re: Ford: GMs say Pierce no longer untouchable

[wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Hey Mark,
If I were trading Pierce, I'd want an All-Star type at PF,  PG or SG,
or a good young PG and a high lottery pick, or a quality center and a decent
lottery pick.

So, here's a few deals:

1. Pierce, Banks, and the Celtics lottery pick for Ray Allen, Luke Ridnour and Seattle's
pick.  Unfortunately, no way in hell Seattle would do this because Ridnour =
young Mark Price; Banks = young Mookie Blaylock, and Allen's value higher than 
Pierce these days.

2. Pierce and Mihm for Dampier, Richardson, and GS's lottery pick.
Double sign and trade.  Worriers are desperate! Yes, even more desperate
than the Celtics, so this is the time you trade with them. Maybe Murphy
switched for Richardson... GS is just itching to make a real bad trade.
Perfect opportunity for Ainge to redeem himself and he needs lots of redemption.

3. Pierce to the Bulls for Hinrich, Fizer, and their top three pick.
Bulls need a STAR,  MUY PRONTO, and there have already been reports
about them going after Allen or Pierce.  Celtics love Hinrich and that top three
pick gets them Okafor/Smith/Howard/Deng et al.  Maybe it can be Pierce,
Banks, etc. for Hinrich, Crawford, and the pick. 

4. Pierce to Portland for Zach Randolph, Derek Anderson, a bad contract here 
or there, and Portland's lottery pick.
Randolph provides the Celtics with the inside scorer/rebounder they desperately 
need. Hunter good back-up to Randolph.

5. Pierce in a three way deal between Boston, Golden State, and the
Lakers. The Lakers end up with Pierce, Davis, Dampier, and LaFrentz; GS with
Mihm, Stewart, and two later draft picks, Celtics with Shaq. Sure, why not!

Ray  




> ** Original Subject: Ford: GMs say Pierce no longer untouchable
> ** Original Sender: "Berry, Mark  S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> ** Original Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2004 09:32:04 -0800 (PST)

> ** Original Message follows... 

>
> The bulk of this is a rehash of the Pierce quotes after the Portland
> game. The interesting tidbit, which I think will surprise no one on this
> list, is the mention that "rumblings" from other GMs suggest Pierce is
> no longer untouchable.
> 
> 
> 
> My belief in Pierce is shaken more and more as this season unfolds.
> Watch him during the games. How can he possibly call out teammates,
> coaches or management when he's going through the motions out there -
> and that's exactly what he's doing. Pierce desperately needs a fiery
> leader on the floor with him and a tough, disciplined coach on the
> bench. Maybe Ainge can fill those holes and salvage Pierce. The more
> likely scenario is Ainge sees how Pierce is handling this season (badly,
> and Ainge intimated as much the other day), and he moves him during the
> offseason. That's what I'd do.
> 
> 
> 
> For who? That's the hard part. Kobe in a sign-and-trade? Maybe it's a
> combination of players and picks. By all accounts, the Bulls are in the
> market for a star swingman. Would a package of Hinrich, Chandler and the
> Bulls' No. 1 pick work for either team? I honestly don't know. But I
> know this: This season hasn't been a complete loss. We've learned
> something about Paul Pierce.
> 
> 
> 
> Mark
> 
> 
> 
> P.S. Steve Oulette, great take on rebounding. It's mystifying to me. If
> this team slips away and we go into the offseason without an idea of
> what Brandon Hunter can do in game situations, it will be a tragedy.
> Maybe he's a garbage time player. Maybe. But let's find out. We know
> what McCarty and Jones bring. We don't know about Brandon Hunter yet.
> Let's find out. As good as he is in limited minutes, I'd like to see him
> when he builds some confidence. I'd like to see him with a little
> swagger.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Pierce grumbling in Boston: There was a lot of rumbling in GM
>             circles before the trade deadline on Thursday that Celtics
> star Paul
>             Pierce wasn't untouchable anymore. With Danny Ainge
> completely
>             overhauling the Celtics, Pierce has suffered the most, and
> his
>             grumbling has gotten more vocal in the past few weeks.
> 
>             Pierce blasted his teammates, and more subtly Ainge, after
> the
>             Celtics were blown out in Portland on Saturday.
> 
> 
>             "We don't have no continuity on defense," Pierce told the
> Boston
>             Globe. "Guys don't know what they're doing. We're just not
> playing
>             smart. You just don't give yourself a chance. We went away
> from all
>             the things we learned in training camp, regardless of the
> coaching
>             change and everything. We went away from everything that we
> learned,
>             every concept that we've done. We're just throwing it out
> the
>             window.
> 
> 
>             "Things changed. Personnel's changed. Coaching's changed.
> New
>             concepts. It's hard to do when you've got a young team,
> eight or
>             nine different players, and you try to change things in
> midseason.
>             It's difficult. I mean, you guys are watching the same thing
> I see."
> 
> 
> 
>             Ainge claims he understands the frustration from Pierce and
> the
>             fans, who have begun chanting "Fire Ainge" at the Fleet
> Center.
>             "Everybody's frustrated," said Ainge. "But I think I'm in a
> position
>             where the plan and vision has not been lost on me. But the
>             short-term plan and frustration is not fun for anyone to go
> through.
>             I anticipated when Jim O'Brien resigned that there was the
>             possibility of it being a long season. I would never use the
> [term]
>             lost season, because I think there are still things to do.
> There are
>             things every single player can get better at."
> 
> 
>             The challenge for the Celtics is how far off the future
> actually is.
>             There's a decent chance they'll lose starting center Mark
> Blount in
>             free agency this summer. The Celtics won't have cap room to
> make a
>             major free-agent signing. They will have their mid-level
> exception
>             and, if they win the Vin Baker arbitration, they'll have the
> money
>             to use it. The team also has three first-round draft picks
> this
>             year, but with two of those in the late 20s, it's unlikely
> they'll
>             find a player who is able to come in and contribute right
> away. That
>             means the Celtics might be in the rebuilding mode for the
> long haul,
>             something Pierce apparently isn't up for.

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