Buy low, Sell high?

[keltsfan]

Point well taken Ryan.  Arm chair GM-ing, of which I am quite guilty of,
gets in the way of the facts sometimes and ends up being a series of mental
gyrations that have no basis in reality. These mental exercises can,
however, indicate the deeper philosophies of the posters in terms of how
they see the roster, the game, etc.... 

Ravi

> -----Original Message-----
> From: celtics-bounces at igtc.com 
> [mailto:celtics-bounces at igtc.com] On Behalf Of Ryan, Patrick 
> S Maj RES USAFR 439 MSG
> Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 5:03 AM
> To: celtics at igtc.com
> Subject: Buy low, Sell high?
> 
> A couple of points that have come up over the weekend I 
> wanted to chime in on.
> 
>  
> 
> First, the debate of Pierce as part of the trade for Gasol.  
> It would be wise to consider that Memphis has publicly stated 
> they want to get 1.
> younger and 2. shed salary in the pursuit of trading Gasol.  
> Which of those stated goals would take place if the deal were 
> FOR Pierce?  You would be correct if you answered "neither".  
> When the board discusses its faux trades, all I ask is that 
> both sides of said trades are considered.  Memphis wants 
> youth (read: rookie contracts) and expiring deals; not newly 
> re-signed older swingmen.  They want names like Al "Rookie 
> Contract" Jefferson dangled for Gasol.  First round draft 
> choices (preferably this year).  The real debate of this 
> board shouldn't be "who's better Gasol or Pierce" it should 
> be "who's better Gasol or Jefferson" because that's the guy 
> that fits the criteria Memphis is looking for.
> 
>  
> 
> Second, last night was the first night where the Celtics 
> played the entire game like they didn't give a crap.  The 
> biggest argument against the "we're actively tanking" debate 
> has been that throughout (until last night) the team really 
> did play hard.  They didn't play exactly smart or 
> fundamental, but they played hard.  Perhaps the raging "tank" 
> debate has finally reached their ears and their hearts? 
> Perhaps the novelty of actually playing now has equally lost 
> its luster to the kiddie corps?  The "beauty" of this losing 
> streak to a Brain Trust that does likely wish to tank is the 
> injury excuse paired with the inexperience excuse - combined 
> together to make an easy justification sound bite - "Tanking? 
> Our young guys are playing their butts off out there night in 
> and night out. A couple shots here or there, a defensive stop 
> and we've won five or six of these games.  These kids are 
> making great progress. Al Jefferson has become the 20-10 
> player, stepping up in Paul Pierce's absence, playing hurt."  
> See how easy that was to turn the negative question into a 
> "positive" comment leaving the very word "tank" as a set up 
> for the spin of development? 
> 
>  
> 
> Lastly, just a moment to rant here...the draft lottery is the 
> dumbest invention ever devised.  What other pro sport creates 
> a system wherein the least deserving team could conceivably 
> gain the best overall pick?
> Obviously, the argument has been "it'll prevent tanking".  
> HA!!!  That sure seems to have worked this year for Boston 
> and Memphis and to a lesser degree Philadelphia hasn't it? 
> The greatest asset to pro football's success is the belief 
> that regardless of how a team finishes any given year that 
> through free agency and the draft that a team can go from 
> worst to first (there is an example, or two, every single 
> year - take New Orleans and the Jets this year).  Wouldn't a 
> commissioner WANT that belief to be fostered? A draft lottery 
> contributes (as does the low number of players per team and 
> the worst cap system known to man) to a prolonged rebuilding 
> process by integrating luck as a factor.  It does nothing to 
> prevent teams from "tanking" and it sure as heck does little 
> to give fans hope for the future which in turn means at least 
> some continued interest in a team despite a losing campaign.  
> And from an entire league standpoint (which is what Stern is 
> supposed to be looking out for right?) does a couple teams 
> tanking hurt the league or hurt those teams? 
> 
>  
> 
> I know it won't change as long as "Don" Stern is in charge, 
> but I do believe a good first step to trying to get parity in 
> basketball is number one to get rid of the draft lottery and 
> institute a draft based on record.
> 
>  
> 
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