Re: Walker for Robinson

[Michael Joseph Byrnes <mbyrnes@leland.Stanford.EDU>]

Stathis Avgoustiniatos wrote:

> In my opinion it would be foolish to get an aging soft center and lose
> Walker.  Robinson is an excellent player, he may help the Cs go further
> into the POs in the 98-99 season, but he will all but destroy any chances 
> we have to go all the way even in 3-5 years.

All but destroy?  I don't think so.  When Robinson retires, his team will
have a bundle of cap room to go after a big time free agent.  

> The nucleus the C's have now is very good.  Their primary concern should be
> to get a respectable center, and the scondary to find a good PG to replace
> (maybe trade with?) Kenny Anderson.  I am not crazy about Van Exel either,
> and indeed, getting him this year could be bad for both Anderson and VE.

The problem is, the "nucleus" the Celtics have now is largely made up of
young players who are not signed to long term deals.  If Walker, Mercer,
and Pierce are as good as we think they are, it will be virtually
*impossible* for the Celtics to retain all three, and add a free agent
center.  

The Celtics have Ron Mercer for two more years, and Pierce for three.  If
Walker signs, they may not be able to afford either one, and certainly
won't be able to afford both.  Which means that the Celtics' "window of
opportunity" with their current team is about 2-3 years.  In that short
time frame, the Celtics are a better team with The Admiral than with
Antoine.

> Kenny Anderson may be able to make C's a pretty good team, but he is not
> championship material.  Unless, of course, he is the weak link in a team
> with 4 other very good players, which means we have to find a very good
> center too.

Kenny Anderson is not going anywhere!

He is currently the "most untouchable" Celtic, because he is signed to a
long term contract at reasonable money.  The Celtics are set at point
guard for the next five years, and they are not about to deal Andreson for
a player who will want big money to stay.    

Michael Byrnes
mbyrnes@stanford.edu