Lester Hudson is a keeper

[Jon]

I know I'm coming extremely late into this conversation, but are we really going to have these posts every year every time a player under 25 shows any sign of being a good player for 5 minutes of a summer league or preseason game? 

Haven't we learned our lessons on the Kedrick Browns and Gerald Greens of the world? 

[clover]

I know I'm coming extremely late into this conversation, but are we really going to have these posts every year every time a player under 25 shows any sign of being a good player for 5 minutes of a summer league or preseason game? 

Haven't we learned our lessons on the Kedrick Browns and Gerald Greens of the world? 

Hudson is almost the anti-Kedrick and Gerald.  He's got skills, he's put up the numbers elsewhere, he's got a basketball mind, and he's not basically a pogo stick: long with hops.

[Jon]

I know I'm coming extremely late into this conversation, but are we really going to have these posts every year every time a player under 25 shows any sign of being a good player for 5 minutes of a summer league or preseason game? 

Haven't we learned our lessons on the Kedrick Browns and Gerald Greens of the world? 

 

Hudson is almost the anti-Kedrick and Gerald.  He's got skills, he's put up the numbers elsewhere, he's got a basketball mind, and he's not basically a pogo stick: long with hops.

OK, how about the next Brandon Hunter or J.R. Bremer, players that showed flashes on the C's for a bit, but then faded into a oblivion. 

I'm not saying he's not going to make it.  I'm just saying it's way too early to say anything yet.  Furthermore, I'm saying that if an experienced PG becomes available, DA shouldn't hesitate for a second to cut Hudson: a guy with an upside to be a backup PG 2-3 years from now isn't worth developing on a team with a 2-3 year championship window.

[billysan]

I know I'm coming extremely late into this conversation, but are we really going to have these posts every year every time a player under 25 shows any sign of being a good player for 5 minutes of a summer league or preseason game? 

Haven't we learned our lessons on the Kedrick Browns and Gerald Greens of the world? 

I guess since we didnt have a first round pick we only have Lester Hudson, JR Giddens and Bill Walker to talk about as far as young guys that may have a shot at hanging around.

I like the fact that he (Hudson) has worked hard to get through school, improve as a player, and continues to work hard in camp. This guy has a little fire in his belly IMO. That, with his apparent talent may find him a place in this league, I would love to see it be as a solid role player on our team.

I wish the same for JR Giddens and Bill Walker. I have wished the same for Tony Allen and other youngsters no longer with our team up to a point. When I stop seeing effort, good attitude or forward progress, I think it is time to re-evaluate whether they should stay with the team.

I am at that point with Tony Allen and reaching it with JR Giddens. They are blurring the line a little between asset and liability for me, whereas Bill Walker and Lester Hudson are still moving forward as assets.

[clover]

I know I'm coming extremely late into this conversation, but are we really going to have these posts every year every time a player under 25 shows any sign of being a good player for 5 minutes of a summer league or preseason game? 

Haven't we learned our lessons on the Kedrick Browns and Gerald Greens of the world? 

I guess since we didnt have a first round pick we only have Lester Hudson, JR Giddens and Bill Walker to talk about as far as young guys that may have a shot at hanging around.

I like the fact that he (Hudson) has worked hard to get through school, improve as a player, and continues to work hard in camp. This guy has a little fire in his belly IMO. That, with his apparent talent may find him a place in this league, I would love to see it be as a solid role player on our team.

I wish the same for JR Giddens and Bill Walker. I have wished the same for Tony Allen and other youngsters no longer with our team up to a point. When I stop seeing effort, good attitude or forward progress, I think it is time to re-evaluate whether they should stay with the team.

I am at that point with Tony Allen and reaching it with JR Giddens. They are blurring the line a little between asset and liability for me, whereas Bill Walker and Lester Hudson are still moving forward as assets.

Walker and Hudson are smarter basketball players than TA and JR.

[billysan]

Walker and Hudson are smarter basketball players than TA and JR.

Exactly right, and it shows every time they get on the court.

[Jon]

I know I'm coming extremely late into this conversation, but are we really going to have these posts every year every time a player under 25 shows any sign of being a good player for 5 minutes of a summer league or preseason game? 

Haven't we learned our lessons on the Kedrick Browns and Gerald Greens of the world? 

I guess since we didnt have a first round pick we only have Lester Hudson, JR Giddens and Bill Walker to talk about as far as young guys that may have a shot at hanging around.

I like the fact that he (Hudson) has worked hard to get through school, improve as a player, and continues to work hard in camp. This guy has a little fire in his belly IMO. That, with his apparent talent may find him a place in this league, I would love to see it be as a solid role player on our team.

I wish the same for JR Giddens and Bill Walker. I have wished the same for Tony Allen and other youngsters no longer with our team up to a point. When I stop seeing effort, good attitude or forward progress, I think it is time to re-evaluate whether they should stay with the team.

I am at that point with Tony Allen and reaching it with JR Giddens. They are blurring the line a little between asset and liability for me, whereas Bill Walker and Lester Hudson are still moving forward as assets.

Walker and Hudson are smarter basketball players than TA and JR.

Maybe.  Doesn't really mean anything, though.  I agree that Hudson is looking good right now; however, to say this guy is a keeper after two preseason games is just plain crazy. 

[clover]

Sure it means something.  And sure it's too early to tell about Hudson. 

But for a guy whose biggest knock was that he hadn't played against a high-enough level of competition in college to come in and look like he belongs on arguably the best and deepest team in the NBA is noteworthy.  Also noteworthy is that Doc and Danny aren't talking him up like crazy--they aren't pumping imagined value as a favor to an agent or a hoped-for trade.

[the_Bird]

Sure it means something.  And sure it's too early to tell about Hudson. 

But for a guy whose biggest knock was that he hadn't played against a high-enough level of competition in college to come in and look like he belongs on arguably the best and deepest team in the NBA is noteworthy.  Also noteworthy is that Doc and Danny aren't talking him up like crazy--they aren't pumping imagined value as a favor to an agent or a hoped-for trade.

Exactly right.  We know Hudson had skills against a lower level of competition, the fact that he doesn't look out of place against NBA talent (even second- and third-stringers) is encouraging.

[jayk009]

the reason I say he is a keeper is not based on logic nor is it rational especially after 2 games. But when you see a player you can usually see if they have "it", and Lester Hudson looks like he has it. He has already exceeded expectations of a late second rounder by actually making the team, the rest is a bonus.  

[the_Bird]

Well, he hasn't made the team YET.  The latest that I saw was that his contract had SOME guarantees, but it was not fully guaranteed.  He would still be the man to go if they needed a roster spot (to facilitate a trade, for example).

[Jon]

Sure it means something.  And sure it's too early to tell about Hudson. 

But for a guy whose biggest knock was that he hadn't played against a high-enough level of competition in college to come in and look like he belongs on arguably the best and deepest team in the NBA is noteworthy.  Also noteworthy is that Doc and Danny aren't talking him up like crazy--they aren't pumping imagined value as a favor to an agent or a hoped-for trade.

Exactly right.  We know Hudson had skills against a lower level of competition, the fact that he doesn't look out of place against NBA talent (even second- and third-stringers) is encouraging.

It's still the preseason, which means guys aren't necessarily going full speed and that he isn't necessarily playing against guys who are going to make or play on NBA teams.  Furthermore, like we've seen often happen on very good teams, good teammates can make average players look good.  

I think my bigger issue is that I just don't care.  Unless there's a ton of injuries, he likely won't spend a day on the active roster this year.  If he does become part of the C's rotation, it likely won't be for 2-3 more years.  By that point, the Big Three will be on their way out.  Is it really worth holding a roster spot for our potential backup combo guard 3 years from now?  Wouldn't it just be easier to cut him, get a vet PG who might actually be useful this year, and sign a backup combo guard 3 years from now when we actually need one?  It's not exactly like they are hard to come by.  

Now of course if we make a trade down the road and free up some roster spots, I have no aversion to him being there.  I just don't get the excitement about a player who has the upside to be Eddie House three years from now.  If we need a player with Eddie House's skill set three year's from now, such a player will be available on the free agent market for cheap.  

[clover]

I believe his ceiling is higher and his time is sooner, so maybe that's why I care more.

[Jon]

I believe his ceiling is higher and his time is sooner, so maybe that's why I care more.

Well, I certainly hope you're right. 

In many ways, this is bigger than Hudson for me.  I'd be fine with them cutting Giddens or even Walker too.  My feeling is that the C's roster needs to be comprised of players who can contribute now or players who can be a big part of their future down the road (meaning, starters).  I don't see a point in us developing Giddens, Walker, or Hudson if it's simply to be a bench player on a post-Big Three version of the Celtics. 

Simply put, bench players are fairly easy to come by.  There's no point in clogging up useful roster spots for something we can get on the free agent market three years from now. 

Furthermore, even if Hudson, Walker, or Giddens become decent players (think Marquis Daniels good), are we really going to resign them to long term contracts?  Keep in mind, a big part of Danny Ainge's plan is likely going to include clearing cap space in 2012 or 2013 to sign some big stars to put next to Rondo and Perkins.  So are we going to develop these guys for 2-3 years just to renounce them when they come up for a new contract? 

Again, if any of them can prove to be a star, I'm all for it.  Furthermore, if Ainge is just keeping them around until he sees a free agent he likes, and then cutting one of them, I'm all for it too.  I just don't foresee a ton of use for any of the young "potential" players on this team. 

[clover]

I think Danny's already demonstrated the value in developing trade-able assets, even if it's from late 2nd rounders and they're traded away rather than kept.

But I think Danny's also demonstrated how he values the defensive-minded among young players.  Just think if your Eddie replacement were a shooter/scorer who played top-tier D, could bring the ball up against anyone and competently run the team while he was in there.

Still, I think there's a role for Lester here by spring '10.