TRADING PLACES: Possible Celtics Trades As The Deadline Approaches

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

First Things First: Thanks to Crappy GM/Yes Man Chris Wallace's
ignominious moves, the Celtics are depleted in the tradeable material
department.
.
 Pierce isn't going anywhere. Walker, not yet, but if the new ownership
seeks to avoid paying a luxury tax after the season, dealing Walker
then, will be a strong consideration. Baker, very unlikely of course.

So, what you have is:

- Battie and his bulky knee.

- Shammond Williams, who's gone after the season any ways
(again a luxury tax impediment).

- Tony Delk, whose long term contract and bench status negates a great
deal
of value.

- Kedrick Brown, currently averaging more injuries per season: 1.5, than
points: 0.6.

- Eric Williams, another bench guy with limited value.

- Bruno Sundov, who has an out in his contract after the season, and
with
the demand for big people, should smartly use it.

- Wollywhatever and Bremer, trade toss-ins.

- And the draft choices.  Hard at the moment to estimate their value,
because
everything is so fluid. An injury here, an injury there, the schedule
gets tougher,
Philly encounters problems ..... and so forth, then the draft choices
gain a lot more
value than they currently possess.

                                         ________________

So with the above knowledge in mind, let's get to the Salary Cap/Real GM
viable deals:

Antoine Walker + Vin Baker + Shammond Williams to Utah for Stockton
and Malone.  What a shocker of a deal! The ultimate "Go For It Now"
trade, that Wallace wouldn't have the guts to pull off. No luxury tax or
salary
cap problems after Malone/Stockton retire after the season, meaning the
Celtics
would be Big Time Players in free agency.

Kedrick Brown + Shammond Williams + 1st Round Pick to Portland for Jeff
McInnis
& Zach Randolph. Definitely upgrades the PG position, and the Zackster
is waiting to blossom. Portland at one time, had a big time interest in
Kedrick Brown,
and may still be intrigued.

Vin Baker + Kedrick Brown + Two No. 1s to Miami for Eddie Jones &
Laphonso Ellis.
Jones would be a nice upgrade over Williams in the starting lineup.
Gotta
hand out the draft choices, when Vinny's involved.

Kedrick Brown + Shammond Williams + Two 1sts to the Clippers for Lamar
Odom.  An "out of the blue" type of deal. I like it.

Kedrick Brown + Shammond Williams + Two 1sts to Memphis for Stromile
Swift.
A developing Swift would free up Walker to be dealt.

Kedrick Brown + Shammond Williams + No. 1 to Chicago for Marcus Fizer
& Rober Mason.  Krause is dealing Fizer any ways, so why not give it a
shot.

Kedrick Brown + Tony Delk + Shammond Williams + Eric Williams + One
First to Golden State for Gilbert Arenas, Danny Fortson, and Bob Sura.
Fortson solves the beef problem, as does Arenas at point, Sura may
be salvageable.

Kedrick Brown + Tony Battie + Shammond Williams + No. 1 to
the Clippers for Elton Brand & Sean Rooks. The C's starting lineup
would be Baker, Brand, Walker, Pierce and Delk. Very interesting.

Kedrick Brown + Two Firsts to Washington for Jordan & Oakley.
One last stand in playoff land for the Mikester....

Kedrick Brown + Shammond Williams + Bruno Sundov to Toronto
for Lindsey Hunter & Michael Bradley. Hunter offers a PG
upgrade and Bradley is the local Big Man with potential.

Kedrick Brown + JR Bremer + No. 1 to Miami for Travis Best & Malek
Allen.
Bet a PG upgrade; Allen a PF surprise.

Ray