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In the summer of 2006, prior to his third season, the Trail Blazers traded Telfair along with center Theo Ratliff and a 2008 second-round pick to the Boston Celtics for guard Dan Dickau forward Raef LaFrnetz and Randy Foye who was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Brandon Roy.
While in Boston, Bassy's numbers fell across the board. The season went on without incident, however Telfair never really got on track despite tying a career high by starting 30 games. By season's end, the Celtics were in the market for a point guard and Telfair was in the market for a new team. But it was an inauspicious night in the Bronx that may have signaled the end for Telfair in the Garden.
Telfair was stopped by police on the on the Bronx River Parkway going 77 mph in a 45 mph zone. He was driving with a suspended Florida license and a loaded .45 caliber pistol under his passenger's seat. Shortly there after, Telfair's rookie contract was terminated and the Celtics absorbed the remaining $2.56 million he was owed.
Howard Bloom, a respected writer and the publisher of SportsBusinessNews.com would write about Telfair shortly after the mess with Boston.
"The pressure on Sebastian Telfair growing up in poverty, living around so many failed dreams and dreamers, death visiting his doorstep would be a great deal for anyone to deal with. But having to deal with the expectations of delivering his entire family to 'The Promised Land' is a position an 18-year old should never be subjected too."
The burden has thus far been too great for Telfair whose press clippings include a feature film by ESPN called "Through the Fire," as well as several other print publications. The ESPN documentary chronicled Telfair's life from the projects to the pros, a remarkable story of talent and perseverance. But the movie came out in 2005 and focuses on the way his family dealt with adversity in their lives off the court. Once the movie came out, it was Telfair who continued to struggle on the court.
2007 though, was a remarkably different story. Telfair found a home in Minnesota after leaving the Celtics.
Despite a back court full of first round talent, Bassy started a career high 51 games. He shot over 40% for the first time in his career, and also set career highs in rebounds and assists. In fact at nearly 6 assists per game and just 1.85 turnovers, his 3.2/1 assist to turnover ratio was good enough for 10th in the NBA. Examine those numbers more closely and you'll find the only point guards who started at least 50 games with a better ratio were Chauncy Bullups, Chris Paul, Jose Calderon, and Jason Williams.
For a young man who has endured so much, it appears to be just another step in a long journey to further his "riches" from the "rags" of Brooklyn. Bouncing from one dysfunctional team to the next, Telfair really hasn't gotten a fair shake. From a Blazers team spending more time in the court room than the court to a Celtics team who won just 24 games and finally the Wolves who haven't been relevant really ever.
Now, with his life seemingly back on track, his game appears to be as well. With his impending free agency, Telfair may have played well enough for a team like the Miami Heat (who are rumored to be interested in acquiring the troubled point guard). Having just turned 23, the man known as Bassy appears to have his best basketball in the pro's ahead of him.
Teaming up in the back court with a guy like Dwyane Wade, throwing lobs to Shawn Marion, and feeding Michael Beasley for the Heat would bring his "Through the Fire" story full circle with a warm welcome to the hottest city in the NBA. One thing is for sure, after all he has been through, even the scorching heat in Miami is not compared to what Telfair has been through.
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