re: Denials... you can bet they were (are?) talking

[wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

What's in the miniscule Celtics' trade package  for Houston?

Yeah, role players and Williams' expiring contract, but surely, 
other conniving GMs, who think they can 
also steal away Griffin, should be able to offer 
better material (role players or more)  than Battie and Williams. 

The trade as described, seems too good to be true from a Celtics perspective.
Not saying that it can't happen, but I think there has to be more offered by the 
Celtics.

And even if this one falls though, I'm sure another one will occur.
Ainge has the trading fever....
Ray   

  > ** Original Subject: Denials... you can bet they were (are?) talking
> ** Original Sender: "Berry, Mark  S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> ** Original Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 08:43:15 -0700 (PDT)

> ** Original Message follows... 

>
> I don't buy the denials in the paper today at all. Dawson saying he hadn't
> talked with the Celtics in two months??? Come on. We're not that dumb. No, I
> believe this trade was - and maybe still is - being discussed. I think the
> leak yesterday probably seriously hurt, if not destroyed, any chances of it
> happening. Everyone involved is just trying to make the best of an awkward
> situation with all the players involved.
> 
> But we do know that Griffin isn't happy in Houston and the Rockets aren't
> happy with him. We do know (it has been reported, anyway), that the Rockets
> are trying to fill in with role players around Francis and Griffin. We know
> that the Celtics' two glaring needs are young, impact talent (Griffin) and
> scoring in the wake of the Antoine trade (Mobley). The Rockets would be
> getting guys who play defense and have been on playoff teams and dumping the
> worst contract in the deal (Mobley). 
> 
> Anyway, it all makes too much sense. It may not happen, but I don't believe
> for a second that it wasn't discussed, and seriously at that.
> 
> I think most of us would agree it's a great trade for the Celtics. I don't
> know that it would work out as well as we'd all hope (I have doubts about
> Griffin growing up and Mobley accepting a role off the bench - which he's
> best suited for). But it's clearly the kind of risk that's worth taking.
> Griffin is young, talented, on a cheap contract and will never be more of a
> value acquisition than he is right now. If he works out and grows up, you
> have an all-star. If he doesn't, he's cheap to get rid of. Mobley's contract
> is more of a problem, but he has been productive for long enough that even
> if he balks at coming off the bench (and I'm convinced that's his role on a
> great team - like a Vinnie Johnson or Andrew Toney), he's easy enough to
> move. And the bottom line is, you're not giving up much. Neither EWill or
> Battie are in the future plans. It's exactly the kind of deal you'd want to
> make to cash in a contractual asset like EWill.
> 
> If it works out, then in three years, the Celtics may just be title
> contenders.
> 
> Mark

>** --------- End Original Message ----------- **