Where Can They Trade Walker? Scientific Results Collated

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

To find out which teams, Walker could be traded to, you have to
eliminate
those clubs that present no interest in him from a talent, preference,
or
salary standpoint.

Here Are The No-Goes:

New Jersey - Pretty straightforward.

Dallas - While the Mavs may be interested in Walker, their attention
this
off-season will be in acquiring a center like Ilgauskas for Van Exel.
So forget those Walker for Nash deals.

Phoenix - Forget about it.

San Antonio - See Phoenix, and Duncan would strangle Toine
after he missed his fifth three-pointer in the first quarter.

LA Clippers - Only via a three team deal with Walker heading to another
club,
as they would barricade themselves from his contract.

Lakers - Nothing outside of Kobe and Shaq worth trading for.

Inidiana  - A sign and trade for Jermaine O'Neal.
Don't think that's happening.

Minnesota - Danny and Kevin talk too much.

Denver - In rebuilding mode.  They have Maybiner and Tskitishvili
to develop at the forward positions. Though a Walker trade for Camby and

a re-signed Howard would be interesting, better options exist.

Philadelphia - While I'm sure Larry Brown would be interested in him,
they have nothing of value to trade.

Houston - After what most would describe as a disappointing season,
the Rockets may shake things up, but there's a mismatch in
fulfilling needs here.

Toronto - Walker for Vince Carter? Unlikely, as the Raptors are hoping
for
Carter - James, Carter - Milicic, Carter - Ford, Carter - Melo pairing.

Cleveland - Ilgauskas is on the clock and he fulfills a big Boston need.

Battie has had injury problems two out of the last three years,
and is not of championship quality. A Walker - James/Melo/Milicic
pairing gets the Cadavers off to a good start, but they're looking to
swap Ilgauskas for a point.

Portland - Let's trade Walker for former Seal of Approval
player Zach Randolph. What a great draft that 2001 was.  LOL.
Walker for Rasheed Wallace?  When I think of the name Wallace
associated with the Celtics, it makes me nervous.

New Orleans - While Jamal Magloire and Baron Davis are intriguing,
George Schinn is too screwy to get anything done correctly.

Golden State - They have too many forwards as it is.

Utah - Participants don't match up.

Detroit - They love Tayshaun Prince.

Washington - A far greater chance of something happening,
if Jordan was still there.

Charlotte - Two years is a lifetime in Boston.

Orlando - Just got Gooden.

Seattle - Last trade with them didn't work out too well.

Memphis - Just got Mike Miller and the PF position is packed.

Here Then Are Some Possibilities:

Chicago - With Jerry Krause and his prohibition for trading for hometown

players gone, Walker to the Bulls presents the best opportunity for a
deal,
as this is a club looking to acquire a veteran All-Star small forward.
Walker to the Bulls for Marcus Fizer and the 7th pick?  Hmm.
Walker and 16 & 20 for Jay Williams and 7? Now that's an interesting
trade! At 7, the Celtics draft the Polish
Nowitzki Maciej Lampe.  Well he's not quite Nowitzki, but he is skilled
and would be a terrific compliment to Pierce.  The Bulls, I think,
present the
greatest possibility for a Walker trade, because of their depth of young
talent
and need for a veteran All-Star presence.  Walker, 16 & 20 for Jalen
Rose
and 7. There's fruitful trade negotiations here.

Miami - Very interesting, as Pat Riley absolutely loves
Walker, and has wanted to trade for him in the past.  Would a
re-signed Mourning and Miami's lottery pick get the job done?
Mourning and TJ Ford for Walker kills the two biggest birds in
the Celtics Marvel universe. Could Miami draft Kaman for
the Celtics?  A Kaman, Mourning, and resurrected Kedrick Brown
frontcourt would be unique in NBA annuals. Or perhaps Walker and
the 16th pick for Caron Butler and Miami's choice. Very intriguing,
though trading Toine in your own division (that may change with
future realignment) is troubling.

Milwaukee - Walker and the 16th pick to Milwaukee for Payton
and the 8th, a trade to be completed when the free agent signing period
opens
in July.  Milwaukee drafts for the Celtics at 8, the C's do the same for
the Bucks
at 16.  Interesting possibilities for both clubs with Luke Ridnour,
Maciej Lampe,
Erazem Lorbek, Rick Rickert, Leandrinho Barbosa, Anderson Varejao,
Sofoklis
Shortsianitis, Dwayne Wade, Pavel Podkolzen, Jarvis Hayes, et al. all
swarming
around those two picks.  Whatever the case, milwaukee needs help at the
forward positions.

Sacramento - They have so much depth, that they could deal for a Walker
to augment whatever ails Webbber next, whether injury or Grand Jury
indictment. Turkoglu and Bobby Jackson for Walker?  I like the Bulls
option
better, but the Kings and their plethora of talent are a possibile
trading
partner.

New York Knicks - They could be very interested in Walker with the
uncertainties gripping McDyess and the need to rebuild on the fly.
Walker and 16 & 20 for Kurt Thomas, their pick, and the rights to
Milos Vujanic.  This team offers fine possibilities, because Vujanic
is a big time offensive presence at point, and the the 9th pick
gets you a young center/center-forward like Podkolazen or Shortsianitis.

And Thomas is a very underrated PF.  Knicks can then deal Sprewell
for Cassell.

Atlanta - Here's a team that really needs to blow things up.
Walker for Shareef? I'd do it, and he's a pal of Pierce.

Conclusion:  It seems to me, after looking over all the possibilities,
Chicago
offers the most hope, and the Knicks may be sleeper team in the
equation.
And of course, some of the non-possibilities may turn into possibilities
as draft day
approaches. Whatever the case, there will be teams out there willing to
deal for
Walker, and it will be Ainge's job to pit them against each other to
raise his trade value.

Ray