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Player profile: Sam Cassell

Email|Link|Comments (7) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff October 17, 2008 02:13 PM

This is the fourth in a series of profiles for all 16 players on the current Celtics roster. We'll profile at least one player each day leading up to the season opener.

Sam Cassell

Sam Cassel handled the ball against the Lakers in the 2008 NBA FInals. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff)

Born: Nov. 18, 1969
Height: 6 feet 3 inches ... Weight: 193
College: Florida State
Years pro: 15
Acquired: Signed with Celtics in May, 2008
2008/2009 salary: $1.26 million
Signed through: This season (guaranteed contract)
Last year's numbers: 7.6 ppg, 2.1 apg, 1.8 rpg in 17 games with Boston.

Strengths: Experience. Cassell knows the game, having played with 8 teams in his 15-year career. He won two championships with the Houston Rockets in 1995-96 and picked up his third title with the Celtics last season. Cassell also possesses a strong jump shot for a point guard, developing a reputation as someone opponents cannot leave open from deep.

Weaknesses:It's no secret the 38-year-old is a step slower than he once was (Doc Rivers said this preseason that it's actually several steps). Cassell's age makes him a liability on defense. And while his offense should be his strength, the veteran never grasped Boston's system last season after joining the team right before the playoffs. For all his experience, Cassell was such a liability that he averaged only 10 minutes per game in the Finals against the Lakers, despite the fact that he was the only other true point guard on the Celtics roster.

What to expect: Cassell would be the betting man's choice to be the player cut by the Celtics before the Oct. 27 deadline (he's currently running away with our Boston.com poll). He's got a guaranteed deal and says he wants to play for one more season before becoming an assistant coach, but the Celtics could make that decision for him a year early. When asked if Cassell could be an assistant coach and not a player when the season starts, Rivers said, "I don't know yet. We'll see." If Cassell makes the roster, he could still be used to spell Rajon Rondo in very limited minutes during the season.

Check back tomorrow for another player profile, and give us your expectations for Cassell in our comments section.

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7 comments so far...

You refer to the poll here in this entry, but the Boston poll on who to drop is really bogus, since you did not include Scalabrine in your options. Scalabrine would have gotten over 80% I believe if he had been included. Now you may say that Scalabrine is not available due to Danny Ainge's or Doc River's comment, but they have said the same about Sam Cassell.

RESPONSE FROM GARY DZEN: Good call, Andrew. Scal was meant to be included from the start. We'll see how he does in the poll now. Thanks for the heads up.

Posted by Andrew October 17, 08 04:10 PM

Also regarding the poll; can a select few of these players be sent to the D league? Rookies? Pruit?

Posted by Andrew October 17, 08 09:39 PM

Two different Andrews

Posted by Andrew October 17, 08 09:43 PM

1st choice- Sam I Am joins Doc on the bench and stays ready if needed.

2nd choice- I'd give Scal the edge over Darius Miles. Miles might have more skills physically, but Scal is a pro, and wont get distracted if he spends most of his time on the DL.......whereas Miles wont be happy if he's not a regular contributor (Portland).......I still hope he makes it somewhere so the blazers get jammed with 9 mil on their cap for 2 years.

Posted by oregonsnake October 19, 08 01:24 AM

I can't see the value of a ball hogging streak shooter who plays no defense. The offense stagnates when Cassell is on the floor. I'd cut him ASAP.

Posted by Ken October 25, 08 07:31 AM

Don't sugar coat it, Ken. Tell it like it is!

Posted by unclealfie November 30, 08 01:30 AM

this guy spends more time shopping for a nice suit and tie for the upcoming game then he does playing basketball

Posted by brodyc317 January 22, 09 07:23 PM