Report: C's have eyes on Brown?

June, 26, 2011
8:46
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By Chris Forsberg


Are the C's interested in Pittsburgh's Gilbert Brown?
The Boston Celtics considered Pittsburgh's 6-foot-6 shooting guard Gilbert Brown with their second-round pick in Thursday's NBA Draft and told the undrafted free agent they have interest in signing him to a free-agent deal, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Gilbert Brown was on the phone several times throughout the day Thursday with the Boston Celtics and was optimistic about his chances of getting drafted in the second round. When Thursday turned into Friday and the 51/2-hour draft had come to an end, Brown didn't have much time to dwell on the disappointment of not hearing his name called.

Shortly after the draft ended, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge called Brown and expressed his interest in signing him to a free-agent deal. Brown said Ainge told him the Celtics had to make a decision between Brown and Purdue guard E'Twaun Moore with their second-round selection, the 55th overall in the draft. They chose Moore, but he wanted Brown to know that he was still interested.

"I'm definitely encouraged that the Celtics were interested," Brown said Friday afternoon. "I was talking to them all day. They said it was the flip of a coin when it came time to make the pick."

The Celtics selected Purdue shooting guard E'Twaun Moore with the 55th overall pick. Both he and first-round draft pick JaJuan Johnson will be introduced to the Boston media Monday morning at a community event in Brighton.

Ainge said after Thursday's draft that the team would likely try to bring in some undrafted players, but also noted the team cannot immediately sign a player. That means players like Brown, regardless of interest level, might have to wait out the impending lockout and that might not be possible. The Post-Gazette article adds that Brown will, "resume workouts in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. If the lockout is not settled by August, Brown will sign a contract to play overseas for a team in Germany."

Here's a glimpse at Chad Ford's scouting report on Brown. The positives Good athlete, well rounded; Solid shooter with 3-point range; Fluid in the open court; Good passer, unselfish; The negatives: Not a prolific scorer; Already 23 years old.

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Update as of 7/16, not that it matters if there's no season, but let's some happy thoughts here. From Hoopsworld:

Brown Excited For Next Chapter: The Boston Celtics didn't draft Gilbert Brown, but they've all but welcomed him to organization as the team's third rookie.

Boston nearly drafted Brown with their final second-round pick, but went in a different direction and selected E'Twaun Moore. When Brown went undrafted, the Celtics put him on the first plane to Boston where he took part in the team's rookie orientation, met with the team's staff and received an invite to training camp for whenever the lockout ends.

"Right after the draft, they brought me in along with E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson," Brown told HOOPSWORLD. "We basically worked out and went over their plays. They were bringing us up to speed on how they play basketball and going over all of the principles of their game."

Shortly after, Brown signed with the German team S. Oliver Wurzburg, but his deal includes a NBA-out that will allow him to return to the league once a new collective bargaining agreement is ratified. When the work stoppage comes to an end, Brown believes he'll have a future with the Celtics.

"I think there's a good chance I'll be back in Boston," Brown said. "They liked me a lot. I had good conversations with Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge. They showed a high level of interest in me and believe that I can be a contributor for them this year as well as in the future. It looks like there's a strong possibility that I'll be back with the Celtics as soon as the lockout is over."

"I'm very fortunate to have that NBA-out," Brown added. "I give credit to my agent, T.J. Doyle. He's been doing a great job. I really put my trust in him and he's been working hard ever since I signed with him."

After spending five years at Pittsburgh, Brown is one of the most NBA-ready players in this draft class. He has plenty of experience under his belt and displays strong leadership qualities. He developed a reputation as a lockdown defender during the draft process, but didn't get to display his ability as often as he liked because he had a limited number of workouts. However, he landed in the right situation because he'll fit right in with the Celtics, who want to win now and value defense.

"It's a great fit and I think Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge view me as a player that can come in and contribute like Tony Allen did with his defense, intensity and will to win," Brown said. "I'm capable of doing that and being that type of player for them. Coming from Pittsburgh, where I played a role just like that, I think that really helps me."

In the meantime, Brown is looking forward to his stint in Germany, where he can continue to develop his game and enjoy a once in a lifetime experience.

"I'm so excited for the opportunity to go to another country where I can play and learn their culture," Brown said. "Playing international basketball is going to be a great experience. I'm really looking forward to playing for coach John Patrick. I've talked to him multiple times and he seems like a great guy who knows how to develop his guys, especially American-born players who are heading overseas."

"I'm excited about Germany and I'm excited about Boston," he said. "I'm just patiently waiting for everything to get underway. I think Germany is going to be the start of a great professional career and lead me to great things."

bob



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For an "old" team, the Celtics seem to be stockpiling some interesting possibilities in the direction of a youth movement that matures within the "womb" of a veteran nucleus.

In some ways, I felt that the Celtics substituted depth for quality last season, acquiring many secondary players who were not necessarily accomplished or ready enough to contribute significantly within a relatively short time frame. It almost seemed that Doc's rotation choice was either to go the iron man veteran route or to squeeze as much value as he could out of the entire 12-man roster. There didn't seem to be an in-between rotation option of eight or nine really strong contributors.

I hope Danny will use whatever resources the team can muster to accumulate fewer, but more contribution-ready (and healthier) veterans, while filling out the roster with younger prospects of the types I'm reading about. I believe that's the most promising way to remain competitive in the short term while also girding for long-term transition (including developing trading chips).

Sam

sam wrote:For an "old" team, the Celtics seem to be stockpiling some interesting possibilities in the direction of a youth movement that matures within the "womb" of a veteran nucleus.

In some ways, I felt that the Celtics substituted depth for quality last season, acquiring many secondary players who were not necessarily accomplished or ready enough to contribute significantly within a relatively short time frame. It almost seemed that Doc's rotation choice was either to go the iron man veteran route or to squeeze as much value as he could out of the entire 12-man roster. There didn't seem to be an in-between rotation option of eight or nine really strong contributors.

I hope Danny will use whatever resources the team can muster to accumulate fewer, but more contribution-ready (and healthier) veterans, while filling out the roster with younger prospects of the types I'm reading about. I believe that's the most promising way to remain competitive in the short term while also girding for long-term transition (including developing trading chips).

Sam

sam,

I agree with your appraisal. We counted on depth to keep us healthy, but we assumed that our core, if healthy, would be able to deliver as if they were 3 years younger. Throwing platoons of players at teams is invaluable over the course of a season, but with coaches shortening their playing rosters to 8 players or so in the playoffs and demanding more minutes from the stars, it's mandatory that your top talent be able to dominate. Your bench becomes less relevant.

Danny is obviously trying to sidle up to the task of rebuilding without immediately diminishing the significance of the 3 Amigos. I don't know if any of the youngsters he's stockpiling will ever be all-stars, but the ones he stockpiled up until 2008 never have (including the most valuable gem of them, Al Jefferson) and yet that army of draft picks and assorted free agents landed us Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. The value in a young talent isn't necessarily to be found in what they can do to help us, but in what other GMs believe they they can do to help them. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

bob


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