There is an opportunity with Miami

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

The reports out of Miami say the Heat are actively shopping the fifth pick
in the draft and have targeted Shareef Abdur Rahim. The team trading for the
pick will have to take back either Brian Grant or Eddie Jones.

Assuming T.J. Ford is there with the fifth pick, doesn't an Antoine for
Grant and Ford trade make sense for both teams? Riley doesn't want to
rebuild anymore. He wants veterans. He has been a fan of Antoine's in the
past. The Celtics, if they deal Antoine, need to find a point guard and
power forward. Ford and Grant fill those spots nicely.

The Celtics are a lousy rebounding team. Grant gets over 10 rebounds per
game in just 32 minutes per game. The Celtics are an inefficient offensive
team. Grant gets over 10 points per game on 51 percent shooting, and Ford is
the kind of point guard who can create better shots for teammates. Ford like
to push the ball and run, and Grant is one of the best power forwards in the
league when it comes to running the floor.

The downside for Grant? He's expensive, and he has a few years left on his
contract. But with Vin Baker, the Celts are doomed to salary cap hell for at
least three more seasons. A team looking to create salary cap space in the
next couple of years wouldn't be wild about Grant. The Celts aren't that
team. Also, Grant isn't an offensive force. He gets his points without many
plays run for him. That's a legitimate concern. Pierce becomes your one
proven scoring threat. However, I happen to believe that with a point guard
like Ford and a better rebounding team, your TEAM scoring wouldn't suffer at
all and, in time, actually would improve. Everyone would be more involved,
there would be more easy baskets, more second-chance points.

Also, you probably could do this trade and still hold onto your other
first-round picks. You could exercise those picks or you could package them
and move up a few spots. Or you could trade them for depth. You'd have two
or three years with Grant to find his eventual replacement. And if Grant
performs as he has whenever he has been healthy, you have a trade asset when
his big contract expires. Or, you can plan around the expiration of his and
Baker's contracts and make a free agent run at that time.

This just makes a lot of sense to me. Do you do the deal if Ford isn't there
at 5? (Toronto may snatch him at 4.) That depends on how strongly you feel
about Chris Bosh or Chris Kaman. Personally, I'm not sold on those guys, but
I haven't seen them enough to be sure.

Anyway, doesn't this seem like a good, fair deal? Am I crazy?

Mark