Re: reservations about baker trade

["JLyell" <jlyell@concentric.net>]

- ----------
> From: JOzersky@aol.com
> To: celtics@igtc.COM
> Subject: reservations about baker trade
> Date: Saturday, June 14, 1997 5:38 AM
> 
> I'm not too thrilled with this trade.  If it is the picks for baker and
number ten, I can live with it, but I don't see Baker, a highly mechanical,
predictable post up player, flourishing in a running game.  Also, do you
put him at center, backed up by dino, who also backs up antoine at 4?  The
worst thing by far would be to trade Williams, who has the potential to be
a
> dominant scorer at 3 into this bargain.  Then you have to pencil in Dino
as your starting 4 and Walker/Fox at three.  Still not bad, but not
overwhelming.  No, only make this trade if it doesn't involve one of our
good young players.  How about Dino and six for Baker?  I guess they
wouldn't go
> for that, but I just don't see mortgaging the farm for a player who wants
to be on your team and onlly has one or two years left on his contract.




I agree Dino has been injury prone due to having no other big man to bang
inside.  Walker & another pickup like an Andrew Declerq or Scot Pollard 
would help.  People forget this gut put up 20/10 numbers, imagine with a
few other weapons to take the double teams off him ?  If Fox will come back
in the $2M range as he has stated then having Fox, Walker & Williams give
us some decent scorers if they put up numbers consistent with last year,
but we really need a quick Pippen like slasher that can also shoot the 3,
and none of these players fit the bill, unless Walker or Williams improves
their shooting.  Add Mercer & Billups or Daniels and we have 2 more scoring
threats.  Or , as I have said we are in the drivers seat,  take mercer &
move the 6 for Baker or   Joe Smith, he may cause a log Jam at 3 , but we
have increased our trade value.


Maybe we go get Declerq & Howard Eisley, or resign Wesley for a decent
price, and have the following lineup ?


Radja	Declerq
Walker	Williams, Radja
Mercer	Fox , Williams
Daniels  or McGrady ?
Eisley or  Wesley ?


I think this team could compete.  Add Baker in 2 years and ?