OTISFIELD — Brian Scalabrine commandeered Wil Smith’s golf cart and invited fellow NBA players Wayne Ellington, Gerald Henderson and Tyreke Evans to hop in for a ride.

“Hey, Scal,” Smith, the Seeds of Peace co-director, yelled at the Boston Celtics veteran forward, “six years don’t get you a golf cart.”

Scalabrine paid no heed. Making his sixth appearance at the Seeds of Peace “Play for Peace” basketball clinic, he felt comfortable negotiating the dirt roads to the basketball courts at the Otisfield camp. 

“The bugs keep bringing me back,” he said.

Joking aside, Scalabrine said the message he delivers every year to the campers goes beyond the basketball court and reiterates the overall theme of the camp for Middle Eastern and American youth — differences don’t have to result in conflict.

“I’m a great example of that, being in the NBA. I couldn’t have grown
up any different than Kevin Garnett, but me and Kevin both have the
same goals in mind. We both want to win championships,” he said. “These guys come from different regions that
just happen to fight against each other that grow up with the same idea
— that one day they want to have peace. I think being in the NBA and
using that as a pedestal kind of helps that.”  

Scalabrine would like to be on another pedestal again, that of an NBA champion. He said he still feels the pain from the Celtics’ seven-game loss to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“I thought we played well,” he said. “The biggest thing was Game 6 (against Orlando). I thought we blew that game. I felt like we were better than Orlando. I still feel like we’re better than Orlando. I just feel like in Game 6, we blew the game and it cost us a trip to the Eastern Conference finals. Whether we would have beaten Cleveland or not, I mean, who knows at that point, but I just know that Game 6 where we could have put them away, that was the only frustrating part.”

Scalabrine’s saw significant playing time during the playoffs due to the absence of fellow forward Garnett from a knee injury. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge improved the team’s front court depth with the signing of veteran Rasheed Wallace, a move which Scalabrine approves heartily.

“If I had to pick one guy that could help this team out, I would
have picked Rasheed Wallace,” he said. “The way that he plays really
suits the way that Doc (Rivers) coaches.”

Scalabrine said he doesn’t worry about whether the addition of Wallace means less playing time for him.

“I’d rather win a championship and play 10 less minutes,” he said.

Whether he’ll be playing at all for the Celtics has been a question this offseason. Scalabrine’s name has been reportedly mentioned in a number of trade discussions, including a reported sign-and-trade deal involving the Indiana Pacers’ Marquis Daniels. 

Scalabrine said the trade rumors are all part of life in the NBA.

“If Danny feels like he can trade me and improve his team, then that’s
just the way it has to be,” he said. “As a player, do I want to leave?
No, but if it’s better for the Celtics for him to do that, then that’s
what you have to live with.”

Regardless of the rumors, Scalabrine said he has had a great offseason and is looking forward to his ninth NBA season, whether he’s wearing the green or not.

“I’ve just been conditioning,” he said. “No basketball, yet. I’ll start doing that in August. I’m getting ready to get geared up for next year. I’m really excited.”

Brian Scalabrine of the Boston Celtics runs with campers during the Play for Peace basketball clinic at Seeds of Peace International Camp in Otisfield on Monday. This is Scalabrine’s sixth appearance at Play for Peace.

Brian Scalabrine of the Boston Celtics drives a golf cart with NBA player Gerald Henderson, left, and WNBA star Barbara Turner, right, during the Play for Peace basketball clinic at Seeds of Peace International Camp in Otisfield on Monday. This is Scalabrine’s sixth appearance at Play for Peace.

Brian Scalabrine of the Boston Celtics poses for a picture with campers during the Play for Peace basketball clinic at Seeds of Peace International Camp in Otisfield on Monday.

Copy the Story Link