Gorman On Toucher & Rich: Who Is In The Celtics' Plans For Future?
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Celtics have just 13 games remaining on the schedule, and with the fourth-worst record in the NBA, are basically trying to figure out which players will be part of the franchise's future.
But the Celtics' brass is confident that the rebuild won't take very long, and owner Wyc Grousbeck recently told The Boston Globe that he expects there to be some "fireworks" in the off-season:
"I've got confidence that with all these picks and these young guys and our willingness to spend money that we can get there. We're a patient group. We will take a multiyear plan if that's what it takes. But I think this June there could be some fireworks. I think this June we've got so many pieces to this puzzle that we might be able to shake loose a real piece or two for this team going forward. So, I'm hoping it's sooner rather than later."
CSNNE's Celtics play-by-play man Mike Gorman joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher and Rich on Wednesday, and is prepared for what could be a very interesting summer for Boston's basketball team.
"I think they'll be active," said Gorman. "The trade deadline is a bit of a joke; teams shop people to determine their value and then don't trade them, sit on them for a couple months and then try to trade them around the draft. I would think the Celtics would be very active around the draft; when you have the record they have you can't have a bunch of guys where you say 'he's untouchable and he's untouchable.'"
If the season ended today and the ping pong balls fall as they should (which they never do), the Celtics would have the fourth pick in June's draft.
"Fourth gets you a guy who can potentially come in and play for you right away. Combine that with maybe some sort of trade and they can change the look of this team pretty quickly," said Gorman. "It's all going to come down to the bounce of those foolish ping-pong balls, so if they can get somewhere in the top four you're talking about a player who can come in and play for you right away."
As for players on the team that are part of Boston's long-term plan, that is still to be determined. Danny Ainge has said numerous times that Rajon Rondo is part of the future, but Gorman offered up another player he would like to see stick around.
"I would like to think Kris Humphries is part of the long-term plan. He's played exceptionally well for a long period of time here, and I can tell you from being around the team he's a good solid guy," said Gorman. "He just comes to work and does his job, doesn't make a big deal if he doesn't play or get upset. He plays hard when he does play, and he plays exceptionally well."
Humphries, who is averaging 8.5 points and 6.2 rebounds in just over 20 minutes per game, will be a free agent this summer and is currently making $12-million.
"He's not going to make the money he is making right now, but if he's willing to settle for maybe half of that Kris could be part of the long-term plan," he said. "He's been accepted here in Boston. People here don't get up about all that Kardashian stuff, and I think Kris appreciates that. Fans like the way he plays because he plays hard. He doesn't demand to be a starter at this point in his career. The Celtics are over-weighed at the four, and he may be one of the leaders to come out of that pack."
Gorman also chats about Phil Jackson's new gig with the Knicks, LeBron James and an unlikely return to Cleveland, and how he prepares for a game broadcast:
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