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Re: Battie

On Thursday, October 23, 2003, at 12:45 AM, John Lyell wrote:

I think you overrate Battie. Anchor of our defense? He was pretty invisible
in the playoffs from what I recall. We really need a big man like a Cato,
Foyle, or Marc Jackson. We should have added Drobjnak but Cato would be a
good defensive addition.

John

While I don't think he's a traditional "anchor of our defense" I think Battie's mobility, ability to block shots and disrupt things "anchors" OB/Harter's defense -- in a way some of the folks you listed above wouldn't. Remember too that Battie was probably playing pretty hurt last year in the playoffs.

don't get me wrong -- I'd love to have a bruiser like Marc Jackson (esp. if he played the way he did in last year's playoffs) or maybe even Foyle, but my point was that Battie is sort of like Eric Williams -- while he might not succeed on other teams, he plays an understated role on THIS team (the only team that matters after all...) and is therefore a bit more valuable than I think he's given credit for.

I'd have to think for a minute about trading Battie straight up for Jackson (who seems to have a motivation problem), and certainly wouldn't for any of the other folks you listed. Like I said unless we could get a "true" center or a more "true" PF, what's the point in further disrupting things by getting rid of Battie?

His contributions are efficient, his contract is solid, and IIRC is one of Pierce's best friends on the team (wasn't Battie (or his brother) the one who drove PP to the hospital?).

Personally I'd like to see Ainge hold pat and lets go to war with this bunch. If something opens up at the trade deadline, so be it, but for now, LETS GET IT ON!

(the other) mark
anxiously awaiting Oct. 29!




-----Original Message-----
From: owner-celtics@xxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-celtics@xxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
Mark Piotrowski
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2003 1:41 PM
To: Celtics
Subject: Battie


I'm as into coming up with trade scenarios as the next guy, but I guess
I just don't get the sudden urge/willingness to trade Battie.  In fact
I'm borderline horrified at the notion of starting Baker over Battie --
if for no other reason its a bit disrespectful to Battie, who's busted
his ass the last few seasons.  Let Baker come off the bench and, if
needed and to preserve Battie's knees, play more minutes, but not start
ahead of him.  Despite Batman's recent health problems:

1.  He's the anchor to our defense.  A role that LaFrentz MAY grow
into, but only time will tell
2.  He -- along with Ewill -- give so much heart/hustle on the floor
that i think it will be good for folks like Banks, James and Baker to
be around.
3.  His contract is finally pretty reasonable.

Unless we're going to get a true PF/C or a star -- Rasheed, Eddy Curry,
PJ Brown, Kurt Thomas (maybe), etc. -- i'm really not interested in
moving Battie -- it just doesn't make sense.  I for one am totally not
willing to go into the year with just LaFrentz (9 days of training
camp) and Baker (one day at a time) as our only true PF/C's.  As much
as I'm pulling for Baker (both for his sake and the sake of the team),
I agree totally with Mark B. that I hope he does well so we can ship
him and the Dallas pick off to NY for Thomas/Ward (exp.
contract)/Othello Harrington.

I'd be much more interested in waiting till the trading deadline and
packaging Ewill and Mills for a PF.  As much as i love him -- he's my
2nd fav. celtic (behidn PP) -- he just doesn't do much that Jones,
Brown and McCarty can't also do.  What about:

EWill + Mills --> MEMPHIS: Stromile Swift & Bo Outlaw

(the other) Mark