John Wallach Says Good Job Danny

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http://www.boston-metro.com/page.php?pgname=sports_wallach1021

Wallach:
Trading 'Twan
a good thing 
In a move that blindsided just about everyone in the Boston sports community yesterday, the Celtics traded Antoine Walker to the Dallas Mavericks, for one so-so player, one player that no one has heard of, another that won't play much, if at all, and a first-round draft pick next season that won't be worth much. 
By Jon Wallach

Believe it or not, it's a good thing. 

Director of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge may be crucified by some for trading away one of his best players, but I for one, think that this is his best move to make in order to make this team better. 

Over the last two seasons, the Celtics had peaked in its effectiveness under the current roster. If the Vin Baker trade had worked out better, things may have been different. However, with Walker and fellow co-captain Paul Pierce accounting for 40 to 50 percent of this teams total offense every night, they topped out at 49 wins and a berth in the Eastern Conference Championship two years ago. The Celtics were then bounced by New Jersey again last summer, this time in the conference semifinals, thanks to a lower seed. Ainge saw that both Pierce and Walker were worn down from having to shoulder the load while playing 40 to 45 minutes a night for nine months. 

The co-captains are two of the best 25 players in the league, but, without a decent center and point guard, plus the cap room to get them, the Celtics were never going to get any better. In addition, Ainge saw, like the rest of us did, that any time that the Green had to face New Jersey in a playoff series, they had no chance to win. Also, during the regular season, any time they faced running teams like Sacramento or Dallas or faced the Lakers, they had no chance. 

Clearly it was time to do something, and, in today's salary cap age, the only shot Ainge had was to jettison Walker, a player that he could get some value for. 

If the preseason is any indication, the new Celtic offense was going to be run through rookie point guard Marcus Banks, with Pierce and Walker now focusing on just getting open, instead of getting the ball up the floor. At times Antoine seemed uninterested and now, as one person put it yesterday, was a square peg in a round hole. 

The incoming LaFrentz will play center, and, unlike almost anyone else wearing a green uniform, is a shot-blocking threat. Welsch will be joining his fourth organization since getting drafted in the middle of the first round by Philadelphia 16 months ago, and Mills will be gone after next season. Gone is the $14 million max contract of Walker, Hello to a back-loaded six-year, $60 million contract from Lafrentz and if they want, the Celtics can cut Mills loose after this season and Welsch loose after the 2004-2005 campaign. Did someone say "cap flexibility"? 

Ainge was surprisingly blunt with Sports Radio WEEI's "Big Show" yesterday, indicating that, while he considers LaFrentz a good starting center on a good team he thinks that Walker is a third- or fourth-best player who can use his smarts on the same kind of squad. He likened Antoine to a 12-point, 8-rebound, 6-assist guy who is a bad shooter and made the comparison of replacing a .230 hitter who produced a lot of homeruns with a .300 hitter who hits about 10 homers. It is clear that, although Dallas gave Ainge his first serious offer, Walker wasn't going to be around long anyway. 

Bravo, Danny for making a move that none of the other regimes that preceded you had the guts to make. Rather than "blow it up" Red Auerbach et al let the Big Three play until, to borrow a famous phrase, until they were old and gray. The result? Better than a ten-year break from playoff basketball. 

This is a pre-emptive strike, and, while Ainge admitted that his team is taking a step back yesterday, he also added that, in the long run, he feels that they will be better. He is right and I am all for it. 

This move is also unprecedented locally. Can you name me another time that the Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics gave up one of their best players in his prime, for a group of non-all stars, when the team had gone to the playoffs the previous year? 

The Celtics may take a hit this season, and may not make the playoffs, but it says here that they this is the right move to make. This way they have a chance at getting better instead of floating between 43 and 50 wins until Walker and Pierce are finished with their playing careers. It is the only move that Ainge had at his disposal and, it also officially ends the imprint on the franchise from the previous regime. 

Now if he could only find a way to get rid of Vin Baker and THAT salary. 

Jon Wallach does the 20/20 sportsflashes for the "Dale and Neumy" show and is a weekend co-host and reporter for Sports Radio 850 WEEI.