RE: more irresponsible speculation

["Michael Griffin" <mgriffin@rillc.com>]

I think you could do much better if you are going to deal AW.  Houston is
above average but not much upside from what we've seen.  Childs has proven
to be a one-year wonder when he was with NJ and Wallace is 2nd unit (maybe)
fodder at best.  Given he is a throw-in, and assuming KA and CC wash, you
are saying that AW can basically fetch us AH, who is very similar to a
player we already have in PP.

As frustrated as I am with AW, I would only take either a proven all-star
(Hill/Payton/Duncan) or a potential all-star (McGrady/Odom/Van Horn).  You
probably have to throw in a #1 pick for the proven all-star but I want to at
least receive the potential up-side that we would be giving up in AW.

We have only two assets (AW&PP) and you can not deal them based on
frustration.  Complimentary players like Houston are fine if they have
somebody to compliment.  We can not build around PP solely; he is not that
good.  AW is (if he was 100% dedicated to improve) one of the best
all-around players in the league (top 5) in my opinion so Pitino should not
deal out of frustration.

The deal you posed would continue to keep the Celtics from the playoffs
whereas the current team has at least a 50/50 shot of making the playoffs if
AW picked up where he left off (the last 30 games of the season).

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-celtics@igtc.com [mailto:owner-celtics@igtc.com]On Behalf Of
> Thomas Murphy
> Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2000 7:54 AM
> To: Celtic list
> Subject: more irresponsible speculation
>
>
> Looks like it may be a wild, wide-open off-season. Here's
> something else to
> stir the pot until Aug 1st. Looks like the Knicks may be going down to the
> Heat - that's gotta hurt. Wonder if they will be looking to
> re-tool over the
> summer as well? They've made do with two SG for a season and a half and
> right now they're getting killed on the glass. Perhaps they might be ready
> to part with one for the right price.
>
> How's this grab you: Allan Houston, Chris Childs, and John
> Wallace for Twon
> and Kenny.
>
> Some more player specifics: Houston (6-6 SG 29 yrs and team
> leading scorer,
> contract expires in '03), Childs (6-3 PG 32 yrs contract expires
> in '02) and
> Wallace (6-9 F 26 yrs contract expires in '02) for Antoine (6-9 PF 24 yrs
> contract expires in '05) and Kenny (6-1 PG 29 yrs contract
> expires in '03).
>
> Based on the contract figures from
> http://www.charlotte.com/hornets/nbasalaries.htm (yes they are the numbers
> for the season just completed, but we can expect that they will be roughly
> the same proportionally - just add 10-12.5%) the salaries work out. KA
> 6,680k + Antoine 9mil = 15,680k for Houston 8mil + Childs 4,160k + Wallace
> 2mil = 14,160k. Walker is BYC so we can only accept back 75% of
> his salary,
> so with the 15% rule and using these numbers we can accept up to 15,445mil
> back. The 15% rule allows NY to accept up to 16,284k back.
>
> NY gets a creative and offensively gifted point, we get a taller,
> better PG
> defender who can do for us everything that Pitino has allowed Kenny to do.
> NY gets a stud at PF (no doubt about it, he could REALLY blossom
> in that vet
> environment) who can board, score and pass but who is a bit outta control
> under Pitino. Boston gets Houston, a go-to guy at SG, a professional's
> professional, a playoff veteran, and a scoring machine who led
> the Knick in
> scoring despite having to play somewhat in the shadow of more "visible"
> teammates.
>
> Houston's stats are solid: 82 games started, .483 fg .436 3pts
> 19.7 ppg. His
> acquisition would mandate moving Pierce back to SF (where he can
> block shots
> and board, which I think would be best for all concerned). It would also
> enable the Cs to re-sign Fortson, since they will be offering starters'
> minutes (I can hear Pitino now - "it was like getting Fortson in the trade
> too"). Boston's perimeter D would increase immeasurably with
> Childs, Houston
> and Pierce as the 1, 2, and 3. While it would not address Boston's size at
> PF and C it would allow a for more reasonable rotation that should foster
> the continued development of V, Fort and Battie. (I still find it hard to
> believe that Vitaly only averaged 2.5 minutes more a game than
> Eric Williams
> last year!)
>
> Wallace provides insurance at PF and joins a 2nd unit with Battie, Eric W,
> AG and Barros. Also, Boston should have a bit of cap flexibility after '02
> with Barros, Minor, Cheaney, McCarty, Childs, and Wallace coming off the
> payroll (the first two in '01).
>
> To sum up, this trade would net us a playoff veteran, still in
> the prime of
> his career, who as the go-to guy would take some of the heat off our
> youngsters. It would also address two of our other greatest needs - the
> gaping hole at SF (truly our Achilles heal last year) and our porous
> perimeter D. Shot blocking improves only a tad (with Pierce closer to the
> hoop) and will continue to remain a team weakness - unless Battie finally
> steps up (a la Camby).
>
> Cheers -TomM
>