Bruce Bowen Turns Down The Celtics?

[lefty]

Hoopsworld :lmao


Bruce Bowen Turns Down The Celtics?

http://cdn0.sbnation.com/profile_images/65672/hoosiers-DVDcover_tiny.jpg by Roy_Hobbs (http://www.celticsblog.com/users/Roy_Hobbs) on Aug 18, 2009 8:12 AM EDT (http://www.celticsblog.com/2009/8/18/993230/bruce-bowen-turns-down-the-celtics) in Rumors (http://www.celticsblog.com/section/rumors) http://cdn3.sbnation.com/images/icons/comment.v1599.png 53 comments
http://cdn3.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/80213/_2fmedia_2fgallery8_627_080317_large.jpg (http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/229561/_2fmedia_2fgallery8_627_080317.jpg)
Bowen reportedly declines to join Paul in Boston, at least right now

View full size photo uploaded August 18, 2009 (http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/229561/_2fmedia_2fgallery8_627_080317.jpg)

Hoopsworld reports (http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?STORY_ID=13609):

Sources close to the situation say Bowen is leaning heavily towards retirement, or at least sitting out until the regular season gets underway. The Boston Celtics (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/BOS) were said to be aggressive in their pursuit of Bowen but were turned away. The common belief is that Bowen may pull a "P.J. Brown (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21806/P_J_Brown)" and sit out until January, then joining a playoff team as a hired gun for the post-season.
While Sam Amico writes (http://probasketballnews.com/story/?storyid=699):

"There have been reports Boston was interested in Bowen, but he did not feel the same."
A couple of things here. First, Hoopsworld isn't always the most reliable of sources, and that's putting it gently. Also, it seems like Amico is simply relaying something that was already reported, so he very well could be piggy-backing off of the Hoopsworld story.
That being said, the story does make at least a modicum of sense. If this is true, I guess this means that Danny really does buy into the "we don't need another point guard" argument. The maximum number of players on a roster is 15. Right now, we have 13 players under contract, with Marquis Daniels on the way. Unless Danny can work some sort of trade (a sign-and-trade for Daniels, a 2-for-1, etc.), the next addition to the roster is probably the last one.

http://www.celticsblog.com/2009/8/18/993230/bruce-bowen-turns-down-the-celtics

[hater]

this is a great sign. Bowen is coming back!

[lefty]

I hope so

But again, it's Hoopworld

[Muser]

That Bowen nuthugger will be happy.

[spursfaninla]

oh no.

hoopsworld says Bowen turned them down...that means he is playing with them.

[crc21209]

Hoops World has actually been right on the last couple of things they have posted (ex. Mcdyess). So if there is ANY truth to this it is good. I told everyone it was either San Antonio or retirement!

[pawe]

Bruce would cringe everytime he sees Ray Allen and his giant vagina in the celtics locker room.

[buttsR4rebounding]

oh no.

hoopsworld says Bowen turned them down...that means he is playing with them.

Probably means he's been guaranteed a starting spot w/ that Pierce guy backing him up...

[completely deck]

The common belief is that Bowen may pull a "P.J. Brown (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21806/P_J_Brown)" and sit out until January, then joining a playoff team (:flag:)as a hired gun for the post-season.

[SonOfAGun]

Think about it.

Why would a mature man like Bruce want to hang around these guys for an entire season including minimum 2 rounds into playoffs:
1. Ray Allen. The guy who will give him the silent treatment.
2. Keven Garnett. They guy who will mad dog him everyday to assert his alpha dog mentality on the evil man who bullied his boy Ray Allen.
3. Paul Peirce. The third musketeer who will ignore Bruce because he is not part of the click and has just as many rings as the three Celtics combined.

[SA210]

Bring him back!

[Duncan2177]

WTF Pop bring Bruce back.

[xtremesteven33]

Bowen is the last piece.....

[rasho8]

Yeah he probably thought for a second and said "Wow... Gay Allen.... yeah no."

[anonoftheinternets]

pop'll wait till jan, and see if spurs defense can hold up without bruce and go from there...

[SpurNation]

From: http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/articles/2009/08/16/spurred_into_action/?page=2



But just as crucial is the return to health (and good form) of the Big Three. Duncan, according to Popovich, is in the best shape of his career and eager to win a fifth ring. Manu Ginobili, who has been hurt in each of the last two postseasons, is healthy. Popovich said “my heart sunk’’ when he heard that Tony Parker had hurt an ankle while playing for France.


“It makes me sick,’’ he said. “There’s nothing you can do about it. It’s frustrating. But it’s a minor sprain. From what we read, it could have been a whole lot worse.’’

Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili all were big players in the last three San Antonio championships (2003, 2005, 2007). Another was 38-year-old Bruce Bowen, who went to Milwaukee in the Jefferson trade. The Bucks waived him at the end of July and he is a free agent. Might he be part of another Spurs run, albeit in a subordinate role?

“I’ve given him no such indication,’’ Popovich said. “He might come back with the right team in the right situation, but it’s probably not going to be San Antonio.’’

Popovich still puts the Lakers on top in the West, but the reconfigured Spurs have him energized as he prepares for his 13th full season as the main man in San Antonio.

“I’m really excited,’’ he said. “If we had come to training camp with the same group we had at the end of last year, everyone would have gone into major depression. I would have been saying, ‘follow me,’ and turned around to find nobody there. It was time to change the music and I think we’ve done that.’’

[rjv]

it would be more likely that we see bruce retire as opposed to in a spurs uniform again.

[lefty]

it would be more likely that we see bruce retire as opposed to in a spurs uniform again.

yup

[spurspokesman]

Yeah baby. Bring bruce back home.

[Brutalis]

pop'll wait till jan, and see if spurs defense can hold up without bruce and go from there...

Nice plan. Bring him on for the playoffs. :toast

[Big P]

Bowen & cry baby ray on the same team? lol

[lefty]

Bowen on the Celtics = Kerr on the Suns

Destroy the team from the inside :hat

[weebo]

Its obvious Bowen isn't coming back. Pop has said this much. Its time Spur fans stop pinning for him. He's not coming back. The end.

[lotr1trekkie]

Bruce has grown personally and professionally to the point that he's not going to sit on the Celtics bench. I also think that Pop was just setting the stage. Right now, today, who do the Spurs have that will be a better perimeter defender than Bruce? No one! If Hairston, Williams or Mason developes into a lockdown defender so be it. I believe we will add Bruce sometime during the season. He is A SPUR forever and I believe he will return to help with championship #5.

[SonOfAGun]

If the Spurs have all of these new guys on the team, can they really afford to not sign Bruce until later on in the season?

It seems risky putting all that hard work into getting the guys comfortable with one another during the season, and then injecting a potential key defender for key playoff minutes amongst the new Spurs suddenly in the playoffs.


I'm still confident Bruce will return to the Spurs as a coach and mentor Hill into the next 10 time consecutive DPOY.

[Spursox]

No, lets NOT bring back Bruce!!!

Remember people, we have some young guys to develop.

[lennyalderette]

Hoops World has actually been right on the last couple of things they have posted (ex. Mcdyess). So if there is ANY truth to this it is good. I told everyone it was either San Antonio or retirement!


i remember you saying that!! i hope your right

[Whisky Dog]

The Spurs should be able to find room for their young guys (minus McClinton, who needs a lot of Toro time) on their roster and still have the spot open for situational Bruce.

[mingus]

call me crazy, but i still think Bruce Bowen can start for this team. he played lock-down defense in the playoffs when he was asked to. he still has the tenacitiy and quickness to be a major piece on a championship team, going by what i saw from him last year. his lack of minutes last year is confusing to me.

a starting line-up of

Parker
Jefferson
Bowen
Duncan
McDyess

gives the Spurs a defensive identity that they didn't have last year, assuming Jeffferson's D, or lack of, last year was situational.

it's an old line-up, with only TP and RJ being under 30, but with the depth that the Spurs will have going into next year, i think it's sustainable.

[SA210]

call me crazy, but i still think Bruce Bowen can start for this team. he played lock-down defense in the playoffs when he was asked to. he still has the tenacitiy and quickness to be a major piece on a championship team, going by what i saw from him last year. his lack of minutes last year is confusing to me.

a starting line-up of

Parker
Jefferson
Bowen
Duncan
McDyess

gives the Spurs a defensive identity that they didn't have last year, assuming Jeffferson's D, or lack of, last year was situational.

it's an old line-up, with only TP and RJ being under 30, but with the depth that the Spurs will have going into next year, i think it's sustainable.

Of course he can start. He should have started last year. People somehow let others put in their heads that Bruce has lost it. He can definitely start, but we know that ain't gonna happen, so I'd like at least for him to ride the bench if nothing else, so we can use him for emergencies.

Not what i want, but I'll take that over not having him at all.

[SA210]

Bowen is the last piece.....

Yes he is, if we had Bowen, I know we'd be the beast people think we already are. We need Bruce, and we are set.

:flag:

[spursfan1000]

If spurs want to bring Bowen back im for it but if not its all good

[024]

signing bowen would be low risk but i don't know how much positive impact he will have, if any. i personally think he's done and spurs fans are clinging to the past, refusing to accept the reality that bowen finally reached the end of the road. the spurs owe him a lot for what he's done but it's time to move on. sign him if there is a spot open and a need but don't dwell too much on it.

[angelbelow]

smart, bowen should wait it out.

[lefty]

Hello? Bruce Bowen is a Free Agent . . . (http://3sob.com/archives/41-august-2009/628-hello-bruce-bowen-is-a-free-agent-) http://3sob.com/templates/rt_equinox_j15/images/emailButton.png (http://3sob.com/component/mailto/?tmpl=component&link=aHR0cDovLzNzb2IuY29tL2FyY2hpdmVzLzQxLWF1Z3Vzd C0yMDA5LzYyOC1oZWxsby1icnVjZS1ib3dlbi1pcy1hLWZyZWU tYWdlbnQt) Written by Lee Eric Smith Friday, 21 August 2009 09:23
http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2007/writers/ian_thomsen/06/13/spurs.bowen/p1_bowen-getty.jpgSo you say the Grizzlies need some veteran leadership -- someone who knows how to win. If they have championship pedigree, that's all the better. They need someone who is the consummate professional, who can help instill a winning "team-first" attitude and work ethic - specifically on defense. A savvy player who knows the tricks of the trade and commands respect -- a player who can still give you spot minutes, but won't be a serious threat to the young core.
Admit it: You want Bruce Bowen. And guess what? He's available.

Earlier this summer, San Antonio traded Bowen to Milwaukee for Richard Jefferson (http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=3122). Recently, Milwaukee waived Bowen (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4370109), making him a free agent, and Popovich has said that it's unlikely that he'll rejoin the Spurs on another championship quest. (http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/61161/20090816/popovich_bowen_wont_return_to_spurs/)
There's also the consideration that if Brucie doesn't sign on with a contender -- say Boston, Cleveland or Orlando (http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13494)-- that, at a ripe 38 years of age, he'll retire (http://www.poundingtherock.com/2009/8/18/994342/bruce-bowen-to-retire). (By the way, Cleveland has said they don't want him (http://news-herald.com/articles/2009/08/06/sports/nh1267133.txt). Apparently, he's not interested in Boston. (http://www.celticsblog.com/2009/8/18/993230/bruce-bowen-turns-down-the-celtics))
Why would he even consider coming to the lowly Grizzlies? Well, MONEY -- in a tough economy, no less. Something tells me he's been smart with his money, and doesn't NEED another NBA contract. But I've got a hunch if you put one last big paycheck in front of him . . .
With all due respect to Allen Iverson, if we're gonna spend overpay $4 million for somebody for one season, my vote goes to the multiple championship winner, tough defender, chemistry/character/locker room guy. If there's one offseason FA acquisition that would probably cause Memphis fans (those who really know basketball anyway) to breathe a collective sigh of relief after getting Zach Randolph, it's Bruce Bowen. He'd be our knucklehead-neutralizer.
Imagine Bruce being the tutor to Rudy, OJ and Conley (and Sam Young, for that matter) in how to play defense, how to WIN. Bruce teaching Conley some of Tony Parker's tricks. Heck, imagine Bruce on the floor at KEY moments in close games -- helping stabilize a team that blew so many leads and let so many games slip away in the fourth quarter.
Imagine THE MASTER teaching the young pupils "The Art of Defense." (http://www.brucebowen.com/master/index.html)
Imagine having someone as sharp and thoughtful as Bruce appears to be in his blog on the San Antonio News-Express' website. (http://voices.mysanantonio.com/brucebowen/)
Imagine PORTLAND pulling the trigger on this before we do. (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/228791-a-golden-opportunity-lays-on-the-horizon-for-portlands-golden-boy)
Who knows if he'd come or not. But if HeisWalHol hasn't made the call to his agent yet . . . please do . . . SOON.
And have your checkbook out.














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[rogcl1]

call me crazy, but i still think Bruce Bowen can start for this team. he played lock-down defense in the playoffs when he was asked to. he still has the tenacitiy and quickness to be a major piece on a championship team, going by what i saw from him last year. his lack of minutes last year is confusing to me.

a starting line-up of

Parker
Jefferson
Bowen
Duncan
McDyess

gives the Spurs a defensive identity that they didn't have last year, assuming Jeffferson's D, or lack of, last year was situational.

it's an old line-up, with only TP and RJ being under 30, but with the depth that the Spurs will have going into next year, i think it's sustainable.

Ok, you're crazy. I would not mind having Bowen around possibly for limited situational play but not as a starter. I believe if the youngsters are a total bust and there are no alternatives ,then maybe you might see Bowen return.

[wildbill2u]

No, lets NOT bring back Bruce!!!

Remember people, we have some young guys to develop.

I agree. There are only so many minutes and so many spots on the bench.

If they can't find a defender among the new guys to back up Jefferson by Feb. then Pop could bring him back. But I don't think Bruce wants to hang on as an aging vet without playing time. He's been too vital a part of the team to just hang around for the money.

Pop made the decision last year that Bruce's time had come and gone. It happens to every player so let's remember Bruce's contributions to the team and community and move on.

[spursfan #20]

Lets bring bruce back for the playoffs!

[Ditty]

i hope he just retires and becomes and tries to be a assistant coach

[ohmwrecker]

Bowen on the Celtics = Kerr on the Suns

Destroy the team from the inside :hat

Kerr did a pretty good job of destroying the Suns, but we did not really need his help.

[lefty]

Kerr did a pretty good job of destroying the Suns, but we did not really need his help.
:lol

[lefty]

Really disgusting :

" Earlier this week, former Celtic Bruce Bowen (http://www.csnne.com/tag/bruce-bowen) reportedly turned down an offer to come back to Boston. Instead, Bowen will now likely sit until February… or until his wife gets sick of being cheap-shotted in the groin. "

http://www.csnne.com/2009/08/21/the-friday-monologue-11-13-08/comment-page-1/#comment-5031

[howbouthemspurs]

Bowen wont be back.. He was a great part of the last three title runs for the spurs but now he is done.. I see him retiring and taking a job on TNT or ESPN.

[lefty]

http://www.nesn.com/2009/08/bruce-bowen-to-the-celtics-makes-sense-at-some-point.html

Bruce Bowen to the Celtics Makes Sense -- At Some Point (http://www.nesn.com/2009/08/bruce-bowen-to-the-celtics-makes-sense-at-some-point.html)

by Evans Clinchy (http://www.nesn.com/evans-clinchy/) on Aug 27, 2009 6:28:58 AM
http://nesnstg.typepad.com/.a/6a0115709f071f970b0120a5238b9f970b-400wi (http://www.nesn.com/2009/08/bruce-bowen-to-the-celtics-makes-sense-at-some-point.html) As far as melodramatic "will he or won't he?" retirement story lines (http://www.nesn.com/2009/08/favres-act-is-getting-pretty-old.html) go, Brett Favre's isn't the only one floating around this summer.
But to the credit of longtime Spurs forward Bruce Bowen, a free agent this summer at age 38, he's gone about his mulling quietly. Bowen was traded this offseason, sent to Milwaukee as part of the three-team trade (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4281291) that gave the Spurs Richard Jefferson, and he's now in a state of limbo as he considers his NBA future.
The Jefferson-Bowen trade went down on June 24. In the five weeks that followed, the Bucks front office tried to move him cheaply, but to no avail. Bowen is a bad fit there, with his ripe old age and weakening knees. He belongs on a contending team that can use a strong defender as a role player off the bench. He deserves quality minutes, but as few of them as possible.
The obvious destination, of course, would be Boston.
Milwaukee had the option to keep Bowen locked in. Bowen's contract gave the Bucks the chance to extend him for another year -- they had until Aug. 1 to either extend him and pay him $4 million, or waive him and give him $2 million to walk away. The Bucks slept on Bowen, the deadline passed, and he walked away. Now he's $2 million richer.
But money probably isn't the main concern. Bowen's made over $25 million of it in his career, and if he decides to come back, it will likely be because he's still got game and wants to prove himself at the highest level.
It would be a shock if Bowen went anywhere but Boston. He's already got three rings, and he's grown accustomed to playing on championship-level teams. But the Spurs, who have upgraded to a high-scoring star small forward in Jefferson, don't want him back. The Cavaliers, who recently poached Leon Powe from Boston, are running out of money to spend. They don't want him (http://news-herald.com/articles/2009/08/06/sports/nh1267133.txt).
The pool of possible suitors for Bowen is getting shallower by the day, but Boston's still there. Seeing the eight-time NBA All-Defensive teamer suit up in green would make sense.
The Celtics, who might end up using Marquis Daniels as Rajon Rondo's backup due to their lack of point guard depth (http://www.celticstown.com/marquis-daniels-or-eddie-house-can-either-back-up-rajon-rondo.html), could now use one small forward. Thanks to Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, the C's are a defense-oriented team, and Bowen fits that mold.
But rumor has it that rather than making a comeback with the Celtics, Bowen is considering retirement. It's been reported that the Celtics "were said to be aggressive in their pursuit of Bowen but (http://www.celticsblog.com/2009/8/18/993230/bruce-bowen-turns-down-the-celtics)were turned away (http://www.celticsblog.com/2009/8/18/993230/bruce-bowen-turns-down-the-celtics)," implying that Bowen might just walk away from the game.
Bowen has no other suitors at the moment, so his decision appears fairly simple. Either he comes back and contributes to the Celtics bench, or he retires.
The dark-horse third option is what HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler refers to as "pulling a P.J. Brown" -- in other words, sitting out until January (http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?STORY_ID=13609) and waiting until he can feel out the NBA's playoff picture.
For the Celtics, that third option would be fine. The C's have enough manpower to coast from here to January -- the wing positions will be under control. The real task for Bowen would be stepping up in the playoffs -- Doc Rivers needs a body he can stick on LeBron James, Vince Carter or Ben Gordon in May, and that's where Bowen would come in. Until then, both parties can remain patient.
Bowen in Boston would be a good fit. A deal would make sense, but neither side should be desperate to pull the trigger right away. If a deal is meant to happen, it'll happen in due time.
In the meantime, just be happy Brett Favre's back. That's one fewer retirement drama to worry about.

[exstatic]

Bowen's not about the drama. If he were going to play in Boston, he'd have signed by now, and would report to camp.

Pop has given every indication that Bruce will not be back. Bruce has given every indication that he's not going to play anywhere else. Add two and two together.

Thanks for the memories, Bruce.

[phyzik]

I still think, if he is going to play anywhere, its San Antonio or bust. Pop isn't called CIA for nothing, he isnt going to come out and say "yeah, well, we are going to wait and feel things out and if we think we need Bruce back by mid-season..... thats just something we will have to look at when the time comes."

It's a sensative situation that would have other teams screaming collusion if there was any indication he was coming back to the Spurs, and after "Barry-Gate" I think the league would look into it this time if there was indication there.

That being said, I think he retires. I'd love for him to become a defensive coach for the Spurs though or hell, even do guests commentary with Sean Elliott.

[ohmwrecker]

Bruce and Sean as a broadcasting team would be funny, but who would do the play by play?

[Sausage]

Bruce and Sean as a broadcasting team would be funny, but who would do the play by play?

Three man booth. Bill Land, Sean Elliott, and Bruce Bowen.

That would be great TV right there.

[fotan2]

Bowen could be an eligible spy and goes undercover for us.

[exstatic]

Bruce and Sean as a broadcasting team would be funny, but who would do the play by play?
Sean only works about half of the games, Have Bruce do color on the other half.

[ClingingMars]

Bruce as a broadcaster? too good to be true

[Buddy Holly]

I still think, if he is going to play anywhere, its San Antonio or bust. Pop isn't called CIA for nothing, he isnt going to come out and say "yeah, well, we are going to wait and feel things out and if we think we need Bruce back by mid-season..... thats just something we will have to look at when the time comes."

It's a sensative situation that would have other teams screaming collusion if there was any indication he was coming back to the Spurs, and after "Barry-Gate" I think the league would look into it this time if there was indication there.

Dude no, drop this already. It was one thing when people said this a couple of weeks after the trade but it's been over two months and not one person would cry "collusion" if Bruce resigned. Hell, I doubt there'd have been any fuss if he re-signed a week after he was traded. lol

If the Spurs wanted him back he'd have signed the first day he was able to. He's not coming back to the Spurs, move on. If you want to see Bruce that badly I advise everyone to stop by his spa.

[bigfan]

I really like Bruce, respect him for what he has done for both the team and the city but think his days as a Spur are done. Lets retire his number and move on.