<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"Gary Payton called me and said, 'Hey, I'm reminding you that the Celtics are a team I feel like I can help,'" said agent Aaron Goodwin. Goodwin said Payton would have no problem making the minimum or coming off the bench. He added that Payton is receiving "a little interest" from other teams and before the season he put the Celtics on a short list of teams he was interested in joining. "Gary's interest is only with teams he can play with and compete with to win a championship," Goodwin said. "He'd love the opportunity to play with Boston. It's one of the teams he had me contact before the season, and that's saying a lot because Gary doesn't like the cold." -- The Boston Globe</div>
gawd how pathetically he wants to win a title. kinda tarnishing his image IMO. I think he MAY be alright off the bench but I wonder if he's 1/2 the defender he used to be.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Celtic Fan @ Dec 21 2007, 11:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>gawd how pathetically he wants to win a title. kinda tarnishing his image IMO.</div> He won a ring with Miami.
True, I don't think it has to do with the title. (thats part of it) He wants to help KG and Boston win it this year. Who else do you guys want to come? (causeway and the rest)
there certainly are advantages - he's knows Doc and has a good relationship with him. he's a very smart player. My concern is that he does not have much left in the tank, if anything. Word is that Sam Cassell wants out of LA, if it was possible (I have no idea if it is) I would much prefer Cassell.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182 @ Dec 21 2007, 11:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow, didn't he retire?</div> No, not officially. In the same boat as PJ Brown right now. Can't handle a full season, but still wants to play. I would welcome GP with open arms. He's my favorite point guard of all-time, and I think he'd help us out for a good 10-12 minutes per game. He could get the ball across halfcourt without getting raped, as Eddie House and Tony Allen are. He is a bigger guard and could at least contest the shots of a guy like Chauncey Billups. He wouldn't get manhandled in the post like Rondo, because of his size and experience. He'd be great for Rondo, he could really teach him a lot in one season. I think it's best that we wait until February to see what becomes available to us (a cheap trade, a buyout, etc.) before we go for GP, but I personally think it would be a nice addition. We need a backup point guard that can handle ball pressure, period. It doesn't have to be Payton, but Danny needs to bring in somebody before playoff time.
This is the same guy who refused to report to Boston when the Lakers were trying to trade him their for Chris Mihm and Marcus Banks.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ Dec 21 2007, 12:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This is the same guy who refused to report to Boston when the Lakers were trying to trade him their for Chris Mihm and Marcus Banks.</div> But in the end, reported and even came back after the Celtics included him in the deal for Antoine Walker. He went through the waiver process and came back to Boston. He also called Doc Rivers one of the top 3 coaches he's ever played for, and the second best coach as far as coach-to-player relationships are concerned.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ Dec 21 2007, 04:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>CB32, say you're Ainge and can have either Payton or Cassell, which one would you take?</div> Cassell any day of the week and twice on Sunday's, but you can't count on Cassell getting bought out. I do think it's best to wait on Payton to see what becomes available later in the year. But yes, certainly Sam Cassell over Gary Payton at this stage.
Just making sure. I'd take either one that was available and if both were, I'd take Payton, just because I like him more. (glove fan) lol
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ Dec 21 2007, 04:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Just making sure. I'd take either one that was available and if both were, I'd take Payton, just because I like him more. (glove fan) lol</div> I'm a huge Payton fan as well. He's far and away my favorite point guard of all-time, but I wouldn't take him over Sam Cassell just because of it.
The only positive about Payton (now) would be that he could bring the ball down the court. Other than that, we'll have a PG, who won't handle the ball and is a pretty bad shooter (I don't think he even has the strength to shoot a 3 anymore). He would bring experiance, but I'm a bit hesitant. I wasn't too thrilled with this first run as a Celtic (too much dribbling and wasting of clock, plus he's got as big a attitude this side of AWF favoritism towards Antoine!)
Cassell would be a better fit on this team. He probably should have one a ring or two in Minnesota with Garnett and it would be a nice gesture on the Clippers part to give him a second chance at it with KG.
