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Giddens not at minicamp

Email|Link|Comments (12) Posted by Chris Forsberg, Boston.com Staff July 2, 2008 09:38 PM

The Celtics and first-round draft choice J.R. Giddens were unable to broker a contract before the start of Boston's four-day rookie/free agent minicamp today in Waltham and the 30th overall selection is absent as the two sides hammer out an agreement.

The Globe's Monique Walker writes for tomorrow's editions:

As of yesterday afternoon, first-round pick J.R. Giddens had not signed a contract, and as a result had not participated in minicamp.
"It would be nice if J.R. were here,ТТ said Celtics GM Danny Ainge. ССGabe and [Davis]
are getting a lot out of it. WeТre getting a chance to see a lot of other guys. ItТs not the end of the world, but it would be better if he were here, sure, for him.ТТ

In the meantime, Giddens is working out in Dallas. ССOnce we get his contract signed, J.R. will be excited to be a part of any and all workouts,ТТ said his agent, Aaron Mintz.

Walker also reports that free agent center Chris Andersen arrived in Boston today and will meet with Ainge and the Celtics' staff tomorrow.

As for the players that were in attendance for minicamp, Celtics.com provided the following numerical roster (with contracted players in bold):

11 -- Davis, Glen
13 -- Pruitt, Gabe
60 -- Brown, Bobby
62 -- Cook, Omar
63 -- Shakur, Mustafa
67 -- Mays, James
68 -- Hawkins, David
69 -- Butch, Brian
70 -- Anderson, Alan
71 -- Basden, Eddie
72 -- Gaines, Charles
73 -- Morris, Randolph
74 -- Noel, David
75 -- Roberts, Lawrence
76 -- Pettway, Aaron
79 -- Covile, Ryvon

See the previous entry for a photo gallery from today's minicamp.

In other Celtics news Wednesday, both center Kendrick Perkins and second-round draft choice Bill Walker underwent surgery.

Both players had arthroscopic surgery at New England Baptist Hospital, with Perkins getting work on the left shoulder he aggravated during the NBA Finals and Walker having his right knee repaired after injuring it during a pre-draft workout.

With no contract for Giddens, surgery for Walker, and second-round draft choice Semih Erden returning overseas to play out the final year of his contract with Fenerbahce Ulker (Turkey) of the Euroleague, the Celtics do not have any of their rookies at minicamp.

Assuming they sign rookie contracts, Giddens and Walker are expected to vie for roster spots at training camp in October.

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12 comments so far...

Already a problem with this kid . He should be happy to be drafted with his backround

Posted by lenny abby July 3, 08 12:30 PM

I'm sure this will not do much to erase the concerns about Giddens' attitude problems. I hope KG shakes some sense into this kid when the team gets back together in the fall. Who does he think he is? Beasley went to the Heat's camp and he was the #2 pick in the country. Danny did Giddens a favor by picking him in the first round with Chris Douglas-Roberts still on the board and this is how he (and his agent) repays him? Let's hope this is long forgotten by the time November hits.

Posted by Craig July 3, 08 01:59 PM

Not so fast guys -- this is an agent issue. Not a J.R. Giddens issue. Players do not broker contracts, agents do. I'm sure if the kid could play without a contract he would.

Posted by Darren July 3, 08 06:19 PM

A problem child will always be a problem child. This guy - Giddens is crazy. Maybe he needs to study the Celtics' tradition more.

Posted by Ed Gilman July 4, 08 11:13 AM

I'm not sure about all of the details in this situation -- but many times a player might get bad advice from a greedy agent. (Look at the greedy Scott Boros in baseball.)

Posted by Lloyd I Cadle July 4, 08 03:18 PM

Problems? No way, this kid is showing some smarts here. He's protecfting himself against an injury in camp without a contract. Professional.

Posted by Green18 July 5, 08 01:19 AM

Hope he is good enough to make the team. Working out by yourself is no replacement for being at camp. Success in professional sports is not all about talent. When you are good enough to be drafted everyone you compete with is talented, all this and all that. Bad idea by his agent, bad idea by the player.

Posted by Karnak The Magnificent July 5, 08 10:24 AM

How is he(J.R. Giddens) a problem?
They are just trying to figure out an agreement..
People are already trying to find out the bad in this player..
Get a clue..what does signing his contract have to do with his past?
We dont know the whole story so lets not jump to conclusions.

Posted by Lucky July 5, 08 01:23 PM

re-think Tony Allen

Posted by Mike M July 5, 08 08:49 PM

Darren - The agent works for the player, not the other way around. That's why the player gets the lion's share of the contract he signs. If J.R. wanted to be in camp, he could have been there.

Posted by Craig July 7, 08 05:07 PM

THIS KID IS GOING TO ADD TO THE CELTICS GREATNESS! ONLY A FOOL WOULD GO TO CAMP WITHOUT A CONTRACT SIGNED. HURRY UP AND SIGN THE CONTRACT AND WATCH J.R. BECOME AN ELITE NBA PLAYER.

Posted by BEN HERRERA July 7, 08 06:09 PM

Ben - Elite NBA player? Maybe but not with a 58% free throw percentage, he can score points and is a slasher who goes to the rim. If he can get more consistent with his shooting he might well become a solid player. If not, think Tony Allen or Rafael Addison.

Posted by Karnak The Magnificent July 8, 08 04:30 PM