Lasme, Wafer, ...or neither?

[Jeff]

something occurred to me as I started seeing reports of players cut from other teams

the Celtics could certainly pick Wafer or Lasme and call it an offseason - but there's another option out there - to pick up another player that was recently cut from another team

maybe someone has too many small forwards and can't keep a decent player on their squad (or at least an upgrade on Lasme)

I guess it would largely depend on who was out there to pick up

and of course there's the None of the Above option to run with an open roster spot and fill it later - though that might not be a great option with West missing 10 games and Perkins out half a season

food for thought anyway

[Roy H.]

It will be interesting to see if anybody decent hits the waiver wire.  I don't anybody fantastic will be let go, but you never know.

In terms of the question raised in the thread title, I'd be curious to know when Wafer's contract becomes fully guaranteed.  If it's not until December / January, I think it's a no-brainer that you take Wafer, to give the team coverage while Delonte and Bradley are hurt.  If it becomes guaranteed with the first regular season game, it becomes a tougher call, but I'd lean toward Wafer (but wouldn't fault the team for carrying Lasme).

[jarufu]

So, say I'm a sinister NBA GM and I know that the Celtics are a bit light at the SF position .. why don't I use the new D-League rules to hoard a few players in my affiliate that I guess they might like a look at? 

Or is my understanding of the new "stash the last three cut from camp" rule flawed?

[Fafnir]

So, say I'm a sinister NBA GM and I know that the Celtics are a bit light at the SF position .. why don't I use the new D-League rules to hoard a few players in my affiliate that I guess they might like a look at?  

Or is my understanding of the new "stash the last three cut from camp" rule flawed?

Your understanding is flawed, the new rule allows for an NBA team to specify that the last three cut from their roster play for their D-League affliate. That is to say they don't enter the D-League draft. If anyone wants to sign them to a NBA contract they are free to. They also can go play in another league if they'd like.

Some D-League players are NBA players who've been sent down, but most are on D-League only contracts and may be signed by any team if they want to.

[hardlyyardley]

D-league clause is like NFL practice squad in that any team can sign those players

Would not bet that either Lasme or Wafer is on the team come March

[Who]

Von Wafer is a very talented player to be at the end of a roster. I doubt the Celtics find anyone better than him by looking at other team's scrap heaps.

[Who]

Best player waived so far -- Javaris Crittenton.

[jarufu]

Gotcha ..

[Fafnir]

Von Wafer is a very talented player to be at the end of a roster. I doubt the Celtics find anyone better than him by looking at other team's scrap heaps.

Tiny Gallon is apparently getting a look now too...

[ssspence]

Could the Bucks be forced to cut a wing? By my count they have 17-18 guys currently.

[greenpride32]

I really like the energy Lasme brings, and would rather have him than Harangody.  But Luke has a guaranteed contract so we know how that works out.

Wafer looked lost initially, but he's really coming along now.  Saw him at the Celtics practice tonight and he was very impressive.

I think Wafer gets the nod over Lasme out of necessity.  D-West is out for the fist 10 games and Bradley is clearly not ready for the NBA.

[Celtics18]

I really like the energy Lasme brings, and would rather have him than Harangody.  But Luke has a guaranteed contract so we know how that works out.

Wafer looked lost initially, but he's really coming along now.  Saw him at the Celtics practice tonight and he was very impressive.

I think Wafer gets the nod over Lasme out of necessity.  D-West is out for the fist 10 games and Bradley is clearly not ready for the NBA.

I haven't seen any evidence that Avery is "clearly not ready for the NBA."  He has seen very limited minutes in the preseason due to an ankle injury, but from what I saw, his defense looks like it could live up to the hype. 

If he's fully healthy by the start of the regular season, I could see him getting minutes in Delonte's absence.

[snively]

I really like the energy Lasme brings, and would rather have him than Harangody.  But Luke has a guaranteed contract so we know how that works out.

Wafer looked lost initially, but he's really coming along now.  Saw him at the Celtics practice tonight and he was very impressive.

I think Wafer gets the nod over Lasme out of necessity.  D-West is out for the fist 10 games and Bradley is clearly not ready for the NBA.

I haven't seen any evidence that Avery is "clearly not ready for the NBA."  He has seen very limited minutes in the preseason due to an ankle injury, but from what I saw, his defense looks like it could live up to the hype. 

If he's fully healthy by the start of the regular season, I could see him getting minutes in Delonte's absence.

Don't think so.  He's very young, coming off a nagging injury, and hasn't had anytime to get comfortable playing at the NBA level.  He could look very bad thrown into action so quickly.

I think the play of Daniels at the 3 in the preseason, Bradley's lingering injury, Delonte's suspension + back troubles, and the recent signs of life in Wafer's jumper make a pretty compelling case for Vakeaton over Lasme, Gallon and any other options. 

I'm not crazy about the Nate + Wafer backcourt (Nate is better with a good ballhandler and passer beside him), but with Shaq likely on the floor and Daniels available, we need shooters.

[billysan]

I'm not crazy about the Nate + Wafer backcourt (Nate is better with a good ballhandler and passer beside him), but with Shaq likely on the floor and Daniels available, we need shooters.

I am not enamored of that backcourt either. I do however believe that there are two other points worth noting. 1) There are shooters on that second unit, and several players capable of being go to guys. The obvious shooters are Baby and Nate, if we dont count Wafer who could be in a pure spot up role. You also have to consider either Shaq or JO as go to guys who will get points or at least draw fouls. 2) Until and even after Delonte West is healthy enough to contribute, I think we see Pierce, Ray or Rondo overlapping with the second unit regularly.

I think the ability to score in the post that we will have with Shaq alone will be more valuable than shooters. This is not even counting the sudden shooting skill shown by Marquis Daniels. Plenty of scorers and shooters on our second unit as I see it.

As to the OP question, I like the suggestion you made on the front page Jeff. I think if Lasme is willing to go to the D league as one of our cuts early and we can keep Wafer through the 10 day Delonte suspension, we do it. This gives Danny and Doc an extra 10 days to evalute if they need it.

Of course, if a 'plum' falls off of someone else's roster then we can grab him. This is not as unlikely a scenario as some may think. We have in effect 2 non-guaranteed contracts in Delonte and Lasme/Wafer to cast off or even trade. This could still land us a decent player if a team would rather trade for them (to cut) than to 'eat' a slighty bigger guaranteed deal to get their roster down to 15.

[Who]

The Delonte West suspension is a non-issue. The Celtics do not need to play a 10 man rotation. They can play a nine man rotation just fine while Delonte is suspended with Nate, Marquis, BBD and Shaq/Jermaine coming off the bench.

They do not need Von Wafer or Bradley to fill those minutes.