Celtics in need of assistance
Rivers's status may give prospects pause
If Doc Rivers adds another assistant coach to his staff as a replacement for either Tony Brown (Milwaukee Bucks) or Dave Wohl (Celtics' front office), he will have worked with eight assistants during his Boston tenure. For perspective, that is twice as many assistants as wins without Paul Pierce last season.
Rivers started with six assistants: Brown, Wohl, Jim Brewer, Kevin Eastman, Armond Hill, and Paul Pressey. He likely will have a four-member staff next season: Eastman, Hill, Clifford Ray, and an assistant to be named later.
Although executive director of basketball operations/general manager Danny Ainge looks for consistency from players and continuity within the organization, those standards apparently do not apply to the coaching staff. It is not unusual for assistants to move on to better jobs/situations. But it does raise eyebrows when a head coach signs a one-year extension, then loses two longtime assistants -- after Rivers was hired in April 2004, Wohl was the first assistant he hired and Brown the second.
"It is pretty obvious throughout the league that it's not a comfortable situation for an assistant coach," said a league source. "It's a one-year deal. Experienced guys throughout the league would question whether they would want to come there."
Publicly, Ainge, Rivers, and Wohl follow the party line about the changes. Ainge said he wanted Wohl and his vast NBA experience in the front office. Rivers dismissed any notion that losing Brown and Wohl would create difficulties for him or the team. Wohl said he looked forward to new scouting and executive duties while still working out players during the offseason.
"We've just redistributed [former GM] Chris [Wallace]'s responsibilities amongst our staff with the help of Dave," said Ainge. "Dave has great experience. I asked Dave to [make the move] and Dave likes that. I think he looks forward to this as part of the business."
When it was mentioned that he was losing a key figure on the bench with Wohl moving to the front office, Rivers added: "Dave's role really won't change a lot as far as for me. I basically bounce ideas off of Dave more after the game than during the game. That doesn't bother me a whole bunch, the change in coaches. I'm a big believer if my coach can get a better job, even if he doesn't want to go, I might kick him out of the door."
At the moment, however, the job description for Wohl could continue to evolve. He doesn't even have an official title.
Rivers may feel Wohl's absence most acutely on postgame bus and plane rides, where the pair usually discussed strategy or devised game plans. But with the Celtics posting the second-worst record in the NBA last season, shuffling assistant coaches was one of the only ways to shake up the basketball operation without leaving the impression of an organization full of inadequacies.
"When Danny and I talked, he kind of painted some broad strokes and I think a lot of it will get fleshed out as we go along," said Wohl, who served as executive vice president of basketball operations for the Miami Heat from 1995-97. "But what I'm going to do is be a liaison for kind of the NBA side of things, help Danny on that side.
"I'll do some scouting. I'll make some trips with the team. I'll also pick up some of the college scouting, some of the Euro scouting. A lot of it will be talking about trades and cap things and ideas. I'll also work with [basketball operations analyst] Mike Zarren on some of the technological things we're trying to do that helps our team assess information. As we go along, we'll see what areas I can do more in and what areas we've already got covered pretty well."
Wohl also commented that he left the bench confident in the abilities of Eastman, Hill, and Ray, and expects the Celtics will add an equally capable assistant in the near future. But whoever joins the staff will be entering an uncertain situation. Despite receiving an extension earlier this summer and public praise from members of the organization, Rivers would be naive to think next season was anything but a make-or-break campaign.
Memphis enters Darko age
As soon as Chris Wallace became the Memphis Grizzlies' general manager June 18, he decamped for Beale Street and barbecued ribs posthaste. Keeping a quick pace, Wallace made the first bold move of his Memphis tenure late last week when he signed Darko Milicic to a three-year deal worth about $21 million. Yes, the same Milicic who sulked on the bench for two-plus seasons in Detroit, then showed signs of realizing his potential last season with the Orlando Magic.
"Darko is someone who is very talented if you talk to anybody exposed to him in Detroit or Orlando," said Wallace. "They will to a man admit they were very impressed with his talent. He has good footwork and mobility for his size. He's put on strength and weight. He's an adept passer. He can shoot from the perimeter. He's got the whole package and he's only 22 years old.
"We're in the upside business. In the type of situation we're in, we could catch lightning in a bottle. Not only do we have Darko to address current needs, but develop his potential and maybe we really get back a tremendous return on this acquisition."
When not negotiating with a 7-foot, former No. 2 overall pick, Wallace was busy watching the Memphis entry at the Summer League in Las Vegas, perhaps plotting his next move.
"Free agency is more need-driven than the draft," said Wallace. "Going into the draft, we needed three things: an upgrade at point guard, a big body to add to the front court, and improved outside shooting."
Noting that Milicic addressed the Grizzlies' front-court needs, Wallace continued: "You're up against different competition in the Western Conference. If you're going to be a team that at some point contends in the West, you're going to have to get lucky at some point along the way. Darko has some things to improve upon, don't get me wrong. He's a little like Jermaine O'Neal. [While he didn't play a lot for the Pistons], he practiced against very good players in Detroit and was exposed to a great team and organization in Detroit.
"Now, it's time for him to make a stand and realize his potential. We have the perfect place for that. [Coach] Marc Iavaroni's system and ability to teach big men is going to be huge for Darko."
Ratliff takes a charitable detour on his long road back
Wondering where Theo Ratliff is as he rehabilitates following back surgery? The answer is far, far away.
Ratliff journeyed to Nairobi to participate this week in a charitable mission on behalf of the NBA Players Association. Ratliff joined several other players, including Derek Fisher, Etan Thomas, Ron Artest, and Maurice Evans, to help distribute meals in and around the Kenyan capital to more than one million residents.
The fact that Ratliff could make the nearly daylong plane trip says a lot about the condition of his back, as do recent shootarounds. According to Danny Ainge, Ratliff could be on the court for Boston next season. If that is the case, the Celtics will have addressed the need for another veteran and a defensive presence inside without making a move.
"I know that he has been working out," said Ainge. "All the reports that I have are that Theo is doing very well in recovery. I talked with Theo and he's excited about the upcoming year and he feels good about his health . . . The surgery should not prevent him from coming back and being 100 percent."
Ratliff felt good about his health heading into last season, too. But back pain forced the center to miss all but two games. In those early-November contests, Ratliff made his presence known on defense.
If Ratliff remains with the Celtics, they will continue to receive insurance money until he can play again. The same rules apply to any team that would take Ratliff in a trade. The decision to play technically rests with Ratliff.
Still, the insurance angle, combined with the fact that Ratliff has one year worth $11.7 million remaining on his contract, makes the center appealing to teams around the league.
Etc.
Staff additions possible
The Celtics are looking at several candidates for assistant coach, as well as entertaining the possibility of establishing a "grad assistant" position or two. Director of player development Mike Crotty and Darren Erman, an assistant coach at Brandeis and a familiar face at the Celtics' practice facility, could assume coaching-related duties next season. "They would be more than just grad assistants where they're on the floor helping out, doing drills, chasing balls down," said coach Doc Rivers. "Right now, the coaches are doing that and while they're doing that, they're missing some stuff that's on the floor. My opinion is this way we can observe practices better, take better notes than be out there banging with the Leon Powes of the world. That ain't the smartest thing for us, anyway." When asked if Tom Thibodeau could fill the assistant vacancy, Rivers said the Salem State alum was not a serious candidate at the moment because he was reportedly headed to the Washington Wizards. "I thought he was going that way, and I kind of went another way," said Rivers. "But that could resurface."
Mulling a deal with Warriors?
First, a quick disclaimer: Wander around Cox Pavilion at the Las Vegas Summer League long enough and you'll see Danny Ainge chatting up just about every NBA general manager. But an interesting pairing that might mean something: Ainge and Golden State Warriors executive VP of basketball operations Chris Mullin standing in a corner partially obscured by the stands. Could Ainge and Mullin have been talking about Warriors guard Sarunas Jasikevicius? Almost as soon as Jasikevicius arrived in a mid-January trade with Al Harrington, Stephen Jackson, and Josh Powell, the Warriors have been hoping to find a new home for the Lithuanian, who starred with Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv before joining the NBA. Jasikevicius was coveted by none other than Larry Bird, which could peak the interest of Ainge as he looks for a veteran point guard.
Toy story
Speaking of Bird, new Celtic Brandon Wallace has a personal connection to Larry Legend. When college recruiters came to Wallace's home to lure older brother Brian, 6-year-old Brandon would dress up as a basketball player. Then, Brandon would drag a toy hoop into the room where the college coach was making his pitch. Brandon proceeded to show the coach his offensive repertoire, making all kinds of baskets. The kicker? It was a Larry Bird hoop.
"I started collecting the pieces by myself and I was just housing them at my home," said Webber. "I've shown [the pieces] to enough friends and family to where they encouraged me to put it out there and show people. I'm happy I've done it because I think it really inspires kids to think outside their environment and their financial means."
In an effort to further assist kids, Webber will host the second C-Webb's Bada Bling
"Every year, it's painful not to achieve a goal when the goal is a championship," said Webber. "Every year I take the summer to recoup and gather my thoughts and see where I am."
When asked if Detroit had a shot at a title next season, Webber added: "Definitely. We have the talent and experience, and leadership in Joe Dumars. We'll definitely be contenders. It's going to be interesting to see [how the East shapes up]. We're going to have to wait and see what happens with [Kevin Garnett] or Shawn [ Marion] or whoever comes over. I know it's going to be better basketball if the talent is dispersed evenly in both conferences."
Shira Springer can be reached at springer@globe.com. 