PF/center upgrades

[Alexander Wang <awang@MIT.EDU>]

Now that we're on the subject, let's look at the trades that have gotten 
quality inside players recently. We saw Oakley traded for Camby, who was a 
#2 pick and a league leader in shotblocking before the trade; now he's a 
budding star. We saw Antonio Davis traded for a #5 lottery pick. Ratliff 
was traded for Stackhouse, who has since gone to the All-Star game multiple 
times. PJ Brown came in a package with Mashburn for Eddie Jones, a multiple 
All-Star. Miami got Brian Grant relatively cheaply in terms of talent but 
was taking advantage of Cleveland's luxury tax desperation and Grant's own 
desire to play there; beyond that they had to give him a max contract also.

Two points: First, none of these guys were acquired by giving up midlevel 
talent like our current centers, except Grant because of those special 
circumstances. In every other case, they're giving up high picks or 
extremely promising young players who have actually done something in the 
league. None of these teams improved by drafting centers late and all of 
these guys were costly salary-wise -- not exception players.

Second, it's possible to get a starting center/PF by trading a very good 
swingman. I think there's hope for us to really upgrade that position if 
these draft picks come through. But it's not going to happen until they 
prove themselves on the court.

Alex