Bust Gets a 2nd Chance ... With the Champs

Some guys are just lucky. Not to insinuate 2006's #9 pick, Patrick O'Bryant, hasn't turned into a hard-working guy who deserves what carrots he receives. But the guy was so bad, so (allegedly) lazy in Golden State that the Warriors cut strings after one season. The team was so disenchanted with the Notorious P.O.B.'s work ethic that last November Chris Mullin declined the third-year, $2 million option on O'Bryant for the 2008-09. The Warriors had already seen enough.

That's a bit amazing. Teams are often loath to admit mistakes, and Mullin made that draft pick. By cutting P.O.B.'s contract after a single season, Mullin admitting a huge mistake. Besides, a $2 million contract is something to covet in the NBA, with even middling, unproven talents costing more (like Ronny Turiaf's $4 million a season). You just don't cast cheap youngsters off willy-nilly; something's got to be wrong.

Whatever Golden State saw, Boston did not. Marc J. Spears of the Boston Globe reports the Celtics have signed P.O.B. to a two-year, $3 million contract. Danny Ainge says Kevin Garnett's famous work ethic and intensity will rub off on O'Bryant; history would suggest it's either that, or Garnett will get pissed at a missed rotation in practice and drill P.O.B. in the face. So really, it's a win-win. (Just kidding.)

This would seem to mean little for the team's pursuits of James Posey and Eddie House. It does, however, stick Chris Andersen -- another big Boston strongly considered -- back in the lurch. Free the Birdman!