Denver Post: C's Frontrunners for Pau

No offense, but the Denver Post is full of crap. Why would the Celtics trade Jefferson now, he looks as though he is only improving? What message would that send to the other players? If it takes more than Wally/Theo and people other than Gerald/Jefferson/Pierce then okay, I could see the Celtics going for him. I think it is just leaked info to tide fans over thinking we are trying to trade to improve when I don’t think we need to trade anyone other than Wally and maybe a young or two. I say keep Ratliff’s contract till next year when it is expiring and use that to land an all star to go along with the youth we collected and Pierce.

CsfanNH

I can’t believe that they would really let big Al go at this point. It just makes no sense.

I think letting Al go for Gasol would be a big mistake too. I’d give them almost anyone else except Rondo and Pierce. But Al is a guy to build around. Giving up Al to get Gasol straight up would be kind of a lateral move in the big picture. Gasol may be more well rounded now but Al has shown signs of a developing outside game. And he’s a lot cheaper than Gasol. Giving up Al and draft picks would be a BAD move in my opinion. It may be something that was proposed a few months ago. But I cant imagine that Danny Ainge still has that on the table now.

Give them Gerald, Theo, #1 pick top 3 protected (a good suggestion by someone on here) and maybe another young player Telfair? and its a deal. But dont include Al. I will be depressed for a while if Al goes.

I’d trade Gerald, Theo, Picks and Bassy/West for Gasol. But there’s no way in hell I trade AJ for him. Though I don’t know the situation of Gasol’s contract so who knows. I’d love to see Gasol here, I really would he’s one of the league’s BEST big men and AJ isn’t there yet. But I’d love to see a lineup of West/Rondo, Pierce, Gomes, Jefferson, Gasol.

Just a rumor, it isn’t going to happen.
Gaston is not the owner anymore (thank goodness)

Why would we give up jefferson now? they would not give him up for iverson, who i think would have been a better player than pau, but now give him up for pau- info must be wrong. i am all for getting pau, to have with jefferson also would be nice to get rid of theo, bassy, and even gomes/perk for the deal- but not at the cost of jefferson.

If Danny trades Jefferson right now he is the stupidest GM in the league.

If they make a deal for a veteran this year they are idiotic and I’m done with them. If we make a deal for a vet, we’ll be stuck in “good enough to make the playoffs then promptly be knocked out in the 2nd round” mode.

The correct time to make a move is this offseason or during next year. We’re already 8 games back of the Atlantic and we have a horrific head coach, we’re not going anywhere this year, so just keep loosing.

Not to mention, did you see Gasol get destroyed by Randolph last night? He looked like he wasn’t even trying and he completely choked on those 2 FT’s in OT.

This front office team is going to drive me nuts.

The team is only improved if you have Gasol in the high post, Jefferson in the low post and PP. To give up Jefferson for Gasol does not make you a contender. The move to make is Green, Perkins, Theo and a #1 (from Minny) for Gasol and Warrick. That makes the team better.

Say it ain’t so, but I gotta believe Big Al is one asset Danny wouldn’t part with. I do however believe that C’s only two “big” assets are Big Al and the pick in the upcoming draft. Green has been exposed, and all the other young guys I doubt have all that much value around the league. I would pay a high price for Pau, but not part with Al:
2007 1st rd (top 3 protected)
Green
Ratliff
1 additional young guy (not Al)

Its just a rumor, probably put out by someone in Griz organization, to put the heat on the bulls. If they get Gasol, their the frontrunners coming out of the east, and they currently can offer a better package (strictly on develop assets).

The Denver Post is 2nd to the NY post in “Ripleys Believe It Or Not”.

I would take Gasol if you could keep this years #1, Rondo, PP and Al.

Gasol, when healthy, is a legit all-star and few months ago, the decision would have been a no brainer(AJ for Gasol), but AL is a different man now. Unlike GG, AL has turned the corner and has arrived. He is a legit 20-10 guy and his hands and nose for the ball are just out-of-charts stuff. If AL stays healthy, he could be one of the top 3 bigs in the game for the next decade.

..Gasol for GG = no brainer
..Gasol for AJ = not horrible, I rather not

..then again, JWest isn’t stupid and has no use for GG. Unless a third team comes in, I can’t see it happening trading GG for Gasol.

Considering that AL will be making $10 million a year soon, a trade of the two that doesn’t involve the C’s 07 pick might look tempting, but I feel that AL will become one of the better low post players in the league within two years. Any championship-caliber team needs a low post threat.

The easier road to contender is to tank and get a top pick. I agree that anyone besodes PP and AL can be fodder in a trade for Gasol. In Gasol, PP and AL, the Cs will have an all star big with perimeter skill, a brutish young post player with double-double numbers, and a premiere wing. Add a veteran PG and some role player, and you have a contender.

I think giving up on Gerald right now would be a mistake. We’ve seen flashes, and like Telfair, why trade a player that undoubtedly has talent while their value is at the lowest it can be?
If he sucks the rest of the season I still think it’s too early to give up on, but I’d understand it if it brought a proven all-star like Pau. Trading for Gasol right now though is only counterproductive (as others have pointed out): marginally improves our record this season while worsening the record of our main competitors for the top spot in the draft. If we have a Tim Duncan saga part deux that would really blow.

OMFG if they trade Al Jefferson in a deal for Gasol I’ll be disgusted. Absolutely disgusted. Since when have the Celtics had a likely 12rebound/game center/pf who has good post moves? If we trade him then we never deserved him in the first place.

I’d honestly much rather keep Theo’s contract and ditch Wally somehow. Throwing in Telfair, future draft picks & this year’s 2nd pick would make me ecstatic.

I’ve got a quick question… considering the Celtics are probably top 10 in revenue in the league, yet not top 10 in spending, don’t we have room to have a higher payroll? People may bash Ainge for moves, or lack of moves, but I’m happy that our financial outlook is significantly better than it was a few years ago.

I hate to break the consensus, but I don’t see this as a bad deal. Pau is a proven all-star — he took a Memphis team to 50 wins in the West with no one else other than Mike Miller. Al Jefferson can’t win a single game right now (albeit with very little help).

I do agree that Pierce and Gasol does not a contender make. (Playoff team, yes, contender, no.) They would need more pieces. But at least they’d have two big ones.

You’ve got to be kidding me. Jefferson is already threatening to surpass Gasol 2 years earlier in his career. I don’t get why Pau Gasol is even considered a star, blue chip player. He’s a 19-8 career guy, a nice player but not a blue chipper that’s going to put this team over the top with Pierce. Yeah, he was on a 50 win team that overachieved in the west, and that’s about it. Good player, not great, and not worth giving up Jefferson for.

id rather trade Green right now then Al.
Pau
Paul
Al
(dominating top 3)
over
Pau
Paul
Green

It seems like the consensus here that trading Al for Pau would be a dumb move right now – Al has impressed me so much this year and I would not give him up for Pau
Him and Pau would be a killer duo when Pierce comes back
Trading next year’s pick/ getting Pau and improving a few wins this season would make the current tank job worthless

I can’t believe it, me the most positive guy in the blog, and I’d have to ask Dickretro to pass one of those fish bones over for me if this happens. I’d ask Master Po to pass the pipe, but I think that would only make me lose my motivation to put me out of my missery, if this trade happened. :D

As far as the draft pick for this year, trade it…I know I said top 3 protect it yesterday, but after reading Eric W’s view point, and the Herald today, where we would have to finish 3-37 to even tie the record of the 96-97 crash for Duncan. Forget it! Trade the pick UNPROTECTED, with ANYONE, but Jefferson and Pierce. The odds on where we finish out at the end of the season once PP is back, is slim to none for the 1 or 2 pick.

With PP, Gasol, and Jefferson were on our way. We would storm the gates in our division, make the playoffs and have an oppertunity to make some real noise once there. I have faith in Danny, he’s smarter than that. Keep the Faith, Restore the Pride.

The closer we get to the 2/22 trade deadline with PP out, only raises the value of the pick for the trade for Gasol. I’d even package Minn, pick or our next year pick to keep Jefferson off that trade. Wings are always out there to pick up, GG I’d give up, or any of the others. PG are hard to find, so Rondo I think I’d be more tempted to try and keep than any other player we have. But I would not let him be a deal stopper either. Hopefully the trade value will continue to increase till trade deadline. Jerry West will not pull the trigger until the 11th hour you can be sure of that.

nyfan said:
  “Why would we give up jefferson now? they would not give him up for iverson, who i think would have been a better player than pau, but now give him up for pau- info must be wrong. i am all for getting pau, to have with jefferson also would be nice to get rid of theo, bassy, and even gomes/perk for the deal- but not at the cost of jefferson.”

That’s the thing, for a post player is one thing, I guess Ainge didn’t feel comfortable giving up a post player like Jefferson for Iverson, but is more comfortable for Gasol. Gasol will bring the Defense down low that this team has lacked for years. That is how he lead Memphis to a 50 win season with basically Mike Miller and himself as the centerpieces.
Like I’ve said before, Jefferson will not put up these kinds of numbers once Pierce comes back, so get full value for him now. And try to get Mike Miller while you’re at it. Toss West and Gomes into the deal as well.

Memphis will bite with Gerald Green despite them being loaded in the wings basically because a. He is way cheaper than Gasol. B. he is a trade bait for the future not to mention they would have added a draft pick in the upcoming draft should DA dangle a top 5 protected pick…and if i were Jerry, i’d be glad to have Green, draft pick that may be top 3 protected knowing the Celts would be atleast a 5-8 range pick when all is said and done, but i’d probably insists to include West and |Gomes.

No way it comes down to Big Al though..I hope DA is not that stupid.

bopna, I agree with your thoughts on Green being of value to West as your right it would give West the freedom to trade him or his other wing players. Another thing is that it’s a no brainer to figure that West is going to draft for his front court help. Another factor is that Memphis is looking to cut payroll. Jefferson’s contract will be coming up shortly, will Memphis want to dish out the money Jefferson may comand without the pieces in place to support him. He may find himself right back in the same boat thier trying to get out of. Brick made a point that next years draft will be another good one, the time for Memphis to build through the draft is now. However, I disagree that the Celtics pick will be at least a 5-8 pick once Gasol comes on board. I find it hard to believe will even be that once PP gets back, from looking around the league. I don’t think West will bite with the pick protected anyway. We need to make a real move, not keep thinking of rebuilding with young draft prospects. Trade the pick, unprotected, let West hope that we stumble and finish even in the lottery. What will entice him is more balls rolling around that may come up #1, the time is now.

BIGAL should be an untouchable in any trade talks. Not opposed to moving GG for a deal for Gasol. Keep our #1 pick too. Do not overvalue Gasol and give up too much.

No!!! Danny No!! I am open to all the rest being offered but not Jefferson. It is not worth it to give up Jefferson and a pick plus players. Danny I am betting on you to not make such a move Involveing Jefferson. Let me propose Perk (orginally drafted by Memphis) west and gomes. plus Theo and Minny’s pick- whenever.

I can’t imagine this happening. That would be a crushing blow. I’m in agreement with those saying that Green, Theo, Bassy, and a pick are our trade bait … in any trade.

how would people feel if Jefferson and not the draft pick was dealt .. ?

I’d honestly rather see PP in a trade for Gasol than Big Al, though I know that’s not being discussed.

Havli it would still not make sense for DA to trade Jeff for Pau straight up, But what if the rumor was actually involving a swap of picks that has protection, that will certainly complicate things.

im pretty sure its not Jeff picks for Gasol as i think DA is not that dumb…(I Hope)

Iwould not give up PP, Big Al, GG, RR or our first round draft pick. If I can do something with what is left, so be it (though I doubt it).

My preference is to stay the course. Short term pain for long term gain.

We have come this far, let’s go the distance.

It saddens me to see so many people giving up on GG at 21 years of age with no college ball experience.

Think Jernmaine O’Neal, think Kobe, these guys took a while to get it. GG is a physical freak who can also shoot the ball. Give him time to develop his handle and the kid will be unstoppable. Right now he should be perfecting the Reggie Lewis pull up jumper, with his vertical leap, no-one is stopping that shot.

Bunker down Danny, take the hits, let the kids get more experience and come out swinging next season.

Cheers

Aussie
 ;)

Dont know what to say .. what im worried about is Danny’s eagerness to keep his job and to prove to people he can get “that” guy something he has been going on about for a year now .. what is he willing to do to get that man ?
theres alot at stake here

I can’t believe anyone wouldn’t give up GG for Gasol. GG is Kedrick Brown all over again.
Off to the game. . .

I’d rather ghive Gerald green and our #1 pick next year for gasol, than give up Jefferson.

If Ainge trades Jefferson for Gasol….he should be fired instantly! Telfair, Green, Ratliff, and a future 2008 #1 should do it.

Jefferson will be one of the top 3 bigs for years to come?? How about Dwight Howard, Yao Ming, Stoudemire, Okefor, Oden, the kid with the Lakers? So what we should do is not trade for anybody, keep losing and then add the 3rd pick to our team with Al and Paul for next year. How long till we compete with that crew???