Re: Walker for Ratliff rumor continues

[Josh Ozersky <josh_ozersky@yahoo.com>]

Absurd trade.  I think Larry Brown is zotzing Pitino. 
Why would we trade an all star caliber young player
for a slightly better Tony Battie?  Doesn't make any
sense.  If Walker goes, it won't be during this
season, and it won't be such unequal value.  This may
be the most ridiculous trade yet I've heard discussed
re Walker.  Walker for Iverson would be more like it.

--- Alex Wang <awang@mit.edu> wrote:
> From the Philadelphia Inquirer:
> 
> Reports that had the Boston Celtics swapping center
> Vitaly Potapenko and
> Antoine Walker to the Sixers for Tyrone Hill and
> Larry Hughes don't appear
> to be accurate.
> 
> However, sources for both organizations confirmed
> yesterday that the
> Celtics are interested in sending Walker to
> Philadelphia in a one-for-one
> swap for Ratliff and that they have made that known
> to the Sixers.
> 
> "They know we love Antoine, and we know they love
> Theo," Brown said.
> Celtics coach "Rick Pitino has wanted Theo for ages,
> but nothing's going on."
> 
> That's because of something called base-year
> compensation. For any player
> who receives a new contract worth more than 120
> percent of his previous
> year's salary, the team that picks him up is
> prohibited from getting
> market value for that player in return.
> 
> --
> 
> This is really a bombshell in my mind, that their
> coach is actually
> quoted in the paper confirming interest. I wonder
> about the Walker+V
> for Ratliff and Hughes rumor (the writer
> accidentally substituted
> Hill for Ratliff evidently) because it would be
> trading our 4 and 5,
> which are our weakest positions, for a 4/5 and 2. I
> keep hearing about
> Hughes' talent (just like McGrady) but when I see
> them play, I'm 
> impressed on occasional plays but come away
> generally disappointed.
> It's probably how other teams' fans come away
> watching Antoine, except
> that Antoine is much more productive than either of
> these guys. 
> 
> Anyways, a straight Ratliff for Walker trade would
> make more sense
> in completing each team's starting lineup although
> wouldn't be as good
> talent-wise if you believe all the hype about
> Hughes. Personally, I'd
> rather keep an average starting-quality center
> (Potapenko) than another
> talented but unproven guard. Anyways, the Sixers
> need a secondary 
> scorer who can take the load off of Iverson but not
> interfere with him.
> Walker's ability to create and pass (in theory) as
> well as play inside
> would complement Iverson. Ratliff would provide the
> shotblocking 
> presence that has been missing for the Celtics and
> provide some more
> depth at the big man positions. 
> 
> If Walker continued his current rather poor play,
> you'd have to say the
> deal would improve the Celtics (although where the
> scoring came from
> might become an issue). At the same time, you'd
> probably see Walker
> step up his play under Larry Brown, making us all
> curse the deal.
> 
> Alex
> 
> 

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