To sign or not to sign?

First, would you sign Christmas? If so how would you structure his contract? He wants a guaranteed contract or he says Europe is calling.
Is he a potential replacement down the road for a role Terry now will play or would he serve some other purpose? I like his energy and seems to have an offensive game. He is showing some skill in driving and then either finishing or finding someone else to finish. I know this is just summer league, but he is worth careful consideration.

KennCelt,

I seem to remember reading somewhere that Xmas is going to go to D-league rather than Europe. He has made enough money in Europe to afford to do that and he thinks the chances of him getting called up by an NBA team is better with D-league (if you're in Europe, you're in Europe until the end of your contract. D-league you can be called up today and suiting up tomorrow).

Would I guarantee his contract? No. He's pretty much NBA-unproven. Does he look real good? Hell yeah, but this is just summer league. Summer league is filled with newbies, bubble players and wannabes. We haven't seen if Mssrs Rondo and Terry will abuse the crap out of him in camp.

Sign him, definitely. Guaranteed? Well, he'll come cheap, so maybe it's not soooo bad an idea.

bob

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KennCelt

Yes I would definitely sign him. Guarantee the first year just like a 2nd round pick..non guarantee a second year.

Its short money anyway you look at it.. He is hungry to play in the NBA and I think he can help us.

Dboss

dboss wrote:KennCelt

Yes I would definitely sign him. Guarantee the first year just like a 2nd round pick..non guarantee a second year.

Its short money anyway you look at it.. He is hungry to play in the NBA and I think he can help us.

Dboss

dboss,

Yeah, I guess you're right. I like him better than Jamar Smith. Smith can light it up, but he didn't impress me as a point guard like Xmas did, so Xmas is more versatile.

bob

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This article, from redsarmy.com

Last night, the Milwaukee Bucks were designated the “road” team in their matchup against the Celtics. That was very appropriate, considering the crowd was decidedly pro-Boston.

And the “home” crowd was in for a bit of a treat. The few hundred people who showed up to see the a bunch of guys in C’s gear that may not make the team were surprised by a visit from Rajon Rondo, who parked himself on the Celtics bench and became part of the coaching staff for the game.

“It was good for Rondo to come in and support the young guys,” said Summer League coach Tyronn Lue. ”Guys have been playing hard, playing great, for him to come around and encourage guys, speaking up at halftime and time outs, it’s good for them.”

There were a few instances of Rondo pulling guys over, notably summer stand out Dionte Christmas, to impart some of his knowledge on them.

“I learned in about 5 minutes so much from him,” said Christmas. ”I can only imagine what a whole season would do, playing under Rondo.”

The tutelage paid off, with Christmas dishing 6 assists using the tidbits from Rondo. Christmas said he’s still working on a possible deal with the Celtics, but he’s also auditioning for all 30 NBA teams while also fielding offers from overseas teams.

Rondo spent the entire game working with the young Celtics on the bench. He even took over at the end of the game when the Celtics, down one, were trying to draw up one last play.

“Rondo talked me out of the play I wanted to run,” said Lue, with a smile as he joked about Rondo’s propensity for, shall we say, ‘offering his opinion’ during huddles. But Rondo being there had an obvious effect on the young guys.

You may not realize it, but some of these guys were in middle school when Rondo was a rookie. He’s the young guy deferring to Hall of Famers during the regular season, but these kids are a bit starstruck by him. Some of these guys probably would have asked for his autograph a couple of years ago. Now they’re potential teammates trying to pick his brain.

The fact that he takes time to be there for them speaks volumes about his commitment to the team and its development. For a guy who has a tough, hard-to-read facade, this shows a side that some fans might not see. He didn’t have to be there. He chose to be there. He didn’t have to talk to Dionte Christmas. He chose to pull him aside during free throws in the first quarter to teach him something.

Rondo can be a bit divisive in Boston. Some fans may never like him and they can point to very legitimate things to support their arguments. But this is a meaningful thing to the franchise. Explaining to the game to the guys who may be his running mates now helps them get a few steps further than they would have been. It’s an important head start at an important time for the Celtics.

Bob

I read that article also.

Nice to see Rondo involved...He will someday be a coach.

dboss

dboss wrote:Bob

I read that article also.

Nice to see Rondo involved...He will someday be a coach.

dboss

dboss,

He has the head for it, does he have the temperment for it?

Not yet.

bob

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Thank you for the responses to my questions. I am pleased to see Rondo starting to work early with some of his potential teammates. I think I saw him in a serious monologue with Fab Melo in the first half. No time to waste if some of these players can help the Celtics get their next championship banner. I hope DA can sign him before someone else does. He is not the answer to their future, but is certainly worth a further look.

So, for cripes sakes, don't keep me in suspense. Did the last play work?

Sam

Never mind. I just watched video of the last shot.

Sam

sam wrote:Never mind. I just watched video of the last shot.

Sam

well i didnt,, fill me in dernitt.


back on topic though, this xmas kid seems to be a usefull commidty, though im thinking, 'another big please,, please, please... someone who'll rebound and black shots!

unless melo moves in with KG tonight and divides his waking hours between personal training, being tutuered by KG and has weekly tuteral visits from Bill Russel, we're gonna need another 6'10+'er