The Boston Celtics sign Sam Cassell
The Celtics have signed 38-year old point guard Sam Cassell for the remainder of the season. Cassell will provide the Celtics with backup minutes at point guard behind Rajon Rondo. This move will help the Celtics big time as Cassell has always been “money” in the playoffs hitting big shot after big shot. He played in 38 games (33 starts) for the Clippers this season and he averaged 25.7 minutes, 12.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. Cassell hit 45.5% of his shots from the floor so far this season and he also has nailed 89.1% of his free throws which shows he hasn’t lost his shooting touch. Cassell has now played in 976 games (689 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 30.2 minutes, 15.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He has shot 45.4% from the floor, 33% from three point range and 86.1% from the free throw line over his career. This is the kind of move you make when the NBA Championship is your only goal and the Celtics haven’t had those kind of aspirations since the days of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and Dennis Johnson.
I think the Cassell trade will work out for the Celts. It’s always good to have a veteran leader in the locker room and with Cassell itching for another championship, I’m sure he’ll be the kind of player Boston wants him to be–an unselfish teacher that will mold Rondo into a premier point guard in the league.
From a fantasy perspective–since that’s my job–I don’t think a Cassell pickup is warranted since his minutes won’t exactly be huge backing up Rondo. I expect him to dish out 4-5 assists and score around 6-8 points per game in around 18 minutes or so for the Celtics the rest of this year.
To those that think he will ruin the team’s chemistry, I don’t buy it. I think Cassell has matured during his long tenure in the NBA, and like Damon Stoudamire, just wants to fit in on a team hopeful of winning a championship.
Farid
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