Vecsey & Bird Not Scared Like Ainge

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hot off the NY Post presses via Peter Vecsey:

"September 9, 2003 -- Energized from deporting and importing his first
head coaches as president of the Pacers, Larry Bird now is eagerly in
the hunt to signiture his first trade. According to someone very much in
the know, serious conversation is taking place between Indiana and
Seattle regarding the swap of Ron Artest (about to jump-start a 6-year,
$42.7 million extension) for Brent Barry, who's in the final year (5.4M)
of his contract.
Clearly, Bird and Isiah Thomas' replacement, Rick Carlisle, don't plan
to allow Artest to become their problem. Keep in mind Jermaine O'Neal
told teammates prior to re-signing he wouldn't return to Indy unless Ron
Mercer (dealt to San Antonio), Artest and Jamaal Tinsley (in the lock
and unload position) were moved."

If some variation of this deal is completed (BYC issues, so other
players/perhaps
other teams  would have to be involved), Bird unlike Ainge, has
exhibited the ability/the
verve/the nerve to make the Big Moves and leave his imprimature on his
team Right
Away!

Ainge had a similar opportunity to remove O'Brien and deal Walker and
couldn't
get the job done.

Perhaps management interfered and he wasn't allowed, or Ainge hesitated,

or things (Jay Williams being injured) fell victim to nature's
quirks.

I don't know.

What I do know is three of the best coaches --
Brown, Carlisle, and Silas -- in the NBA  were available this offseason,

and that opportunity has been lost.

I do know that the Walker/O'Brien tandem is intact and no matter
how fast Banks can get the ball down the
court, it's not going to matter if O'Brien and Walker conspire to run
the offense and the Celtics are still weak at rebounding, because their
PF
is out on the perimeter and O'Brien leaves Hunter deeply marooned on
the bench in favor of Walter McCarty.
Ray