So it’s Heat vs. Thunder in the Finals. The big question now is what happens to the Big Three in Boston, with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen unrestricted free agents and Paul Pierce a potential trade candidate. We’ve got that, and all the latest news from around the NBA.
- From Alex Kennedy at HoopsWorld, Doc Rivers doesn’t want this to be the end of the Big Three. “I don’t know,” Rivers said. “I think we’re going to wait and see what happens with free agency and all that stuff. I honest to gosh hadn’t thought much about it. I’ve given zero thought to the whole thing. Danny [Ainge] has talked to me a couple of times recently. I probably didn’t hear much. We’ll find that out later. I just want to stick with this group if it’s a couple more days, a couple more weeks, or whatever. I just want to stick with them.” Kennedy also writes that “Allen will likely test free agency, especially since he was nearly dealt at the trade deadline. Sources believe he’ll look to sign a multi-year deal with another contender. Garnett will also receive interest from a number of teams after his phenomenal postseason run. Pierce was almost traded at midseason for a lottery pick, and a similar move could be made before the draft if Garnett and Allen let it be known that they’re leaving. After giving this group one more shot, this will likely be the summer that Ainge decides to rebuild.”
- Allen indicated that he wants to continue playing, even if it’s not as a Celtic, according to Paul Flannery of WEEI.com: “There’s still a lot of basketball left in my legs,” Allen said. “I know that for sure. So it’s hard to say what can happen, what may happen.”
- Pierce, for one, doesn’t want the Big Three era to end, according to Frank Dell’Apa of Boston.com: “It’s been tremendous to have [Garnett] around, just the culture he brought, you know? It’d be great to end my career with Kevin. I have a couple years left and, who knows what his future’s going to bring – management can do something to bring him back and get us the pieces we need to get over the top. If not, it’s been a tremendous run.’’
- Brandon Bass wants to come back to the Celtics, writes Paul Flannery. “Bass has a player option for next season and all indications are that he will exercise it after averaging career highs in points and rebounds. After the Celtics season ended abruptly in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, Bass said he hasn’t thought too much about the future but he also made it clear that he wants to return,” writes Flannery.
- From Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, an idea of a player the Celtics could target this offseason: “An emerging player on the Celtics’ radar could be San Antonio restricted free agent Danny Green, who had a solid playoff stretch with the Spurs and is one of the league’s most improved players. Green started most of the postseason games for San Antonio, and because he is a second-round pick under the Arenas rule, the Spurs can match any offer to him. The Celtics will be seeking an athletic swingman who can play defense and has long-range shooting skills.”
- Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle tweeted that the Warriors will possibly be deciding between Perry Jones III and Terrence Jones with the #7 pick.
- Czech combo guard Tomas Sataronsky was the star of the first day of the adidas Eurocamp, writes NBC Sports’ Brett Pollakoff. “Satoransky ran the point and played off the ball equally well, and whipped the ball around the perimeter with confidence, always looking to create the best shot for his teammates. When it was his turn to score, he showcased a smooth stroke from the outside, and was able to put the ball on the floor and finish in traffic, as well. Satoransky is projected as a mid-second round pick, but that could change quickly if he continues to perform as he did on the camp’s first day.” Putting a bit of a damper on that is the fact that French guard Evan Fournier, the only European player projected in the first round, didn’t participate in any group activities, though he’s expected to later in the camp.
- The Heat-Celtics Game 7 drew the highest rating for an NBA playoff game on cable since ratings started being kept (in 2003), according to an AP report.
- From Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, another potential promise to a draft pick from a team with a lottery pick. This time, “an NBA source told Yahoo! Sports that [Austin] Rivers has a promise late in the draft lottery.”
- Lots of talk about the Bobcats shopping the #2 overall pick, and Rusty Simmons says that “would be perfect for the Warriors, who could draft the tough, defensive-minded Kidd-Gilchrist after New Orleans takes Anthony Davis at No. 1.”
- If the Bobcats decide not to trade that pick, “[Thomas] Robinson and [Michael] Kidd-Gilchrist appear to be the top candidates to be chosen second,” writes Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.
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Dan Malone just completed his sophomore year at University of Kings College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is spending the summer in Baltimore, where he covers the Single-A minor-league baseball team the Aberdeen IronBirds for OriolesHangout.com. He will be blogging for SheridanHoops this summer.
IF Kevin Garnett is traded or retires as a Boston Celtic, the team will be nothing but a shell of itself. I say bring them all back and find them a few HEALTHY YOUNG reserves.