Kemba waived by Dallas...JT intrigued

lovegtm

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I can see why they want more time for Hardy; he looked good.

If Kemba wants to towel-wave for the Cs, I love the guy, but I doubt Wyc wants to pay tax for that towel.
 

bsj

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I can see why they want more time for Hardy; he looked good.

If Kemba wants to towel-wave for the Cs, I love the guy, but I doubt Wyc wants to pay tax for that towel.
Yeah. I love Kemba. Even though he was a UConn guy, he was my favorite non-Celtic before he came to Boston, and I had nothing but respect for the way he carried himself while a C. But he clearly has well on the downslope of the back side of his career. I suppose if he wanted to chase a ring for something like vet min salary I would take him, but nothing much more than that.
 

Kliq

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I feel really bad for Kemba, but if Pritchard is struggling to get time on the Celtics, Kemba is never playing for this team. If he just wants to be a towel waver, vibes guy, god bless him.
 

NomarsFool

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I'd assume he'd be vet minimum, so I wouldn't think it would cost the Celtics much. The question is whether they would get someone better in the buyout market for the last roster spot. I don't think he's super useful, but as a guy who seems pretty good to have around from a team perspective, could provide some buckets on occasion when you need them during the regular season, already knows the guys, I wouldn't hate the move.
 

The Mort Report

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I'd assume he'd be vet minimum, so I wouldn't think it would cost the Celtics much. The question is whether they would get someone better in the buyout market for the last roster spot. I don't think he's super useful, but as a guy who seems pretty good to have around from a team perspective, could provide some buckets on occasion when you need them during the regular season, already knows the guys, I wouldn't hate the move.
I can't imagine he would even be an upgrade on PP, so I don't know where minutes would come from. Especially with Vonleh gone, if that open spot ends up as the teams only route to improving the roster it has to be a big. Also, I feel the same about the trade market, in that I don't want them adding players until they either get someone too good to pass up or wait as long as possible. Now if we deal PP and other players in say a 3-1, I would have no problem having Kemba as bench cheerleader
 

TripleOT

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I can't imagine he would even be an upgrade on PP, so I don't know where minutes would come from. Especially with Vonleh gone, if that open spot ends up as the teams only route to improving the roster it has to be a big. Also, I feel the same about the trade market, in that I don't want them adding players until they either get someone too good to pass up or wait as long as possible. Now if we deal PP and other players in say a 3-1, I would have no problem having Kemba as bench cheerleader
Assuming the Celtics are happy with Smart, Brogdon, and White, do they see a long term future for PP? He really hasn’t improved, and doesn’t fit in defensively with their switching scheme. JD Davison may be a more athletic , cheaper option, with much more upside, in future seasons.
 

The Mort Report

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Assuming the Celtics are happy with Smart, Brogdon, and White, do they see a long term future for PP? He really hasn’t improved, and doesn’t fit in defensively with their switching scheme. JD Davison may be a more athletic , cheaper option, with much more upside, in future seasons.
I don't think he does with this version of the C's exactly for the reasons you point out. On top of that, and don't get me wrong, I love the energy he brings when he comes in and he's fun to root for, but this team is in an obvious GFIN mode, and he's not the best use of resources. His salary jumps to 4 million and change next year, and that's a lot to pay a guy to sit on the bench.
 

Sox Puppet

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What if they were to bring him in in some kind of ceremonial Andre Iguodala-type role? I know -- he's cooked, no need, waste of roster space, etc., but then I read this article from the Athletic, and the team's love for Kemba is even way beyond what I imagined.

Grant Williams:
“That’s my absolute guy,” Celtics forward Grant Williams told The Athletic. “The best vet I’ve had.”

“Every single day he came in with a smile on his face,” Williams said. “I took that approach from him. Even when things were going wrong for him, he’d make sure to look around at others around him and make sure that they were OK. He’s a great person, a great human. I don’t think there’s an ill word that’s ever been said about him.”
Marcus Smart:
“He brought a sense of ease to the team,” Smart told The Athletic. “That positive energy that he had, on top of being the player that he was and is — he’s a great player — when you bring that type of mentality in where you get along with everybody, you’re talking to everybody and it’s genuine, it helps to ease the team.

“And that’s what Kemba brought. That’s who he is. No matter where he’s at, he’s always going to bring that for you. When you’ve got a guy like that, you’ve gotta cherish it.”

Jayson Tatum:
“Kemba is a special, special person,” Tatum said. “Somebody I talk to on the regular. Without a doubt one of the best teammates, if not the best teammate, I’ve probably ever had. You guys know he’s just the best, happiest guy, always got a smile on his face. I valued that time, that two years that we spent together. We’re locked in for life after that.”
Grant again:
“When I first came in, he was a great mentor to me, not only with work ethic but also just how to approach the league,” Williams said. “He’s somebody that should have a position in the league no matter what. If he ever decides to stay, if he wants to coach, if he wants to be a GM, if he wants to do anything, he deserves any spot. Because he’s one of the best human beings in the NBA.”
 

chilidawg

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What if they were to bring him in in some kind of ceremonial Andre Iguodala-type role? I know -- he's cooked, no need, waste of roster space, etc., but then I read this article from the Athletic, and the team's love for Kemba is even way beyond what I imagined.

Grant Williams:


Marcus Smart:



Jayson Tatum:


Grant again:
That's great, I really didn't know how highly regarded he is. Makes some sense to have him around, and if he can put up 32 every once in awhile, so much the better.
 

StuckOnYouk

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If you can bring him back on the cheap what the hell why not. The players adore him and dammit the guy deserves an NBA ring to go a long with his UConn one, even if it’s as a hanger-on.

It sucks his knees took a beating and robbed his final great years from him. He left it all on the floor, both at UConn and in the NBA.
 

The Mort Report

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Before trading Vonleh where on the roster has everyone wanted the team to improve? A big or big wing. Assuming good health where are they set? Guard. Are people really ok with replacing Vonleh with Kemba with the only open roster spot?
 

128

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Before trading Vonleh where on the roster has everyone wanted the team to improve? A big or big wing. Assuming good health where are they set? Guard. Are people really ok with replacing Vonleh with Kemba with the only open roster spot?
I can't imagine a scenario where the C's would have both Pritchard and Kemba at the end of the bench.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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They should bring KW in as an assistant coach.

We talked about this with Blake and I assume it's the same with Kemba. As a multi-year vet, if the Cs signed him, they would only be responsible for the minimum salary portion and the NBA would pick up the rest. However, if the Cs cut KW before the end of the year, they'd become responsible for the entire portion, which means KW luxury tax hit would balloon to something like $10M.

Besides, if they brought KW in as an assistant coach, I'm sure he'd be a lot less likely to claw JMazz across the face. And would probably increase the level of play!