A Couple Of Trades I'd Like To See

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

For this season: Walker to Portland for Dale Davis and
Zach Randolph. Doubt Portland would do it and
haven't even checked the cap figures, but love this deal.
Davis would give the Celtics the defense and rebounding
they need at PF, and Randolph in time, will be a certified
low post impact player. Love the trade because it helps
the Celtics in present and the future. Not gonnna happen
(Portland's not that stupid), so time to move on....

To my second deal. C's next year should package either Johnson
or Brown and their draft choice (90 percent probabilty that
the pick will be somewhere between 10 and 15) to move up in
the draft to find an impact player at center or point guard.

It would greatly enhance the Celtics chances of making-and-
performing well in the playoffs if they had something other
than backup players at the two most important positions
in the game.

I mean really! Wallace and Papile seem to treat
these positions as afterthoughts with their actions and grand
pronouncement that small forwards are the dominant
players in the game. And yet, somehow, the two Celtic
dominant small forwards aren't good enough to
propel the team to the playoffs. Makes you wonder.

As far as moving up in next year's draft, it's unlikely
the Celtics can place themselves in a position to select
either a dominant center in Ming the Merciless or the
Isiah-like Williams, at least not with the deal I proposed.

But there appears to be a crop of other players likely to be drafted
in the 3 - 6 positions that could have an impact, especially at PG.
I'm thinking of the Stocktonesque Jameer Nelson and Chris Duhan.
Those two have got it. They are born point guards. Another player
to consider is DeJuan Wagner, who's more of an Iverson type,
but that's fine too.

Sure, if the Celtics don't make a trade and keep their likely late
lottery pick, they can find a point guard. But it's like comparing
apples to walnuts. There's a lot more pulp in an apple than a
walnut, and a greater certainty of finding an impact player
at point guard (or any other position) with a high draft pick
than a choice in the teens. Yes, the Stocktons and the Prices
prove occasionally you can come out of the draft, sans a top ten
pick with a star PG. But, the norm (and the Cliff) is you generally
need a high draft choice to select the Magics, Paytons, Kidds,
Archibalds, etc.... The true difference makers.
Ray