Dionte Christmas

[bfrombleacher]

'Dionte Christmas appeared to benefit from Rondo's presence more than any other player. Rondo pulled Christmas aside multiple times during Saturday's game, and Christmas came through with one of his best all-around efforts, totaling 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists -- his highest total of the summer.

"In about five minutes I learned so much from him, just by talking to him and him seeing things I didn't see on the floor," Christmas explained afterward. "Me, I never really play the point guard, but he was just telling me some things that I can see coming off, and I think it helped. I had six assists today, and he was just telling me some things to do at the [point guard spot], and it really helped. I can only imagine what a whole season would do playing under Rondo, so that would be great."'[/i]

There might be some exaggeration there but he did get 6 assists in like a quarter or something out of nowhere.

Training camp will determine his fate, not Summer League.

[European NBA fan]

One of the things, that is remarkable about Christmas is his strength. I'm guessing that he is gym rat. Even after playing games for two weeks straight, he just seems to be able to brush off opposing players.

[j804]

neither are NBA players. I will be very disappointed if either make the Celtics

boston needs a SG that will contribute..not a SG that will be the 14th or 15th guy that does nothing. Christmas is that guy...as well as moore. both need to go away

think he is on the team now

Lol

[Rtpas11]

Keep X-Mas only if we don't get Delfino. Even if we do get injury prone Delfino maybe we could still take X-mas. I like his game.

[lightspeed5]

Dionte Christmas appeared to benefit from Rondo's presence more than any other player. Rondo pulled Christmas aside multiple times during Saturday's game, and Christmas came through with one of his best all-around efforts, totaling 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists -- his highest total of the summer.
 
"In about five minutes I learned so much from him, just by talking to him and him seeing things I didn't see on the floor," Christmas explained afterward. "Me, I never really play the point guard, but he was just telling me some things that I can see coming off, and I think it helped. I had six assists today, and he was just telling me some things to do at the [point guard spot], and it really helped. I can only imagine what a whole season would do playing under Rondo, so that would be great."
 

[cb8883]

I'd sign him and send him down to the D-League for playing time...Dooling is the guy for a veteran team this year.

[lightspeed5]

I'd sign him and send him down to the D-League for playing time...Dooling is the guy for a veteran team this year.

dionte played all over europe and has been playing for a little while now. what exactly does he need to develop in the d-league? it would be way more beneficial to be around the team and get a feel for how we play. he doesnt need to develop anything, he has a good all around game.

[Green Hell]

The Celtics and Dionte Christmas have a strong mutual interest, but it appears the club is going to have to come forth with some type of guarantee for this season to get him into training camp this fall.

The 6-5 Christmas has done extremely well for the Celts’ summer league entry, but he’s getting pressure from foreign clubs to take their money.

“Boston is trying to get me to come to training camp and that would be great, but I have offers overseas for like a whole lot of money, so it’s kind of hard to say no to those teams,” Christmas said. “And it’s great teams like Siena and Olympiacos and CSKA. Those are like the top teams in Europe and they’re offering me a lot of money, so of course I’m chasing my dream of playing in the NBA, but it’s going to take some kind of guarantee for me to come to training camp.

“It’d be great to come to Boston. That’s my goal, and I think if I come to training camp I’ll be able to do my thing and hopefully get that roster spot.

“If they guaranteed me for a year (at the $473,604 minimum), that would be a dream come true. But I don’t know how things are with Boston right now. They’re trying to get things together. I know they’re talking with my agent every day, and I just hope things work out.”

They will need to work out soon.

“I’m being patient, but the teams overseas, they’re not so patient,” said Christmas. “They want me to make a decision within a week or so, and I’m just trying my best to stay patient and not think about it so much — just go out and play well and keep trying to impress Danny Ainge and Austin Ainge and the coaches. I’m just trying to stay focused.

“They’re trying their best to work with me, and I appreciate that a lot.”

Said Danny Ainge: “We’re still talking to Dionte. We haven’t been able to work out a deal yet. We’ve tried, and we’ll continue to try.”

Steve Bulpett / Boston Herald
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/20220722stiemsma_cries_t-wolf_cs_stint_likely_over/

[Roy H.]

If he's requiring a fully guaranteed deal to show up in training camp, we may as well just cut him now and give minutes to somebody else.  

I can't blame Christmas for being tempted by the money in Europe.  Right now, though, he's not the type of player we can afford to give a guaranteed deal to.

[ManUp]

I'm not exactly sure of his position is he a shooting guard or a big point?

He has a tough decision, but if I were him and push came to shove I'd probably go with the guaranteed money.

[arambone]

Yeah, good for Dionte. Playing top level Euroleague for twice the money and three times the playing time sounds like more of a dream to me.

[the_Bird]

... and if he plays well, he'll remain on the radar of NBA teams in the future.  He's played will this summer, and it seems like he's gotten better since leaving college.  If he has a good year in Europe, I'm sure he'll be able to get an invite to somebody's Summer League team next season.  Signing in Europe doesn't destroy his NBA dreams, and going to Boston without a guarantee...   he'd probably be a 50/50 shot to win a job, especially with the depth we've developed at the SG spot.

[SHAQATTACK]

he's worked hark on his game, he deserves a shot and hope he makes somebodies team even if it is not this years Celtics team.

[mctyson]

If he's requiring a fully guaranteed deal to show up in training camp, we may as well just cut him now and give minutes to somebody else.  

I can't blame Christmas for being tempted by the money in Europe.  Right now, though, he's not the type of player we can afford to give a guaranteed deal to.

I agree.  I like him, but Kris Josephs isn't guaranteed either, he is better, and we drafted him.

I hope they can work something out that gets him to camp, but if not, XMas has acquitted himself very nicely.

Side note:  I can't be happier that basketball has grown so much internationally that these guys actually have lucrative, competitive offers to play professionally.  Good for them.

[European NBA fan]

I'm not exactly sure of his position is he a shooting guard or a big point?

He has a tough decision, but if I were him and push came to shove I'd probably go with the guaranteed money.

He has been used as a pure scorer in college and in Europe but has some pg potential.