From: wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Reply-To: Way Of The Ray <wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: celtics@xxxxxxxx Subject: Ainge Watch: Big News! Date: 27 Mar 2004 10:51:06 -0500
This is your official "Ainge Watch" station. . .
~ A Source breathlessly reveals: The Celtics LOVE Devin Harris.
Can they draft him between 15 - 17?
No way. They will have to trade up for him.
And since they don't need both Marcus Banks and Harris, let's say
Banks and the 15 - 17th pick for Harris' draft rights. Or Davis and
the first pick for Harris and whatever. Or multiple first rounders to move up.
Either way, if Trader Dan wants Harris in a Really Big Way, he will make a
strong effort to deal for him.
~ Will Ainge take a shot at a deal for Vince Carter?
Why not? The rejuventaion of a former superstar is irresistible to GM risk-takers like Ainge, always on the look out, by hook or crook, to acquire an impact player.
And the rumours run rampant that Carter will indeed be on the block, as the Raptors have grown weary of injuries and absences, along with a general sense of the team needing to blow things up and rebuild.
What can Ainge give up for Carter? Start with Ricky, then a center: Mihm or Perkins, and a couple of first rounders. And you might have to take on an onerous contract or two, but it's worth the risk.
~ Thursday, Ainge was in lovely East Rutherfood scouting the NCAA games.
~ CBS Sportsline Praises Ainge:
Item: To emphasize the need for a point guard to keep things together, the Boston Celtics are 8-5 since Chucky Atkins took over. Atkins, if you'll remember, came to the Celtics from the Detroit Pistons, the last part of the three-way deal that sent Rasheed Wallace from Atlanta to the Pistons, with Bobby Sura, Zeljko Rebraca and a No. 1 draft choice going to the Hawks.
What it really means: Danny Ainge does have a plan in his reconstruction of the Celtics. It's more than just giving Paul Pierce the ball and unloading everybody else. He's picking up pieces of an infrastructure while hoping to build through the draft. Sure, he went over the top. The deal that sent Eric Williams and Tony Battie to Cleveland for Ricky Davis and Chris Mihm still looks awful. And he probably should have done better for Antoine Walker than Raef LaFrentz, but the key is he's not afraid to make moves. And the longer he does this, the better he'll get. Getting Atkins and a first-round draft choice out of the deal that sent a minimal talent in Mike James and zero in Chris Mills says he's starting to figure it out. Besides, they're right on the brink of slipping past the Cavs and back into the playoff picture anyway.