Short sighted GM work

[Bob McChesney <rwmcches@uiuc.edu>]

This trade makes sense and is defensible under one and only one condition: 
Delk and Rogers make the Cs legitimate contenders for an NBA title this 
year or next year.

Unless that is true the deal is indefensible. The Celtics give away Joe 
Johnson, who, at age 20, may develop into a solid NBA player. The Celtics 
also give up their no. 1 draft pick. Lord help us if this becomes a lottery 
pick. One injury to you-know-who or a string of bad luck and it most 
certainly will. (I hope Wallace was smart enough to do what every other NBA 
GM does and get lottery protection.)

If you believe, as I do, that the Cs still lack the necessary talent to win 
a title, then it is insane to trade away no. 1 picks or 20 year old prospects.

The purpose of the deal, if it does not lead to contender status, is to 
save ThanksDad some money. But giving up Joe Johnson and a no. 1 to 
save  ThanksDad Randy Brown's relatively small contract for one measly 
season? This is insanity.

Even if the 2002 draft is a weak one, there are always foreign prospects to 
be tabbed, players who will emerge. And if ThanksDad is eager to trade the 
no. 1 pick so as to avoid paying a guaranteed contract, why not wait until 
the season is over and see where the pick falls, how much money the pick 
will cost.

In short, the Celtics have no upside for this deal. Delk and Rogers are at 
their peaks. The Suns have nothing but upside. They get rid of two 
journeymen  and score JJ and a no. 1 pick. This is the sort of trade smart 
GMs make. It is the sort of trade the Cs used to make.