Mark P., the only problem with your scenario is signing and trading
Blount. It's my understanding now that we can't do that. Maybe I'm
wrong, but I think the Celts would have to use some or all of their
mid-level exception to sign him, something Orlando could do just as
easily. A sign-and-trade really doesn't benefit him, unless that's where
he wants to go anyway and he agrees to it to help balance the numbers
for the trade. But that seems unlikely.
No, I'm sure Orlando would want all three No. 1 picks, Banks, Welsch and
Mihm, with us taking back Okafor and a bad contract - probably Garrity,
maybe Juwan Howard.
It would pain me to give up Jiri, who I think is a winning team kind of
player. And I wouldn't be wild about giving up Mihm, but let's face it -
the Magic need a center and they're sure to ask about him. I can live
with trading Banks, although I'd like to see them try to hold onto one
of those draft picks to take a developmental point guard to groom behind
Chucky.
Anyway, I think Okafor is a difference-maker and a winner. He's a warrior. He's a cross between Alonzo Mourning and Kenyon Martin. That's good enough for me.