When Paul Pierce left the meeting, both he and Ainge were happy.
When Antoine Walker left the room, Ainge called Donn Nelson.
Ainge has since said that he and Walker did not agree on Walker's role.
Walker was mad about the meeting and what had gone down, furthering himself from Ainge (who didn't respect Walker's game anyway).
Most of Boston knew that Walker would be leaving the team, the team was not talking about an extention, nor were they ever going to give one.
The idea was that Vin Baker's deal was up in a couple of years and so was Antoine Walker's, so building a team around Paul Pierce was the plan.
The Celtics could also sign a player like Amare Stoudemire or another young frontcourt player in those appoarching years. Having extra cap space available after Delk and Walker are traded, Baker's deal runs out, Eric Williams and Chris Mills are going to free up $12 million or so next year.
So taking Raef LaFrentz, Jiri Welsch and a first-round pick (plus Mills' contract which expires at the end of the season) does look like something to Ainge. You see getting the four things for Walker and Delk does many things, first the cap space of Mills, next the interior game is better, like it or not Walker does not play defense, does not block shots and hardly ever makes himself felt inside.
Yes LaFrentz makes close to what Walker makes and for a longer time, but it is around 3-4 million dollars less for now. It also brings a possitvie attitude to the locker room and court. LaFrentz is much quieter in both places. Danny Ainge did not like Antoine Walker having a "grasp" of the club, he thought that should be someone with a bit more leadership ability, plus it wouldn't hurt if that someone could provide a spark when needed, maybe someone like Paul Pierce.
For those that believe the Celtics are stupid and unaware that Antoine Walker is better than Raef LaFrentz, do not kid yourself, they do know about it, about all of it, including the future, the moral, the facts that go into a complete deal, the complete deal included a First Round Pick, no matter how low, a 23-year-old Jiri Welsch and Raef LaFrentz. It's not all bad for the Celtics. Kendrick Perkins was available quite late in the first round and he is a good pick-up.
Boston added Marcus Banks, Jermaine Jones, Kendrick Perkins, Brandon Hunter, Mike James and players like Kedrick Brown and Vin Baker have improved over last season. This team does not need Antoine Walker and Tony Delk shooting 3-balls all over the place and giving not much else.
This is the future of Boston Celtics basketball, if you are a fan, support the 12 that dress each night, if you think the deal was a stupid one, fine you can believe that. Antawn Jamison, Danny Fortson and Jiri Welsch for Nick Van Exel and scrubs looks more one-sided to me and everyone didn't trash the Warriors as much. (maybe they did and I didn't see it)
Boston may not be done dealing yet either, Tony Battie for Stromile Swift was mentioned at one point, also Dallas wanted Battie in the deal instead of Delk, but Ainge held him back for reasons that may turn into another young frontcourt player like Swift or Al Harrington.
Raef LaFrentz also went to Kansas with Pierce.
About Dallas:
This is like having 4 HBs in the backfield in Football (NFL) or having 4 centers on the ice in hockey.
Antoine Walker, Steve Nash, Antawn Jamison, Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley on the court at the same time is probably going to be fun to watch, but I doubt they could handle the Lakers or Spurs.
Walker will fit in Dallas better than Jamison. Walker is a good offensive player with the ball, he can shoot it, and he can pass it, both better than Jamison. But the deal is that Dallas has this covered already.
Don Nelson has always liked to play small ball, but one day he might realize that if you are 2 feet from the basket and you are bigger and stronger than everyone else, it makes sense that you can defend the basket and put the ball into it. oh well it should be fun though.
I have never hated Antoine Walker, I have been a big fan of his from the days he was with Kentucky. I loved the Wildcats with Delk, Derek Anderson, Ron Mercer, Antoine and Jarred Prickett and the others.
Whem Boston drafted him, I was very happy! But recently the three's, the flipping the ball up and coming up short all the time around the basket and the consitant complaing and crying to the refs was all starting to drive me crazy. Everyone in the Fleet Center booed Walker all the time. I have never heard them booing Paul Pierce.
Boston plays Dallas on National TV twice this season between ESPN and TNT.
Antoine Walker at Boston on National TV, should be crazy.
