RE: Insider 1/27/03

["Orion" <jlyell@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is definitely possible. The Raptors were high on Shammond this off
season and I believe he is buddies with Vince Carter. The question is
Alvin's knee.  I still like going after Sura & Foyle







-----Original Message-----
From: owner-celtics@igtc.com [mailto:owner-celtics@igtc.com]On Behalf Of
hironaka@nomade.fr
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2003 6:58 PM
To: Celtic4Hire@AOL.com
Cc: Celticsstuffgroup@yahoogroups.com; celtics@igtc.com
Subject: Insider 1/27/03


> ---------- Initial message -----------
> ESPN Insider wrote:
>   The other player to keep your eye on is the Raptors'
Alvin Williams. The emergence of Rafer Alston, combined
with the team's lackluster play, has management looking
to cut costs. You can add Jerome Williams and Antonio
Davis to this list as well, but Alvin is generating the
most interest right now. First, he's a big point guard,
something just about everyone in the league covets.
Second, his contract is pretty long, but he's not making
outrageous money (around $5 million a year). Where will
he land? Look to Boston, where the combo of Shammond
Williams and Tony Delk is struggling. The Celtics could
offer a package of Shammond Williams (free agent this
summer) and Eric Williams (one more year left on his
contract) that would allow the Raptors to clear some cap
room.
>

-----

Unfortunately, Toronto's Williams brothers (Junkyard Dog
and Alvin) earn 30% more than the combined salaries of
our Williams boys (Eric and Shammond) this season.

Thus the Celts would have to throw in two more minimum
expiring contracts to conceivably make it work (e.g.
Ruben Wysiwyg and Sundov).

Both Toronto players have admirable qualities, but this
trade can't plausibly occur P-B-T (post Baker trade),
with the  financial weight and risk spread too long term.
Its unlikely that Chris Wallace could sell it to the new
owners, given that Vin through 2006 is the first line on
his resume.

The 6-9 Jerome and the 6-5 Alvin are signed for serious
dollars through the age of 34-35, and into the latter
half of this decade. That means they add about 5 million
to next year's payroll...over 13 million per year
projecting out to the 2006-7 season.

If a trade happens, the merits are at least obvious.
Alvin, the 28-year-old PG, has size and shooting ability
and is clearly in his prime. To wit, he ranks 5th in
assist-turnover ratio in the NBA (3.5 to 1) and 15th  in
steals per turnover. Not bad a achievement for a 6-5 guy
on a team with so much roster instability. More
importantly  perhaps, he's also a bonafide 2nd-3rd scorer
at 14.4 ppg who can handle volume shooting (.444 , .351
treys). But he makes 5.3 million this year.

As for the 29-year-old Junkyard Dog, he combines elite
rebounding production (9.1 rebounds in 33 mpg this year)
with outstanding character intangibles. JYD is a
hyperactive defender/ballhawk. He's 12th in the NBA in
steals, 3rd in the NBA in offensive rebounds per game.
People forget how much defensive talent Toronto had
accumulated during the Vince/T-Mac years. They were a
headache.

This season, JYD is 6th in the NBA in steals-per-
turnovers. The Georgetown grad is also one of the
outstanding character guys in the NBA. You only need to
hear him speak once in a post-game interview to like and
admire his approach. He's a churchgoing type who doesn't
rub his own holiness in. And he puts his money where his
mouth is, in terms of his humanitarian impulses.

But Junkyard does count 5.25 million on the cap, which
means its certainly an either/or equation between Jerome
and Alvin, even if its obvious Boston is ejecting
deadweight from the roster to go get them (Shammond and
the other expiring contracts).

The reason is that Toronto is in a true salary cap hell,
so even this trade scenario is plausible unless a better
suitor steps up. Whether Boston acts or not, Toronto
likely will shed salary and restock. It makes perfect
sense from their side.

Despite the positives, Boston's new owners should green
light this second Chris Wallace spending splurge ONLY if
they feel Boston can win a 17th championship by
immediately adding these two new role-playing starters.

That's a huge IF. I don't envy Chris Wallace. We'll add
size/speed to the starting lineup, and a big upgrade in
rebounding and steals, without hurting our defensive
speed.

ANTOINE
JYD
Battie
PAUL
Alvin

Tony Delk
Walt and Kedrick
JR Bremer
Grant Long and Vin Baker

But is that enough Celtics Pride to fight and will our
way to a surprise 17th championship? The odds on bet is
NO. Not even close.

I'm not even elaborating all the downside risks in terms
of salary cap, which are daunting. Boston will be a
salary cap nightmare if this blows up on us like the Vin
Baker deal.

You might argue its ugly enough now thanks to Chris
Wallace and Vin Baker, so why not go double or nothing
with a couple of more good locker room guys.

But it would be "New York Knicks BAD" after this trade,
if the two guys turn out to be Shandon Anderson and Larry
Johnson type players.

Joe H.
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