pre-draft and trade(s) thoughts

[R Howe]

Kind of the calm before the storm thing. All we can do is speculate what will be soon transpiring.

IMO I feel between now and the end of the camp will be the defining moment for Ainge's tenure as C's GM. and weather the C's will be a team on the rise or heading for another 3-5 years of yet another re-mold program. 

The C's are young with general upside talent that has yet to translate into a mature product on the floor or have we yet to get an accurate handle on ceilings on a number of the young guys but by camp we should have at least a foreshadowing to answers on a lot of the question marks concerning the young players. Also should have answers on the injury front for two very important vets in T. Allan and Wally.

Keys and things we know:

1. Pierce and Jefferson form one of the better outside/inside scoring duos in the East and have barely scratched the surface as far as potential. Both are also double/double threats every nite. Defense?? well that's where surrounding them with good two way players has to happen. 

This is where Ainge has his work cut out, he has acquired young unrealized to emerging talent but now needs to mold or parlay that to a winning team vs just acquiring more talent. Who stays/goes or comes to us via draft or trade? This is it, he has all he needs to get this team going, Pierce/Jefferson Duo, young talent, future picks, a 5th pick in a supposedly deep draft, cap relief fodder for trades, key vets coming back from injuries. Getting excited thinking about possibilities. Go C's!! ... OK I am calming down.

2. Rhondo/West PG combo is very young, intriguing, with question marks. Each brings differing strengths. Both are quick and play hard on the defensive side, both are on the shorter side but at the PG position not as much a problem as with other positions. If somehow we could morph West's grit and jumper with Rhondo's pure speed and PG instincts then we become contenders right away.  Key is how quickly does Rhondo mature to his potential and what is that? Could use a PG "D" specialist as 3rd PG backup - Greene anyone?

3. Perkins/Jefferson is not a bad PF/C combo, Perkins with his D/rebounding, Jefferson as the scoring stud but could use a upgrade to Gomes/Powe as regular rotation/subs. Maybe Gomes improves w/jumper & defense enough to swing between forward positions, good player but not someone the other team has to game-plan for, nor does he spread the floor enough to compliment Jeffersons or Perkins inside work. A healthier more steady player of LaFrentz,s skill-set would be nice. I like draft pick X here (Yi, Green, Noah)?

4. Need for Allen and Wally to come back from injuries. Neither will be traded before camp breaks because of salary and injuries but both if healthy are very important to the C's depth and success. These two represent veteran presence during games, 20+ pts and good perimeter "D"  (Tony) that was not available to the C's during last season.  All huge needs for the C's that mean the difference between a winning season and a losing season. If Tony does not project to come back healthy maybe Draft pick X here or MLE signing for starting perimeter D and scoring player at the wing position. 

5. Leads me to Green. Ainge has a decision to make. Trade him or keep him. He oozes with potential, was forced into playing major Min's before ready w/out benefit of a solid stable rotation to play with. We saw glimpses of a special player but he also showed he has a ways to go before he is able to be a force nite in and out. Usually the 3rd year is where you see the biggest improvement (Jefferson) with such young players so do we hold on to him to play behind Tony, Wally, West and wait for him to earn a rotation spot from one of them or do we trade him with sweeteners (Ratliff, future pick(s), current players not named Pierce or Jefferson) for a solid vet starter X or maybe to gain a late lottery pick this year?  Me I would rather hold on to him and at least wait to mid season to make a decision. I would hate to see him bust out to be an impact player on another team because we were not patient enough to see if he is just a athletic show player or real impact game changer.

Sorry for the length but its Friday before heading out the door for some serious beach time (Guam) 

Go C's
  
       
---------------------------------
Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles.
Visit the Yahoo! Auto Green Center.