Next steps

[Peter Delevett]

Jefferson, Gomes and Green is a lot, not to mention a
couple of 1st rounders. Despite Green's flatulent
showing in the summer league, Skip Bayless on ESPN
today was raving about him. Since you could do this
trade without Gomes, I'm wondering how much of the
decision to get rid of him is to clear up cap space
down the road; for that matter, I've always really
wondered whether Seattle wouldn't have taken Wally and
the #5 pick for Allen without our throwing in Delonte.
In both cases, the other team is already getting some
nice long-term assets and some cap relief. Ryan and
Delonte, to my way of thinking, are gravy for the
other team - and leave us with voids. 

Ainge must have a lot of faith in Powe and his three
rookies. As others have noted here, the C's are going
to have to dish out the full MLE to put a team
together, and I'd think they'd have a shot at getting
some veterans who are hungry enough for a title to
take a discount for the chance to play with our New
Big Three.

Off the top of my head, and in no apparent order, I
look at our needs and see the likes of Matt Barnes,
Darrell Armstrong, Jeff McInnis, PJ Brown, Austin
Croshere, Eddie Jones, James Posey, Brevin Knight,
Marc Jackson, Corliss Williamson, Jarvis Hayes, Earl
Boykins, Ruben Patterson. Maybe Brian Skinner. And
Melvin Ely put up nice numbers for Charlotte in 05-06.


Bottom line, there's absolutely no reason for
ownership to skimp at this point or worry about the
luxury tax: we have a three-year window, tops, to win
a ring. And they'll be getting plenty of dough from
jerseys, extra TV games, home and road sellouts, etc.






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