Herald: Walker Deals Stack Deck

["Josh Ozersky" <jozersky1@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Walker deals stack deck

by Michael Gee
Thursday, July 3, 2003








Danny Ainge has always appeared to have a lot on the ball, a man blessed with
both intelligence and common sense. But according to anonymous sources within
pro basketball, Ainge could wind up being declared legally incompetent to
manage his own affairs, let alone run the Celtics.

The recent trade rumors involving Antoine Walker go far beyond being bad deals
for Boston. They're insults to the franchise's new boss. Walker for Latrell
Sprewell? Walker for Robert Horry and some draft picks? If Ainge ever
considered those moves for a nanosecond, he must've spent the week since the
NBA draft undergoing continuous electroshock therapy.

Ainge likely had nothing to do with these proposed swindles. Rumors don't have
to be true to serve a purpose. These stories are designed for the New York and
Los Angeles markets. The Knicks needed to show their increasingly absent fans
they're taking bold steps to revive a moribund team. The Lakers needed a
response to Kobe Bryant's little bombshell about trying free agency.

Why would savvy Boston basketball followers, who've known Ainge for over two
decades now, give the Walker trade whispers the slightest credence? Because
Ainge said he was open to any deal that'd make the Celtics a better club?
Every NBA exec says the same thing every day.

No matter what Ainge says, the notion that he hates Walker's game and doesn't
think the Celts can be a championship contender with the co-captain on the
floor has become part of this region's basketball consciousness. It's an urban
sports legend as unshakable and as ungrounded in visible fact as the idea
Nomar Garciaparra can't wait to leave the Red Sox.

Until proven otherwise by events, each of these legends should be regarded as
pure moonshine. But even if we assume that Ainge does find Walker's game
abhorrent, that doesn't mean he'll trade Antoine anytime soon - unless Ainge
is indeed the fool the rumormongers take him for.

Begin with the obvious. Walker is a very talented player who'll be most
difficult to replace.

In a perfect hoop universe, probably no one would select Walker as one of
their team's two biggest stars. His flaws are glaring, from his horrid
shooting nights to the constantly aggrieved expression that makes Walker the
refs' favorite scapegoat.

But in the far from perfect NBA of the present, Walker's faults are greatly
outweighed by his virtues. Durability, versatility and creativity are
increasingly rare qualities in pro ball.

Antoine is also the best passer on a team not famed for ball movement. Until
Ainge finds out if first round draft choice Marcus Banks can cut the mustard
at point guard, trading Walker would be reckless in the extreme.

There's also a monumental external factor that makes the Walker trade rumors
ridiculous. Ainge would be taking a needless chance breaking up his team until
he finds out where Jason Kidd ends up.

The current Celts are no match for the Nets, and Kidd's the reason why. If the
nonpareil point guard re-signs with New Jersey, then Ainge might consider
trading Antoine. It'd still be an enormously risky deal, but arguably a risk
forced upon the Celtics.

If Kidd opts to sign with San Antonio, the East would be turned upside down.
The Paul Pierce-Walker Celts would be as viable a contender for the conference
title as any of the other playoff teams from last season. Ainge would have
little motive for the one step back-two forward manuever a Walker trade would
entail.

It's the simple logic of blackjack. When you have 17 and the dealer shows 20,
your only hope is a new deal. If he shows 15, you can stand.

Seventeen is not the ideal blackjack hand. But the cards Ainge holds now sure
beat the ones the Celts drew for most of the last decade.