Re: The Boston Celtics Mailing List Digest V4 #384

[michael t hart <thart@henge1.henge.com>]

The fact is Billups is light years from being a good ballhandler, shooter,
passer, or floor leader.  He could just as likely not learn these skills as he
could learn them.  He looks like he will be a very good defender.  It would be
nice to have a 6'3" pg but he needs to be good.

Stoudamire looks worse than he is because of his team.  Yes he is small but
plays big for his size ( he can finish in traffic as well as billups).  I think
he will be one of the top 5 pgs in basketball for years, especially on a better
team.  It would only work out if he wants to play for boston, otherwise we may
not be able to sign him.  He would make a huge difference to this team.  Isaihs
departure is the only reason he is available.

Billups is certainly the cheaper option, but also the bigger gamble IMO.
kjgoo wrote:

> Peter, you wrote:
>
> > Let me ask you: would you trade Billups for
> > SToudamire straight up? We sacrifice height and maybe strength but gain
> > speed. I dont know how Stoudamire's outside shooting compare sto Billups'.
> > I'd have to think long and hard about it, but unlike the vast majority
> of people on the list I probably would not do that deal.  Stoudamire is
> a better than average point who looks great on a really bad team.  He is
> small, though fearless (if I remember correctly his rookie rebounding
> numbers were amazing for a sub-6 footer).  I'm not sure Damon's ever
> going to be much better than he is now, and he certainly hasn't shown
> me that he's worth the $$$$$$$$ he's undoubtedly going to get from some
> team next year.  Chauncey, on the other hand, is all upside.  Yes, he
> needs to adjust to a point guard mentality in the Pitino system, but I
> haven't heard anyone question his attitude or his work ethic.  I'm eager
> to see how he plays as an NBA sophomore.
>
> As far as our needs in the middle are concerned, I've been too upset
> about last year's lottery debacle to think much about it.  I guess the
> key question is whether we really need a center (consigning Knight to
> backup status) or a mean, ugly power forward to do the dirty work
> inside.  If Ike Austin can't be had, what about Loy Vaught (assuming he
> recovers from back surgery)?
>
> Hey, does anyone still want to do that Sprewell trade?
>
> Michael Gooen