Powe Must Go, Says Celtics' Front Office

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Averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, Powe made his way back into the picture for the NBA Draft, and was rewarded for his outstanding recovery when he was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets and subsequently traded to the Boston Celtics. 

Powe had finally made it, but he still had to battle once he came into the league.  Leon didn’t immediately receive playing time, but fought and fought until Doc Rivers had no chance but to give the young, bruising power forward minutes. 

The following year, when Powe erupted for 21 huge points off the bench in Game Two of the NBA Finals, he solidified his reputation as a tough scorer and one of the NBA’s more productive post options off the bench.

When Kevin Garnett went down in the 2008-2009 season and the Celtics needed someone to fill in for his production, Powe became a monster.  He had the best stretch of his career just when the Celtics needed it the most, becoming a double-double machine and scoring with amazing efficiency down low. 

Sadly, he couldn’t maintain his production, and once again, it was through no fault of his own.  Powe had yet another knee injury, a strain this time, and it sidelined him until just before the playoffs. 

Leon wouldn’t let the injury keep him down. He’d fought much bigger problems, and he couldn’t allow a simple knee strain to hold him back.  He returned to the Celtics' lineup and immediately proved himself healthy enough to contribute to the Celtics' championship defense. 

Four games after Powe returned, his season was done.  His knee had once again given out on him, his luck once again proved to be inexplicably bad.  It was a contract year for Leon, and his injury would keep him from earning the big bucks his play had warranted.  

Do you want to know the sad part about the Boston Celtics’ letting Powe go?  He sacrificed his entire career to help this team win.  Powe must have known his injured knee hadn’t fully recovered, yet he still came back to help his team try to win its second-straight championship.  He knew it was his contract year and just sitting out for the playoffs would have made him millions.

But he didn’t care.  All he wanted to do was help his team win basketball games.  He was willing to flush his next contract down the drain for the Boston Celtics, and now they won’t go to bat for him.  They won’t tender him a qualifying offer, not even after all he’s done for the organization.

So, where’s the loyalty, Celts?  Don’t you remember what this kid's been through to get to where he is?  Don’t you know what he gave up just to help your team in the playoffs? 

Here’s a quote from Doc Rivers about how he was lobbying for Powe’s return next year:

“Oh, I lobby all the time. I just don’t do it publicly.  I lobby for all my guys. Any guy that has your team at heart, I’m lobbying for him. It’s good to have soldiers in your locker room.

“Forget the basketball. For me, that’s a huge loss.  I look at the big picture sometimes, and forget the basketball, he’s going to be a free agent this year. He’s going to have reconstructive surgery, there’s a chance he’s not going to get a contract. He’s done everything right for his coach, and everything right for his team. This kid was homeless, so that hurts. He’s everything that’s right about our league.’’

And the Celtics have demonstrated everything wrong with the league.  Money-hungry owners failing to show loyalty, even to the players who have remained most committed to their team.

Powe gave up his contract just to help the C’s. He lost guaranteed millions by demonstrating the loyalty, passion, and devotion to a franchise that turned around and stabbed him in the back. 

Leon Powe is everything that’s right about the NBA.

But his story shows everything that still needs to be fixed.

Brought to you by Celtics Town.

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