Six Celtics alums saw their draft position shift up or down the order they were actually taken in all those years ago.
Once again, Frank Urbina and Raul Barrigon of our sister site Hoops Hype have another re-draft, this time around of the 2010 NBA draft. And as has been the case in each of their prior endeavors to, as they put it, reorder the draft the “way it should have been,” there have been a number of Boston Celtics on the move in their revaluation of the draft class from that year.
In fact, a total of six Celtics alums saw their draft position shift up or down the order they were actually taken in all those years ago in a relatively thin cohort when it came to star power.
Let’s dive into which former Celtics were re-drafted where.
Our sister site HoopsHype scouted the entire NBA, and this is what they think of the Celtics. https://t.co/sTOa3lFvN7
They will help fill the gaps COVID-19 has left in the frontcourt.
The Boston Celtics are reportedly signing a pair of big men to 10-day hardship exemption deals to help their dinged-up frontcourt rotation after seeing Al Horford,Enes Kanter Freedom, Grant Williams, and Jabari Parker all ended up in the NBA’s health and safety protocols with positive COVID-19 tests in the last week, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The players in question are 11-season NBA veteran forward Al-Farouq Aminu and center Norvel Pelle. Pelle has been trying to work his way back into the Association from the G League after his most recent stint in the NBA with the New York Knicks last season, while Aminu most recently played for the Chicago Bulls in 2020-21.
Neither is likely to be a game changer for the Celtics in terms of their impact on either end of the court, but with eight players total currently in the health and safety protocols, Boston needs size with a pulse at the moment — and a little more veteran leadership certainly can’t hurt the young team either.
The Boston Celtics are planning to sign 11-year NBA veteran Al-Farouq Aminu and G League center Norvel Pelle to 10-day hardship deals, sources tell @TheAthletic@Stadium. With eight players in COVID-19 protocols, two big men en route to join the Celtics.
The NBA has approved the format for a 22-team return to action at the ESPN Wide World of Sport in Florida. But there are still concerns.
The NBA has approved the format for a 22-team return to action at the ESPN Wide World of Sport in Florida. But there are still concerns.
Of course, preventing the spread of coronavirus amidst a global pandemic is a prominent focus of these conversations. There are still tons of questions to be answered about how the league will account for social distancing while on the campus as well as who will be allowed in and out of the bubble.
However, among the issues players have been discussing before a potential return is attention shifting from systemic racism to who did what in the game last night, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Dan Woike noted this as well, explaining implications of a potential return (via LA Times):
“According to multiple players, agents and executives, the belief is that the season is not in serious peril – not yet, at least. But fueled by several concerns, perhaps most prominently that a return to play would serve as a distraction from the Black Lives Matter movement and steps toward racial equality and police reform, there are players considering the possibility of not returning when the season reconvenes.”
Meanwhile, Woj added that players have already lost around $300 million in salary and canceling the remainder of the season would forfeit an additional 25 percent, potentially raising that up to $1.2 billion in lost salary, which was echoed by ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Reports have indicated that the NBPA determined that if a player does not want to play then they can sit out without financial loss so long as they have excused the absence with their team.
With so much at stake, it is no surprise to learn that there was a Zoom call with around 50 players on June 7 to discuss the season restart, per Taylor Rooks.
WHAT WAS THE MOST RECENT CALL ABOUT?
One call, which was led by Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, was organized for Friday evening.
Most reporting suggests that even though Irving said he was against going to Orlando, he would “ultimately stand with the group” on their decision. This is aligned with reporting from Wojnarowski (via ESPN):
“Several players who have participated in these recent calls and conversations told ESPN that they’re still leaning toward playing in Orlando but want to keep listening and talking about a number of the factors that concern them.”
Yahoo’s Chris Haynes reported that the call elapsed somewhere around an hour and 40 minutes. Rooks added that one hour of the call was focused on social justice reform.
WHO WAS ON THE MOST RECENT CALL?
Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck estimated nearly 200 players were expected on the Friday evening call.
Charania reported that the actual figure was closer to 80 players, Haynes estimated there were “80-plus” players and Woj thinks the total was “nearly 100 players” on Friday night.
According to Charania, the following players dialed in on Friday (via The Athletic):
Chris Paul (Oklahoma City Thunder), Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets), Carmelo Anthony (Portland Trail Blazers), Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz), Malcolm Brogdon (Indiana Pacers), CJ McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Justin Holiday (Indiana Pacers), Rudy Gay (San Antonio Spurs), Spencer Dinwiddie (Brooklyn Nets), Harrison Barnes (Sacramento Kings), Al-Farouq Aminu (Orlando Magic), Tobias Harris (Philadelphia 76ers), Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors), Mike Conley (Utah Jazz), Zach Collins (Portland Trail Blazers), Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers).
Marc Stein added that 2017 NBA MVP Russell Westbrook was among the more prominent voices to speak out.
Los Angeles Lakers wing Danny Green, who is the player rep for the team, told USA TODAY’s Mark Medina that he tried to get on the call but was unable to join.
Woj spoke to one play who joined, who summarized a bit of what he heard (via ESPN):
“He’s trying to give players a platform to be able to have a discussion – on the bubble, racial equality and unity … It’s a good call.”
According to Charania, the second person to speak after Irving on the call was Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley. He was “vocal throughout” and urged players to take a stand.
McCollum reportedly urged his peers to remember that there may be a severe “financial dip” if they do not play and that owners could potentially rip up the collective bargaining agreement, which could lead to a lockout next season.
Some of the players who spoke about potentially not playing, per Charania, were Dwight Howard (Los Angeles Lakers), Mitchell and Anthony. Howard feared that playing would be a “distraction” from productive conversations that the country is currently having.
However, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that LeBron James does not feel that playing would “deter his ability” to inspire change.
Mitchell reportedly feared that NBA players would be “behind the 8-ball” if they were forced to jump back into such a competitive environment after not playing five-on-five basketball due to quarantine. Mitchell tested positive for coronavirus on March 12, 2020. He is reportedly worried about potentially injuring himself and missing an opportunity to sign a max contract extension.
According to Haynes, both Mitchell and Orlando Magic big Mo Bamba are “intimidated to voice an opinion” if it was not the same as the superstars. But this inspired Anthony to call upon the younger voices throughout the call.
As a showing of unity, which seemed to be the primary focus and takeaway, Anthony reportedly suggested that each player on the call donate $25,000 to charity.
Mitchell (as well as other top talents up for contract extensions including Jayson Tatum, De’Aaron Fox, Kyle Kuzma and Bam Adebayo) are now seeking league-financed insurance policies in case of injury, per Woj.
HoopsHype made an effort to reach out to several folks who may have been on the call. One player told HoopsHype that the players all agreed not to talk to the media.
When asked by HoopsHype if they thought the recent conversations will ultimately shut the season down, all prominent agents that spoke believed that the NBA will be back as planned.
Ultimately, the mood seems to be that cooler heads will prevail and the season will resume. There are simply too many financial barriers to jump over as a consequence if it does not.
HoopsHype’s Alex Kennedy contributed reporting to this article
The Orlando Magic will reportedly be without two of their more important players when the NBA gets rolling in Disney.
Even though they’ll be without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving when the 2019-20 NBA season resumes down in Disney, the Brooklyn Nets are still in a good position to make the 2020 NBA Playoffs. But there’s still work to be done on their end with eight games remaining on the schedule and the potential for a play-in game for the final spot in each conference now on the table.
When play came to a halt, the Nets held a half-game lead over the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference and a six-game lead over the No. 9 Washington Wizards — the only team from the East who will travel to Disney that has not secured a playoff spot.
Whether it be the Wizards, Magic or even the Nets that are in the ninth spot by the time the season concludes, that team must be within four games of the No. 8 team in order to force a play-in round.
The Wizards have to do a lot right in order to move to the No. 7 spot — and a lot has to go wrong for the Nets and Magic, too. But cutting the gap to secure a play-in is very much possible.
For the Nets, they’ll be without their two best players. But Brooklyn survived without Durant all season, and Irving only played in 20 games in 2019-20.
The Magic have had to weather some injuries throughout the season, as well. And they’ll still be without two key pieces when play resumes, according to Ron Parry of the Orlando Sentinel.
Jonathan Isaac suffered a left knee injury back in January and Al-Farouq Aminu had surgery to repair the torn meniscus in his right knee the same month. Parry is reporting both will “most likely will not be healthy enough to return.”
If teams wind up facing the next eight opponents on their original schedules — of the 22 that will be in Orlando — the Nets will face the Magic twice. Those games could play a huge role in Brooklyn’s spot in the standings. With Isaac and Aminu out, the Nets should have an easier time in those contests — while Orlando has to find a way to continue to thrive without those two players.
Al-Farouq Aminu talks about joining the Magic, leaving the Blazers, adjusting to a new team, being a top high school recruit and much more.
After making the playoffs last season, the Orlando Magic added Al-Farouq Aminu on a three-year deal in hopes that he could push them over the edge. The 29-year-old is a versatile forward who can defend multiple positions, and he’s coming off a Western Conference Finals run with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Aminu is still getting acclimated in Orlando, but he’s providing veteran leadership to the Magic’s young core and contributing to the team’s excellent defense, which ranks fourth-best in the league (as they’re allowing just 99.4 points per 100 possessions). HoopsHype caught up with Aminu to talk about joining the Magic, leaving the Blazers after four years, adjusting to a new team, being one of the top high school recruits in the country and more.
What was your free-agency process like and why did you decide to join the Orlando Magic?
Al-Farouq Aminu: I like that they’re a young team and I thought that I could bring some veteran leadership to them. Also, they went to the playoffs last year, so I knew they had a good team. I like their style of play and different things like that. I’m glad I made that decision.
How is the adjustment process going? I know when you join a new team, you have to get used to a new team, new system, new coaches, new city and so on. What’s that transition been like?
AFA: Like you said, it’s a lot of new things coming at you. But that’s why we’re professionals; we have to figure out the different ways that people play and the different schemes – all of the different ways that we’re going to attack with this team. Also, you’re adjusting in your home life. You’re getting settled in and moving all of your furniture and things like that. It’s a big adjustment, but it’s coming along smoothly.
You’ve changed teams several times throughout your career. In your experience, how long does it take everyone to get acclimated?
AFA: It just depends, man. It’s so different from team to team because of the schedule, the preseason being even shorter now and things like that. It matters who you’re playing too. It’s a mixture of things, so I think it really varies. Sometimes, it takes people a while. Sometimes, it just clicks early. It’s a number of things that have to happen for the personnel to click. But we’re starting to find our stride a bit.
Since arriving in Orlando, what’s been your first impression of the team and the city?
AFA: Aw man, it’s been so great. It’s a big change from Portland because now I’m in a sunny state. I’m wearing shorts today! It’s kind of surreal to still be wearing shorts at this time of year. It’s been really nice, man. It’s a nice change of pace, for sure. There’s a really cool energy around this team. We have a lot of great guys. From top to bottom, everyone has a really great attitude, so that makes you enjoy coming in to work. It’s nice. All of the guys are great. They’ve exceeded my expectations, for sure.
You mentioned that you were attracted to this team because of the young core (Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon, Mo Bamba, Markelle Fultz, etc.). Do you get excited when you think about what this team could become?
AFA: Yeah, for sure. I really wanted to play a part in molding them. In a couple of years, when these guys are in their prime and doing their thing, it’ll be cool to be able to say that I put my touch on that. That’ll be cool. I was talking to them the other day and I told them, “Ya’ll are going to make a lot of money! Ya’ll play the right way, ya’ll are young and the league is just changing. Guys are getting paid.” I like to play around with them (laughs). But if they keep playing the same way that they’re playing now, they should be able to do okay for themselves.
I was impressed with the strong culture that you guys created in Portland; it was built around working really hard, trusting each other and having an us-against-the-world mentality. How is the culture in Orlando and what can you do to contribute to it?
AFA: They brought back a lot of the same team, so they’ve already kind of started it. My job is just to come in and add on to it, to build upon what they already have in place. I don’t feel like there’s any need to switch up their whole culture or anything. I think they’re heading in the right direction, so I’m just trying to add a couple things that I’ve picked up over the years from being a vet, having some success and winning.
I remember one day JI (Jonathan Isaac) was like, “Man, are you always the last one to leave?” He thought it was funny. I told him, “I like to stay and take my time when I’m at the facility. I have to get in all of my treatments and things like that. This is the only thing that we have to do. You don’t need to be rushing home.” There are little things like that, I think, that add to the culture. But these are guys who are already hitting their stride; it’d be different if they were rookies, but these are guys who get it. And they’ve had good vets like DJ [Augustin] and some of the older guys on the team who kind brought things together. I just feel like I can add another element.
Last year, you went to the Western Conference Finals with the Portland Trail Blazers. What was that like and did you take away any things that you can pass on to your new teammates in Orlando?
AFA: It was fun to do. You’re obviously trying to win the grand prize, but every experience like that helps you eventually get there. I think it was a really cool experience. You start to learn what it takes to win in the playoffs. There are things that work in the regular season and then, over the years, you learn what works and what doesn’t work in the playoffs.
Like I was saying about staying in the facility late, I remember I used to always think to myself, “Wow, these guys are playing all the way into July?!” It was hard for me to wrap my mind around that. But you start to understand what you need to do in order to prepare your body to go through that. Sometimes, you only understand what it takes to get through 82 games. Well, you have to learn what it takes to get through another 20-to-25 games. You have to win another 16 games, so you learn how to prepare your body for that and then do it. You have to do more than what you normally do and that’s something you learn from experiencing it. They understand that here because I’m always preaching that. Sometimes, you have to take your own lumps and go through it yourself though.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
You were with the Blazers for four years and you had a lot of success there. And I know you were close with some of the players there. Was it tough to leave Portland this past summer?
AFA: Kinda sorta. It was [tough] because I’m leaving the guys I was playing with, but a lot of the guys ended up leaving anyway, so it was kind of like, “Well, nobody is there.” Not “nobody,” but you know what I mean. The gang’s not even there anymore anyway, so it wouldn’t have been the same even if I had stayed. It would’ve been weird had I stayed. It’s not the organization, it’s the people that you get to work with every day that you end up [getting close with]. For a couple of months, you see these guys and talk to these guys even more than your family. They shape you and you’re growing with each other. Then, the next thing you know, they may not be there. Sometimes, it’s just one person; like, I remember the first time it was Ed [Davis]. Me and him came into Portland together and we became really cool. Then, after three years, he was gone and that was tough. Then, I started becoming really cool with Moe [Harkless] and Evan [Turner] and now they’re gone, so it’s like man… It’s kind of already tough to make friends in this industry anyway and then guys move on. And you still get to talk to them and stay close, but it’s different. But I think that’s why it isn’t as traumatic because those guys are in different places anyway, so the gang is gone.
Guys like Quentin Richardson and DeShawn Stevenson have told me that they were really frustrated when the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks’ front offices broke those teams up because they felt like they still had some great years left in them. Do you feel like this team could’ve done some special things had the Blazers’ front office kept guys like Ed, Moe, Evan and yourself a bit longer?
AFA: We did special things!
I know, but did you guys want to stay together longer? I guess that’s what I’m asking.
AFA: Did we want to stay together longer? Yeah, always! I mean, when you’re already having success and you already like the people, it seems like a win-win. You might as well ride it until the wheels fall off! It doesn’t seem like there’s a need to break it up unless everybody is just losing too much money or something like that, then you kind of understand. Then, in a sense, the players break it up. But I didn’t feel like that was the case. It was more so broken up just because. But I’ve seen a lot of teams get broken up so it’s not really that surprising.
I recently interviewed Jonathan Isaac and he was talking about how this Magic team takes pride in their defense and that the goal is to have one of the NBA’s top defenses. Right now, you guys are ranked fourth in the league. Is that a goal that you guys discuss as a team and do you think this team can get to No. 1?
AFA: Every day, man. We discuss it every day. We want to be a Top-5 defensive team, if not No. 1. I think it’s definitely something that this team has the ability to do and we just have to continue to click together and understand where we need to be in order to do it. I think the more and more we play together and get that cohesiveness, the better we’ll become on defense. And out of the gate, we’re already talented on defense. Now, it’s just getting that continuity and that will take us over the top.
You mentioned that you want to be one of the veteran leaders in Orlando. When you were younger, who were some of the veterans who helped you the most?
AFA: I didn’t really have what I think of as veteran leadership until I got to Dallas. Then, when I got to Dallas, it was Jameer Nelson for a little bit, but then he got traded. I was able to look at what Dirk Nowitzki was doing every day. I watched what Monta Ellis did every day. Then, later in the year, Rajon Rondo came as well as Amare Stoudemire. All of those guys were great.
During your sophomore season, the Los Angeles Clippers traded you to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the blockbuster Chris Paul trade. Did going through that teach you about the business side of the NBA at a young age? And what are some things you learned from that experience?
AFA: Yeah. Even during that first year, I started to learn about the business of the NBA and what it all means. But then in my second year, that’s when I’m like, “Wow, this is really a business.” Even before my trade, I was seeing the business side a lot because that was the lockout year too. With everything that went down, my first two years were like a business course in a sense. It kind of just opened my eyes to what the NBA really is. I appreciated it, though. In the long run, that probably helped me out and prevented me from being so naïve to the business side of this game. Sometimes, that can happen to players. But there’s no way around it; you’re going to experience the business side of the NBA at some point. I’m glad it happened to me early.
What has it been like adjusting to Steve Clifford? He’s done a great job of getting the most out of Nikola Vucevic and helping the defense. What’s it been like playing for him and his staff?
AFA: He has a very high basketball IQ and, like you said, he really understands defenses – he’s very good at that. He pushes us to be a really good defensive team, which is really cool. I’ve been with an offensive team for a while, so it’s kind of cool that the defensive end is being highlighted. It’s just a different pace. I’m enjoying it, for sure.
You were one of the top high-school recruits in the country back in 2008. I’m really interested in that. Do you think you had to mature quicker than your peers because you had so much on the line and you were under the microscope?
AFA: Yeah, of course, man. It’s like being a childhood star, you know what I mean? I remember when I transferred to my high school as a sophomore, I was coming into this school as the new kid and I thought nobody would know me and I could just try to fit in where I fit in. I remember kids being like, “Ohh, you’re Al-Farouq Aminu! We’re going to be so good this year!” They knew my stats from AAU and all of that. And this is while I’m in high school! I didn’t get to just be a regular kid and blend in. Sometimes, you just want to be able run to the store and just do regular stuff. You can’t just do what everybody else does.
But then again, when I was growing up, I always wanted everyone to think I was good at basketball. It’s like a double-edged sword. You don’t realize what that will end up being. You want to be a top prospect, but then everybody ends up knowing who you are. And a lot of people like basketball. At first, I just wanted everyone in my neighborhood to be like, “Wow, he’s really, really good!” Then, my neighborhood became the U.S., became the world.
I don’t think people realize the sacrifices that top recruits have to make too. Your friends may be partying on the weekends, but when all eyes are on you like that, you have to carry yourself differently. You’re also working extremely hard so that you can make it to the next level.
AFA: Yeah, man. I don’t think a lot of people understand. The sacrifices start early too. Now, I’m looking at my little cousin who plays football, he’s a quarterback, and he’s already making those same sacrifices at a really young age. You have to do those things if you want to succeed, though. I remember being in the gym really late and my friends would be like, “Yo, are you coming?” They’d go hang out in the neighborhood or play video games, but I’d have to be like, “Nah, I have work to do.” But my financial situation growing up wasn’t the greatest either, so it’s kind of like I just started [working] earlier than most people do.
I think Jalen Ramsey said, “You live like nobody else, so that you can live like nobody else later.” The beauty of it is that I had to mature quicker, but then when I’m like 35 years old, I’ll be able to live a life that most other 35-year-olds can’t live. It’s the long game. I’m not mad how it turned out for me… It’s a trade off.
