Strickland (More Likely), Hardaway, What Does It Matter?

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Strickland - Hardaway: What does it matter?

None of these guys is a legitimate NBA starting point guard.
They're both backups, for various reasons, and not whom you
want leading you at the point guard position come
playoff time. Strickland/Hardaway versus Jason Kidd: Now that's a
big mismatch..

So, between now and the trading deadline, the Celtics, who have adopted
a "Future Is Now" demeanor, are going to have enforce their
mantra by trading for a big time point guard.

And what BTPG could they hope to obtain? Well, that's a good question.

- Nick Van Exel could be available in time. Dallas is looking for
defensive
players up front, and in Kedrick Jordan,  Eric Williams, and Tony
Battie,
the C's seem to provide a good fit. Toss one or two draft choices in the

equation, take back an overpriced Wahad or the Teutonic Twiggy Boy,
reunite with Adrian Griffen, speculate on Wang Zhi-Zhi, covet Eduardo
Najera, dump Tony Delk, and you got yourself a deal. In fact a big deal,

as Boston and Dallas could do a 6 or 7 player trade, if Mark Cuban
can get the salaries to match with Excel.

- In the unlikely scenario that Utah crashes and burns, John Stockton
could be
around.  He certainly would be here for just this season, but hey it's
FIN after all.

- Damon Stoudamire is out there and so is his 7 year, $81 million
contract.

- The much discussed - Sam I Am Cassell.

- The always hurt but always effective Terrell Brandon.

- If the Spurs have Jason Kidd on the horizon, might Speedy Claxton be
available?

- A personal sleeper, the Clippers' Marko Jaric, the starting PG for the
Yugoslavian
National Team in the upcoming World Championships, and someone who can
shoot,
has great size: 6-6 to look over the defense, good ballhandling skills,
makes good decisions, plays decent defense, athletic, and is
angry with the Clippers for acquiring Miller and taking away his
playing time. He also doesn't take up a lot of cap space. You can do
a core trade of Shammond Williams for him, and then add on Celtics draft
pciks,
other players, etc.

So,. there's a few BTPGs out there. Let's see if Chris Wallace can
ferret one out.
Ray