Ryan and Springer Like The Deal

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

Celtics get Delk, Rogers

Deal sends Johnson, Palacio, and Randy Brown to Phoenix

By Bob Ryan and Shira Springer, Globe Staff, 2/21/2002

he Celtics yesterday sent a clear message to the NBA that they take
themselves very seriously in any discussion of Eastern Conference
contenders by executing a significant trade with the Phoenix Suns.



The deal almost enters the ''too-good-to-be-true'' category. Boston gave
up rookie forward Joe Johnson, veteran guard Randy Brown, backup point
guard Milt Palacio, and their first-round draft pick for 2002. In
exchange, they acquired the services of 6-foot-7-inch forward Rodney
Rogers and 6-2 shooting guard Tony Delk.

In other words, they traded three people who weren't playing, plus a
draft pick that could be in the 20-plus range, for two players who make
them a vastly better team than they were 24 hours ago. It's the sports
ultimate: addition by addition.

''This is like one of those baseball trades that you see in the second
half of the season with the purpose of trying to bolster your team,''
said Celtics general manager Chris Wallace. ''We acquired two veterans
who are proven scorers. We'll have more offensive punch than we've ever
had for the stretch run. Looking at the Eastern Confernce, it's so wide
open, why not take a shot?

''Second, we wanted to reduce our overall payroll and put us in a better
position to handle the luxury tax in 2002-03.''

Celtics coach Jim O'Brien saw many positive aspects to the trade and
instantly felt he's now in charge of a deeper team.

''First, for this year we were able to pick up two really great
shooters, two perimeter guys,'' he said. ''Our whole strategic plan this
year is to space the court, and from that standpoint [the trade makes
sense].

''Really, at this point in time it doesn't affect what was last night
our top eight players. Tony and Rodney give us considerable additions to
what we already have.''

A Celtics spokesman said the team hopes to have both available to play
tonight against the Mavericks, but they first need to pass physicals.

Rogers, 30, is a rugged, versatile player who won the NBA's Sixth Man
Award in 2000. He can score from inside and out, and when he flexes his
massive biceps small mountains in neighboring states have been known to
move. He was averaging 12.6 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Suns.

Delk, 28, is the answer to a prayer Celtics fans have been aiming
skyward for anywhere from 12 to 20 years. One of the great ongoing team
needs has been a man who can come off the bench and provide instant
offense. This is Delk's game. He is a jump shooter supreme. He is a
tweener size with the reputation of being ''a shooting guard in a point
guard's body.'' But a shooting guard is what he is. Delk once scored 53
points in an NBA game.

''I've known Tony Delk since 1994, I coached him at Kentucky,'' said
O'Brien. ''He's a wonderful guy, an instant shooter, and a tough
defender. His role is to be determined.''

Rogers came into the NBA following his junior year at Wake Forest. He
was one of the eight collegiate players selected to provide opposition
for the original Dream Team when their practices commenced in La Jolla,
Calif., 10 years ago this June. Delk started for Rick Pitino's 1996 NCAA
championship Kentucky Wildcats. He was originally property of the Golden
State Warriors.

''Delk is a very potent outside shooter,'' said Wallace. ''He primarily
plays off-guard but he can play the point and he's a very good defender.
He's a proven commodity in the league. Rodney Rogers is someone that
we've never had before. He's a power forward with a tremendous outside
shot. And he's a big-body type.''

O'Brien has some definite plans for Rogers. ''Rodney is a big, strong
guy who plays in a similar fashion to Antoine [Walker],'' he said. ''In
my mind, he can play anywhere from the 5 [center] to the 3 [small
forward].''

Rogers earns $2.6 million and is a free agent at the end of the season.
Delk is in the second year of a six-year deal. He earns $2.475 million
this year and will make $2.7 million next year. He has a termination
option before the final year of the deal, which is 2005-06.

The trade lowers the Celtics' payroll next season to avoid a luxury tax
at the end of the 2002-03 season. It allows them to save more than $2.4
million when all the salaries are added in and, probably, another $1
million by not having to draft a player. (The pick is protected through
the first eight and then through the first five for five years. Barring
a Celtics collapse, the Suns will get the pick this year.) It also could
give the Celtics some room to re-sign Erick Strickland, who is the only
free agent they are likely to want to re-sign.

They are on the books next year for around $41 million. That covers
eight players. A new contract for Paul Pierce will add another $10-plus
million. The luxury tax is expected to kick in in the low $50-million
range. Next season should be the only year they'll be close to the
luxury tax cutoff. After the 02-03 season, Kenny Anderson comes off the
books, so they will have some wiggle room.

Johnson, the Celtics' first of three first-round draft picks in 2001,
started the season in tremendous fashion but ran into problems before
the month of November was concluded and before long was surpassed in the
eyes of Celtic brass by fellow rookie Kedrick Brown. The 6-7 Johnson
entered the NBA with the reputation of being a passive young man who is
too polite and deferential for his own good. That scouting report now
looks pretty sound.

Palacio gave the team some useful service last season, but the arrival
this season of Strickland made him completely expendable. The only thing
that has to be said about the effects of losing Randy Brown is that he
played in one (1) game this season.

Why would the Suns do this? M-o-n-e-y. They aren't going anywhere this
year, and they unload a couple of veteran salaries. They may have an
opinion on Johnson, who is skilled, and they will get a draft pick. But
this is a deal so one-sided that Eastern rivals such as New Jersey,
Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and a few others must be livid.

Peter May of the Globe Staff contributed to this report.