Telfair a Goner

July 21, 2007

Ray Allen, meet Allan Ray.

Big Baby, meet Big Al.

Sebastian Telfair, meet your second chance.

The prodigal Celtics guard, exiled in intention (if not reality) by team owner Wyc Grousbeck after Telfair was arrested on gun charges in April, has stayed out of sight.

But he's also b

een busy.

Telfair recently purchased a home in Las Vegas and has been working out diligently under the direction of Joe Abunassar - a Vegas-based trainer who has become one of the most sought-after gurus on the NBA front.

But rest assured that word of Grousbeck's most recent comments will reach Telfair before long.

Asked about Telfair's future now that fellow point guard Delonte West has been traded to Seattle as part of the Ray Allen deal, Grousbeck appeared to leave the door open for a reconciliation Thursday night.

``Sebastian is with our team right now,'' said Grousbeck. ``Sebastian's on the roster. Sebastian and I talked shortly and had a discussion. It's a long time till November. We'll see what happens.''

This is the same man who ordered Telfair's nameplate removed from above his locker in the team's Waltham practice facility last April.

Danny Ainge, who still believes Telfair has a future in the league (despite a disappointing performance last season in which he dropped from No. 1 to No. 3 in the point guard rotation), has been doing damage control ever since.

The Celtics director of basketball operations has been so diplomatic with the Telfair camp that agent Andy Miller has praised Ainge's treatment of his client.

Nonetheless, the Celtics are still most likely to include Telfair in a sign-and-trade package this summer. His name was initially a throw-in consideration when Ainge was attempting to pry Kevin Garnett from Minnesota, and won't be taken off the table any time soon.

But Grousbeck's words also signaled a surprising thaw.

``I don't know the answer to that, other than to say Sebastian is still in our plans,'' said Ainge of Grousbeck's comments. ``I'm always reluctant, though, to project on players' roles where there is still uncertainty. I wouldn't say we're counting on him right now.''

Ainge planned to talk to Telfair this weekend.

Though Miller didn't know what to make of Grousbeck's comments yesterday, he continued to sing the praises of an organization that - at least from the owner's office - has shown Telfair a particularly rough brand of love.

``I haven't had a conversation with Danny lately, but he's been extremely supportive,'' said Miller. ``Now we're just trying to get Sebastian ready.''

Ultimately, Telfair's turbulent April may even pay an unexpected bonus.

``There's a greater sense of urgency with him now,'' said Miller. ``And he's working very hard at it.''

The Celtics, thanks to Ryan Gomes, know this. The forward spent roughly a month this summer training under Abunassar, and was in Telfair's company the entire time.

``I know he's been in Vegas for 6-8 weeks, he's lost 8-12 pounds, his body fat is down, and he spent a lot of time working out with Ryan and some college guys getting ready for the draft like Taurean Green,'' Ainge said. ``He's a much better player than we've seen.''