Momentum For Bird's Return Increases/Wallace Lame Duck/Don't Expect Any Major Moves This Season

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

With the momentum for Larry Bird's return building, and the possibility
that Chris
Wallace's role this season will be that of a lame duck caretaker,
don't expect any earth shattering moves. That will be for the new Bird
led
management team to undertake. Wallace's role will be to mind the store,
not expand the team's cap liability, and put on a happy face, as he
ponders
his exit strategy.

As far as whom, Head of Basketball Operations Bird, could peg as the
new GM to run things day by day and evaluate International Talent,
my guess and Jackie MacMullan's thoughts lie toward Donnie Walsh,
the Indiana GM, a great talent evaluator and a long time admirer
of Celtics ways. Then of course, there's Bird's best bud: Quinn Buckner,

who should also be considered heavily in the running.

Now as to the coach, O'Boring could survive, if the team
does well this season; and the offensively limited one, does have the
respect of Pierce and Walker (and why shouldn't he, as he
coddles the two of them to no end), but it will be
Bird's call, and no matter what Pierce or Walker want,
they are peripheral to Bird's pull. Pierce and Walker
can whine, pout, cry to the Lama, and threaten to go on hunger strikes
to try to save O'Brien's job, and it still won't matter, if Bird
wants a new coach.

And that's the nice thing about having a Bird in charge. He'll have the
Big MO
to just about do what he wants, including pulling off a major deal,
involving Walker or Pierce, if it improves the team.  Something
Wallace/Pond/Gaston would never have done/allowed.

For instance, if Baker is rejuvenated, and Olowokandi and.Miller become
available
after the season, a three-team deal that sees Walker and others from the
Celtics
exiting and Olowokandi and Miller arriving, would be a stroke of genius.

All in all, hope spring internal, rather than eternal these days, and
that's a good sign.
Ray