ESPN

Here's a tidbit from our colleagues at ESPNChicago.com about old friend Brian Scalabrine and what Doc Rivers sees as his future as an NBA coach:

--DOC SEE COACHING POTENTIAL IN SCAL--

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers has a good eye for head-coaching potential, and he’s identified another candidate. Rivers campaigned for former assistant Tom Thibodeau to get a head-coaching job, and now Thibodeau is considered a Coach of the Year favorite with the Bulls. One of Thibodeau’s players also has a bright coaching future, according to Rivers, who was visiting ESPN 1000 studios on Tuesday and took a call from Bulls reserve and former Celtics back-up Brian Scalabrine. “Scal is going to be a hell of a coach,” Rivers said. “He’s in the same spot I was in at the same point in his career, and all he says is, ‘No I’m going to do TV. I’m going to do radio.’ And I just shake my head, sure Scal. Scalabrine, mark my words, will be an NBA coach, and a good one.”

* Bonus link: Doc endorses Rose as league MVP

BOSTON -- The phone wasn't exactly ringing off the hook, but, as he tells the story, Brian Scalabrine still put a hard sell on the Chicago Bulls this offseason.

"We were talking to Chicago the whole [offseason], but I was talking to [Bulls general manager] Gar [Forman] and the holdout was that I wanted a statue next to Michael Jordan [outside the United Center]," Scalabrine explained Friday before the Celtics beat the Bulls 110-105 in overtime at TD Garden. "He was like, 'A lot of good players have come through Chicago, and I don't know if I can guarantee we can do that.' So I said, 'I'm going to hold out until you promise me that.' At the end of the day, I said, 'Fine, you don't have to put the statue up.'"

And with that, Scalabrine and his family crammed five years worth of memories into moving boxes -- a task he did without the aid of movers, he points out -- and uprooted to Chicago for a chance to keep his NBA career alive after the Boston Celtics decided they would not retain his services moving forward.

Scalabrine returned to Boston on Friday for the first meeting between his new team and the one he still holds an attachment to after the overwhelming success it enjoyed the past three seasons (including winning a world title in 2008). He stressed he's not disappointed with the way things played out this offseason, in large part because of the way former Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau -- now the Bulls' first-year head man -- recruited him for a veteran role with a young team.

Click HERE to read the full story.

BOSTON -- During the first timeout of Friday's game between the Celtics and Bulls, Boston honored former assistant coach Tom Thibodeau and reserve forward Brian Scalabrine -- two members of the team's 2008 championship squad and mainstays during the Big Three era -- with a video tribute on the JumboTron.

With Aerosmith's "Dream On" playing, highlights from both Scalabrine's and Thibodeau's time in Boston was shown as the crowd roared in support. Afterwards, both were shown on the Chicago sideline, with Scalabrine receiving an extended standing ovation.

The Celtics did something similar when Eddie House returned to the Garden as a member of the New York Knicks, shortly after being dealt in a package for Nate Robinson last February.

Just another Friday night at the Garden? Hardly. There's no shortage of story lines when the Chicago Bulls visit the Boston Celtics (ESPN, 8 p.m.) in an early season Eastern Conference showdown.

The return of Brian Scalabrine and Tom Thibodeau; Rajon Rondo vs. Derrick Rose; Kevin Garnett vs. Joakim Noah. It's going to be a fun night on Causeway St. and the participants aren't hiding their excitement either.

"As much as I would love to downplay it, I am actually pretty excited about going back to Boston to play there," Scalabrine said. "More than just me, Tom [Thibodeau, too] ... if we could go out there and get a win I'd be the happiest dude alive at the time."

Asked about Thibodeau's return, Celtics coach Doc Rivers' face lit up.

"That'll be great [to have Thibodeau back in town]," said Rivers. "We talk a lot; Hell, I think I talk to him more now then when he was with us, at least it feels like that at times. I'm just real happy for him. He's doing a sensational job. I don't know if anybody paid more dues than him. He's been around for a long time, trying to get a head coaching job. So it's real nice."

Our good friend Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago (follow him on Twitter, @ESPNChiBulls) provides a nice breakdown of Friday's other story lines:

RONDO vs. ROSE:
Which team has the better point guard? Obviously, it depends on whom you ask, but there is no doubt that the Bulls clearly have a lot of respect for Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo.

"Mentally, he's probably the smartest player I've ever play against," Scalabrine said. "Some players play out of instincts and what they see they can go and attack. He plays out of concepts. He's like Doc, or a guy like Mark Jackson, they see stuff that could happen and a way that you could beat a team that most of the people, including players, don't see."

Rose was very complimentary as well; the pair played together for Team USA over the summer.

"You can't guard passes like that," Rose said of Rondo. "It's hard when somebody doesn't have to score and they can still control the game. So with him doing that and rebounding, it's very tough. You just got to make sure you pressure him and make sure he's got his back turned."

As for Rondo's departure from Team USA before the World Championships, Rose said he really didn't know much about the situation.

"I really didn't know what was going on," Rose said. "I was confused. It happened in the morning; we woke up, go in the meeting and he wasn't there, so we really didn't know what was going on. [Coach Mike Krzyzewski] wasn't really saying too much about it and then we just kept it like that."

NOAH vs. KG
Having played with both Joakim Noah and Kevin Garnett, Scalabrine may be one of the best players to judge how the pair compares to one another.

"They're motor's the same," Scalabrine said. "There's just little differences. Jo has better hands, bigger and better hands. KG is a better shooter. But, all those differences balance out to a really good player and another really good player. What's similar is their motor is the same ... and that's important in the league. It's an underrated skill that a lot of people don't talk about."

As for who the better trash talker is?

"Better as in more tactful?" Scalabrine responded. "Better as in talks more?"

"Who gets in your head more?" I said.

"Oh, Kevin, no question" he said. "Kevin gets in your head probably better than anybody."

A glance at Thursday's headlines:

• Celtics Mailbag: Can Rondo, Baby keep it up?: In terms of assists, Rajon Rondo is off to the best start in NBA history through five games. But could he challenge John Stockon's single-season assist record? Could Glen Davis be a candidate for Sixth Man of the Year?
• Ainge defends KG: Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge is the latest to come out in strong defense of Kevin Garnett, calling Detroit's Charlie Villanueva's accusations "ludicrous."
• Knicks' bench sparks record from downtown vs. Bulls: Chicago endured a tough loss Thursday night on the front end of a back-to-back before visiting the Celtics Friday.

A handful of Celtics' leftovers from Thursday:

Thoughts on the departed

In an offseason that saw plenty of turnover, Celtics coach Doc Rivers and president of basketball operations Danny Ainge spent part of Thursday's session with reporters talking about those key members of Boston's recent success that won't be back next season.

Rivers saw two members of his coaching staff depart when big-man coach Clifford Ray was not retained, while associate head coach Tom Thibodeau became head coach of the Chicago Bulls.

"It was difficult parting ways with Cliff," said Rivers. "It was difficult to [part ways with associate head coach Tom Thibodeau]. I had dinner and lunch with Thibs, Sunday and Monday [in Chicago]. I saw him too much. I told him he’s not with me any more, get away from me. You form a special bond with those guys especially with Cliff. Cliff’s been with me for a while. Someday he may be back with me. But yeah, it’s always tough."

The Celtics hired former New Jersey head coach Lawrence Frank as Rivers top assistant. Ainge indicated last week that the team was having conversations with a former Frank assistant, Roy Rogers, about potentially bringing him in as the new big-man coach.

Ainge was asked Thursday about the departure of Brian Scalabrine, who spent five seasons in Boston, ascending to fan favorite despite limited contributions on the court.

"Scal was good for us, good for our team, and the morale of our team," said Ainge. "He brought a lot of good qualities to our team over the years."

Scalabrine is set to join Thibodeau in Chicago after agreeing to a non-guaranteed deal that will have him fighting for a roster spot during the Bulls' training camp.

Rondo on SportsCenter

Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo appeared on SportsCenter Thursday and ran the usual gamut of offseason questions, including looking back to Boston's Game 7 loss to the Lakers, ahead to a new seasons, and offering his thoughts on the Miami Heat.

As part of the appearance, courtesy of the NBA 2K11 video game that Rondo is promoting, there was also some chatter about player ratings in the game. Rondo must have got some bad information from game producers, because a list of starter ratings released Thursday indicated he's an 87 overall, not the 93 he believed in the interview. Regardless, he is the Celtics' top-rated player, which is sure to lead to some cries about disrespect from the other starters who range from 72 (Kendrick Perkins) to 83 (Paul Pierce). By comparison, Miami's Dwyane Wade and LeBron James are both at 97 overall, while Chris Bosh is an 87. The Celtics can hold out hope for an in-season roster rankings upgrade.

In searching for photos of Brian Scalabrine playing against his potential new employer, we stumbled across this gem. It seemed Scalabrine could have a lot of fun by blowing this shot up and hanging it in Derrick Rose's locker. Alas, Brandon Paul from Gino's Jungle points out why that probably won't happen...

(Read full post)

When Brian Scalabrine met with reporters in late June before a Celtics charity cruise event on Boston Harbor, he refused to comment on the potential end of the Scalabrine Era in Boston because he was hopeful he might find a way to sneak back onto the Celtics' roster for the 2010-11 season.

According to Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, Scalabrine spent much of the summer working out in Boston, but as the Celtics' roster filled up, it soon became clear that he didn't have a future with the team.

The Scalabrine Era apparently came to a close Tuesday as a source confirmed to ESPN Chicago's Nick Friedell that Scalabrine had agreed to a non-guaranteed deal to join the Chicago Bulls for training camp, reuniting him with first-year head coach Tom Thibodeau. Yahoo! Sports first reported the deal.

Scalabrine signed a five-year, $15 million contract with Boston in August of 2005. He appeared in 264 regular-season games, making 38 starts, while averaging 2.7 points and 1.5 rebounds per game during that span. A huge fan favorite, Scalabrine clearly preferred to return to Boston, but the team brought in a comparable body in second-round draft choice Luke Harangody to join an already beefed-up frontcourt that added Jermaine O'Neal and Shaquille O'Neal this offseason.

"There's no question I want to be back in Boston, no question, everyone knows that," Scalabrine said in June. "As far as me and Boston and the Celtics, whatever my role is going to be -- whether I start or make an unbelievable run in the playoffs like I did two years ago and contribute by playing 30 minutes per night, or not playing at all -- whatever they ask me to do, I'm all for it."

Even in June, he remained positive about whatever the future held for him.

"I'm just an optimistic guy," said Scalabrine. "If I don't have a job in the league and I gotta go to Europe, I'm optimistic. It's weird, right, in this league? ... If [I'm not back in Boston] I still have my wife, two kids, I'll still love them, still move on. I'm raising two little girls to become special people. That's how I look at it."

Scalabrine should be remembered for his finer moments in Boston, particularly his ability to step in regardless of layoff and eat minutes when others were injured. Remember, too, that Scalabrine delayed surgery on his shoulder at the end of the 2009-10 season, just to be available in case of emergency, and actually saw floor time in Game 7 of the NBA Finals (albeit, a mere minute). Alas, he'll be remembered more for his head-slapping moments (and one lack-of-hand-slapping moment) like this one...

When Brian Scalabrine appeared at a Boston Celtics charity cruise event in late June, he was on the cusp of becoming an unrestricted free agent that had the potential to end his five-year run in green.

But Scalabrine refused to answer questions about the possible end of an era for the local fan favorite until it happened, expressing optimism that he might be back with the team. A month later, as roster spots for next year's team fill up quicker than seats on that boat, Scalabrine remains unwaveringly hopeful that he can find a spot on a Boston team that's put a premium on retaining bodies from last season.

From the Lewiston Sun Journal:

With Perkins out indefinitely due to the long rehabilitation, that might leave room for Scalabrine, a career reserve who has never averaged more than four points per game in green. But the 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward continues to hear the nagging rumors that Boston is interested an another noted wide body, Shaquille O’Neal.

In limbo and awaiting the domino effect, Scalabrine hasn’t lost his sense of humor.

“Me and Shaq’s games are really quite similar. He’s an inside player. I’m an inside player. He’s 360. I’m 250,” said Scalabrine, the expression on his face hardly changing. “I don’t know, if they had to make that choice that there’s only going be room for one 360-pound center, I feel like they could do both. They could have me and him.”

Scalabrine, visiting northern Maine for an annual appearance at Seeds of Peace international youth camp, continues to reference the Celtics as "we" despite his newfound status as an unrestricted free agent. He even suggested there's a role for both him and Shaq on next year's team.

Scalabrine, who spent his first four seasons with the New Jersey Nets after playing at the University of Southern California, believes he fits into the Celtics’ veteran philosophy no matter whom they sign for reinforcements.

“We definitely got older (with the Jermaine O‘Neal signing), but probably our team can kind of do that. Doc (Rivers) is probably the one coach that can coach aging superstars,” Scalabrine said. “If Shaq signs, he’ll fit in well. We’ve got a lot of young guys like Baby (Glen Davis) that can go 40 minutes if those guys need games off or whatever. It’s a different dynamic, but you’ve got to remember teams are built for the playoffs. The kind of players we have will be built for the playoffs."

While Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has suggested he wants to add one more big body to the roster, Scalabrine's chances of rejoining the team appear slim at the moment. Boston drafted a player with a similar skill set in Notre Dame's Luke Harangody and, once they ink the second-round pick, will be at 14 players signed for the 2010-11 season.

That would leave one available slot, though the potential retirement of Rasheed Wallace could also offer Boston some additional roster flexibility. The Celtics certainly like Scalabrine's familiarity with the system and the good soldier he's been over five seasons, which will certainly keep him in contention for a job as the roster is capped off.

(h/t: Boston.com)

Over the next few weeks, we'll take a player-by-player look at the 2009-10 roster and how each player's season unfolded, assigning a grade for their overall performance. This is the second in the series of report cards:

Player: Brian Scalabrine
2009-10 averages: 1.5 points, 0.9 rebounds, 0.5 assists
2009-10 salary: $3.41 million

Season in a paragraph: In his ninth NBA season, including his fifth in Boston, Scalabrine appeared in 52 games, logging three starts, while averaging a career-low 9.1 minutes per game. He reached double digits in scoring just once and struggled overall from the field (34.1 percent overall, 32.7 percent from beyond the arc). That said, he remained a serviceable big body who bounced seamlessly from suit coat to starting lineup.

Season highlight: Jan. 11-14, 2010 -- With both Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace sidelined due to injury, Scalabrine got an uptick in playing time and scored 27 of the 78 total points for his season (that's a whopping 34.6 percent of his season output). Scalabrine scored a season-high 11 points over 28 minutes in a 111-87 thumping of New Jersey on Jan. 13.

Season lowlight: Let's allow YouTube to sum things up: Poor Scalabrine provided the worst inbound pass of the season HERE, and was forced to go to the self-clap after being snubbed by Tony Allen and Glen Davis HERE.

Final grade: C

Teacher's notes: Go ahead, call the teacher a hypocrite. We graded Marquis Daniels down Tuesday for slipping into oblivion, but Scalabrine gets a full mark higher for marginal contributions at nearly twice the salary? Fair or not, it's all about expectations with your students. While Scalabrine's stats were down for the year, it's safe to say the Celtics got what they expected from him. He had a role and he performed it to the best of his ability, doing it while battling bone spurs in his right shoulder at the end of the year (delaying surgery in order to be available in a pinch). Sure it was brief and, yes, it was due to Kendrick Perkins' knee injury, but it's telling that Rivers had confidence to utilize Scalabrine in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Much like Daniels, Scalabrine remained a good teammate throughout it all, never openly complaining about his role and accepting the fact that he logged 18 DNPs over the final 21 games of the regular season, then sat out all postseason games until the Game 7 of the Finals.

What's next?: Scalabrine said Tuesday night his preference remains to return to Boston next season, even as he prepares to navigate the murky free-agent waters starting Thursday. Scalabrine is likely looking at a paycut -- to the tune of the veteran's minimum -- but for a body-starved Celtics squad, that could be a price tag reasonable enough to bring him back in a similar emergency role. Scalabrine remains optimistic about the situation and said if he can't find a job in the NBA next season, he could always go to Europe and play. He's ready for whatever the future holds.

Honor roll: Click HERE to read past report cards.

Don't agree with teacher? Just want to sound off on Scalabrine's 2009-10 season? Click HERE to leave a comment.

BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics hosted a charity fundraiser for the team's Shamrock Foundation Tuesday night with a sunset cruise on the Spirit of Boston. Celtics players Brian Scalabrine, Glen Davis, and Kendrick Perkins were on hand for the festivities. Here's a couple notes from the event:

The rundown (a quick look at charity event headlines)
* Scal optimistic about returning to Boston; LeBron thoughts
* Davis just wants to dance; mum on Game 7, free agency

SCAL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT RETURNING TO BOSTON; LEBRON THOUGHTS



Asked about the potential end of the Scalabrine Era in Boston, the ninth-year veteran smiled and noted he's a Celtic until Thursday and hopes to be in green long after that as well.

"There's no question I want to be back in Boston, no question, everyone knows that," said Scalabrine, who stressed that his first preference is another run at a championship with the Celtics' core intact, regardless of his role.

"As far as me and Boston and the Celtics, whatever my role is going to be -- whether I start or make an unbelievable run in the playoffs like I did two years ago and contribute by playing 30 minutes per night, or not playing at all -- whatever they ask me to do, I'm all for it."

Scalabrine then paused and asked if coach Doc Rivers had announced a decision on his future yet. Informed he hadn't, Scalabrine looked into the TV cameras and said, "I hope he comes back. My man, we need you."

While he won't garner the sort of around-the-clock stakeout Ray Allen and freshly opted-out Paul Pierce will when free agency opens Thursday, the Celtics could use a guy like Scalabrine back, too. He's one of the few selfless players in the league who can log 40 straight DNPs, then step in and contribute in a starting role when a starter goes down due to injury.

Scalabrine earned $3.4 million last season, but it's hard to imagine teams are going to offer much more than the veteran minimum for a utility (and sometimes simply an emergency) player. But Scalabrine remains optimistic about being back in Boston and he remains in the area this offseason, working out at the team's practice facility in Waltham as he rehabs from right shoulder surgery he underwent a week after the NBA Finals to remove bone spurs.

But he's excited about whatever the future holds.

"I'm just an optimistic guy," said Scalabrine. "If I don't have a job in the league and I gotta go to Europe, I'm optimistic. It's weird, right, in this league? ... If [I'm not back in Boston] I still have my wife, two kids, I'll still love them, still move on. I'm raising two little girls to become special people. That's how I look at it."

As for his free agency plans, Scalabrine kept it typically light, noting he "scheduled all the top teams to come in and talk to my camp." Asked if he felt slighted he wasn't invited to the LeBron James-Dwyane Wade-Chris Bosh free agent summit, Scalabrine couldn't resist a jab.

"I think they were actually disappointed they weren't part of the NBA Finals," he quipped.

As for where he thinks James will end up, Scalabrine made a pitch for one of his former teams (and one that could also be interested in adding Scal's services again): the New Jersey Nets.

"I can tell you where LeBron should go," said Scalabrine. "If I'm LeBron, I'm going to New Jersey. They've got a solid center [Brook Lopez] and room for two [max-contract] guys. They've got a point guard [Devin Harris] and they just drafted a pretty good forward [Derrick Favors]. With signing another big name like Bosh, [Carlos] Boozer, or [Amare'] Stoudemire, they've already got a very good big man and the new rookie who's very good, you have a team that can contend for a championship. And don't forget Courtney Lee, who's been to the Finals before and done well. If I'm [James], I'm going there."

DAVIS JUST WANTS TO DANCE; MUM ON GAME 7, FREE AGENCY



Celtics forward Glen Davis didn't care to talk much about the past (Boston's Game 7 loss to the Lakers) or the future (Davis evaded questions on Rivers and the team's free agents), and said his focus was on the present before boarding the ship.

That present involved putting on his dancing shoes, Tweeting about the festivities, and discussing the television show True Blood.

Davis politely brushed off a question about Game 7 ("I don't want to talk about that."), then did the same when asked about re-signing the likes of Ray Allen ("I don't have anything to do with that... so next question.") and Rivers' future ("I haven't talked to Doc, I'm just here on this cruise ship... That's all I want to talk about.")

Davis did tell reporters that he was enjoying his summer vacation and how he returned home to Baton Rouge, La., to visit his mother.

He revealed he's been watching a lot of True Blood and noted that Anna Paquin's "Sookie Stackhouse" is his favorite character. He also noted he planned on letting loose on the cruise dance floor Tuesday night.

"It's time to relax and have a good time," said Davis. "I'm going to kick off my shoes... and party on down."

ORLANDO -- Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine dressed and was active for Tuesday's Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Orlando Magic, while Shelden Williams sat out with back spasms.

According to the team, the injury is mild for Williams, who was spotted in the locker room in warm-up gear before the game, but Rivers elected to play Scalabrine instead to be safe.

Williams, playing in his first postseason in his fourth year in the league, has appeared four postseason games, averaging 2.8 points and 2 rebounds per game over 29 total minutes of action. Scalabrine, who is playing through a shoulder injury of his own that should require offseason surgery, has made only one appearance since March 28, playing 30 minutes in the regular-season finale against Milwaukee.

BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics' locker room was mighty quiet 90 minutes before tipoff of Wednesday night's home opener against the Charlotte Bobcats at the TD Garden. Forward Shelden Williams held court with the media for a bit, saying he finally feels he has a chance to prove himself with this opportunity in Boston. A night after playing in his first nationally televised game in the NBA, Williams expressed excitement about opening night at the Garden, noting how raucous Cameron Indoor Stadium got on a nightly basis when he was at Duke.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers did most of the talking. Here are a few highlights:

Intense start: Rivers said he was happy with his minute distribution in Tuesday's win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the season opener, but noted it was a "very intense game, an emotional game. You tend to spend more [energy] in those type of games. … It's opening night. We'll get another one like that tonight. The first three or four are always like that."

Keep an eye on how Rivers utilizes his bench (he only went four deep last night with Williams, Rasheed Wallace, Eddie House and Marquis Daniels). It should be interesting to see how the Big 3, with age such a prominent storyline in the preseason, respond to the first back-to-back of the season.

Injury report: Rivers said Brian Scalabrine (right ankle injury) will dress, but will not play. Asked if Scalabrine was "close," Rivers joked while standing outside the Celtics' locker room, "Yeah, he's right behind me." After some laughter, Rivers added, "I know he's going to dress; he's dressing because we have an extra uniform. I didn't ask [Celtics trainer] Eddie [Lacerte]. I know he's not playing in the first two [games]. I think he's close from the last talk I had."

Rivers had no update on Tony Allen, who remains sidelined indefinitely after hurting his ankle in his only preseason appearance.

Suspension suspense: Rivers did not offer an update on the indefinite suspension handed down to Glen Davis on Tuesday. Davis was involved in an off-court altercation that left him with a fractured right hand that required surgery. Rivers said he's removed from that process, focusing instead on coaching the team, but did note that Davis was not at the Garden on Wednesday.

Asked again about his take on the situation, Rivers reiterated his comments from Tuesday night. "He made a mistake and I'm mad at the mistake, but he's still part of our team," Rivers said. "You get upset at your kids, but they're still part of your family. That's the way I look at Baby. He's still part of this family and he's going to be an important part of this family."