Re: Cleveland game, Rasheed trade, etc.

[Eggcentric@xxxxxxx]

< Brent Barry would be an upgrade. > - Berry

As Danny contemplates his next chess move in the ongoing Baker saga, 
the Brent Barry/Chris Mills trade is apparently still alive and well.

Will the Barry trade come off... who knows.  Due to several factors,
I have mixed-emotions over it short term and don't like it long term.

Seattle may still opt to re-sign Barry, yet they really don't need him 
as they have Daniels (yet another player Ainge coveted) and Ridnour at 
PG, and Allen/Lewis/Murray at the wings.  They would like an asset in 
return for Barry, and certainly Mills is no asset except for that $$$$ 
insurance covering most of his contract.  So likely we would have to 
sweeten the pot with something like our #1 Dallas pick.

Barry's biggest LIABILITIES appear to be his age, his poor defense 
(which doesn't seem to bother Ainge), and what he might demand in a
future contract.  Also, after all these years, the jury is still out on 
whether Brent is a PG or basically a natural wing, a position we 
already seem full up with Pierce, Welsch, Davis, McCarty, Jones.

Barry's biggest ASSETS appear to be his slick 3-point shooting ability 
and that when he comes off the IL, he could apply an immediate band-aid 
to our sorry ass season vs. Mills who is all out of band-aids.  Such a  
midseason temporary fix would likely help us win a few more games 
and canbt hurt except for costing our owners a few bucks and lowering 
our position a few notches in the upcoming draft. 

As for trading for Barry with the intent to re-sign him, well that is 
a different story.  Silly me, I thought Ainge had finally realized the
importance of obtaining a real PG  and distancing our team from all
that nasty 3-point stuff.   As for Brent becoming a team leader, 
do not mistake his standup comedian flakeism for instant team 
chemistry. 

Additionally, if re-signed for approx. $5 mill, do you feel Barry would
thus destroy all hopes of us then still utilizing our 2004 mid-level 
exception?

Egg