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Re: Okafor



I was thinking about this at lunch the other day. I agree that 3 picks won't get it done. Do you think the following would get it done?

Assuming Orlando gets the #1 pick and is willing to trade it, i'd think they'd want:

(1) 2-3 #1 picks
(2) 2-3 players (at least 1 starter)
(3) a 4-for-3 (us giving 3, taking 4 players) or 3-for-2 deal to give them added roster flexibility, and
(4) for us to take on a crappy contract (Garrity)


In that case we might actually be in a stronger position than Utah -- who don't have many players to trade back to Orlando even though their picks might be slightly better than ours. Of course Ainge won't get the credit for adding talent top-to-bottom that may allow us to get Okafor, but that's a different story.

IMO the best case scenario would be us including a signed-and-traded Blount + 3 #1 picks + McCarty + (and here's where it gets dicey) either Banks or Welsch (assumign they'd rather not have Davis (whom i'd rather keep)).

Everything up to Banks/Welsch I'm willing to give up, and would be willing to take back Garrity (4 years), Lue, Steven Hunter and probably one other player. I would push strongly for Gooden (who seems to be the odd man out ridiculously enough).

But I'm completely torn on if i'd give up either Banks or Welsch or which one. I believe that the C's should have a 3-man 2/3 rotation of Pierce/Davis/Welsch each playing 30-33 min. But if I had to give up one of them I might give up Welsch -- but very, very reluctantly.

I'm almost more reluctant to give up Banks -- mostly b/c I still think we don't know what we have with him. Though I suspect Orlando may want him more since they've said they'd like to upgrade the PG position most. With Welsch at least, I think we can project him out to realistically max out at a Scottie Pippen-lite talent level -- 17 ppg, 5 asst, 5 reb. Which is really good, really really good. But I would be willing to risk giving that up to get Okafor, esp. considering we'd still have potential all-star starters in Pierce & Davis.

But with Banks we still don't know. Could he become the next Gary Payton? Tony Parker? Tim Hardaway? Or Dee Brown, Darrell Armstrong, etc.

To me this is the greatest mistake the C's have made in the last 10 years -- regardless of skill level, either giving up on players before you know what you've got (Billups, Bowen, Johnson, Songaila, Blount (the first time)), getting players that won't get much better (Baker, Potapenko (for the #8 pick),) or sticking with players in roles greater than their talent level (McCarty, Delk (who should have been a perfect 6th man)).

I guess if pressed i'd agree to:

Scenario 1 -- Blount agrees to sign-and-trade:

Welsch, Blount, McCarty, 3 #1 picks ---> Okafor, Gooden, Garrity, Gaines & Hunter

Scenario 2 -- Blount won't agree to sign-and-trade:

Welsch, Hunter (who I'd give up to get Gooden), Stewart (to add to their capspace next summer) & Mihm --> Okafor, Gooden, Garrity, Gaines & Hunter

Boston - Scenario 1
PG: Atkins / Banks
SG: Pierce / Gaines
SF: Davis / Garrity / (IR-J. Jones)
PF: Gooden / B. Hunter / Mihm (IR-Stewart)
C: Okafor / LaFrentz / Perkins / (IR-S. Hunter)

Boston - Scenario 2
PG: Atkins / Banks
SG: Pierce / Gaines
SF: Davis / Garrity / J. Jones
PF: Gooden / LaFrentz / McCarty
C: Okafor / (LaFrentz) / Perkins / (IR-S. Hunter)

Orlando - Scenario 1
PG: #1 pick / Lue
SG: McGrady / Stevenson
SF: Weslch / Bogans / (McCarty) / 2nd Round pick (pick #31)
PF: Howard / DeClercq / McCarty / #1 pick
C: Blount / Pachulia / #1 Pick

Orlando - Scenario 2
PG: #1 pick / Lue
SG: McGrady / Stevenson
SF: Weslch / Bogans / 2nd Round pick (pick #31)
PF: Howard / B. Hunter / DeClercq / #1 pick
C: Mihm / Pachulia / Stewart / #1 Pick



(the other) mark


On Apr 7, 2004, at 6:51 AM, Dan Forant wrote:


Certainly I would do all 3 picks for Okafor but that wouldn't satisfy. Other
player(s) would have to be involved, that's where it gets too expensive
depending on who the other players are.


DanF

----- Original Message -----
From: <Bos3332@xxxxxxx>
To: <celtics@xxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2004 10:50 PM
Subject: Okafor


I think we need to do whatever it takes to get Okafor. I believe a front
court of Okafor and Raef would be great. If we can keep Bount/Mihm and
Hunter
would be great depth. I think we really need to get Okafor, I would do all
3 draft
picks for Okafor.

Tony