Shoo Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy

[mark at 10thumbs.org]

Asterix, it wouldn't be a Egg post w/o at least one swipe at Ainge.

I'm not clear what you're saying Egg. All that's clear IMO is that the
various members of this list disagree about who they'd like to add via a
trade and what they'd give up for him.

Some of us (at least me) woudl gladly move #5, next years #1 and Green +
Ratliff for Gasol

Some of us (again i'm in this camp) would make the move (Ratliff, future
#1, gGomes for Rahard Lewis) if that's the last optioin.

Soms of us *would* move Jefferson for KG (which i'm sure is what McHale is
asking for), some of us wouldn't (I wouldn't).  Some would move *either*
the #5 or Jefferson but not both.

I would pee my pants if we could add KG w/o including Jefferson.  Can that
happen?  I don't think it's impossible nor is it likely.  But I still
think few teams can (or would) offer more (even w/o Jefferson) for KG than
us. Just my opinion.  3 #1 picks, exp. Ratliff, Wolves fave Szczerbiak,
exp. Telfair, and Green -- who can give better?  Amare, but i don't think
that's  a real possiblity.

I think we're all frustrated with the state of the C's  --- i honestly
don't think anyone on this list likes where we're at.  What we, again,
disagree on is whether there's hope or not and/or whether Ainge can turn
things around (which some will answer with another question "didn't Ainge
create this mess" no, not all would be my reply).

(the other) mark



Astirix wrote:
---------------
Eggy:

  You hit lots of nails on the head here.  Can't expect the team to add a
vet without giving something up.

  In the minority here, I don't hold Al Jefferson in as high esteem as
some.  The player I see him becoming is Elton Brand - good, solid,
hard-working - but certainly not Garnett or Duncan.  As you correctly
point out, fans cannot expect to reap rewards without giving up
something in return.

  Where you lost me was with the swipe at Ainge.  Mind you, I think Ainge
has graded about a B (mainly due to the Telfair trade - which also
netted us the Ratliff exemptionhowever) but his drafting has been a
solid A.  We're able to talk trades.  You can't have it both ways.


------------------------------
Eggcentric at aol.com wrote:
------------------------------
  The list of available players via trade reads like a who's who of
all-stars. Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O’Neal, Shaun
Marion, Andre Kirilenko, Pau Gasol, Rashard Lewis, Vince
Carter, Jason Richardson, Antawn Jamison, Rasheed Wallace,
Josh Smith, Zach Randolph, Ron Artest, Mike Bibby Enough to
make your eyes light up and your tummy say "Howdy," right?

Wrong.

The theory was that Danny would amass a bunch of young
trading chips without thought to position, team chemistry,
veteran mentors, or winning percentage. And that by year
five (formerly year three) of his el jefehood he would somehow
magically cash in a few of these priceless chips for players
who would make us whole, i.e. immediate contenders, right?

Wrong.

Actually Celt fans were never talking just CONTENDERS, they were
talking CHAMPIONS. Improving upon 33 and 24 win seasons to
merely become a first round playoff one-and-done just won't do.
Going from A to B only to live in perpetual mediocrity is way
below the expectations of fans who after Gavitt, Carr, Pitino,
Wallace, and Ainge, still believe in Santa Claus. We must go
from A to C. And C stands for championship. Piece of cake,
oops, I mean Shoo Fly pie, right?

Wrong.

There's just one little fly in the pie. It turns out that we
have a few less trading chips than we thought. We have the
#5 pick, and we have Big Al and we have uh err uh hmmmm ...
But who's counting? The #5 and Big Al are plenty enough
ammo to finally bring us a veteran all-star, right?

Wrong.

It turns out that almost no one wants to part with our chips.
Steve Knight says he wouldn't trade Big Al for anything less
than Tim Duncan. Hartley doesn't think there's anyone he
would give up Big Al for. And it sounds like lots of folks on
this list agree with them that Big Al, warts and all, does indeed
walk on water. So let's remove Big Al from our short list of
trading chips. But we can still trade the #5 pick in a package
for a topnotch vet, can't we? What's that you say, Mark Berry?
Okay, okay. So let's remove the #5 pick from our trading chips
list as well.

I'm thinking, I'm thinking. There is one more possible trading
chip ... Theo's expiring contract. Now that tickles my tummy.
We keep Big Al and the #5 and get one of the above all-star
types for Theo and Allen Ray, right?

Wrong.

Yet another extended high buck contract (along with Pierce,
Wally, and soon-to-be Jeff) would financially paralyze poor
Wyc and our team for years to come. Adding just one topnotch
veteran wouldn't be nearly enough to make us champions.
And teams willing to trade such a big time talent for Theo
would also demand a decent player(s) and/or draft pick(s)
thrown in to appease their fans and cement the deal.

Oh dear, what to do, what to do. I feel an attack of the vapors
coming on, no doubt just a bit of temporary flatulence due to
being served too many Grouspaingel (â„¢ Kestas) pan dowdys.
No deal seems to work. So just forget about all those available
all stars. Celtic Nation has spoken. Big Al is better than all
of 'em put together, anyone we draft at #5 is sure to be a
future Hall of Fame inductee, and we're so good and brimming
with the promise of youth that we don't need any of those high
buck prima donnas. Besides, I understand the Nuggets are
willing to instantly upgrade our team by offering us Anthony
Carter and Von Wafer for Telfair. And Danny, never one to
miss out on a bargain and still searching for a 3 pt. shooter,
is also at the ready to sign Ohio St. guard, Ron Lewis, in the
likely event he won't be drafted, right?

Right.

"If Lewis wasn't already a senior, he'd be a sure lottery pick in
the 2010 draft."

Yup, Shoo Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy. I never get enough
of this wonderful stuff.

Egg