Salary dump?

["hironaka@nomade.fr"<hironaka@nomade.fr>]

I'm generally as willing as the next Boston sports fan to 
gripe about "Pond-scum", "Wallace-Hole" and "Gaston-
Intestinitis" etc. it being one part of civic culture.

But take a break from this "axis of evil" talk and wear 
the other shoe for a sec. How many Utah fans do you 
imagine are gloating about how their team is ready to 
pounce on Boston's craven attempt at a "salary dump" for 
financial reasons? Which team is tanking their playoff 
run? Possibly the entire Church of latter day saints out 
there would read yesterday's mailing list with a real 
sense of puzzlement at the one-sided barrage against 
Boston's cheap management and this talk 
about "principles" etc. 

Well dOn't worry, its basically moot. ESPN Insider 
yesterday called the Bryon Russell to Boston trade 
inplausible because the Jazz reportedly already have 
better offers than what the Globe says Wallace will give 
(a 47-year-old human groin injury, a 6-11 version of a 98-
pound weakling and, woohoo!, a fourth 20-year-old to add 
to our roster via the draft). Meanwhile, not only has 
Russell been the third scorer on regular 50 to 60 win 
teams, but he even has an expiring contract (which 
typically inflates trade value just by itself).

It is likely that Russell will join some other team's 2nd 
half playoff run so that Boston can finally stop wringing 
its hands over this terrible trade. Through this 
horrific, emotional rollercoaster ride (not seen in these 
parts since the Antoine Walker for Croshere/Best trade 
was called a lock by Bill Simmons), haven't we at least 
collectively rediscovered our love affair with McCarty as 
a viable backup power forward all along. ;-)

I feel that if this specific trade happens or doesn't 
happen, it is for basketball reasons. Give Chris "Wallace-
munch" a break on this one. We've got two first rounders 
starting in 2003, and three 20-year-olds to develop 
already on board. And yes, we DO want to make the 
playoffs and it will be a grueling run. If that means 
Battie and E-Will at backup PF for 10 minutes per game 
instead of Waltah, well I'm afraid that's just going to 
have to be the tragic result of this latest, cynical 
gambit. 

Joe H.

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