Re: Gene, We Have To Be Merciless In Our Evaluation Of Ainge

[CeltsSteve@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 7/5/03 12:29:19 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
jlyell@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:

> We should be on the phone working deals of Walker in a package for Jermaine
> O'Neal, Elton Brand, Addur-Rahim, Battier &Swift etc, Bosh, etc. - John


John, 

IF Walker is traded for one (or a combination of ) the above,  IMO JO and EB 
are pretty unlikely are they would have to involve a sign and trade deal 
meaning either guy would have to agree to sign with the C's. 

Bosh has the proverbial and dreaded "upside" but I also read yesterday that 
the Raptors are trying to sign him this weekend and if that happens, he 
couldn't be traded until at least Dec. 15th.

Abdur-Rahim is not really an improvement over Antoine IMO. Granted, he might 
be more suited  to play the SF spot than Antoine but I just don't see him 
being an overall upgrade.

I do think that a deal with Memphis that yielded both Battier and Swift would 
improve the C's both athletically as well as depth wise. And it would also 
most assuredly be a precursor to another deal involving E Will as Battier would 
likely be his successor just as Swift would or should be the starting "4". 
Athletically, Swift is a HUGE upgrade over Antoine and the improvement in 
rebounding and shot blocking would be enormous if Swift were given anything close to 
Antoine's minutes.   
                
Steve