What about ...

[Peter Delevett <pdelevett@xxxxxxxxx>]

ESPN speculates about whether "contenders" like the
Lakers or Magic might benefit from trading for Tyrone
Hill, who isn't playing much for the youth-movement,
draft-tanking Cavs. 

Hill could certainly upgrade the Celtics' rebounding
and toughness, quite a bit more than Grant Long.

Hill: 6'9, 250, 34 y.o. Career average 8.7 RPG in 28
mpg.

Long: 6'9, 250, 36 y.o. Career average 6.3 RPG in 29
mpg.

If you look at their productivity over the past 4
seasons, the difference is even more pronounced. Hill
has never averaged fewer than 9 RPG; Grant has never
averaged more than 5.7 RPG in comparable playing time
(25 MPG to Hill's 31 MPG). Hill is a malcontent, but
so is Grant.

The catch, of course, is that Grant will come a lot
cheaper than Hill, who's finishing a 5-year, $37
million contract (figures courtesy of Patricia
Bender). Hill's contract is up at the end of the year,
so it's not like the C's would be taking on another
long-term salary anchor.

The question is, does Hill's superior production
warrant giving up much more for him than would have to
be given up for Long (who, I'm assuming, would settle
for a pro-rated, veteran's minimum salary)?

I'm inclined to think it might, and to think Hill
could carry the Celtics further than the older-model
Long could. The problem then becomes, what would
Cleveland want in return?

Obviously, no salary anchors like Vin Baker (we can
only dream). They'll want young bucks and/or expiring
contracts, and most certainly picks. A combo of
Shammond Williams (helps the Cavs fill PG gap, and his
deal also expires this  summer) and Eric Williams (one
year left on deal) would work, according to RealGM. I
don't think O'Brien would countenance losing E-Will,
but the nice thing about this deal is, it's not
another case of trading the future for a
rent-a-player, a la the Johnson/Rogers swap.

With Kedrick playing better and Walter around,
Williams might be more expendable. Ditto with
Bremer/Shammond, though it's certainly early to judge
Bremer a success.

Rumor also has it the Cavs would move Darius Miles,
who could certainly be seen as sweetener for Boston.
On the other hand, you could argue the Celtics don't
need yet another young athlete who hasn't quite
learned the game. Boston would probably have to throw
in Kedrick to make that work - both in terms of
salaries, and because the Cavs would need something of
value in exchange for the player they dealt Andre
Miller to get. 

The Celtics will probably go ahead and sign Long; if
they're going to do a splashy deal or part with an
asset like E-Will or Kedrick, it'll probably be for
someone sexier than Tyrone Hill. I just question
whether Long, circa 2002, can do much to shore up the
inside for Boston - especially if Battie goes down for
a while.
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