Report: Barbosa has asked to be Traded or Released

So, we get to keep ancient JET, who has been significantly underperforming, and we lose the Brazilian Blur who is a microwave.

Not happy with Doc at this particular moment.


This is a translation from ESPN Brazil:


“I will not lie to you, I tried to get out several times, but Danny Ainge (general manager of the franchise) does not want to let me go. He’s a guy that comes admiring my basketball for many years. I was supposed to have got a good contract with the Boston Celtics, but did not. He will not let me go so no,” said the Brazilian.


bob


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This is definitely sad news. I would like the Blur to get regular minutes each game. Somewhere Doc has to reward people for their play and take time away from people that are not productive. I have been a big supporter of Jet all year, but he has been dismal almost the who year. Lee or Blur would probably be a upgrade there.

Maybe he's just backtracking, but there's this:

Leandro Barbosa on Thursday vehemently denied a report that he requested a trade from the Celtics.

Barbosa denied the report, which stemmed from an interview with ESPN.br in Barbosa's native country of Brazil, despite being shown both the translation and the original version. "No, I want to play. I want to be here. That's it," he said Thursday. Barbosa, who has been a non-factor all season, said he knew coming to Boston there would be uneven playing time and denied he wants to leave to play closer to home.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/954/leandro-barbosa

Obviously playing time has to be earned, but the guards in front of him have been uneven at best. Fun to think that we would have the fastest backcourt around with Rondo and Barbosa in there. Of course we need more than just speed but others like Green are capable of playing uptempo and providing scoring and some defense too. Barbosa can get himself to the rim.

Look at the /36mpg numbers for both JET and Blur. Look at this season's fg%, assist-to-TO ratio, ppg/36mpg.


http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/barbole01.html


http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/terryja01.html


bob


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https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9tk5mRLTlJ4



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We potentially have a 5 guard rotation. A while back I posted on a thread about how the old celtics managed to utilize a 5 man rotation and it worked.

Why? because they ran all of the time.

I love Paul Pierce but the celtics will never be able to replicate the Red's teams until they get a starting 3 and backup 3 that has the ability to run the floor. We have a bu 3 but PP is not and nevr has been the type of player that is suited for uptempo basketball. That is a reality. Does not mean we should trade him this year but it isd what it is.

I really like barbosa but right now he is getting the shit minutes.

dboss

Danny Ainge: Trade request untrue
Updated: January 17, 2013, 6:16 PM ET
By Greg Payne | ESPNBoston.com

Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge denied rumors that guard Leandro Barbosa requested to be traded during his weekly appearance on Boston sports radio WEEI on Thursday.

A report from ESPN Brazil surfaced on Thursday, quoting Barbosa as saying he tried "several times" to request a trade, but that Ainge refused because he likes Barbosa's game.

Because of Boston's depth at both guard positions, playing time has been hard to come by for Barbosa, who's averaging just 10.7 minutes per game this season and has played five or fewer minutes in four of Boston's past five games.

"I won't lie to you. I've tried to get out several times, but Danny Ainge doesn't want to let me leave," Barbosa told ESPN Brazil. "He is a guy that I've admired in basketball for many years. I was supposed to have gotten a good contract from the Boston Celtics, but it did not happen. He's not going to let me leave this way."

Barbosa was all smiles while taking shots on the the team's practice court before Thursday's afternoon session. When the Boston Herald showed Barbosa the ESPN Brazil story, he told the paper, "No, I want to play. I want to be here. That's it."

Ainge said Thursday he was unfamiliar with the ESPN Brazil report and while he has had discussions with Barbosa about his role with the team, there have been no trade demands.

"I think it's been hard for [Barbosa] not to get an opportunity to play as much as he's wanted, but we have said from the beginning, even before he signed here, that minutes might be difficult to come by, because we were deep at that position, and he still chose to come here," Ainge said. "Actually, early in the year he played more than I expected him to play, and he played pretty well. So I think that we have had a couple of conversations, just about his role and where it went and he seemed satisfied with it. But he's never demanded or asked to be traded or any of those things at all."

Barbosa, who signed with the Celtics in October, 2012, for the veteran's minimum, has shown flashes of being a dynamic scorer in some of his brief stints on the court this season. In Boston's first game of the season, he came off the bench to score 16 points in 16 minutes, nearly rallying the Celtics against the Miami Heat.

In Wednesday's 90-79 loss to the New Orleans Hornets, he put in a quick seven points in just three late fourth-quarter minutes, which prompted coach Doc Rivers to admit after the game that he should have used Barbosa earlier.

Ainge said Thursday he still expects Barbosa to fill a greater role for the Celtics in the future.

"I think his chance will come. I think that he'll get an opportunity to play more significant minutes and in those minutes get an opportunity to earn more," Ainge said. "He's played well in practice. He's played every opportunity he's gotten. The game where [Rajon] Rondo didn't play in New Jersey, I thought he started at the point guard and I thought he played terrific.

"Even though we didn't win that game, I thought he had an outstanding game and I think that he is a good player and that's why we signed him and that's why we believe in him and are going to stay with him."


bob


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Barbosa is a one trick pony - some nights, that trick would work. Others, not as much. There have been games when Doc should have played him more IMO - but Doc has always been a coach who plays the guys who practice well. So who knows, maybe Leandro isnt practicing well. I dont know.

The one thing I do know is that - with the game on the line - in the playoffs, and you have a wide open shot for your SG - I want Jason Terry with the shot, not Barbosa. Sorry Bob.

Kleen,

I suppose it's really a case of two different skill sets and situational play. I think you're right that of the two Terry is the shooter. Barbosa isn't the guy you want shooting from outside, but he is the guy that can penetrate and drive to the rim.

Regards

NY,

Since we seem to settle for jump shots as a team, personally I think it would be good to insert someone that takes it to the rim. I wish Doc would throw down a gauntlet on settling for outside shots. That would require us to get the ball up the court faster. On the other hand if we can't get a foul called when we drive I guess it makes you quit driving.

Good point tardust.

So the Celtics went out in the off season and replaced their departing 3 pt shooting 2 guard - with one of the best free agents available - a 3 pt shooting 2 guard with 13 years experience hitting big shots - and you guys want Doc to demand he drive?

OK.

You guys are all making great arguments. I'm getting whiplash trying to figure out who's right.

mrkleen09 wrote:So the Celtics went out in the off season and replaced their departing 3 pt shooting 2 guard - with one of the best free agents available - a 3 pt shooting 2 guard with 13 years experience hitting big shots - and you guys want Doc to demand he drive?

OK.

I never said that. Read what I said again.