Rumor mill: Rox eye Rondo; C's eye Turner?

ESPNBoston.com

Two bits of Boston Celtics news floating around the rumor mill on Monday morning:

Rockets could target Rondo?

From ESPN.com's Marc Stein:

• Rapid Reaction: So we've been down this road before. Back in February we heard the Rockets expressed interest in Rondo around the trade deadline (though it appeared the Celtics weren't very interested in listening). Now, the Rockets, having already dispensed Chandler Parsons, Omer Asik, and Jeremy Lin for underwhelming return (three guys that could have been key parts in any sort of Rondo offer) and having whiffed in pursuit of big-name free agents like Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony, are left scrambling to add another star. Geez, sure seems like a team that could use some positive press (hey, look at us, we're going after Rondo!) We struggle to see any sort of way the Rockets could even prevent Danny Ainge from sending their call directly to voicemail without engaging more teams in a deal (let's just say Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas probably won't move the needle enough). With Rondo set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, the Celtics certainly have to listen to any offers out there, but they've maintained an extremely high value while stressing that they expect Rondo to have the best season of his career next year. -- Chris Forsberg

C's express interest in Turner?

From ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman:

• Rapid Reaction: The Celtics have an overstocked roster at the moment, but you can understand the interest. Teams love to buy low on high-potential players. Turner, after being traded to Indiana last season, was not extended an $8.7 million qualifying offer. The No. 2 pick in the 2010 draft now finds himself on the open market. Boston has two potential avenues here depending on the salary that Turner is looking to command. Boston still has the mid-level exception ($5.3 million) at its disposal (though the team would likely have to trim salary in order to stay safely on the apron before pursuing Turner). Boston could also engage Indiana on sign-and-trade possibilities, possibly dangling Keith Bogans' nonguaranteed deal (and maybe a second-round pick?) as a way to thank Larry Bird for facilitating a move. The Celtics already have a depth chart topped by Jeff Green, Gerald Wallace, and first-round draft pick James Young, but Turner would be a future-minded addition with the Celtics hoping to harness his full potential at a low-risk price. Ultimately, the market will dictate Boston's interest, as the Celtics might only be interested at a bargain-basement price. Let's not forget that Turner is not renowned for his defensive abilities and struggled to consistently aid a playoff team last season. -- Forsberg

112288

112288 wrote:ESPNBoston.com

Two bits of Boston Celtics news floating around the rumor mill on Monday morning:

Rockets could target Rondo?

From ESPN.com's Marc Stein:

• Rapid Reaction: So we've been down this road before. Back in February we heard the Rockets expressed interest in Rondo around the trade deadline (though it appeared the Celtics weren't very interested in listening). Now, the Rockets, having already dispensed Chandler Parsons, Omer Asik, and Jeremy Lin for underwhelming return (three guys that could have been key parts in any sort of Rondo offer) and having whiffed in pursuit of big-name free agents like Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony, are left scrambling to add another star. Geez, sure seems like a team that could use some positive press (hey, look at us, we're going after Rondo!) We struggle to see any sort of way the Rockets could even prevent Danny Ainge from sending their call directly to voicemail without engaging more teams in a deal (let's just say Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas probably won't move the needle enough). With Rondo set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, the Celtics certainly have to listen to any offers out there, but they've maintained an extremely high value while stressing that they expect Rondo to have the best season of his career next year. -- Chris Forsberg

C's express interest in Turner?

From ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman:

• Rapid Reaction: The Celtics have an overstocked roster at the moment, but you can understand the interest. Teams love to buy low on high-potential players. Turner, after being traded to Indiana last season, was not extended an $8.7 million qualifying offer. The No. 2 pick in the 2010 draft now finds himself on the open market. Boston has two potential avenues here depending on the salary that Turner is looking to command. Boston still has the mid-level exception ($5.3 million) at its disposal (though the team would likely have to trim salary in order to stay safely on the apron before pursuing Turner). Boston could also engage Indiana on sign-and-trade possibilities, possibly dangling Keith Bogans' nonguaranteed deal (and maybe a second-round pick?) as a way to thank Larry Bird for facilitating a move. The Celtics already have a depth chart topped by Jeff Green, Gerald Wallace, and first-round draft pick James Young, but Turner would be a future-minded addition with the Celtics hoping to harness his full potential at a low-risk price. Ultimately, the market will dictate Boston's interest, as the Celtics might only be interested at a bargain-basement price. Let's not forget that Turner is not renowned for his defensive abilities and struggled to consistently aid a playoff team last season. -- Forsberg

112288

It is a good thing that Danny does no let rumors influence his decision making. Too many people assume that Rondo will bolt next year but I do not buy that. With the increase is max money in two year I expect Rondo to get a healthy contract provided he returns to form this year.

The Rockets cannot seem to get that 3rd star or keep a rising one (Parsons) Target whom they like but I would be surprised if they hit anything but dead air.

dboss

Turner can play basketball pretty good but is it not obvious that he is a problem child?

I guess they (IN) like Lance better.

dboss

I applaud the Celtics for looking for a swing player at SF and SG.  I hope James Young will turn into that player, but who knows what his initial season could be like?  I question whether Turner is a guy they should be seeking because I believe his defense is marginal at best.

Sam

Daryl Morey gives away Asik for a song.  He gives away Lin for a song.  He loses Parsons because he misjudged his market price (and because he thought he could re-sign Parsons as a RFA before Bosh and get both).  That's 2 starters and probably the best backup center in the league (who would be starting anywhere else) in exchange for Ariza and a draft pick to two.  He does all that because his eyes are bigger than his stomach and thinks he can land Melo, LBJ or Bosh.  He fails to get any of them.  In fact, Bosh played him, using him to drive up the price to Riley but probably never really seriously considered leaving Miami (his "oh, it was such a tough decision" claims to the contrary) because with LBJ gone and DWade's knees being 39 years old and Battier retiring and Ray Allen either retiring or going to Cleveland because his nose is wedged in LBJ's butt, Houston is the better team.

I'm not surprised the Houston papers are claiming he's big-game hunting for Rondo and Love.  Morey promised he was going to get a 3rd big star this summer (sorta like Wyc promising "fireworks"). He's looking kinda inept right now and the Rocket fans must be wondering what happened to their juggernaut.  Remember the NY papers last year with Rondo?  They sure didn't want to talk about the Knicks as it was actually constructed, they sucked, so they talked "what if we were able to land Rondo for a broken down, overpriced old Amar'e and a couple of spare parts?".

Now that Asik's gone I don't know what they have that we would want.


bob


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They would have to get a 3rd or 4th team involved.

They have nothing else to give....no assets.

112288

Parson's was "insulted" by Houson's offer, what was it. This sense of entitlement is beginning to wear on me.

Rosalie

RosalieTCeltics wrote:Parson's was "insulted" by Houson's offer, what was it. This sense of entitlement is beginning to wear on me.

Rosalie

Rosalie,


I don't think Parson was insulted by the offer, in fact Houston was sitting back and letting the market set the price and then chose not to match the offer.  He was insulted because Daryl Morey was publicly declaring they were 'actively looking for a 3rd star' and he thought they should have realized they had one right in front of them on their roster already.


"Honestly, I was offended by the whole process," Parsons told Yahoo Sports. "They publicly said that they were going out looking for a third star when I thought they had one right in front of them. I guess that's just how they viewed me as a player. I don't think I've scratched the surface of where I can be as a player and I think I'm ready for that role."


Morey had a very good year or two, snagging Harden from OKC and landing Howard (reportedly with a lot of help from Chandler Parsons) and drafting Terrence Jones but he has had an absolute disaster of an offseason this year, I think.  He completely misjudged just about everything.



bob


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I like Parsons but he is no KD. I wouldn't keep him at $15m...

And trading away Asik and Lin for nothing was pure idiocy.



KJ