Ready for the roster rollercoaster

I remember reading a headline a few months back about how Sam Cassell had announced he was going to play one more year and then become an assistant coach in the league, and I recall thinking to myself, "You know what, good for him. I wish him the best with whatever team he signs with this season."

That was followed by a frightening and terrible realization: "Wait, he means in Boston?"

Fast forward to last week, and the first three pre-season games for the defending world champion Boston Celtics. Two things stood out in my mind almost immediately: Bill Walker can play in this league, and Gabe Pruitt could be a solid back-up combo guard. Whether either of those things happens in Boston remains to be seen, and one of the reasons that's an issue is Cassell.

I know it's early to be talking about roster decisions, but Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers are going to have their hands full. The team currently has 16 players on its roster, and only 15 will make the cut before opening day. Even then, only 12 guys can dress for any given game. That means four dudes you currently see will no longer be contributing members of the Boston Celtics.

Here's the problem - ask me to make 10 different lists of four guys we don't need, and every one of them will include Cassell and Brian Scalabrine. But, due to veteran loyalty and greenbacks, both are likely to stick around at someone more valuable's expense.

In three games, Bill Walker has proven he has a solid skill set and superior will to succeed. He's the perfect character guy - he's willing to scrap and hustle but he's also athletic enough to bang on the boards and finish near the rim. And Pruitt has shown flashes of brilliance in limited time, combining speed and court vision in an enthusiastic package. Add to the mix the athleticism of J.R. Giddens and continued rebirth of Darius Miles' career, and you have a bunch of interesting story lines.

And then you have Cassell and Scalabrine.

Here's an exercise we can all take part in: Make a list of the characterstics that pair has that will be necessary to the success of the Boston Celtics. Are you ready? OK, pens down. Here's mine:

1) ...

If your list is longer, I dare you to prove your not related to one of those two.

Cassell was brought in to mentor Rajon Rondo, who was deemed unfit to run a championship team and then proceed to run a championship team. I think it's safe to say his apprenticeship is over now. The Celts then re-upped Eddie House and brought back Gabe Pruitt, filling both the veteran and prospect point guard slots. So where does Cassell fit in exactly?

He's a shoot-first point guard with a hot temper and a recent history of injury problems. And he's going to eat up someone else's minutes. I'd much rather see the Celts let House and Pruitt share the back-up duties. I can recall exactly one game - 1 - that Cassell made a difference in last year, and that was the big win at San Antonio. But I can also recall a handful of playoff games against Atlanta and Cleveland in which the offense fell on its face when Cassell came in and started jacking up fadeways. Remember how much energy House brought to the floor in that epic Game 7 with the Cavs? That would have been less of a surprise if Doc had let him do the same in Games 1 through 6. Heck, there might not have even been a Game 7.

And then there's Scalabrine. He's a goofy, out-of-shape big man who plays like a small man. I understand he's a crowd favorite, and I enjoy it as much as anyone when he buries a 3 in garbage time, but he's not going to fill any crucial role on this team. Period. No matter the position, there's someone more talented or more suited for the role.

Watching Walker and Pruitt and Giddens and Darius Miles, I'm genuinely excited. I'd love to know what each guy could bring to the table on a nightly basis. Think about a bench featuring those four, Leon Powe, Patrick O'Bryant (who looks like another Danny Ainge diamond-in-the-rough find, by the way), Big Baby Davis, Tony Allen and House, and try to find a more diverse group of reserves in the league.

But it's shaping up to be the classic job interview scenario: "We can't hire you, son, because we're looking for someone with more experience." And how is one to gain said experience? Everyone says Pruitt has the makings of a solid point guard, but we'll never know if he doesn't see the floor. Ditto for Walker, who's got the potential to be Ryan Gomes with a sneer. But only if he's given a chance.

Here's the thing. Last year the sexy phrase was "veteran leadership." That's what the experts said the Celtics needed to get over the hump. Well, they got over the hump. They're champs. Now is the time to lean on the big guns again while developing some talent for the future. I, for one, think Walker and Pruitt could have a huge impact on any given game, and I'm particularly high on Miles (no pun intended) and think he could be a large part of the Replacing James Posey equation. Scalabrine and Cassell? Dead weight, plain and simple.

I'm not confident that the Celts will cut either player, but I'd love for them to become the 14th and 15th men, allowing others to develop. If that's the case, then perhaps their veteran knowledge will be invaluable at practice. But if they start eating up minutes that might otherwise go to the young guys, that's when I get frustrated. And with the talent this team has, we're not talking about a lot of minutes here. Once you get past the first seven or eight positions, there's only so much time left. So give it to the prospects and see what they've got.

I know what Cassell and Scalabrine have. And I have to admit I'm underwhelmed.