Celtics have interest in Austin Rivers?

[LilRip]

don't want him. I don't think he holds any value, whether contract-wise or on the court. The only time i'd be open to getting him is if we have no takers for our TPE this coming July and the Pelicans throw in a 2nd rounder or two.

[knuckleballer]

If there has have ever been a guy who should have stayed in college, it's Austin Rivers.  He did not have the skills and maybe even the talent for the NBA, but he was a good college player and would have been an excellent college player had he stayed four years.  He did not need the money as most guys do since his family is wealthy.  He could have stayed in college and been the leader of Duke basketball.  With him, Duke would have been a title contender this past season and probably next year too.  He could have earned a degree and cemented his legacy at Duke. 

Instead, he might be out of the NBA soon without a degree.  How a son of an esteemed NBA coach could be so unprepared for the NBA while going pro after one year of college is beyond me.

[Future Celtics Owner]

Remember when he was ranked #1 in the class.

[azzenfrost]

Nope.

[Clench123]

Remember when he was ranked #1 in the class.

Must have been a joke of class

[manl_lui]

No thank you.  He's just not a good player.

Agreed. He wasn't even impressive at the collegiate level. I'm quite shocked he was a lottery pick, to be honest. Your name can get you so far.

I remember he was hyped up in HS, meh in Duke, then super meh in the NBA..therefore I rather say no...

and it's not like he didn't get a chance with the Pelicans, he just never showed up...only a few times

[Rakulp]

I saw nothing from him at Duke that made me want to put him in Celtic green...don't believe much has changed.

There is a part of me that wishes the NBA could have a rule that said only college graduates could play in the league...no, not trying to restrict their way of living as much as trying to protect the future of all those players who will be out of the league less than three years later.

It can't be done, I know, but for their sake, I just wish it could be done.  Doubt Austin will have to flip burgers in the future, but a lot worse has happened to a lot of former NBA players.

Rak

[Celtics4ever]

Coaches' sons usually are smart players who can shoot.   But I recall Doc as more of an effort guy, who could run a team.  He was a competent shooter, smart player and worked on both ends.   I wonder if Austin isn't going to have to evolve his game.   Every level you go up the ladder in sports more people have the same gifts.   High school, you can get by on Skill, or Athletic ability or Size.  But only the guys who have several of them play at the next level.  At the NBA, they either have one or two of them at absurd levels or they have all of them.

Being ranked #1 is nice in a class and an accomplishment but at the next level it is just a target on your back.

[aingeforthree]

He's 21. Let the kid hit puberty before you call it a career on him.

Keep the development going. Ainge, Stevens, & a change of scenery could do wonders for him. Wait til he's 31 before counting him out. Especially a gym rat like Rivers.

Buying low, & adding a kid who's only 21 ? No brainer move. You take a shot all day long.

[Sketch5]

If a deal that take on Wallace's contract can be done....YEP!

[pearljammer10]

No thank you.  He's just not a good player.

Agreed. He wasn't even impressive at the collegiate level. I'm quite shocked he was a lottery pick, to be honest. Your name can get you so far.

I don't get why we've been somewhat linked to him the past couple years. I get it if doc wanted his son to play for him. But either way he's just not very good.

[Smitty77]

I saw nothing from him at Duke that made me want to put him in Celtic green...don't believe much has changed.

There is a part of me that wishes the NBA could have a rule that said only college graduates could play in the league...no, not trying to restrict their way of living as much as trying to protect the future of all those players who will be out of the league less than three years later.

It can't be done, I know, but for their sake, I just wish it could be done.  Doubt Austin will have to flip burgers in the future, but a lot worse has happened to a lot of former NBA players.

Rak

Wow, so many here are being so very hard on Austin!! He had an 11.60 Efficiency Rating and averaged almost 8 points in slightly over 19 minutes to go along with 2.3 assists and almost 2 rebounds and almost 1 steal.  He also had better than a 2 to 1 assist to turnover ratio, which is very good for a guard.  Austin is only due 2.44 million this coming year.

The great Avery Bradley that people seem so willing to give 7-9 million per year had a 12.8 Efficiency Rating last year.  Avery also averaged less assists in more time and averaged more turnovers than assists.  Bradley did have better shooting percentages across the board.

Why in the world would we NOT be interested in him, other than his last name and his dad??

Smitty77

[nacceltic]

Why not...I don't know what he'll end up as, but I don't think he's a Fab Melo type project, which the C's invested a 1st round pick on. It all comes down to the price and if it's a simple "we want to clear space" move for them, then I doubt DA would have to give much to make it happen.

Are you telling me that two 2nd rounders aren't worth a shot on a 21-year old kid who does have talent? Maybe not nearly as much as he was hyped to have, but there are still workable parts there.

[Celtics4ever]

Why not...

Note his shooting percentage.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6617/austin-rivers

That is why not.   Like I said, coaches sons usually can shoot, there are exceptions.  Even his FT is a shaky 60%.

[Birdman]

he is only 21 and played behind Holiday..now im also not a big fan of his but if C's trade Rondo to someone, wouldn't mind having Smart and Rivers as 2 PGs