Stevens: Kemba may not be ready at start of the season due to knee issue

[Big333223]

Wishing the best for Kemba. Hopefully the ascension of Tatum, Brown, and Smart make his load a little lighter and he can still be an effective shot creator for a few more years.

[Darth_Yoda]

This is why I was pushing for a PG at 14.  Thrilled drafted Nesmith, but PG is going to become a major issue if Walker misses extended time.  We might get an extended look at Edwards, Teague, and Pritchard very early unless a magical S+T with Charlotte drops us another PG.

I could see Smith Jr ending up a celtics by time season starts. Just saying. Hayward>Charlotte, Rozier>NYK, TPE and Smith Jr to Boston.


Also there is always the option of the TPE on another PG. Although I think I am starting to believe that PP will be fine there after getting his feet wet.

Is Rozier and upgrade over Smith?  I'm not sure why NYK get involved here.  I would love it, just don't see why they jump in.

Yes he is. I’m not a Rozier fan but he’s a ton better than Smith Jr

I still have faith in Smith. He needs a good coach.

When he was drafted I was pretty high on him as he reminded me of one of my alltime faves: Baron Davis

Carlisle is a great coach and Fizdale is pretty good.  I don't see how Smith is going to be good for any coach when over the last couple of years he's been in the 20's from 3 and the 50's from the line.  That's pretty pathetic.

NYK suck, bad situation for him.
And he got a quick hook on Dallas.

He needs some confidence back imo.

[SHAQATTACK]

Kemba will need a couple months for stem cell treatments to take hold . 

for 6 weeks I expect to see alot of Mr Teague .  Hopefully the rookie guard can play some too.

R this point .... I m NO WHERE desperate enough to drag that offense killing Rozier back on this squad .

[DefenseWinsChamps]

This kinda' sucks, but I'm ok with it. I would hope it would give Tatum and Brown the opportunity to run the offense a lot more. I would also hope it would allow young guys more reps to get confident in their roles.

[RJ87]

This is why I was pushing for a PG at 14.  Thrilled drafted Nesmith, but PG is going to become a major issue if Walker misses extended time.  We might get an extended look at Edwards, Teague, and Pritchard very early unless a magical S+T with Charlotte drops us another PG.

I could see Smith Jr ending up a celtics by time season starts. Just saying. Hayward>Charlotte, Rozier>NYK, TPE and Smith Jr to Boston.


Also there is always the option of the TPE on another PG. Although I think I am starting to believe that PP will be fine there after getting his feet wet.

Is Rozier and upgrade over Smith?  I'm not sure why NYK get involved here.  I would love it, just don't see why they jump in.

Yes he is. I’m not a Rozier fan but he’s a ton better than Smith Jr

I still have faith in Smith. He needs a good coach.

When he was drafted I was pretty high on him as he reminded me of one of my alltime faves: Baron Davis

Carlisle is a great coach and Fizdale is pretty good.  I don't see how Smith is going to be good for any coach when over the last couple of years he's been in the 20's from 3 and the 50's from the line.  That's pretty pathetic.

Carlisle's track record with point guards (Rondo, Darren Collison, and DSJ) is a bit sketchy. He bumped heads with Luka too at the beginning, but Luka is too good for him to mess up.

[Who]

Is it that Kemba will require maintenance (1) this season, or, (2) for the rest of his career?

I am unclear on this.

[Who]

This is why I was pushing for a PG at 14.  Thrilled drafted Nesmith, but PG is going to become a major issue if Walker misses extended time.  We might get an extended look at Edwards, Teague, and Pritchard very early unless a magical S+T with Charlotte drops us another PG.

I could see Smith Jr ending up a celtics by time season starts. Just saying. Hayward>Charlotte, Rozier>NYK, TPE and Smith Jr to Boston.


Also there is always the option of the TPE on another PG. Although I think I am starting to believe that PP will be fine there after getting his feet wet.

Is Rozier and upgrade over Smith?  I'm not sure why NYK get involved here.  I would love it, just don't see why they jump in.

Yes he is. I’m not a Rozier fan but he’s a ton better than Smith Jr

I still have faith in Smith. He needs a good coach.

When he was drafted I was pretty high on him as he reminded me of one of my alltime faves: Baron Davis

Carlisle is a great coach and Fizdale is pretty good.  I don't see how Smith is going to be good for any coach when over the last couple of years he's been in the 20's from 3 and the 50's from the line.  That's pretty pathetic.

Carlisle's track record with point guards (Rondo, Darren Collison, and DSJ) is a bit sketchy. He bumped heads with Luka too at the beginning, but Luka is too good for him to mess up.

Carlisle is controlling. He doesn't do well with PGs who do not want to be controlled by their coach. Carlisle wants to call all the plays and make all the decisions. He doesn't like his PGs freelancing or calling plays that he doesn't want.

Kidd is the only one Carlisle trusted enough to make his own decisions / good decisions for the team. And now Luka Doncic too.

[KGs Knee]

Is it that Kemba will require maintenance (1) this season, or, (2) for the rest of his career?

I am unclear on this.

Arthritis doesn't get better, it only gets worse.  The best you can do is manage it with treatment.  If Kemba's knee is truly arthritic, it's something he'll have to deal with for the rest of his career.

[Tr1boy]

Is it that Kemba will require maintenance (1) this season, or, (2) for the rest of his career?

I am unclear on this.

Arthritis doesn't get better, it only gets worse.  The best you can do is manage it with treatment.  If Kemba's knee is truly arthritic, it's something he'll have to deal with for the rest of his career.

Yes unless he stop playing pro basketball

The less aggravation, the less potential treatment required

If we look at close up as to how he plays. He is stopping,  sprinting around screens,  sudden movements, his trademark of penetrate, stop and pop.   

must be hell on his knees

nevermind the defense he plays.  fighting off bigger guys to prevent inside position


rest him for the 1st half.  Then bring him back and minute restrict/progress slowly.   He played 31 min avg in the regular season last season. And several 40 mins games in the playoffs.   I would cap his mins to 20 mins in the regular season and 25 mins in the playoffs

[tstorey_97]

Looking for clues on Ainge's opinion of Kemba's situation...

He made three draft picks the other night - two point guards

He signed two FA's last week - one was a a point guard

Three for five ain't bad...not a vote of confidence for Kemba though.

[Sketch5]

Looking for clues on Ainge's opinion of Kemba's situation...

He made three draft picks the other night - two point guards

He signed two FA's last week - one was a a point guard

Three for five ain't bad...not a vote of confidence for Kemba though.

I don't know, might read too much into that. One guy is a overseas stash guy, maybe next year if he can add some weight, still really young. Teague is an upgrade over Wannamaker, Smarts not really a PG so needed a vet PG to fill that spot, Pritchard might be a good back up, but with out a summer league we dont know were he's at. Teague also only signed a 1 year deal.

Madar and Pritchard are future prospects, Teague is the main back up who can start. If Smart starts, you need a vet off the bench. I would be surprised if Kemba is moved this year. Unless a really good offer comes in, they might see if they can manage him before moving him next season.

Only a team needed to make a run in the playoffs will make a move for Kemba... Or a dumb team.

[SHAQATTACK]

Is it that Kemba will require maintenance (1) this season, or, (2) for the rest of his career?

I am unclear on this.

as long as he is stressing his knees , he ll have to deal with them , and when he is 65 -70 a round of golf or a beach walk might be his limit . 

There is new and improved treatments being used and tested and SOLD to people with the money to try them.  1500-10.5 K per treatment . Just because the goverment doesn't officially say its so , doe not make it untrue .  Goverment is not the be all know all   of evefything concerning our personal lifes nor should it be.   Pau Gasol  was getting treatments I think over seas maybe 10 years ago .  I believe its what help kept him in the NBA all these years. 

The doing nothing route.  letting time heal is come and gone if he still wants to be an NBA guard . He is going to have to use all the latest and greatest medical break thoughs to stay on the court .

Bostons is stuck with him, so he and the Boston might as well spend the money and travel the world to get the most advanced medical,proceedures. 

[Phantom255x]

Lovely. Kemba was basically Iron Man most of his career, only missing like 6 games total in the final 4 years with Charlotte yet he comes here and misses a good chunk of time and now has this long term knee issue it seems... 

[Tr1boy]

" ... Kemba was determined to play all 82 games in the season before this, and he did. That was not a good idea. It was a pride thing to him. In the long haul, that doesn't make sense.

"There were definitely times when (Hornets coach) Steve Clifford would say to Kemba, 'Look, you need to tell us when you're not feeling right and that knee is bothering you, and let us be party to the decision about whether you should sit down for a game or two.' "

Sounds like Kemba is stubborn

He needs to look at what happened to IT4.... and over exertion

[Vermont Green]

If we keep Kemba and take on Rozier in a S+T, then we need to trade Theis or Langford, because otherwise the signing of Thompson for the full MLE becomes illegal (around $3M over the tax line, dependent on Teague's exact contract).

This is probably true but not all contracts and potential non-guaranteed contracts are settled, as you say.  Rozier is $19M.  The space to what will be a hard cap will be in the range of $15M to $20M based on all the opinions I have seen so your estimate is probably just about right.  At best, taking back Rozier would mean we can't use any of the remaining TPEs until next season.

I think we have to ride out Kemba and save the TPEs for now.  None of us know how bad this is, maybe even the doctors don't know for sure.  But based on how Kemba looked in the playoffs, there is plenty of reason to be concerned.  I would not panic though and take on Rozier at this point.   Let's get into the season and see what we have and then use the TPEs in due course to address what emerges as our biggest need (or to take advantage of an opportunity that may present itself).