Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
With Marquis Daniels (bruised spinal cord) looking more and more like he'll be lost for the rest of the season, the Celtics are looking long and hard for a backup small forward to Paul Pierce.
One of the players Boston is reportedly pursuing is Houston's Shane Battier.
It makes sense for the Celtics to inquire about Battier, who is in the final year of a contract that pays him $7.35 million this season.
However, a league source confirmed to CSNNE.com Monday night that a deal involving Battier coming to Boston will not happen.
Far too often, trade rumors tend to omit two necessary factors that are in always in play with trades.
The team initiating the trade has to 1) see a player they want to acquire, and 2) put together a package that's enticing enough to the other team.
CSNNE – Celtics, Rockets deal for Battier not happening
There are few things that can get me off the couch in the middle of a Jersey Shore episode, but a Shane Battier-to-Boston trade rumor is one of them.
Shortly after reports of the rumor surfaced, Chris Mannix and Sherrod Blakely doused the flames.
I'm guessing Houston dished the information to ESPN to catch the attention of other interested teams. The Celtics just don't have the assets. I believe there's another team out there that can offer Houston a better package.
Related links: Globe – Celtics on the lookout | Herald – Quis' status stirs trade winds |
Editor's Warning: I advise all readers to ignore this Bleacher Report story which claims the deal could be done this morning. Bleacher Report has ZERO credibility.
On Page 2, updates on Shaq and Delonte West.
Coach Doc Rivers ruled his hobbled big man out for tonight’s game against the Warriors, and said he would be surprised if Shaq plays in any of the games on this four-city road trip, which also includes stops in Denver, Los Angeles against the Clippers, and Utah against a team for the first time in 23 years coached by someone other than Jerry Sloan.
“It takes time; just a healing issue,” Rivers said of O’Neal’s recovery from a sore right Achilles’ tendon. “He’s feeling a lot better. He’s moving better. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him right when we come off this trip. I would be surprised to see him while we’re on this trip.”
…
He (Delonte West) went into last night’s practice at a downtown athletic club hoping to last without any further complications.
Last week’s setback occurred when West strained the wrist after taking the ball off his fingertips.
“We’re going to see today,” he said. “It was the first tweak that I experienced, even after a practice or two. It was the ball, but I didn’t realize how weak it was.
“You have to keep working with it, and hopefully it gets stronger as time goes on. (We’ll) see where I am today and go from there.”
Herald – Doc planning to keep Shaq off the court
So… no Shaq and Delonte is a maybe. The Celtics shouldn't need either to beat Golden State.
The rest of the links:
Globe – Green still have way to go | Warriors thumbnails | Evaluating Celtics at All-Star break | ESPN Boston – 1st half top 5 wins | Party's over: Back to business | CSNNE – Celtics look to break bad streak by the Bay | Herald – Making the 18th green |
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