Re: BskBall reporting possible Celtics Deal with Magic

[Alex Wang <awang@mit.edu>]

Assuming that Derek Strong can still play, this deal makes a lot of
sense. Orlando is loaded with young forwards and the 31 year old Strong
doesn't fit in with their rebuilding plans. And Pitino wanted Strong
when he first arrived, offering him a 4 years, $8M deal if I remember
correctly.

Boston can't add any players through free agency, other than through
exceptions, because they're well over the cap for the foreseeable
future. Through this deal they'd be essentially trading Pervis, who
has no real future with the Celtics, for a player that might go for
the $2M exception if he was a free agent. It's like getting a free
salary cap exception.

And if Pitino feels like he really does want Pervis this season, I bet
that he could arrange for Orlando to waive Pervis, and for the Celtics
to re-sign him at the minimum once he cleared waivers. The Knicks did
similar things with Herb Williams in the past, I believe. 

Alex

> Doesn't this sound familiar.  I believe Warwick posted this sometime
> this past summer.  Tell me what you think about it!
> 
> Josh
> 
> 12/07- MAGIC AND PERVIS- I am hearing from a lot of people the idea that
> the Celtics are close to a deal with Orlando in which Pervis Ellison
> would be sent to the Magic for Derek Strong and a 2nd round draft
> choice. The Magic are one of the teams exploring ways to open up as much
> cap space as possible, and Derek Strong has spent a large portion of the
> season on the IR. I could not confirm any contact concerning this with
> either team, but I have heard this from more than a few people,. I will
> continue to work on it... so at this point consider it an UNCONFIRMED
> RUMOR.
>