Trades, trades, trades

[Jim Hill <jahill@netway.com>]

I think the one thing that is clear is that the Celtics need their core
players to improve.  There is no other choice.  If the other teams don't
want our players then you can't trade them for much.

Look at these big trades and the one thing that is always involved is
players other teams want.  They are typically more established and
successful, individually, over a period of years.  The Celtics don't have
any of those right now.  They don't have many who put in the effort to be
successful.

Pierce by himself won't restructure this team.  Falk is the only one who can
move Anderson, and what do you get back? A starting point?  A center?  I
don't think so.

This team has several players who were low first round picks who are not
playing to their potential.  They must become the players they can be for
this team to be successful.  They were fortunate to find Griffin from the
CBA last year.  Blount may be this years Griffin.

The Celtics now have three legit point's which at least two each game should
be healthy enough to play.

They have four players who can play the 5, 5 players who can play the 4, 7
who can potentially play the 3, 4 players at the 2 and 3-4 at the 1 (If you
count Griffin).  They need two players at each position who brings the
desire to match their skills **every game** to be successful.

Walker hasn't earned his money the last couple years.  Battie sure hasn't.
Same with Williams.  Anderson?  Last year may be the best he can be.  The
new guy's should push them to produce.

Brown and Pack could push Anderson to play up tempo if he wants to play big
minutes.  Cheany needs to produce like he is capable of.  Same with
Williams.  Carr should push them.  I wish the second rounder was in camp.

Blount and the draft pick should push Battie, Walker and McCarty to be
better.

VP is VP.

This is why I am relatively pleased with the pick up's this year.  These few
players should push the others to play better and smarter or they will lose
minutes.

This team is still a work in progress.  Until the main guy's step up, your
not going to be able to trade them for value or get big name FA's to want to
play with them.

Who would you rather sign with, the Heat and Mourning or the Celtics and
Walker?  

Over paying for second tier players won't help.  Trying to get them for the
exception was the right tack.  Wahid, Chrosure would have been good pick
up's for that money.

The picks next year and the following year should add at least one real
player.  A Walker/Pierce potential player.  Assuming these two continue to
grow/improve to all star status.  The new pick in 2001-02 is a
star-in-waiting and the others on the team start to contribute and give us
depth an the bench and you have a team.

Without Walker stepping up this team won't go anywhere.  He will be
untradeable for another year or two because of byc so it's not like you can
rebuild with him on the bench.

If he does step up, it's still a couple years away until you can add the
third "Star" and the others mature enough to go deep into the playoffs.

So folks it not all Pitino's/Gaston's fault.  The players still need to
produce to be able to trade them or get better as a team.

Let's see who is in basketball shape when camp open's.  Let's see if these
players can play as a team.

That's what will be the most telling about this off season.

<Jim