Retired Numbers/Trade

[Michael Gooen <callmebogie@yahoo.com>]

Douglas wrote:  

<<Should bench players, no matter how exalted, have
numbers retired?  The only franchise close to the
Celts in league history, the Lakers, have fivenumbers 
on the wall:  Worthy, Wilt, Magic,. Kareem and West.
By Laker criteria, Max's number shouldn't be there. 
But by Celtic criteria, why not?  And if so, why not
DJ and Ainge?  All were starters on 
championship teams.  With the exception of Parish and
McCauley, though, didn't all the rest end their
careers with Boston?>>  

Actually, the Lakers DID retire Baylor's #22.

And the C's retired DJ's #3.

As for the other Celtic retired #s, Jo Jo White (#10)
and Dave Cowens (#18) ended their careers with the
Kings and Bucks, respectively.

Retiring Cedric's number is a tough call.  I'd put him
in the same class as Bailey Howell and Paul Silas --
tough forwards who were indispensible parts of two
championship teams.  If anything, Silas was more
important than Cedric (Cedric's '81 Finals MVP award
and stellar Game 7 '84 performance notwithstanding) --
just look at how the team fell apart after he left. 
I'd like to see all three of those guys honored
somehow.

As for WayRay's Kevin Willis rumor -- completely
preposterous.  Giving up Antoine Walker for a 36 year
old 7 footer who hates playing center and a marginal
NBA talent like McGrady (athletic potential
notwithstanding, that's all McGrady is so far) is
insane.  Giving up Tony Battie -- a 24 year old 6'11"
leaper -- ALONE for Kevin Willis is just as
ridiculous.  Adding the Denver pick is even crazier. 
And getting rid of "cap crap" no longer makes sense
under the current collective bargaining agreement. 
Even if a team gets way below the cap a la Chicago or
Orlando, a free agent's current team can outbid any
other team.  Absent unusual circumstances (e.g.,
acrimony a la Shandon Anderson), you're not going to
see marquee free agents going ANYWHERE anymore except
in a sign and trade, where being above the cap doesn't
hurt.  

So what's the point of getting Kevin Willis?  Willis
was a good player in 1988.  He isn't anymore.  The
only reason he looked so great against the Celtics on
opening night is that the Celtics had nobody
underneath.  That's no longer true.  Willis won't make
the Celtics a championship contender or even
dramatically improve their playoff odds.  

Michael Gooen
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