Cheick Diallo......

[lantinm]

Seems like he would be a smart depth signing with Rob out over the next 4-6 weeks.  I know some have mentioned his name here before (so I'm not being original here), but he does a lot of the same things Rob does.  He's got a fantastic motor, rim-runs, blocks shots, cleans the glass, is a lob-threat, and has a few basic post-moves. He makes a lot more sense than Juwan Morgan does, imho.  Thoughts?

[lantinm]

https://youtu.be/bYZ3Nftcs5I

[liam]

Seems like he would be a smart depth signing with Rob out over the next 4-6 weeks.  I know some have mentioned his name here before (so I'm not being original here), but he does a lot of the same things Rob does.  He's got a fantastic motor, rim-runs, blocks shots, cleans the glass, is a lob-threat, and has a few basic post-moves. He makes a lot more sense than Juwan Morgan does, imho.  Thoughts?

He seems to move slowly...

[lantinm]

You think so?  I've been watching him since his  Kansas days and while he's added some bulk, he still seems like he can get up and down the floor pretty quickly.  Granted, he's not the athlete Rob is, but he's got a great wingspan and he really gets after it on both ends. 

[Celtics2021]

While no poster here can know the reason, here are some possible reasons, ordered in what I think are the strongest to least strong:

1) The Celtics front office thinks Morgan is a better player and/or doesn’t like Diallo in general.  For all the raving that occasionally pops up about Diallo on these forums, it should say something that he’s been with the Detroit G-league team all year, and Detroit, a tanking team that’s looking cheap talent to add going forward, brought in Diallo for a Covid 10-day and then let him go, and no other team has shown interest.

2) Morgan was with the Celtics in training camp and has been with Portland all year (save for a brief Covid 10-day of his own at one point), and thus knows the Celtics system better.  If you’re pressing a player into emergency service, the player who knows where to go on the court is likely to better than the play who doesn’t, even if that other player is marginally better (which, again, he may not be, but we can concede the point for this particular supposition).

3) Perhaps Morgan was immediately available whereas Diallo was not.  Morgan signed a 10-day contract (not a rest-of-season deal) as the Celtics knew they were about to be down four starters for a game in under 24 hours.  They needed a body, knew they could get Morgan to Toronto in time, so the Celtics just went that direction instead of getting ahold of Diallo’s agent, waiting for Chieck to make a decision, etc.  Sometimes you just need a body immediately, and Morgan was the best of those bodies that were immediately available.

4) The Celtics have now signed multiple players from Portland and as well as their training camp to NBA deals.  Perhaps this is a conscious decision for the future to help entice players to join their camp and/or G-League team, because they can point to it as a reasonable way to get to the NBA later in the season if it doesn’t work out in October.  Most players of training camp invite quality have more than one offer, and they’re going to pick the one that gives them the best chance to get to the NBA.


I think 1 & 2 are the most probable reasons, but 3 & 4 could have been contributing factors.

[lantinm]

You make some sound points and it could just be that PBS and Co aren't fans of Diallo's game.  Diallo and Morgan are very different players and I was at least thinking that his game was very similar to Rob's.  Morgan likes to sit out on the perimeter and is definitely more offensive-minded. 

[liam]

You think so?  I've been watching him since his  Kansas days and while he's added some bulk, he still seems like he can get up and down the floor pretty quickly.  Granted, he's not the athlete Rob is, but he's got a great wingspan and he really gets after it on both ends.

Maybe he just seems slow compared to Al and TIMELORD. I wouldn't mind giving him a shot but it's up to Ime playing him or not.

[Vermont Green]

Diallo is an interesting option.  He has scored nearly 1,000 NBA points in over 2,000 NBA minutes.  He has a track record.  Juwan Morgan has 76 pts in 300 NBA minutes.

As Celtics2021 said, maybe it is just logistically more practical to bring in Morgan for now while they sort this out.  I am not that worried about it.  Any of these guys are behind even Kornet so whether it is Morgan or Diallo, it probably makes no difference.   Kornet is not going to play except garbage time likely, much less the G-Leaguer that is behind him on the depth chart.

[gouki88]

Is Cody Zeller still available? It seems crazy to me that he doesn't have a home. He's probably not interested in coming here, but I always thought he was at least a Theis-level big man.

[todd_days_41]

I’ve been carrying on about Diallo here for years. I’d love to see the Cs sign him, and I believe he’s surprise people.

[liam]

I’ve been carrying on about Diallo here for years. I’d love to see the Cs sign him, and I believe he’s surprise people.

He'd sit on the bench and we'd forget he was even there.

[ozgod]

I’ve been carrying on about Diallo here for years. I’d love to see the Cs sign him, and I believe he’s surprise people.

He'd sit on the bench and we'd forget he was even there.

With Ime's philosophy and his circle of trust, there would be a better chance of pigs flying over the Charles than some random guy getting signed to replace Timelord. That would only happen if probably 3 other players got injured and it became a necessity. Ime doesn't give minutes to deep bench players unless he really needs to (e.g. vs Toronto with 4 starters out), I just don't see any reason why he would do so to some guy they signed off the street who had no idea about the team's scheme or it's identity or style of play. Unless it was someone who was a clear and obvious fit, or had played here before, or who is good enough (i.e. top 10-15 caliber) that represented a clear upgrade over the people we have now. And if there was such a person they would have been signed sooner, so they could be integrated sooner. So that suggests to me that person isn't there, or if so he's sitting on the bench already, to be used in a dire emergency.

Ime has 9 people that he trusts enough to play the game the way he wants it played...he spent the first half of the season figuring out who those players were and anyone who didn't fit the bill is no longer here. I think he will roll with those 9 players, even if 1 or 2 get injured, and the results will either vindicate his approach or illustrate his folly.