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Flip Saunders on D&C: Celtics unlikely to make major trade after Rajon Rondo injury 01.28.13 at 8:52 am ET
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Flip Saunders

ESPN NBA analyst Flip Saunders joined Dennis & Callahan on Monday morning to talk about the Celtics following the news that Rajon Rondo will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL.

Saunders, a former NBA coach who served as an adviser to the Celtics for part of last season, said Doc Rivers faces a “challenging” situation.

“Doc, he’s an extremely positive individual,” Saunders said. ” I’m sure that there’s disappointment. But he looks at this as an opportunity and a challenge. Him and his staff, of course, they’ll change how they play a little bit, because you can’t play the same when you’re missing a guy like Rondo that generates 40 percent of their offense, basically, from what he does either scoring-wise or setting people up.

“They’ll change a little bit, but Doc’s not going to let this be any excuse either to himself, to his team, the organization or the players that they can’t go out and compete and win.”

Saunders said he expects some basic changes, including Rivers becoming more controlling of the offense and the team’s two veteran stars playing a bigger role.

“They’ll change a little bit,” Saunders said. “They’ll probably become more defensive-oriented, even more so now. I really believe that Doc will probably have to do more play-calling, where when he had Rondo, he was kind of an extension of him on the floor — he let Rondo pretty much run the show, call the plays. I think now he’s probably going to be a little bit more calling plays from the sidelines.

“And I think you’ll see more of the offense facilitated through Paul Pierce. You saw yesterday Paul getting a triple-double. And probably putting the ball into [Kevin Garnett] in the post more and letting people play off of him in the post.”

There has been speculation that president of basketball operations Danny Ainge will attempt to make a major trade to start the rebuilding process. Saunders isn’t so sure.

“I don’t think so, no. I think they’re going to hold tight. They’re going to give this one more go of it,” Saunders said. “I think the idea that they feel is that we can see where this takes us, let’s give these guys an opportunity to play together and still know that in the offseason if they had to do something they could probably still do something in the offseason if the season didn’t go as they liked.”

Saunders, who coached Garnett in Minnesota, said he doesn’t think the veteran would accept a trade.

“I really believe right now that he’s very much set. He loves Boston. I don’t think he wants to leave Boston,” Saunders said. “KG is a creature of habit. He doesn’t like change. He always was bothered when players were either traded or released. That’s just kind of his innate nature. I believe that he believes he’s a Boston Celtic. I believe that when they sat down and they talked [about a new contract in the offseason] they talked about him finishing his career in Boston. Otherwise he probably would have just rode into the sunset.”

To hear the interview, go to the Dennis & Callahan audio on demand page. For more Celtics news, visit the team page at weei.com/celtics.

Read More: Danny Ainge, Doc Rivers, Flip Saunders, Rajon Rondo Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • yazorrbird

    Biggest assist of Rhondo’s career – now the Celts are playing for the lottery!

    • Bruinman86

      Fine by me.  Rebuilding without selling everything off…..

  • Frozenrope26

    In the vein of this article here are 4 fixes that could work for the Celtics. 
    1.Ramon Sessions, Charlotte Bobcats. Sessions is a bench player for the hapless Bobcats who are going nowhere, he has a 5 million dollar salary for 2 years. An easy enough contract to absorb, he can play the point and handle the ball, played with the Lakers so we know he can handle the stage, and big egos.
    2.Luke Ridnour, Minnesota Timberwolves. Ridnour has been forced into duty more this season because of Ricky Rubio’s recovery from knee surgery, but Rubio is on the mend, and the T-Wolves also have J.J Berea on their roster who they are high on. Minnesota is also in the cellar after losing Kevin Love, likely for the season, who also happens to b a free agent this summer. Making some cap space is in their interest. Ridnour’s salary 4 million, 2 years.
    3.Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors. Toronto is once again in the basement, and they have not been happy with Lowry’s ability to stay on the floor (IMHO a result of playing for a crappy team going nowhere) or production, but has shown great skill. Lowry’s salary 5.75 million, 2 years. Toronto also has an expiring Jose Calderon, but his slary;10.56 million and age (31) make him uninteresting for the Celtics unless for some reason Toronto covets Brandon Bass, Jeff Green, or even less likely due to DeMar DeRozan and up and coming Terence Ross, Jason Terry or Courtney Lee. Toronto is likely interested in retaining Calderon with the level of play he has shown this year, and hope to get a hometown discount from that salary, dump Bargnani, and Lowry, and position themselves to make a run at one of the big names in free agency available this summer. (A much better pool than last year, or next year)
    4.Tyreke Evans, (&Demarcus Cousins?)Sacramento/Seattle Kings. This would require some maneuvering, and guts by Danny, but hear me out. No secret has been made of the King’s desire to move Evans if they can, and lots has been made of the rift with the KIngs and Cousins, and despite the public bluster they probably would pull the trigger for the right deal, which would have to include Avery Bradley, Sullinger, a combination of Melo, another player such as Bass, Terry or more likely Lee, and a first round pick for sweetener. This would be a big move, the least likely of the deals and a potential blow it up scenario. But if you pull this type of trade, moving Pierce for Rudy Gay also makes sense, and would give you a lineup of Rondo, Evans, Gay, Garnett, and Cousins around New Year’s next season.
    As much as I love Pierce and what he has given us over the years, and the potential and heart Sullinger has shown, along with Bradley (who I think has reached his ceiling and will likely get no better plus is showing to be fragile and value will never be higher.) If you can get that starting 5 this team is potent for the short term, and long.

    • Dpalm789

      A) you spent way too much time writing this
      B) why the hell would the grizzlies give up gay especially straight up for pierce
      C) the celtics will have absolutely no bench at all with your proposed deal
      D) those are the reasons why you are not the general manager and Danny Ainge is

      • Frozenrope26

         As stated: “the least likely of the deals” The gist of the article was minor tweaks, as in the first 3 proposals of PG’s I made. The bench would still have Green, Bass, Terry, and Wilcox at least, in the case of a major shake up like the Kings deal. As for Pierce for Gay, Memphis has made no secret they have shopped Gay to drop his 3 years and 56+ million left due to him, to pursue a free agent in this summer’s excellent pool, which is far better than last year, or next. Pierce is due only a guaranteed 4 million next year, the rest non-guaranteed, freeing up their cap. Pierce is also much better from deep than Gay overall, a need for Memphis (spacing) Please make a cogent argument as to your position instead of hurling invectives.

        • Dpalm789

          if i were actually in the celtics front office i would be getting in depth about everything, I am just saying what you are proposing would never work, 4 bench players with the maximum height being 6’9 in wilcox and only one guard in an aging terry? come on man if you write that much about what the celtics should do atleast let it make sense

          • Frozenrope26

             Barbosa would also be there as for guards. And what height do they have now? Sullinger is the only big I was saying would fit in with what the Kings would want, he’s 6’9″ Wilcox is 6’10″ just to quibble. We also have Collins 7’0″ on the team still. The Kings would also have to throw in another player for roster purposes, someone like James Johnson. But as I mentioned, this is a long shot, blow it up scenario that also involves moving Pierce, and getting young. Evans 23, Cousins 22, Rondo 26, and Gay 26, all under control for at least the next 2-3 years with KG, would make a young athletic team with a bit of veteran influence. But it looks much more likely that Lowry may be the answer. Frankly they could use his scoring and shooting from 3, and just might fit well with this roster, now what could Toronto want for him knowing we are buyers in need…

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/QGDUXCJSOCS2AKGYF32MEJ27QI Ryan

      bradley has reached his ceiling at 22 years young with barely any minutes logged in his NBA career? That is a ridiculous statement as he has all the athletic ability in the world plus the attitude to improve everyday.  I think Sullinger has some of those same character traits.

      • Frozenrope26

         The history of the NBA is littered with young players of promise who fail to live up to the hype. Bradley has shown glimpses of excellent play, but too far in between, and is proving to be unable to sustain that level of play without getting hurt. Just a few players in recent years for example: Devin Harris #5 2004, T.J. Ford #8 2003 Jay Williams #2 2002 DaJuan Wagner #6 2002, Martell Webster #6 2005 Just a handfull for argument’s sake. I feel like the most we can expect from Bradley is something along the lines of Cory Brewer #7 overall 2007. Career averages of 8.9/3.1/ 1.2 pts/reb/stls per game or Ronnie Brewer, (no relation) #14 2006 career averages of 9.0/3.0/1.0 a contributor, but hardly something to perseverate on.

  • San Diego Dreamer

    Pierce and KG should stay as they can be key role players moving forward. Work some magic around the rest.

  • Gman

    That would make no sense tanking the season and playing for the lottery. Fans around here ought to know by now the NBA’s Lottery Fixing Committee will stick it to the Celtics the way they did in ’97 (Tim Duncan) and ’07 (Kevin Durant).

  • yazorrbird

    When I mentioned the lottery, I was in no way suggesting the Celts “tank it” the rest of the way.  Before Rhondo went down, making the playoffs was borderline without acquiring a legitimate center.  So now they need to rely on a bench that has given you absolutely nothing thus far, and the need to give KG and Paul 35-40 minutes every game is ludicrous, and still no center  At that pace there is nothing left – even if they get lucky and make the playoffs.  No fix needed.  Play right on.  LOTTERY!!

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