Chicago trade revisited

[keltsfan]

Egg,

I understand your point of view on this but it's not a matter of gliding for
the sake of gliding.  It's a matter of deciding to rebuild and then building
a solid foundation for that building.  For a team like Boston this means, to
me, obtaining top of the lottery talent for several years. As I've stated
elsewhere, it means drafting a Dwight Howard rather than an Al Jefferson, a
Chris Paul rather than a Delonte West.  Once you've got the pieces you've
got the flexibility to make something happen whether it's trading for an
established superstar should one come available or letting that top talent
develop into a championship team together.  However, Pierce makes a bad team
mediocre at best and it is nearly impossible to get top of the lottery
talent when one is mediocre.

The other option is to trade the young talent you have for an established
championship caliber talent to put alongside Pierce but the Celtics don't
appear to have the pieces to make that happen. 

So in lieu of either of these scenarios happening, the option is to go
status quo and bet that the youngsters currently on the roster or soon to be
on the roster can develop to the point that they and Pierce can win a
championship - not get to the playoffs but win a championship.  Or wait a
sufficient enough development time for these youngsters to be worth enough
to get back a championship caliber talent. But how long is that going to
take assuming that these players, each of which has major flaws, can even
get to that point?

With respect to West playing the two, I'm comfortable with it for a time.
It's not ideal and there are times he would be taken advantage of but I
don't believe as bad as one would think.  Ideally he would be playing
alongside a pure point who would get him the ball in positions to score
rather than playing alongside another combo guard (except perhaps Randy Foye
who might be a poor man's Wade).  D. West's best skill is his ability to
shoot and I would rather seeing him shooting the ball at will instead of
trying to distribute it.  

Yeah, I know Lebron James in a Celtic uniform is not going to happen, but
the point is to have the talent and cap flexibility to make a deal for a
"superstar" talent should one become available.  If one doesn't become
available then the team still has the talent that they can let grow together
and the cap flexibility to get the final piece to go over the top.  Look at
the options Chicago has now for example and the options Orlando will have in
another season. 

Right now, the Celtics may have the final piece to go over the top in
Pierce.  As of the end of last season however, they didn't have the rest.  

Perhaps, Jefferson and Perkins will come on strong this season though.
Perhaps Jefferson will fulfill the promise he showed as a rookie, that his
new found work ethic and determination is lasting and that he can become a
dominant force inside. If that happens and a pure point comes along with
Pierce relinquishing control to that pure point, then the Celtics will be in
pretty darn good shape.  

Ravi



> -----Original Message-----
> From: celtics-bounces at igtc.com 
> [mailto:celtics-bounces at igtc.com] On Behalf Of Eggcentric at aol.com
> Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 6:15 AM
> To: celtics at igtc.com
> Subject: Re: Chicago trade revisited
> 
>
> 
> Holy Schmolly.   Like a snake, each year glides into the next
> for no other purpose than to glide. The 2006 draft isn't even 
> over, yet so many fans are already fast forwarding to the 
> 2007 draft.   
> 
> < Your point about leadership is very important though. 
> West might rise to the occasion if out from under Pierce's large 
> shadow.   Does he have the talent to warrant leadership reigns 
> if he does possess the other qualities? While clearly not a 
> franchise player,   I think if he's moved to the starting two
> his talent shows more. > - Ravi 
> 
> With the plethora of talented, taller wings in the league, 
> are you comfortable with moving Delonte to starting SG 
> assuming he is in the same backcourt with another smallish 
> combo guard? 
> 
> < However, I'm not sure he {West} possesses the other qualities.   
> He's been very reluctantly to assert himself when playing the 
> point. Perhaps this is a function of not being comfortable in 
> that role or perhaps it's a function of playing next to a 
> dominating on court personality in Pierce. In any event, he 
> hasn't established himself as an on court leader let alone a 
> team leader. > - Ravi
> 
> I suggested Delonte as our future leader only out of default.   
> Perkins is a likable kid but not the smartest tool in the 
> shed; Jeff has personal issues which he may never overcome; 
> the talented Allen and Green are too bonkers to ever be team 
> leaders; Gomes is stable but not the assertive type; Greene 
> will probably have an abbreviated shelf life here. 
> 
> < Most likely, the franchise player/team leader would still 
> need to be obtained.   Fine, we're talking full out rebuilding now 
> anyway by moving Pierce and hopefully LaFrentz.   Then IF Lebron 
> James wants out of Cleveland, Ainge has the cap flexibility 
> and young talent to make a serious and very competitive offer.>
> - Ravi
> 
> LeBron coming here?   Holy Shmolly to the tenth degree.   You
> sure aim high. Wish I had your optimism.
> 
> Egg
> _______________________________________________
> The Boston Celtics Mailing List
> celtics at igtc.com
> http://www.igtc.com/mailman/listinfo/celtics
>