Re: Insider 1/27/03

[David A Wickerham <aw623@xxxxxxx>]

I don't see any of these trades.  OBie's game plan is always based on
defense, and its unlikely that any of those guys would pick up his
defensive schemes quickly enough to be of value for the playoff run.  For
all of his faults, EW is the key player in the Celtics defensive scheme,
and I just can't see the Cs moving him at this time.


On Tue, 28 Jan 2003, hironaka@nomade.fr wrote:

> > ---------- 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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-----------------------------------------------------------------
	  Dave Wickerham
	  aw623@freenet.buffalo.edu
	  Saratoga Springs, NY