A Franchise PG - Let The Speculation Begin

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Since Ainge clearly recognizes the Celtics need for a impact
point guard to be paired with Pierce, the major question becomes
how to  "make it so", a phrase, Captain Jean Luc Picard  frequently
uttered to Commander Will Riker on the Starship  Enterprise..

Well, there are three or four avenues present, as it applies to
acquiring a franchise point guard:  You can trade for an established
or soon to be established player,
you can draft one or trade up in the draft for one,
or you can sign one as a free agent.

Signing A Free Agent Impact PG

As the Celtics are presently constituted, lacking
any cap manueverability, as well as an ownership
unwilling to use any exceptions, any Free Agent
acquired would have to be of the sign and trade variety,
where the other club would sign their own free agent
and then deal them in some sort of package to the Celtics
for various draft choice and players, etc.

The three franchise PGs available as free agents are Jason Kidd,
Gary Payton, and Gilbert Arenas.

There is simply no way in hell, NJ would trade Kidd to Boston, and Kidd
with the
Celtics is bad mojo.

Then there's Payton. And this brings up an interesting possibility.
What if the
Celtics and Milwaukee were to  concoct a deal involving draft picks and
Antoine -- say along the lines of Milwaukee with the eighth pick
choosing the
player the Celtics want, and Boston with the 16th pick doing vice-versa
- then
when the free agency period is opened, Milwauke re-signs Payton and
deals him and
the eighth pick to Boston for Walker , and the player chosen at 16th.

At eighth, Milwaukee could draft for Boston either a young PF like
Maciej Lempe,
Anderson Varejao, Sofoklis Shortsianitis or a young PG to eventually
supercede
Payton like Luke Ridnour or Leandrinho Barbosa.

That would be very very interesting.

Gilbert Arenas - Very unikely, either re-signs with GS on a short term
deal, or jumps
to Denver, etc.


Trading For An Established or Soon To Be Established Player - The
Candidates

Stephen Marbury - Not going anywhere.

Steve Nash - Not happening.

Allen Iverson - Not happening.

Steve Francis - Forget about it.

Milos Vujanic - This is  interesting.. Vujanic, compared to Steve Nash,
is a big time scoring PG, a shoot first and keep shooting PG, who can
score
from anywhere on the court, as well as being a decent passer. I'm not
sure,
if his skill set fits in with what Ainge would be looking for, but he's
much more
obtainable than the other players mentioned, and should have a
large positive impact in the NBA, as he's a fantastic offensive weapon.
As far as what you could trade for him, the two picks should get the job
done.

Tony Parker - Yeah right, unless Kidd goes to the Spurs, then Parker et
al.. for Walker could be a possibility.

Jason JayWilliams - He's been flummoxed in Chicago by the stifling
Triangle Offense and his battle with Jamal Crawford. Remove him from
this
bad environment, and I believe he will flourish. As to what the Celtics
could trade for him,
a Walker and Kedrick Brown et. al. deal for Williams and Fizer, or the
Bulls
draft pick, etc....  Whatever the trade possibilities, it presents an
interesting situation.

Jason Williams - Jerry loves him, he's staying.

Nick Van Exel - Not sure he qualifies, but certainly an upgrade -
there's rumors
of him heading to Cleveland for Ilgauskas.

Sam Cassell - No thanks.

Baron Davis - Unlikely

Andre Miller - Clippers are impossible to deal with and Miller seems
headed to Utah.

Mke Bibby - Yeah right.

Chauncey Billups - I remember him.

Jamaal Tinsley - Not after the last series.

Jamal Crawford - Perhaps.

Jason Terry - Nyet.


Drafting A Franchise PG

In the upcoming draft, three or four players could reach the level of a
Franchise PG.

TJ Ford - Would require a Walker trade most likely, as Ford seems a
strong lock for the
top six picks. Pick up a power forward in the same deal, and it makes
for
an interesting possibility.

Luke Ridnour - May be the best All-Around PG in the draft. Stocktonesque
with some
Maravich.  At the worst he'll be Steve Nash. Draft projections see him
going anywhere from 4 to 24.  Packaging the two picks, likely puts the
Celtics
in his range.  Then again, all it takes is the LA Clippers to screw
things up.

Leandrinho Barbosa - Seems likely mid to late lottery, say 8 -13.
Barbosa
can be a tremendous defensive PG with good shooting and passing skills.
May have to deal Walker in some sort of trade for him, if his stock
really
soars.

Kristaps Valters - This one's more iffy, than the rest, but he could be
The Lithuanian Steve Nash or the Baltic States Mark Price.
Celtics can likely grab him at 16 or 20, but it's not a given he'll turn
into
something great.
Ray