What would you have done differently?

[Michael Gooen]

Gary wrote:

<<I've calmed down a bit but I'm still depressed. 

I guess my expectation on the draft was that we needed a big player or
 at least a Paul Pierce replacement a few years down the line. This
 draft was a serious opportunity to get a special player. Allen is a fine
 player but I think we gave up too much for him. I think what has
 bother me so much about the trade is that it signals a change in
philosophy from building a Champion to win now before we are really ready.
Yes it will be a better team this year than last year and we will probably
 get to the play-offs. Yes it will be nice to be reveillent but I just
 don't feel we have a chance for it all. That's what bugs me. If we had
 landed Oden or Durant we would still be building a future championship
 team and everyone would be going NUTS. Today we will take our best
 shot. The reality of our situation is a second level team at best.>>

Gary, I don't disagree with your assessment - but what would you have done
differently here?  Who would have been your pick @ #5?  I don't blame
Ainge for the (bad) luck of the draw on 5/22.  I don't like the team's
"low ceiling" either, although I suspect Ainge would argue that without
getting an Oden or Durant the Cs have to become relevant first, then good,
then great.  Tanking didn't work, so building up with proven players seems
as good a plan B as any.

I'm not in love with the trade either - and will be very, very angry if it
leads to the departure of Al Jefferson - but I really don't feel that much
worse about it than any of the Cs' other remotely realistic options in the
draft.  I certainly am happier to have Ray Allen at the cost of a #5 this
year than I was to have Sebastian Telfair and one year of tax relief at
the cost of a #7 last year.  After the top 2 - maybe 3 - players, there
weren't any sure things - just a lot of nice players and promising maybes.
 I'm not going to bet on it, but it wouldn't shock me if Big Baby
ultimately turns out to be the 3rd best player in this draft.  Take a look
back at the 2001 draft (if you can stomach it) and tell me how many
players in that draft you'd rather have than Gilbert Arenas (#31 that
year).  

The thing I'm angriest about right now is that there appears to be no buzz
about additional acquisitions.  No point guard to herald an end of the
Telfair Era.  (I would like the Brevin Knight suggestion a lot if I
thought he'd stay on the court.) No active, experienced big guy to back up
Al and Perk (with apologies to Big Baby - I'd be thrilled if he can
contribute from the get go, but as with Perk I expect BB's rookie year
will be about getting into NBA shape).  When I read that Herald article
about Ratliff playing next year I felt like laughing, crying, and vomiting
at the same time.  The man had back surgery - and I didn't read anything
about the drs having removed the fork.

I'm wondering why Danny wasn't camped out on anyone's door at midnight
Saturday night - I fear that Egg has it exactly right when she blames the
owners' parsimoniousness.  Damn this luxury tax.  I don't begrudge the
players or owners their fair share of a popular product, but I sure do
miss the days when trades were made solely for basketball-related reasons.

Michael Gooen


 
____________________________________________________________________________________
Looking for earth-friendly autos? 
Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center.
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/