Word yo, I want to get this money then blow
Take my time, blast a nine, if
you front, you go
Sip beers, the German ones, hand my guns to sons
Coney Island,
and Queensbridge - we robbin ya'll for fun
Indeed, the word around the internet is that Sebastian "Bassy" Telfair is available, soon to be officially cut from the Celtics. Where to start?
Let me start from the beginning, at the top of the list
KnowhatI'mean? Have a
situation like this
First off, KnickerBlogger wants to know "is he worth it" for the Knicks to sign? Let's take a stab at answering it: Sure. He's 21 years old, won't cost much (maybe a one-year deal), and has potential.
Do they need him? Well, not really - the Knicks have no shortage of guards. However, if you consider Francis and probably Robinson as likely to be shipped off, well... you are down to an aging Marbury, Crawford (recovering from a major ankle injury), and Collins. So Telfair does fit a need, even as a 10-18 minute 4th guard. Is he better than Robinson and Francis? Yes, no doubt.
Despite his run-in with the law, he is a hard worker and is generally regarded as a good kid. He rushed to the NBA because he needed to get the money to his family (he's from the Coney Island projects, like Marbury), and that is partially why his potential as not been fulfilled yet - he never gave his game a chance to develop.
Has Shaun Livingston's potential been fulfilled yet? If he was available (and healthy), would you want him on your team?
Some people commented that Telfair is a "Marbury in training" - that's clearly ignorant. While they have similar backgrounds (they are "cousins"), Marbury's game was always way more NBA-ready than Telfair. Telfair, like Livingston, is all about smoothness, court vision and potential. Shaun and Bassy are very similiar (far more so than Marbury), the main difference between the two being Livingston is more than 6 inches taller. Yes, Livingston has a higher ceiling than Telfair, but in the end they are both what they are - unproven young guards with loads of talent and potential.
Hold up and analyze the wildcats slang cracks
they swing an axe, the new
routines, be my eyes black's
If you are willing to trade a proven stud for Livingston (as most teams were at the trading deadline), why would you be scared off by Telfair? His legal problems are minor, and by all indications he is a good kid.
playin corners glancin all up in your cornea
Corner ya, seen cats snatch
monies up on ya
Another interesting tidbit regarding Telfair: Shoals posted this interest piece about how Telfair's lawyer seemed to indicate that the Celtics asked Sebastian to not help the police investigating the shooting of rapper Fabulous that occurred around the same time Telfair was robbed of a $50,000 gold chain. Odd.
Indeed, most of Sebastian's "troubled" history is minor incidents involving guns - he was suspended two games in February 2006 for carrying a handgun registered to his girlfriend.
But like his lawyer said about Telfair to the Boston Globe: "He doesn't do drugs. He doesn't smoke. He takes good care of his family. He's never been involved in any of those deals with beating girlfriends or causing trouble in nightclubs. He is not a guy who embarrasses you. He's a nice young guy."
Coney Island metropolis, the Bridge brings apocalypse
And speaking of beating girlfriends... Ron Artest. The Kings are almost certainly shopping him, so he can be had for free. The violatile Artest wants to play in NY. The only problem we see is the rumor that Isiah dislikes him, going back to their time together in Indy.
But Artest plus Telfair plus Marbury? That means the Knicks could lock down the Coney Island-Queensbridge project population in the NBA. Do you know how much that excites a true head like me?!?
Life is a gamble, we scramble for moneyI might crack a smile but ain't a damn thing funny
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6 Comments
Comments
I was just gonna mention that trade until i saw you posted it. Maybe Danny Ainge started the Celtics tank job in the 06 Draft.
I think Telfair would be a real good signing for the Knicks. They need someone who isnt looking for his shot, and Telfair, like Livingston, is a facilitating point guard. The need someone who looks to pass before they shoot.
Guys, I live in Boston and have watched Telfair play all season. While I agree that he's definitely worth picking up as a low cost free agent, he is not in the same statosphere as Shaun Livingston, and he is clearly not better than either Francis or Robinson.
He is one of the worst defenders I have actually ever seen, he's too small and not in good enough shape to finish around the rim. His decision making also isn't great, while that could change because he's so young.
He has a pretty good but inconsistent J and he has the tools to be a good distributor. He is effective off of picks and he has good potential as a jumpshooter/distributor, but his defense is atrocious and his penetration is lacking.
He's worth picking up as a free agent, but I'm still hoping the Celtics use him as a financial equalizer in a trade this summer.
Hey Andrew,
Thanks for the feedback. I'll admit that I haven't seen too much of Bassy this season, but I have seen a bit of Livingston.
One of my flaws is that I often watch games simply because my fantasy players are involved, which is why I'm such a Warrior fan now (Biedrins, Richardson, Davis and Pietrus all at one point or another), and I've watched Livingston for the past two seasons because of that. Once in a while you'll see that amazing potential rear it's head, but aside from his size (in the form of blocks and rebounds from the point), his game always seemed... lost. Yet that's not what people see when they see Shaun, they only see the vast potential.
Telfair doesn't have that vast potential, but he does have something. Like you said, he has the tools and potential. You are right, he doesn't play defense very well (it doesn't help he is undersized), and he needs to improve his finishing at the rim.
But most Knicks fans have seen enough of Robinson and Francis. I know Steve used to be the man; it bothers me that he's fallen off this fast. I'm sure he'll go somewhere else and bounce back nicely, but he isn't going to bounce back here. The Knicks have too many high turnover guys, too many dribble-too-much, then pass too late guys. Telfair would be a better fit for that reason.
If the Knicks could get Bassy for pretty much nothing (i.e. as a free agent with a short contract), if they used him as the third or fourth guard (behind Marbury and Crawford), coming off the bench with guys that can run - Balkman, Lee, Collins - I could see it working.
In other circumstances (paying too much for him, expecting him to start), I would probably not want to roll the dice with him.
Anyway, I think Bassy can get a starting job in the NBA somewhere, so he would probably sign (if he was free to sign with anyone) in at least 5-10 other teams first before the Knicks.
Thanks for your insight, Andrew.
I think it's time the Knicks finally got Artest. As a proven NBA player, Artest could use being back in familiar surroundings to his advantage. Telfair, on the other hand, I think needs to prove himself before thinking about coming home. The Garden isn't the Rucker and Bassy needs to become an legit NBA player somewhere else. I like the Miami idea personally. You don't need a gun license in FL so that would eliminate that legality and Big Daddy Shaq would keep him aligned otherwise. Unfortunately, local boy comes home stories rarely work in NYC, too many flashback of Bobby Bo.
Agree with you on Bassy, Jordi. There are much better locations for him than NYK - he could be a starter (or compete for a starter's job) on like 5-10 other teams in the NBA. On the Knicks he's a 3rd or 4th guard.
BTW, I can't believe I forgot to mention this, but...
Danny Ainge traded the #7 pick (Brandon Roy) for Telfair! It's like there has to be a competition between Bird, McHale and Ainge to one-up each other as the worst GM in the league. And Billy Knight in Atlanta ("my lottery is going to the Suns") is like, screw ya'll, I'm winning this contest. Wow.