This Can't Be True... And What Can The Celtics Do About It

[wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

This Can't Be True:

Insiders say the Cavaliers will take a gamble and not protect injury-prone 
center Zydrunas Ilgauskas in this summer's expansion draft, believing the Charlotte Bobcats will not want to take on his contract, which pays him $14.5 million next 
season in its last year before he becomes a free agent. But the chance of the 
Bobcats drafting him, then trading him should give the Cavs second thoughts.  
(Lacy Banks,  Chi Sun-Times)


So what do the Celtics have that Charlotte would want for Ilgauskas?

They'd probably like a young center:  Perkins;  young PG:  Banks,
an expiring contract: Stewart, and a talent: Davis.  

I'd make that trade in an instant!

Don't know if the Bobcats would.

But everyone the Celtics would be giving up is replaceable.  

You've got Jiri instead of Davis, you've got Ilgauskas and Mihm  
to substitute for Perkins and Stewart, and you can find a  PG in the 
draft like Harris, who will be as good as or more likely better than Banks.

But I'll believe Cleveland leaves Ilgauskas unprotected when
Charlotte selects him. Should the Cavs do so, Ainge needs to have
a trade proposal ready.
Ray