed the tempo, we ran more as a team, he had a healthy Pierce/Wally to kick the ball out to, he limited his turnovers, and he ran the team relatively well. He was even shooting the ball fairly well from mid-range. Ever since the end of November, it all went down hill. He got demoted quickly and West took the starting job, then Telfair lost his backup duties completely when Rondo came on. I don’t disagree with West and Rondo playing over him, they are both better than him without question, but I think that if Delonte played his natural position all year long (SG) and Doc didn’t completely kill Bassy’s confidence, we’d be in a different situation right now. Well, that means nothing now… shoulda, coulda, woulda. Regardless of the fact that I like him or not, he was a big time disappointment this year. Then he ends it with that stupid gun/speeding incident? Ugh. I still support Telfair, but I’m very disappointed in him.

• Delonte had a decent year, it could have been better and it could have been worse. He started off slow with the injuries and back-and-forth switches from point guard to shooting guard, but he caught on midway through. I love having him in Boston, his personality is one of a kind and the effort/heart he has is outstanding. I think that if he was able to play his natural position all year, he would have had a better year, but he didn’t have a “bad” year by any means. No big improvements, he didn’t regress.

On July 6, 2007 the Boston Celtics, along with 21 other teams, will begin the summer league play. The games will be in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Thomas & Mack Center (on the campus of UNLV, where the 2007 NBA All-Star weekend festivities were held) until July 15th. The full list of teams competing consists of:

Boston Celtics

Cleveland Cavaliers

Dallas Mavericks

Denver Nuggets

Detroit Pistons

Golden State Warriors

Houston Rockets

Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Lakers

Memphis Grizzlies

Milwaukee Bucks

Minnesota Timberwolves

New Orleans Hornets

New York Knicks

Philadelphia 76ers

Phoenix Suns

Portland Trail Blazers

Sacramento Kings

San Antonio Spurs

Seattle Sonics

Washington Wizards

Chinese National Team

Will the Celtics be heading out to Vegas with the likes of Greg Oden or Kevin Durant by their side? We can only hope.