Boston Look to Trade

[renegade]

Ainge eyes deal by trade deadline
By Steve Bulpett
Friday, February 6, 2004

Danny Ainge said yesterday he is ``hopeful'' he can make another deal by the NBA's Feb. 19 trading deadline.

He zoned in on his desires, saying, ``We need a rebounder, and we need point guard help.''

The Celtics are currently near the bottom of the league rankings in the rebound categories, and they are asking a great deal from Mike James [news] and rookie Marcus Banks [news] at the point.

Ainge again wouldn't confirm Tuesday's Herald report that the Celtics have made a bid for Seattle guard Brent Barry, currently out with a broken finger, but he did speak about another aspect to that story - that Chris Mills' contract is being dangled. Mills, out for the season with an Achilles tendon injury, gets $6.6 million this year, 80 percent of which is picked up by insurance.

``One thing that we do have that has been discussed is Chris Mills' contract, which is a situation where a lot of people would like to get that and get off a player's contract,'' Ainge said. ``There's a lot of teams out there hoping to be in the Kobe Bryant sweepstakes this summer and they might want to get rid of a halfway decent player - a player that can come in and contribute to us greatly. So that's one possibility.''

Asked whether he's looking for a veteran, Ainge said, ``I don't want to go get Kevin Willis or Cliff Robinson, but, I mean, I would like to get a player that would be with us for a few years. But if somebody is 30 and healthy, I wouldn't hesitate.''
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MY THOUGHTS:
If they didn't get rid of walker, delk bremer or battie none of this would be necessary. If none of those trades happened then Boston would still have those good players, still have Jim O'Brien as coach and Still be in contention for the play-offs.

[DipSetVC]

They have a payroll of $59 Million and have no tradeable assets. Their stuck with Vin Baker for 2 more years and he's owed over $15 Million in 2005/06. Raef LaFrentz is signed through 2006/07. What could they possibly do?

[Jowe]

trade paul pierce with vin baker , and start over

[GloveGuy]

I wouldn't call this a rebuilding year, but I think of it as a new year. The Lakers are keeping Paul Pierce and giving him a whole new cast. Talent-wise in the East, they're a playoff team the way I see it. They have an all-star in Pierce and a potential all-star in Ricky Davis. Key role players such as Walta and Jiri, give them enough to survive in such a weak conference.

But they need this year to click, before they start playing their best together. I mean, Pierce and Walter are the only remaining players from the team that went to the Conference Finals two years ago. Add Mark Blount and Vin Baker to the list, and you have the sould surivors from last years team. I don't think any other team's gone through such a tranformation as this.

[DipSetVC]

They lost to Atlanta tonight giving them an 0-5 record in the post O'Brien era. I don't see this team going anywhere but that doesn't mean you can't make the playoffs, Hey, look at me, I'm a fan of the Raptors (If anyone knows pain and frustration, it's me).

[-BHZMAFIA-]

its stupid what Ainge did, because if u look at Boston from the last 2 years they we're almost in the NBA Finals! Those dumb moves Ainge did that gave away all his depth away and even though I dont like Walker him and Pierce we're a great combo...I use to like the Celtics especially when it came down to the East Finals and the Playoffs I would go for them, but now they got a stupid GM. Now since their coach left they really messed up that its a shame. How can you turn a playoff team to a lotto team? They lucky they in the East because with that bad record they are actualyl still in the playoffs. What Ainge shouldve did was still do the deal with Cleveland and never traded with Mavs then their lineup will be:

C-Blount or whoever
PF-Walker
SF-Ricky
SG-Pierce
PG-Delk

That wouldve been alot better team than trading away Walker for someone that hasnt played no more than 10 games for them.

[Bill Russell]

I wonder what boston will look like next year... if davis is fully within the system and raef is healed...

c - lafrentz
pf - baker
sf - pierce
sg - davis
pg - james

... they could compete in the East... but... if they wanna trade to upgrade their talent... they're done...

[Full Surface]

Rumors has it that Boston is looking to talk with Minnesota about Troy Hudson.

[Old School Fool]

Troy Hudson is on IR right?

[Full Surface]

He came back a few weeks ago. He wasn't playing like himself though. Not sure whether they put him back on IR.

[1CenT]

A healthy Celtics team is fine right now to be 6th seed in the East..
But it won't happen this season..
Blount (9 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block) - decent size , improved a lot
Vin Baker( 13 points, 6 rebounds) - can score the ball a bit, bad defender, soft rebounder
Welsh (10 points, 3, 3) - fine defender, great shooter, fine defender
Pierce (23,6,5) - top 3 SG in NBA, finally with some rest this summer, he'll shoot better
James (9 points, 4 assist) - fine stable pg, good shooter

their starting lineup, they got three 3 point shooter, weak on boards but they have help from Pierce.

Bench
Davis (14,4,3) He is gettin comfortable with the celtics, gives them some athletic ability to get on the break
Walter (9 points, 4 boards) Good 3 point shooter, decent midrange defender
Lafrentz (9 points, 6 boards, 1 block) - Much needed size
Banks - good future quick pg, good off da bench
Mihm - Good rebounder, great size


They have an okay front court, Blount, Baker, Lafrentz, Milm, Walter
and they have good shooters from outside, Welsh, James, Walter, Pierce
and good slashers in Banks, Ricky, Pierce

If they play okay defence like when they were under O'Brien.. I see them in the 6th seed or so.. about 6-8 games over .500...

But with Lafrentz, Baker out.. They are too small