RE: Here's What We Know

["R. Singh" <keltsfan@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jim,

I appreciate the fact that first round picks should not be given away. I
was, as much as anyone, dumfounded by Pitino's decision to trade Billups
for Kenny Anderson as well as the loss of JJ for two mediocre players.
However, put Ray Allen, who is only 28 years old, alongside Paul Pierce
and Vin Baker and you have the best team in the East.  Will that team
beat the likes of the Lakers?  Probably not because of O'Neal but they
could compete with any other NBA team immediately.  Allen would be
fantastic in an up-tempo/motion based system the Celtics are allegedly
trying to play.   

The question is this. Do two first round picks next year, most likely
one mid to late teens and one mid to late twenties, allow you to draft
an all-star caliber guard like Ray Allen?  And if somehow the Celtics
got lucky and got a potential Allen type player with one of those two
picks, how long before that youngster realizes that potential?  With
Pierce now 26 years old, the Celtics don't have the luxury of waiting
five years for that potential to be realized. 

We are not talking about giving up Chauncey Billups for Kenny Anderson
or JJ for bench players Delk and Rodney Rogers. Ray Allen is one of the
top shooting guards in the game.  

Of course the trade proposal I made will not happen because Seattle is
building their team around Allen, but that is the type of athletic,
intelligent, all around offensive talent that Pierce needs alongside him
to make his life easier. The alternative is to watch a lot more 27
percent shooting, 8 assist, 7 turnover games out of the Celtics "star". 

Ravi 

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-celtics@xxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-celtics@xxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Jim Hill
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2003 11:42 AM
To: Celtics
Subject: RE: Here's What We Know


Please don't give up two first round draft picks for anyone but a
"T-Mac" level player, and that's "if" it puts you over the top.  First
round picks are the future.  Billips and JJ would look good on this team
right now. With all the Europeans coming into the draft there will be
more "Parker" skilled players at the bottom of the first round.  Bundle
2nd round picks to move up sure.  Three max contracts, a couple of
mid-levels, a handful of rookie contracts and one or two Vet minimums
fills out a pretty good team talent wise.

<Jim

"Allen is the type of player that could propel the Celtics to the next
level. Not only can he create his own offense, he can create and, more
importantly, is happy to create for others.

Battie, Eric Williams expiring contract, cap fodder and two first round
picks next year. Would that do it?  Allen's the guy I would target and
if I were Ainge I would make it very hard for Seattle not to at least
consider some type of deal.

Ravi"
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.537 / Virus Database: 332 - Release Date: 11/6/2003