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Musical Chairs

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Musical Chairs
by Gant

I doubt there's anyone reading this who was not at some point forced by professional educators to play the game, "Musical Chairs." It was a long time ago though, wasn't it?

In case you've forgotten how to play, here are the rules:
1) The game is played with contestants and chairs.
2) There is one less chair than there are contestants.
3) In the background music plays.
4) While the music is playing the contestants covetously circle the chairs.
5) When the music stops, everyone rushes to seat themselves.
6) The lone contestant without a chair is eliminated and subject to derisive hoots by their onlooking peers.
7) The contest continues until all contestants but one are eliminated, leaving that heroic figure in possession of the last remaining chair.
8) The chair possessor is roundly lauded for their seat capturing acumen.
9) The last runner up receives a particularly severe dose of derisive hooting.
10) Everyone moves on to finger painting.

In case you didn't know, there is a critically important game of Musical Chairs being played right now in the NBA free agent market. In this case there is a slight variation from the traditional rules: There are three contestants and two game-ending chairs.

The name of the game is Capture the Mid-Level Exception Big Man. The contestants are named: The Orlando Magic, The San Antonio Spurs, and The Boston Celtics. The chairs also have names: Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess.

The winner gets Rasheed. The second place finisher get McDyess. The third contestant is eliminated not only from the game, but quite possibly from NBA title contention.

There is one other oddity to the NBA version of Musical Chairs: The chairs get to pick the contestant, not visa versa.

Here's what's happening: McDyess is holding back because Rasheed gets to choose first which he will do next week. After Rasheed picks his new locale, then Antonio can select his.

There's not a whole lot of separation between Wallace and McDyess, just as Boston, Orlando, and San Antonio offer very similar enticements in terms of money and championship possibilities.

Right now the music is playing. Can you hear it? In a short while there will be silence. Two powerful teams will have elevated themselves. The other will be sitting on their ass in humiliation while everyone points and hoots.

Happy Birthday America!

It's America's birthday... and most people are going to take the day off.  But not us.  We'll be watching the C's... and letting you know if they make any moves.  Well... we will for as long as we're sober.

All is quiet on the NBA front right now.  Just some minor moves like Orlando not matching Dallas' offer to Marcin Gortat.  It's also interesting to see how Blazers blogs are reacting to Hedo Turkoglu's decision. 

Blazer's Edge says:

One of the broader lessons to be learned here is to never lose sight of the game.  You have to be a little ruthless to operate in this league.  Sometimes you have to make difficult decisions about players or contracts the same way Turkoglu made his decision about his future team.  Kevin Pritchard has already had to take on that role.  (Anyone remember that post saying goodbye to Channing Frye?)  He'll have to again in the future.  Nobody should complain about that.  Loyalty exists, but it's bound to contracts and performance.  Don't forget that.

Perfectly said... especially that last line.  That's exactly what every sports fan needs to keep in mind every offseason.

Chuck and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been stopping by or visiting us multiple times a day.  Our traffic has grown amazingly over the past month or so.  We're at higher levels now than we were at any point in the past two playoff runs.  So thank you all for visiting.

And because some of our traffic does come from military accounts and areas where our troops might be stationed... an extra thank you to our troops for helping us keep this opportunity to celebrate America's independence... and the freedom that allows a couple of douchebags like me and Chuck to keep writing crap on the internet. 

If this is your only visit today... then please enjoy the holiday.  Celebrate... eat a lot.. drink a lot... have a lot of fun... but please be safe.

Detroit pursuing Thibodeau

All I've been hearing is how much Joe Dumars wants an experienced head coach candidate.  But suddenly,  assistant coaches are being thrown into the mix.

With Avery Johnson no longer considered the inevitable choice, the candidacy of Cleveland Cavaliers assistant John Kuester has gained momentum in the Detroit Pistons coaching search, league sources said Friday.

Johnson, the ex-Dallas Mavericks coach, is still in consideration, but Kuester and Boston Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau have graded out favorably in GM Joe Dumars’ research, sources say.

Kuester has a history with the organization as a Larry Brown assistant. Dumars will meet with Johnson this weekend. Sources say that Dumars had a lengthy telephone conversation with Thibodeau on Friday and is expected to speak with him again.

Just when I thought we were done with the Thibodeau stuff... here comes Detroit screwing things up. 

Turkoglu bags Portland

Remember when we said Hedo Turkoglu signed with Portland?  Yeah... not so much.

Free agent Hedo Turkoglu has backed out of his commitment to the Portland Trail Blazers and plans to sign with the Toronto Raptors, a source close to the talks told Yahoo! Sports on Friday night.

Turkoglu had agreed on a five-year, $50 million deal with the Blazers, but changed his mind and could be headed for a five-year, $56 million deal with the Raptors. Toronto would have to renounce three free agents – Shawn Marion, Carlos Delfino and Anthony Parker – to create the cap space for Turkoglu.

I still think Anthony Parker can help the Celtics... so this is good news.  And I don't think Hedo is good enough to put Toronto into any sort of realistic championship contention... so this would be doubly good news.  Hedo's good... but not THAT good. 

Hedo to Portland, Zen Master to Return

Making news around the league...

The Lakers get Phil Jackson for another season. The greatest luckiest coach of all time has decided to suck up the chronic leg and hip pain and pursue back-to-back titles. All that pain will pale in comparison to the ulcers likely to be created by coaching Ron Artest. 

Hedo Turkoglu has signed a $60 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to ESPN.

I don't care what most of the national media says, this is a huge loss for the Magic. Hedo ran the offense for the Magic. He lead the way in crunch time of every playoff game, something Vince Carter will not be able to replicate. I guarantee Orlando will not make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Hoopsworld is reporting Jason Kidd will return to Dallas and sign a 3 year, $24 million contract. This is a horrible contract for the Mavericks. Kidd's skills are eroding faster than Obama's favorability rating.

Nothing screams patriotism more than a smokin' hot Israeli supermodel. Enjoy the holiday weekend and this video of Bar Rafaeli:

Sheed's gonna take a week to think about it

Frank Dell'Apa reports

Rasheed Wallace is not expected to make a decision on the Celtics' offer of a mid-level exception contract for at least a week. The Celtics sent Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce, along with president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and managing partner Wyc Grousbeck, to Wallace's suburban Detroit home for a three-hour meeting Thursday.

Wallace will meet with other teams next week -- he is high on the lists for Orlando and San Antonio, teams which could offer him a starting position. The Celtics project Wallace as a backup. Charlotte is also interested in Wallace, who owns a home in North Carolina.

Pierce takes break from Sheed talks to shoot craps

One man's encounter with Pierce... via Ball Don't Lie

So I'm heading back to my room and I see Paul Pierce playing craps. Obviously, he wasn't part of the contingency romancing Rasheed Wallace to the Celtics on Thursday or most likely on Friday. I'm in a semi-Red Bull and Vodka daze, but not enough that I don't have my bearings [...]

I watch him play craps for a few minutes and when a lull in the action occurs, I say, 'I thought you were supposed to be wooing 'Sheed.' The Truth didn't take too kindly to my statement. He then says, 'Oh man, can't I get any privacy! Shouldn’t you be looking for girls.' I then tell him I'm married and Pierce then says to me, 'Then why are you in Vegas?' My response is I'm here on business working with Doyle Brunson for the WSOP Main Event. He loses his roll of the dice and slams his hand down on the craps table as hard as he can. I'm not sure if I should feel guilty, not give a crap, or run as fast as I can.

I decide to stay for another minute. He mutters some more stuff under his breath and then offers to buy shots for me since I'm not chasing women. I politely decline and head back up to my room ...

The Courtship of Rasheed Wallace

Gary Tanguay has all the details about the Celtics trip to Michigan and their meeting with Rasheed Wallace:

I spoke with Bill Stickland, the agent for Rasheed Wallace moments ago . He told me…

Danny Ainge wanted to show up on Rasheed’s doorstep Wed. Night at midnight…which is when the free agent signing period began. Wallace told Danny that was not necessary so team green flew out Thursday instead.

Danny, Coach Doc Rivers, managing partner Wyc Grousbeck along with KG, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce were in the meeting with Strickland, Rasheed and his wife Fatima. Without question the Celtics increased their chances of obtaining Rasheed by making this trip. The effort put forth by the Celtics impressed Rasheed, Fatima and Strickland.

The fact that Rasheed has never played on a team with the likes of KG, Paul and Ray works in favor of the Celtics.

Fatima and Rasheed will make this decision together. She is very important in this process. Civil activities are very important to her. Ray Allen, because of his work with juvenile diabetes, was able to connect with her on this matter.

The way Doc handled the three egos of the big three has not gone unnoticed by Rasheed. Doc is well respected by players throughout the NBA.

Despite his reputation in Boston Rasheed is an unselfish teammate and would fit great with the big three.

Rasheed would be visiting other clubs today but wanted to spend time with his family. He will travel next week. Other teams in play are Orlando, San Antonio and Dallas. It is not just about the money. The team has to have a realistic chance at a championship. The Lakers were in the hunt until they signed Ron Artest. He did visit Dallas last week but it was not regarding a basketball matter.

He's coming to Boston. He has to....

Counting Roster Spots

This is a guest column submitted by Gant

As you know every team can have up to 15 roster positions. Right now the Celtics have 10 players under contract for the coming season:

Garnett, Pierce, Allen, Rondo and Perkins; then House, Walker, Giddens, Scalabrine and Tony Allen.

That leaves 5 more potential spots.

(Please do not imagine that the team will cut a player under contract. This won't happen. They would lose a valuable tradeable expiring slot and still pay the luxury tax.)

Barring a trade 10 spots are currently taken and 5 are open.

Potential Returning Free Agents:

The Celtics have one slot potentially earmarked for Big Baby. (The Glen Davis situation could stretch out for a while). Until he signs elsewhere it's always possible Leon Powe could re-sign. Also Stephon Marbury could return. For the sake of this discussion, pencil in one spot taken for these three guys. That's 11.

(Though Baby and Marbury could both be back making it 12.)

Shocker: Marbury Wants More Money

Via the Globe:

Celtics free agent guard Stephon Marbury said to The Globe early Friday morning that he doesn't expect to be returning to Boston after receiving a disappointing one-year contract paying $1.3 million using the veteran's minimum.

"Thank you Boston for allowing the world to see me play again after all that went on in N.Y.," said Marbury, via e-mail to The Globe. "The fans treated me with open arms and that's all anyone can ask for."

If the Celtics were going to re-sign Stephon Marbury, I think it's safe to say we all expected they would offer a contract close to the veteran minimum. While Marbury played the role of good soldier last season, his performance was average at best. Good luck with those other teams.

As for Rasheed Wallace, here's the latest from SI.com's Chris Mannix:

"Solid, thorough, cogent and very impressive," Wallace's agent, Bill Strickland, told SI.com about Boston's recruiting trip. "[They] definitely gave Rasheed and his wife something to think about."

...However, Boston and San Antonio stand as the strongest candidates. The Celtics can offer Wallace a chance to stay in the Eastern Conference as well as the opportunity to play with Garnett, who is a close friend. San Antonio, which traded forwards Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas last month in the deal for Richard Jefferson, can offer Wallace a starters role. Boston's interest in Wallace is believed to be as a backup.

Last night on Sports Tonight, Mannix said he believes both the Celtics and Spurs will offer the MLE for two years (but there's no mention of that in his column). He gives the edge to the Spurs (51% to 49%) while predicting Wallace would make a decision by mid to late next week.

Will Rasheed be comfortable coming off the bench in Boston, when he'll be able to start in San Antonio? If he comes here, I think he'll play minutes similiar to what he average last year in Detroit - 32 mpg.