Re: OK, here's what might be happening

["Josh Ozersky" <jozersky@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Screw Isiah!  The Celtics RIGHT NOW have
the talent to win the East, or at least rival the
Nets.  This team is definitely better, talent-wise
than the one that made the ECF;  the problem is
that we no longer have the cohesion, chemistry,
defense, or good attitude.  (Have I left anything
out?)  Somebody please kill Obie for me for
picking up his ball and going home...  

A real coach, training camp, and some young players
who will actually get minutes, and this team could
be great, if only they will get religion defensively,
the way Obie's guys did...

Josh
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sean Giovanello" <sgiovanello@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Berry, Mark S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <celtics@xxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 10:23 AM
Subject: Re: OK, here's what might be happening


> Even if all works out well, it is still shaping up that we are facing 
> less than 44 wins next year.  Barring any offseason surprises, our 
> starting five would look like:
> 
> Atkins/Banks
> Pierce/Davis/Jiri
> Jiri or Davis or Nacbhar
> Taylor or Raef/Hunter
> Blount (if we resign him) or Raef/Perkins
> 
> If we have three draft picks, two will be late round and probably not 
> contribute much next year.  Our first pick is looking better everyday so 
> we can figure on adding one guy who should see some regular minutes.  
> The problem is that we have a surplus of 2s and 3s and these are the 
> positions its easiest to fill with a pick or a midlevel. 
> 
> Assuming we do those two trades, we need to 1) make a bigger deal in the 
> offseason that involves a big influx of talent (a clear starter at the 
> 1,3 or 4). Then we would need a midlevel type that filled in one of the 
> others mentioned previously or a center.
> 
> I just dont see how adding retreads like Taylor and Atkins will really 
> help this team.  Another late first rounder?  I dont see it.
> 
> It might just be that we hang onto Mihm, qualify him, and see what we 
> have next year.  That is, unless we are getting the HAwks not the 
> Pistons first rounder (which I doubt).  If we can get something for some 
> combination of Blount, Walter, Stewart, Mills, Jones or James then do it 
> I guess.
> 
> Its looks like its going to be a pretty disappointing deadline for us - 
> more like shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic than revamping this 
> team.  What makes it more galling is that Isiaih of all people is doing 
> amazing things in NY.  If they pull off that latest deal then I think he 
> is making a case for himself for (gasp) GM of the year...
> 
> Berry, Mark S wrote:
> 
> >Both these trades work on RealGM.
> >
> >
> >
> >First, the Detroit/Atlanta trade:
> >
> >
> >
> >Boston would send out Mihm to Atlanta and Jumaine Jones to Detroit, and
> >take back Chucky Atkins and a first-round pick.  Atkins has two more
> >years on his deal after this. I don't consider this a great deal, but
> >it's not terrible. First-rounders are valuable, and Ainge still would
> >have the Mills contract. Which leads us to...
> >
> >
> >
> >Mills and McCarty to Houston for Mo Taylor and Bostjan Nachbar. This
> >gives Houston the outside shooting power forward they want and some
> >salary flexibility. It gives the Celtics Taylor, who immediately becomes
> >the starting power forward, and Nachbar, a promising young player.
> >
> >
> >
> >So you'd be turning a lot of players Mills, Mihm, Jones, that don't
> >figure into the future, into Taylor, Atkins, Nachbar and a
> >first-rounder. I think that's a pretty good job by Ainge. Suddenly the
> >team goes into the summer with three first-rounders, Lafrentz coming
> >back, the mid-level exception to use, and Mo Taylor adding to the
> >frontcourt. I like that. And I think Nachbar could be a huge addition.
> >He's a small forward with size and perimeter skills, something the Celts
> >haven't had in a long time. If he works out, then Ainge again is dealing
> >from strength next season because he has Pierce, Davis, Welsch and
> >Nachbar at the swing positions. That also gives you a lot of options at
> >draft time (along with the three picks).
> >
> >
> >
> >Just some speculation based on the rumors out there.
> >
> >
> >
> >Mark