Re: Jumaine Jones

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This looks like a good trade. The Celts basically give up two
non-contributors (Bremer was third at PG heading into the season) for a guy
who could start at small forward but will more likely bolster the pitiful
bench.

On Jones... I don't know too much about him. I remember, during that Philly
playoff run a few years ago, thinking the Sixers got a steal with the guy.
He was an impressive athlete and shooter for a 6-8 guy. I thought he would
really blossom in Cleveland, but then the Cavs turned into Swingman Central,
with Ricky Davis, Darius Miles, Dejuan Wagner, etc., and he kind of got lost
in the shuffle. Plus, the Cavs were a disaster. Everyone was tainted by
their ineptitude.

So, I guess I agree with Danny that Jumaine is a guy whose best basketball
is ahead of him. Even if he just maintains the production he has shown the
last two seasons, he's a significant upgrade off the bench. I think he makes
Eric Williams' expiring contract very expendable, and I hope they cash that
chip in at the trading deadline.

Along with EWill, this would seem to hurt Kedrick the most. He's already
battling EWill and McCarty for swingman minutes, and Jones adds to that mix.
Jones may not be the athlete Kedrick is, but he's a plus athlete and clearly
a better basketball player at this point. We'll see how that shakes out.

As others have said, anything that shipped Bruno out of town was a good
move. Looking at the offseason, if this is the last move, I'd have to give
Ainge a solid B. The draft was a success-a starting point guard, a potential
starting center in a few years and a contributor at No. 56 is a good draft.
As for the other additions, I'm a little disappointed. We're talking about
McCarty, Blount, Mike James and Jumaine Jones. When you get right down to
it, the only true additions as contributors this season are Banks and Jones.
James/Bremer is a wash. McCarty and Blount are returnees. We can't honestly
expect much from Perkins or Hunter. If the team is going to improve, it's
going to do so because of internal improvement-from Pierce, Antoine and
Kedrick. That's what Ainge has been saying, and he's right.

Egg, I've been away and only caught your reference, in passing, to a comment
Ainge made to JB along the lines of "now I need to convince Antoine and
Obie..." Is that accurate? Did Ainge really say that? Because if that's
true, then we're doomed to the same mediocrity and unwatchable basketball
this season. Please fill me in.

Thanks,

Mark