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Celtics, Ainge looking at Portland guard Rudy Fernandez
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By Julian Benbow
August 26, 2010
Boston, MA — One roster spot is still available, and everyone from Danny Ainge to Doc Rivers to back-seat general manager Paul Pierce has said that the Celtics need another piece — specifically, a shooter.
With reports circling about interest in fiery if disgruntled Portland guard Rudy Fernandez, Ainge acknowledged that he was pursuing trade options, though he wasn’t sure a deal would fall in place.
“We’re just continuing to explore available players and trade possibilities and see what sort of options are there,’’ said the Celtics president. “There are some trade discussions that we’re having. I don’t know the likelihood of those happening, but we’ll continue to not rush into something unless it’s something that we’re really excited about.’’
The Knicks and Bulls also are thought to have interest in Fernandez, who by going most of the summer without talking to Trail Blazers management has made it clear that he does not want to return to Portland.
Fernandez’s agent, Andy Miller, said the 25-year-old Spaniard was prepared to go back to his homeland and sit out the final two years of his contract.
The NBA even fined Fernandez $25,000 for comments “detrimental to the league.’’
With a $1.25 million salary, Fernandez would be a bargain. He averaged 10.5 points and shot 40 percent from 3-point range as a rookie two years ago, but his playing time fell off last season, and with Portland’s recent addition of Wesley Matthews, the backcourt is getting crowded.
Fernandez sees the writing on the wall.
With the additions of Shaquille O’Neal and Jermaine O’Neal, the Celtics bolstered their frontcourt. But they lost a key piece in the backcourt when Tony Allen signed a three-year, $9.5 million deal with the Grizzlies.
With that hole still unfilled, Pierce recently joked, “Who’s going to guard me in practice?’’
Journeyman free agent Larry Hughes has also popped up on the Celtics’ radar. He has played for four teams in the past four seasons.
As Ainge weighs his options, he and Rivers are also deciding where to hold training camp. The past two years, it has been at Salve Regina in Newport, R.I., but Pierce has talked to Ainge about going farther away to help develop chemistry, especially with so many new personalities.
Before the 2007-08 championship season, the Celtics held camp in Rome, allowing Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Pierce to jell. It was there the team came up with its “Ubuntu’’ mantra.
Ainge is considering Pierce’s suggestion.
“We haven’t made a confirmation on that yet,’’ Ainge said. “We’re looking into the different possibilities, and Doc and I are discussing where we want to have training camp, what’s best for our team.
“I think he has a point. I’m not so sure that that’s the only way to bond together as a team, but I certainly understand where he’s coming from. There’s always a lot of factors in training camp, and we certainly try to do what’s best.’’
• NBA News Archive Index:
2010, 2009
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