Celtics Speculation

Fucking Sherrod Blakely:
A league source told CSNNE.com on Monday night that the Celtics have had "no discussions whatsoever" with the Atlanta Hawks about acquiring Smith. The same source added there were no plans to open up such dialogue any time in the near future.

"You can never say never," the source said, "but there's nothing going on there."

Well I don't know if that squashes all hope for the trade, but it certainly hurts. I have always loved Josh Smith and his athleticism. He is a great defender and can play PF and if he gets his head on straight (which I believe Boston has strong enough leadership to mold someone) he would be a hell of addition.

On to the draft:
I have been very vocal about wanting only 3 players in this draft, Marshon Brooks SG Providence, Reggie Jackson SG BC, and Jeremy Tyler C.

Marshon Brooks is a shoot first scorer and one of the top scorers in the draft. Brooks shot selection needs grooming along with his defense, but he is going to be the steal of this draft.

I ranted on Jackson the other day, he is a combo guard who can score in bunches and has a higher upside in defense according to scouts. I would love to have this kid however, this most likely mean that the Avery Bradley experiment failed and they are admitting their mistakes.

The last guy would be Jeremy Tyler, If you remember this kid left his junior year in high school to make money overseas and he could be an absolute steal for the Celtics who desperately need size. He has a 7+ foot wingspan and with some tutoring from the Boston staff could be the next big thing. Definitely has the highest ceiling, but has an equal amout of bust potential too.

Josh Smith Wants To Come To The Celtics

The Atlanta Hawks have started to gauge trade interest on forward Josh Smith(notes), and Smith isn’t adverse to ending his seven-year stay with his hometown team, league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Monday.

Smith hasn’t requested a trade, but has privately told league friends that the Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets,Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic are his preferred destinations should the Hawks decide to move him.

“The relationship has run its course,” said a league source with knowledge of the dynamic.

I may sound a little hypocritical after just bashing Big Baby for attitude problems and about to defend Josh Smith, but so be it, I love this kid and have always loved this kid. I know NBA trade speculation is awful, but I would love getting him. He is 25, uber athletic, and is already good right now, but with some proper grooming could be great. Would it be worth breaking up our core to get him....... I want to say yes. With the window all but closed in Boston, having Rajon, Josh (two went to High School together) and Jeff Green, that's a pretty good start for rebuilding.

Top 25 under 25: #22 David Price

For only another 13 days, David Price makes the list at #22. The 24 year old future ace, playing for the Tampa Bay Rays, is bound to be an elite pitcher in the Major Leagues very soon.

Price played three years at Vanderbilt University with a 22-10 record over 313 IP, a 3.23 ERA, and 441 strikeouts. Price was the #1 overall pick in the 2005 MLB Amateur draft including the second highest signing bonus in MLB history ($5.6 million)and is currently in the fulltime rotation.

Price has yet to prove his capabilities this season in the rotation but showed an outstanding amount of potential in the Rays' 2008 playoffs.

Price's experience from Vanderbilt helped propel him through A, AA and AAA in just 2 seasons. Expect him to remain in the rotation and become an elite pitching mainstay for the Rays. Price's 90-94 mph fastball has good tail and can be rung up to 97 if needed. The ace lefthander also has an 87 mph late breaking slider and a mean changeup. His command along with the excellent speed and movement of his pitches is sure to spell dominance once he settles into the big league stage. The Rays and fans have no doubt that Price is the real deal; its only a matter of time. His worth is impressive enough to put him ahead of proven players such as Josh Smith (#23)...that should tell a lot about Price's potential as a future Cy Young candidate.

Top 25 Under 25: #23 Josh Smith

Josh Smith is one of the most versatile players in the NBA. He plays D, he rebounds, he scores, he is a do everything type of player, and that is why he gets the nod from us at number 23. A former Rondo teammate at Oak Hill Academy, and highly touted rookie, Smith has lived up to all expectations. He is an outstanding athlete that can jump out of the building and can play the 3-4 positions in the NBA. Josh is always in the top ten blocked shots and can D up pretty much everyone. The only knock on his game, is the consistency of his mid range to long range game. Sure he can score, but a lot of the time he is very streaky with his jumpers. However, he seems to be getting better every year, and will only continue to improve because the sky is the limit with him.