posted February 29, 2008 at 13:28 in NBA Articles

You don’t have to be an NBA betting genius to figure this puzzle out. Thanks to our insatiable need for “inside” information, we already know what’s going on inside Sam Cassell’s mind: the Boston Celtics.

Three weeks ago, the Boston Globe reported that Cassell was trying to arrange a contract buyout with the Los Angeles Clippers so he could join the Celtics. Cassell denied the report, but not his dissatisfaction with the Clippers, who were 19-36 straight up and 24-31 against the spread at press time.

It’s a moot point now. The Clippers waived Cassell on Thursday; he has until midnight Friday (Eastern time) to clear waivers if he wants to be eligible for the playoffs. Is Boston Cassell’s destination? Even the fact-finders from the Associated Press have entered the realm of speculation, reporting that Cassell will “possibly” join the Celtics.

Whatever likelihood “possibly” entails, it improves the Celtics’ position as the Eastern favorites on the NBA championship futures market. Boston was priced at +300, the same odds the Los Angeles Lakers are getting in the West after the masterful Pau Gasol trade and nine straight victories (8-1 ATS).

The Gasol trade set the dominoes tumbling – Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Webber, Jason Kidd, Ben Wallace, Kurt Thomas and many others, all joining new teams and getting the opportunity to play deep into the postseason. But it looks like Boston will get the last laugh, even a week after the NBA trade deadline. Adding Cassell will be a huge step toward winning the title for the first time since 1986.

Cassell has missed the past four games with a sprained right wrist and has played just one full season since 2004, the year he helped Kevin Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves reach the Western finals. But at age 38, and in 38 games so far this season, Cassell has put up better than average numbers for a point guard: 19.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per 40 minutes. Boston could use some of that.

Not that Rajon Rondo isn’t getting the job done. His 13.8points and 6.2 assists per 40 minutes are the cornerstone of his 15.72 Player Efficiency Rating (15 is average), and Rondo plays stellar defense on top of that. But Cassell is at 16.99 PER this year, and that was with the Clippers. Imagine what he could do with his old teammate Garnett, and with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Imagine what the Celtics could do for handicappers, especially in single-game situations. Then make sure to check the NBA odds before (and after) the expected Cassell signing.

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