Gabe

Pruitt

Pruitt was taken in the 2011 NBDL draft, but the USC product tried to earn a roster spot in the league instead. He’ll explore other opportunities now that he’s been trimmed from the roster.

This is considered a value pick for the Celtics and he’ll help back up starter Rajon Rondo next season, although he may be a shooting guard in the NBA.

Danny Ainge says that Tony and Ray Allen will also run some point, along with Eddie House and Pruitt, and also mentioned the ball handling abilities of big guys like Kevin Garnett, Brian Scalabrine and Davis. Rondo is going to be a popular fantasy point guard pick this season, and it seems like there’s almost no way he’ll fail to succeed. Ainge must know realistically that Ray Allen and Scalabrine are not real options at point guard, so if Rondo does fail to pull through, it could be a longer year for the C’s than anyone could have imagined.

Pruitt is expected to earn $650,000 this upcoming season, $711,517 during the 2008-09 season and $729,005 during the 2009-10 season. He was the 32nd overall pick in this year’s draft and should see minutes at point guard backing up Rajon Rondo. The projected terms for the contract for Davis, the 35th overall pick in the second round out of Louisiana State, are still in the works, but both deals should be finalized early next week.

It is the second assignment to Utah this season for Pruitt, who is averaging 2.0 PPG and 1.3 APG for the Celtics.

Pruitt has already been assigned to the D-League twice, so the Celtics can only put him there once more and still be allowed to recall him. Don’t expect Pruitt to have any value this season.

“The fact is that we have a good rotation, and (Pruitt) wasn’t part of it,” said coach Doc Rivers. Pruitt won’t have any fantasy value this season.

He has no fantasy value.

Pruitt had a strong Summer League showing but is lost in the rotation with all other role players off the Boston bench.

Pruitt averaged two points and 0.8 assists in 7.8 minutes this season, appearing in 47 games. He feels he matured significantly, but is the first to admit that he needs to improve defensively if he wants regular minutes.