Ryan suicidal, May mellowing
Eggcentric at aol.com
Eggcentric at aol.com
Sun Jul 2 08:44:32 CDT 2006
Assess the Celtics' moves on draft day
July 2, 2006
BOB RYAN
Globe columnist
One undersized point guard was beaten out by . . . Tony Parker? Chauncey
Billups? Jason Kidd? Ah, no. Steve Blake! And he has more personal, troubling
baggage than a 747. (His entourage alone will require two sections at the new
Gahden). The other undersized point guard cannot shoot, and that includes free
throws. His college coach is said to be throwing a party now that he's sure the
kid isn't coming back. The veteran shot-blocker they got is 33 and gets hurt
about every other day. The guy they officially drafted (Randy Foye) might very
well be the next Joe Dumars. Poor draft? I wish. And Allen Iverson is next?
Take me now, Lord. Please. Grade: F-minus.
PETER MAY
Globe basketball writer
For the time being, I'll give them a gentleman's B. To me, getting Raef
LaFrentz's salary off the books was the best move of the evening. Now if they route
that money into Allen Iverson's portfolio, the grade drops like a stone. And
how is it that Danny Ainge, who says he values shooting as much as anything,
can sit there with a straight face and slobber over Rajon Rondo, a point guard
who shoots 58 percent from the line? Maybe Sebastian Telfair is better than
any of the point guards available. But is he better than Randy Foye? Danny's
drafting has been excellent to date. Until proven otherwise, he gets the benefit
of the doubt.
SHIRA SPRINGER
Globe Celtics writer
Any executive who accomplishes more than one goal on draft night deserves
kudos. Danny Ainge accomplished several, making this draft very good for the
Celtics. Ainge addressed a need at point guard with Sebastian Telfair and Rajon
Rondo, unloaded the weighty contract of Raef LaFrentz, added interior defense in
Theo Ratliff, picked up pieces for future deals, and landed possibly the
steal of the draft in Leon Powe. But if Telfair disappoints, Rondo looks more like
Parker Stevenson than Tony Parker, the money saved is spent unwisely, Ratliff
has nothing left, and Powe can't overcome past knee problems, the verdict
changes.
ROGER B. BASKIN
Milford
I believe that Randy Foye is likely to be an excellent NBA player. I think
Sebastian Telfair is likely to be an NBA bust. I think Danny Ainge will likely
rue the day he passed on Foye to take Telfair. It is similar to the Celtics
passing on Richard Jefferson.
JEFF BODNER
San Diego
Two disappointing seasons have elevated [Sebastian] Telfair from a
controversial No. 13 pick to someone worth the No. 7 pick? The Celtics didn't want more
youth, but Brandon Roy is older and more experienced. [Theo] Ratliff may have
one year less on his contract than [Raef] LaFrentz, but that relief is two
years down the road and Ratliff can't stay healthy. We traded a first-round pick
in 2007, which is supposed to be the strongest draft in memory, for a
first-round pick in what has been deemed the weakest. The only way this day is saved
is if we use the pieces to get [Allen] Iverson. Is it only logical that if
we've got The Truth, we must have The Answer?
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