3 New Rumors From Chad Ford

that gasol trade is a helluva lot better than the garnett trade.

Amd so begins the end of the Pierce era in Boston…

screw Garnett I want Gasol. I would throw in Gerald too if thats what it took to get the deal done. We instantly become a top 3 team in the east with Gasol in my opinion and this is what I’ve been hoping for all along

I’d love to see a front court of Gasol, Jefferson and Pierce. That would be a moster in the east. On the flipside, if that can’t get done, I wonder if Memphis would be willing to go the opposite direction: Pierce for the #4 (I realize contracts would also have to be involved). Total rebuild phase with the 4/5 picks in a good draft. Or maybe Minnesota giving us the 7 if they find it impossible to trade Garnett and are desperate to appease him.

I honestly don’t think Pierce asking for a trade as the typical prima donna stuff. I think the word “demand” doesn’t fit this situation. He’s been a good trooper through a lot of horrible mismanagement, positive influence around the young guys, always shows up ready to play, has kept working hard, and it really is illogical to keep him without any strong vets around him.

As i said , you can never close the door on anything ..

It seem like those in the know have been saying this for several years, trade Pierce, even after his great year a few seasons ago.

Hey, it was Pierce who called the youngsters spoiled last year and said they were worried about their own stats more than wins. Well it seems almost daily we see and hear of another talented vet being the spoiled one: Garnet, Pierce, Kobe, Marion…

Give me Big Al, and a good young hungry core. Once we can get something good back for Pierce, and put Wally and Telfair out to pasture, this team can start concentrating on being young, mean, hungry and talented.

Adios Pierce IMHO, it should have happened two years ago when some teams would have given up the farm for him.

OK, Jeff, let’s cover all the bases: Lose the ‘Save the Wolves’ advertisement from the site. Save the Leprechauns is what we’re about here.

The Danny has got to make the Pierce trade happen and soon so we don’t suffer through another miserable year and get squat back for him.

Secondly, the Danny needs to stop trading for injured vets, no more broken down Wally’s or Theos.

Thirdly, 18 game losing streak followed by a coaching extension just doesn’t add up to the common fan or NBA player. New blood was and is needed at coaching and the best prospect IMHO was Stan Van Gundy that the Danny didn’t even approach about the position.

Lastly, get rid of the “brats” on this team. Pierce was a brat last year wanting the Iverson trade, calling out his young teammates on national t.v. and when asked by Steven A Smith what the youngsters would be doing with him and Iverson taking most all the shots: Pierce said they can try to get rebounds and pass the ball to he and Iverson. Telfair is an ignorant brat too. Imagine all the players that would give their left testicle to be in the postion Telfair was in, and look at his behavior.

Once the Danny starts following some sound advice can the Celtic Nation get back to supporting a real NBA team.

Wallace owes us something for Joe Forte/Kedrick Brown/Vin Baker.

I have been a proponent of acquiring KG, but only if you could keep Al or the pick…this Gasol option seems like the best of both worlds. We would have no defense, but Gasol on the high post, Jefferson on the block, Pierce on the outside, and Rondo running the point….we have the potential to do some serious damage. A 7 footer in Gasol at 27 years old, Al at 6’10" at 22 years old, and Perkins at 6’10 and 24 years old….yes, please.

West/Theo/#5 for Gasol

Pierce/Wally/Telfair or Green/future pick for Kobe

Gasol/Perkins
Jefferson/Gomes/Scal/Powe
Allen(or Green)
Kobe/Ray
Rondo/MLE vet

Gasol isn’t as bad as everyone thinks on D . I believe last year he was in the top 10 or 15 in blks and rebs. I know thats not everything when it come to playing D but its a hell of a start

Now we have finally come to the moment of THE Truth. Paul Pierce is showing his true colors and making hostages out of us. Thats nice. Of course we should give in. Whatever Pierce wants, Pierce gets and he wants Banner 17 next summer. By all means, Pierce is our God. What are we waiting for? Im finally ready to give in provided, of course these are not just more rumors.

If Pierce’s agent is talking to the press now, you know they’ve been saying the same behind closed doors up until now. I really wouldn’t mind just seeing Pierce traded, but like everyone else I like the Gasol deal far more than the KG rumorings.

I like that Memphis trade, but that sounds cheap for Gasol. If that goes down, Chris Wallace can expect a carton of Luckys from me (I’ll even have it autographed by Jerome Moiso).

—sv

Maybe we need to take a page from the Gators. Five talented guys and a top notch coach got them to repeat as NCAA champions. Noah as a showboating jerk mentality to him, but at least he played good, hard, enthusiastic, team basketball despite the antics.

Time for this team to acquire young talent around Big Al and build for 3 years.

These youngsters and Pierce never fit together. Pierce doesn’t think they have the potential talent or if they do it will develop fast enough. Remember two seasons ago when the ball always went to Pierce, especially during crunch time.

In some cases the sum of the parts make the whole ( Florida’s team) better, in some cases it makes it worse (Celtics with Pierce and youth).

Trade Pierce.

Yes, that is what I thought it would take to get Gasol. DO IT!!!!!!

if we end up not being able to get any big time allstars to team up with PP and Big Al he could most certainly be traded. You root for the uniform if you are a true fan and want what best for the organization. If the best thing for the organization to win a championship is to trade paul pierce so be it

YES…if the PP trade demand…that will “dream come true”….I have wanted him off our team for awhile now….he’s clearly overpaid and we need to start rebuilding around Big Al anyways…we have GG anyways…who’s 20 times cheaper

If that trade works to get gasol there should be a press confrence in Boston tomorrow with a really tall spanish guy holding a green jersey!!! Are you kidding me??

A front line of Jefferson, Gasol and Pierce couldn’t defend a chair, and Ainge knows it. It would also subject the Celtics to a huge luxury tax bill if they resign Jefferson.

It’s BS.

The Paul Pierce era in Boston NEEDS to end. Ainge should call Schwartz and ask him to work out the best deal he can. Ainge to Utah for Kirilenko and #25 gets my vote, but there are plenty of other options.

This team needs to trade offense for defense, not add more offense.

Broken Record…I mean Brick, as things stand they only have 2 guys that can score- I agree they need more defense, but unloading offense is not the answer. A team with Rondo, Allen, AK47, Jefferson, Perkins and your beloved Conley would probably score an average of 65 points/game.

DannyAinge44 said:
“I mean Brick, as things stand they only have 2 guys that can score.”

Jefferson, West, Szczerbiak (all he can do is score), T. Allen. Gerald Green (all he can do is score)… Are you kidding me?

I would put Jeffeson, Kirilenko, Green, West and Conley up against any lineup the Celtics could put on the floor today. Plus you add the #5 pick.

Keeping Pierce means unloading the #5 pick. He’s not worth it any more.

It’s one thing to consider TRADING Paul Pierce, it’s another thing to simply “give” him away! Kirilenko plus the #25 is too little, considering what we were willing to pay to get Gasol, Marion and KG. Kirilenko is another example of a player getting too much money for too many years without the corresponding PRODUCTION. In addition, he seems to spend considerably too much time on IR.

Utah would have to up the ante with a future first round pick (protected top-three only) to even consider this deal.

i got a question lets say Garnett is traded here, what number is he gonna wear because 21 is out of buisness. o yea and if we give up Jefferson i might kill Danny.

If KG comes, its just a financial move. Fool the fans for a couple of years while we sell the team. You heard it here first.

But hey, Glenn Ordway will have multiple orgasms when the deal is announced.

it is not boston kg refuses. it’s the whispers in his ears from skippy and davis about doc and danny.i would not mind gasol. yes he is no kg on o or d, but we still have clifford ray to teach him and gasol can be a force on offense.paul should be on the phone talking up boston to kg or gasol or having his agent talking to their agent. and danny should have paul on the table, seeing what he can get. i would not mind pp for ak47 and #25, not at all.

Brick, Jefferson can score. West can score every few games when healthy (rare), Wally can score when healthy (even more rare), Green can score every few games (hopefully more often soon), and Allen has been a good scorer for like 20 games in his whole career. You reminding me that Gerald would have to play more on that terrible team makes me raise my average to 70ppg for that team.

Memphis “undecided” between Noah or Conley at #4 doesn’t ring true. Either player could be had in a trade down since at #5 we wouldn’t consider either player. The only “fly in the ointment” would be if we too traded down (Charlotte’s #8 and #22 for our #5 and #32). Then Conley might not be available to them.

And Garnett didn’t “refuse” because he dislikes Danny or Doc (who I hate), he “refused” because he sees an opportunity to go to the Suns or Chicago and he wasn’t going to get that opportunity if he didn’t speak up because Mchale and Ainge were so far along. He will accept a trade to the Celtics and probably sign an extension if he sees it as his only option other than the Wolves.

To my way of thinking, this whole Garnett trade business has Wyc’s fingerprints all over it. He’s given Ainge his marching orders to get someone they can market to sell tickets and Sponsorship. Or perhaps it’s Wyc’s wife, who wants a new toy to show off to her girfriends in the locker room.

Jefferson and the #5 not to mention whatever else the C’s throw in (plus taking back Troy Hudson) is a horrible trade. Shawn Marion makes no sense either.

See what can be gotten for Pierce and build the team around the youngsters.

Moskqq, they may very well take Noah at five. He can play. Brick talks about no defense. Noah would change that in a hurry. He’s much better than Varejo despite what Frank thinks.

Can we all get a present or something for being a Celtics fan?? I mean this feels surreal. I feel like the trade will go down, because management knows how sports crazy this city is, and the money is there for the taking. Pierce is the only remaining piece from the original celtics squad before Ainge arrived. There’s a reason for that, and why he hasn’t gotten traded. $$$$. The full out youth movement can only last so long before the horse cannot be kicked any longer. Not even “YI Jianlin” can save it, and management knows it, we lucked out on the lottery pick and its plan b time. I think we all know deep down that what we have right now, will not take us to the promised land….Hopefully i’m wrong, but i think we can say we have seen something like this coming for a while now, it’s just surreal that it looks like it could very well happen. Danny has stated numerous times, that he plans on getting young in order to be able to trade some for star.

Trade or no trade, i’ll be content with the PF position either way, and thats saying something, considering the nightmares we have had for the past 10 years there. Danny def. gets props for getting us at least Al, and if it lands us KG, i have faith in the rest of the youngs we have left. However, if this trade went down, KG will be expecting Danny to make more moves and putting the heat on. KG is says what he wants when he wants. The C’s organization knows they have a chance right now to get the finals. People need to stop talking about KG like he is some washup, former all-star aka Chris Webber.

Rondo/West/Ray/Telfair?
Pierce/West/Allen/Ray
Wally/Allen/Gomes
Garnett/Powe/Scala/Gomes
Perkins/Scala/Garnett/Kandi?

Thats a pretty talented team if you ask me. There’s a lot of lineup options which would accomodate many different styles of play. I think we would sign a free agent, and ultimately make another move possibly before the season starts. We’ll see what side of the bed KG wakes up on tomorrow….

Regarding Pierce, a trades way past due. Trade him for a high first rounder (this year), and an expiring contract (or soon to be). Then bring in Brewer and let him play the 3 spot, with either Green or Allen at the 2. The C’s have got to stick to there guns and see this youth movement through to the end. They’ve put to much into the development of these youngsters, trading any away would be a shame.

Maxwell Smart, I love you idea in theory—why not dream big? I just don’t think Ainge could pull it off. Too many moving pieces.

I’m in the “stop whining, Pierce” camp. He is paid a boat-load of money. He is the captain of the team. He has professed that he wants to retire a Celtic… and now this comaing from his agent. His agent would not have said this without Pierce’s approval… and if he did speak out of turn, Pierce would have him retract it immediately.

Trade Pierce now. Get a Top 10 pick in this year’s draft and whatever else you can.

Jefferson should be the only untouchable. I love watching the kids and am willing to be patient to watch them grow.

Draft Yi and either Brewer or Thorton.

blah blah said:
  Regarding Pierce, a trades way past due. Trade him for a high first rounder (this year), and an expiring contract (or soon to be). Then bring in Brewer and let him play the 3 spot, with either Green or Allen at the 2. The C’s have got to stick to there guns and see this youth movement through to the end. They’ve put to much into the development of these youngsters, trading any away would be a shame.

I couldn’t agree with you more. If we’re gonna trade Pierce, what better time then now when we can get a second high pick in a stacked draft. We should definately add Brewer and a big(Horford, Yi).
Even with the losses, its been fun watching these kids grow and I hope to see them(Al, Rondo, Gerald, TA, Perk) around for a long time.

Let’s see: the Celtics are moving heaven and earth to dump their most promising rising star who genuinely wants to play for them; they are fawning on a player who has repeatedly told them to bugger off; and they are prostrating themselves before a guy who is getting 18 million dollars a year to play 47 games of an 82 game season, who has said repeatedly that he wants to live and die a Celtic, and who now is apparently too cowardly to speak for himself but instead drops hints through his agent. Yuh gotta love it! Go Celts!

The best ending will be for Al to remain, go 24 & 12, turn down a long-term contract and demand to be traded.

Methinks we gave up trying to win a championship when we reupped Doc. Welcome to our world, Paul.

I’m getting that Impending Doom feeling. Management isn’t thinking of whats best for the Celtics. They just want to get a famous person in a Celtic uniform. I don’t have any faith in Ainge or Doc right now, and think they’re going to implode under pressure and make a horrible mistake. And Wyc and his young privelidged friends can get their pix taken with PP and KG.

   And Pierce. This whining about getting a veteran is intolerable. Ever since he called himself a superstar last spring, saying he didn’t want to be another superstar who didn’t win a championship, I thought he should get dumped. Stars don’t refer to themselves as stars. Part of the problem with the youth on this team is lack of leadership. Whatever happened to the team concept.

   Say what you want about Noah’s shot and his value as a 5 pick, but he appears to get it as far as being a team guy. It makes a lot odf sense to draft winners from winning programs.

Totally agree, VT Bill. Trade Pierce for another high draft pick and get two of the Florida guys on our team.

Bill, good point about the winning programs. The Bulls targeted that with getting Deng and Duhon from Duke, Hinrich from Kansas and Nociono from the Argentine National Team. Seemed to work for them.

Trading for KG makes us INSTANTLY better, so much so that we have a good shot at winning our division. That sounds like an immediate UPGRADE.

I believed and trusted in Danny when he recognized that the Celtic’s needed to get younger and more athletic. I understood when he tried to accomplish this feat while still remaining competitive. As a result he had to accomplish his goal drafting deep in the first and second rounds and his only recourse was to delve into the high school ranks.

Part TWO of Danny’s dream was to bring us closer to #17 and we all wanted that. While Danny gave us better talent, it was raw talent that needed nuturing and seasoning, a slow process, too slow for many fans.

We’re at the threshhold of understanding what’s in our cupboard of talent and we see that we’re better but until more of our youth develop an all-around game, we’re still several years away.

 We’re also at a different threshhold because we now have a golden opportunity to draft two potential impact players in this draft. We can begin to adjust the BALANCE on this team’s roster by securing size and athleticism. But it will take another 3-4 years of continuous building to get us closer to #17. We’ve got future 1st round picks to include the Wolves 1st round. If KG is traded or stays with the Wolves, he’s getting older, more injury prone, and the Wolves future outlook doesn’t look great. We have additional opportunities for a lottery pick in the next few rebuilding years. We can add to our talent base.

Do we have the patience to do it the right way….the only way to approach #17? Should #17 be our goal or should we EMPTY our cupboard of young talent to position ourselves for a division title? Have we changed our focus and our goal? Has our vision for #17 completely disappeared?

hold the truck. Those comments were made by his agent, not by Pierce. I take those comments just to be postering. That agent sees Kobe & KG pushing for trades and he’s trying to light a fire under the celtics to get one of them. He even says, “It just won’t make sense to keep Paul if the Celtics can’t compete for a championship. They should trade him and get young players that can help them rebuild.” I think everyone and their mother knows this to be true, including Wyc, DA, and the coaching staff. Majority of the info from the Celtics is about them trying to get older, and/or trying to put more value into thr 5th pick to hook a bigger fish.

I really don’t believe those trade comments were from Pierce’s mouth. He knows the history of this team, he knows what it would mean to the league and for his career if they were able to compete for titles. Until those words come from Pierce, its just a bunch of postering and the majority of you are backing up the truck and packing his bags.

And for those of you who say that Green can take over the position once we trade Pierce, I have one question for you…Have you seen him play??? The kid is FAR from being on Pierces level. A polite comment from Kobe, and Dunk Award does not make a player. Aside from his inconsistent scoring games, GG is clueless on the court.

Although, if there is anyway to package Pierce with everything/anything outside of AJ & RR to get Durant, Im all aboard.

It’s Sunday, the draft is coming up, it’s summer, and the lottery and rumors have taken our attention. As reality starts to set in it’s become the put down Paul Pierce season, just as it’s marble season at a particular time of the year. Now Paul Pierce is a “whiner” demanding a trade. Something was mentioned, or was said to have been mentioned, by his agent. I have seen nothing actually said by PP. Yes he has in the past talked candidly about his future with thoughts ranging from wanting to be traded to retiring as a Celtic. He has said the team needs a veteran presence. Has anyone on this blog not agreed with that? Is it different from what anyone is saying? It was mentioned in another post that Pierce called his teammates “spoiled” and only interested in their own stats as opposed to winning. I didn’t hear this actually said, but I’ll assume it’s correct. I heard these same words spoken, I believe last season, by one of PP’s young spoiled teammates—Kendrick Perkins. So on one hand we want to be competitive now and on the other hand we want to trade PP for youth and start all over again building around Big Al. I’m confused. Like all of us, I want to see this team get better. I would also like to see us talk about real FACTS. Right now the facts are that we have a current roster, we have the #5 pick in the draft and, I believe, a 2nd round pick. We have worked out several potential draftees and extensive scouting has been done by DA and other members of the Celtic’s staff. Period.

This might be a bit off topic, but looking at the list of ‘07 free agents there seem to be a few out there that we could get, who are probably not high quality, but who I think could give this team some good depth. Mikki Moore, for instance, is one. We need some big backup help and Moore might be able to fill this spot, at least as a short-term fix. He could probably be gotten for favorable terms. I’m not saying he’s the guy, but maybe we should be looking in this direction.

thanks moskqq, cos and truegreen for turning back the reactionaries…I was getting ready to jump off the bridge.

For Danny, this must be like trying to hit gophers apopping out of holes at the carnival game. Everyone, including the owner.

Everyone is for sale if it improves the team. My vote, and has been for along time on these threads, is the Gasol deal. If Stoudamire is thrown in to unload salary by Memphis, I think it can be done. I don’t buy the memphis Atl deal, since the reasoning in the hard push for Horford at 3 would be to apease Gasol, not trade him.

As for defense, defense comes from commitment, not talent, Gasol included, these guys have the athletic skills to get it done. AND where the problem really is…does doc have the skill to teach it? Jefferson had 10 rebounds, 1 1/2 blocks…he’s not there yet, but i think he’s improving to be a good defensive player. Perkins can be an enforcer, rebounder.

Someone above mentioned Chi and getting Dueng, etc. Well, they also went for the proverbial defense, rebounding machine in Wallace at 60M. They went no further in the playoffs, and are now in search of offense on the low post. SA seems to play great defense, because of commitment. The are very good atheletes, but better in commitment and coaching.

Keep PP. Do the Gasol deal. Win the east.

I think the Doc contract, full of incentive based income was their way of setting him up to succeed if it truly was all injuries, and still get out cheap by Jan if not. Carlisle and others remain in the wings.

Celtsfansince55 said:

“Let’s see: the Celtics are moving heaven and earth to dump their most promising rising star who genuinely wants to play for them; they are fawning on a player who has repeatedly told them to bugger off; and they are prostrating themselves before a guy who is getting 18 million dollars a year to play 47 games of an 82 game season…”

Exactly right. Al Jefferson will never be a Celtic long term. Pierce, by demanding that a big name veteran be brought in, is virtually pushing Big Al right out of town. Pierce wants to be THE MAN. I think he resents the hell out of Jefferson.

My only consolation is that these cheap fools who run the team are going to get exactly what they deserve: a franchise that, in two years, is going to be worth about 100-125 million less than they paid for it.

Replace Rivers
Draft Conley
Trade Pierce

I’m starting to think our best option is to call Utah and offer # 5, Green and Theo’s contract for Kirilenko. A bonus would be to pick up their 1st round pick this year.
I know Kirilenko has had issues in Utah. Not sure if he’s a team first guy. But if he’s willing to play defense and be the third scoring option behind Pierce and Jefferson, maybe it would work. He’s only 26. His contract isn’t the best though.
I’m not really sold on Gasol. I think the Grizzlies’ price will be too steep. West does not want to go out looking like a fool. I question Gasol’s defense abilities too. Yes, he can rebound and score. But he dogs it on D a lot. That’s the last thing the C’s need.

Brickowski said:

Exactly right. Al Jefferson will never be a Celtic long term. Pierce, by demanding that a big name veteran be brought in, is virtually pushing Big Al right out of town. Pierce wants to be THE MAN. I think he resents the hell out of Jefferson.

Brick, you’re assuming alot. If PP is so intent on sending Big Al out of town why did he invite him to work out with him this summer? Okay, I know. PP will take Al to run with him on the beach at low tide. Big Al can’t swim (I know this for a fact because I made it up). Now assume the rest.

Another thing – I’m starting to really tire of all the All-Stars who want to be traded to a championship contender (Kobe, Garnett, Pierce). This is getting silly. They want their huge contracts plus a banner. Sometimes you can’t really have it all. And does anyone really think Pierce would be happy being the second scoring option or go-to-guy on another team? What team does he want to be traded to where he will be satisfied? Championship contending teams normally already have a top dog scorer and featured player. Does anyone think Pierce will really be happy if he’s not that guy? Please.

I’ve never been a big Pierce fan. I don’t think he’s clutch and his pouting, sneering past showed me his true colors. If Ainge likes Yin Jianlian, then I like him too. It’s will be exciting and fun to see a low-post Jefferson / high post Jianlian combo. Add whoever we get for Pierce and it will make for an exciting rebuilding process.

I’m willing to wait to see the youngsters develop. Ainge screwed up with the Telfair trade, but I think that was partially due to pressure by Wyc, who is turning out to be a meddling owner. It’s tough to control your boss, especially when he is probably under pressure from financial partners. Ahhh, to have a deep-pockets owner.

Well TrueGreen, whether Pierce resents Jefferson or not— and Pierce did say publicly that he resented being a “placeholder” to keep the team respectable while they build around Jefferson— in fact Pierce’s veiled threats (via his agent), along with the cheapness of these owners, means that Al is a prohibitive favorite to be traded away on draft night or over the summer. Why aren’t they talking with his agent about an extension? That’s what they should be doing.

And don’t believe that crap that “oh, that’s just the agent talking, not the player.” Someone in the Celtics organization (it had to be Rivers, it was so stupid) said the same thing about Garnett’s agent, when the agent said we don’t want Boston. No reputable agent makes a statement like that unless he has conferred with the player.

I think Danny’s rational of “stocking the cupboard” with athletic and young talent was a necessary first step. What I don’t agree with is that our cupboard is now filled with “ready talent”…so much so that we can afford to empty it because we have so many QUALITY spare parts, so many other options.

I still think that Danny’s plan has merit but we’re not at the stage of roster maturity where adding one major talent will push us over the edge for #17. No other goal, except #17, should be our vision if we are to add to our illustrious past.

The time to add quality spare parts is during the building-development years when lottery positioning gives you access to top tier talent. We can’t count on finding other Jefferson’s in every mid-late round draft pick. That good fortune doesn’t happen that often.

While Paul Pierce remains the cornerstone of this roster I’d only consider trading him if we were getting $.98/on the dollar and not dump him for some of the ridiculous trade suggestions for lesser talent/$.50 on the dollar price tag. We tend to exaggerate the value of players on other teams and under-value stars on our own team (to include Jefferson).

Speaking of Jefferson, he had a breakout year this past season and for some unknown reason Danny feels that we’ve seen Jefferson’s best. How naive to believe that a healthy Jefferson has reached his potential in the last 3 months.

Jefferson should have more upside to his game to include a much better defensive presence. His offensive breakout only reflected his high school strength…offense…. but he also average 18 rbg and 9bpg in high school. It is not unreasonable to assume that with Clifford Ray’s help that he’ll show another DEFENSIVE breakout sometime in the near future. While we wait for Jefferson to blossom into the player we expect him to be, won’t Perk be able to also contribute more defensively?

Gerald Green has the size and athleticism to be more than an offensive weapon. While we put KG on the back burner it is reasonable to expect our other roster players to develop as well (or to “hit the road”)..

Fifty cents on the dollar for Pierce today will equal 100 cents on the dollar two years from now. Meanwhile, you’ve wasted two more years.

Chris Wallace was brought into memphis to field a budget team while the owner tried to sell it. Theo’s insured and expiring contract is the most valuable thing out there to help this happen, and the 5th pick is a cheap alternative to paying Gasol near max money on a team going nowhere in the West. Theo, the 5, and Perkins for Gasol makes a lot of sense. The Cs can throw in the very valuable 32nd pick in need be.

Gerald Green (and Childress in the proposed Hawks deal) duplicates Gay and Miller, and West is a player without a position. Perk makes more sense as a big body who can help defend against the quality bigs in the West, and has a very affordable contract for a center. If the Griz can add Conley and a promising big (Horford, YI, Noah, Tennessee native Brandan Wright) and save the owner $9 million when Theo’s insurance kicks in, and set Memphis with a $40 million payroll next year when they are sold, ownership will be thrilled.

AL, Pierce and Gasol will be an excellent front line. If the Cs have to dip their toe in luxtax waters for one year in the 09 season, so what? After all, they saved $8.5 million last season when they got the insurance money for Theo (and gave away Brandon Roy). If they have the opportunity to actually use the Theo trade chip to improve the team and don’t do it for money reasons, I will never buy a Celtics ticket again as long as this ownership group owns the team.

Al, Pierce and Gasol on the front line will let in 120 points per game.

Trading the #5 and Theo and a filler for Kirilenko is the best move we can make at this point. Let’s get this done before Garnett changes his mind and we lose our best prospect for someone who will bail on us after next year. He can say what he wants, but best case scenario in two years we have lost him and start this whole thing over again without a cornerstone at all. Pierce will be gone, Big Al would be traded away, we would have lost some other talented young ones due to free agency or trades. 3 stars is what it takes in this league to win. KG and pierce are not enough. Pierce, Big Al, and Andrei could be though. One solid veteran signing or trade and we could go deep for the next 4-5 years and with luck have a chance…

Anyone happen to read the little blurb talking about the three Florida guys coming in for workouts and them mentioning that Noah did a really nice job despite having a partially torn rotator cuff? How is this not all over the news?! I have a partially torn rotator cuff right now and am going in for surgery to repair it in 2 weeks and they say I will be in a sling for a month, and 6 months before I can resume playing ball! Why won’t this make this already shaky prospect slide all the way down the board?!

Speaking of Jefferson, he had a breakout year this past season and for some unknown reason Danny feels that we’ve seen Jefferson’s best.

This is the exact thing Im talking about. It was rumored that the Wolves wanted Jefferson, #5, GG, Theo, plus whatever else for KG. The trade did not happen. It didn’t happen after KG made his remarks, nor did it happen BEFORE he made his remarks. So how can you say that Danny decided we’ve seen the best of Jefferson and its time to move him. If that was the case, he would have accepted that trade the moment it was rumored. Obviously, there was some other issue (other than KG’s remarks) as to why the trade didnt happen. Im not saying its cause DA doesnt want to give up KG, but there is no way ANYONE can say that DA wants to trade him.

Your all like those buffallos heading in a herd over the cliff. You might want to take a moment, reread what was put out and give some thought to it before you follow the herd.

triple, I agree with getting Gasol. have been on that side of the fence for a long time now. But, its better to keep Perk and find another way to get the deal done.

that why your 4/5 can go
AJ/PG
PG/KP
AJ/KP
much more flexibility

Brick, can you tell me a date when your going to stop screaming the sky is falling? I’d just like to know when your going to have something positive to say.

Well, if Pierce is being used as a “placeholder” to keep the team respectable while they build around Jefferson, then suffice it to say he has done a pretty lousy job at it. Umm, does anyone here remember that absolutely rediculous post game scene where Pierce wrapped the bandage around his head. Pierce is not a champion. He had his chance to prove he was and he failed. Does anybody here remember the quote “I dont think there is anybody on the Nets who can guard me?” The guy isnt a top 5 or even 10 player in the league. His teams DONT win championships, regardless of the talent around him. That includes Team USA, Jayhawks, and the Celtics. Plus, he is not nearly as funny or charismatic as he thinks he is. Pierce is the Drew Bledsoe of basketball. He wants all the attention and is full of self-import, but he is not a champion. And let’s stop saying what a great job he has done being patient with the team. The guy makes millions and millions to play, eat, sit on his ass,do interviews, club around in Boston, etc. Enough. I would be OK simply trading him for nothing as a salary dump, but I honestly dont think many teams want a guy like Pierce. He is the modern Jerry Stackhouse (well, not quite that bad). I can only really see Detroit making a move for him, in which case we should bite and trade for someone like Prince.

Latest rumblings from the Jazz front on AK47 indicates their GM still wants him back. But given the owner’s recent comments and AK47’s feuding with Sloan, this relationship may be over. The Jazz are preparing for the draft by working out a lot of SG/SF’s. They would probably love to add Brewer or J. Green. Our fifth pick plus G. Green and Theo could get this done. Maybe a change of scenery is all that AK47 needs to become effective again? Pierce, Al, AK47 and Rondo could form a good nucleus, although it may not satisfy Pierce. We would just need to add a decent Center to limit Perk’s minutes. We need a big guy who can defend, block shots and rebound.

In the meantime we should use the 5 on Conley. Call me crazy but Brandon Wright, Jeff Green, and Noah, even Brewer, arent exactly doing it for me. Draft Conley and hope that Oden develops some kind of debilitating mood syndrome from the grey wet winters in Portland (he wont, Portland is a lovely city, but bear with me) and we rejoing him with Conley. In the meantime, Conley, Jeff and Perk can work together to humiliate other teams. Nash is old. Trade Rondo and future draft pick, and Theo’s contract to the Suns for Marion (or not, as I think he would opt out anyway. One winter in NE is all he’ll need to leave).

Brick,

I agree with you. Pierce, Al and Gasol is a lousy defensive front line. We need defense, not more offense. Biggest weaknesses on this team are defense and turnovers. Turnovers can probably improve as some of the young guys mature. Defense won’t get better unless we add guys willing to play it every game. Gasol’s not that guy.

Danny knows we haven’t seen Jefferson’s best. He also knows that the owners are too cheap to pay Big Al.

As for Kirilenko for #5, a prospect and an expiring contract, that doesn’t work because it would lead to a huge luxury tax hit in 2008-2009 if they expect to resign Jefferson. It will never happen.

If Kirilenko comes in, another big long-term contract has to go out— and that means Pierce. The question is, what other goodies could you get along with Kirilenko if you offered Pierce?

Blather and baloney aside, this is a very strong draft. My view is that #25 could produce an outstanding player like Belinelli, Fernandez or Byars, any one of whom could be a better player than Jeremiah Rivers’ Friend, who idiot Rivers is pushing Ainge to draft (just more Rivers nepotism as far as I’m concerned).

Alternatively, the Celtics could try to get Kirilenko, Harpring (or Fisher) and a future first for Pierce and Scalabrine.

Kirilenko had a bad year but he’s three years younger than Pierce, he defends, blocks shots and runs the floor. You could do alot worse.

and he shoots just as consistent as gerald. so between those two, glass ankles, and a too short shooting gaurd in west, where do you get the outside shooting for spacing?

If we made a move on Kirilenko, we’d have to move Wally or Pierce. If we move PP, we should get more back, like #25. If we give up Wally, we’d have to include more, like DWest or Green. Either way, I’d do it. Either way, we’d have a pretty good defender at the 4, a guy who run the floor, and get some hustle points. Wally or PP, whoever is left would start at 3, we’d draft Brewer at #5, and he or Allen would start in the backcourt with Rondo. Green & Gomes would backup. Draft a backup PG at #32, like Taurean Green or The Finn, and we have the makings of a pretty talented, versatile team.

I forgot to add that Kirilenko is an excellent passer, he’s unselfish, he reobunds, and his handle is good enough to play point guard in a pinch, as he demonstrated in the playoffs after Dee Brown got hurt and Deron Williams was in foul trouble.

My guess is that quite a few teams have called the Jazz to ask about Kirilenko.

But frankly it’s futile to suggest trading Pierce to the current blockhead owners. He’ll have to ask for one first, lowering his value even further.

No, I expect that the KG deal will get done after July first. The owners will do it knowing full well that it’s a one or two year rental. And they will pay far, far too much for KG. It’s HOPELESS.

AK47 didn’t perform this year…we’re giving up our chips for a turnaround project? Plus, for someone who doesn’t like winers…he would have to be on the NBA all-winer team.

I didn’t sse his defense play a key roll in the playoffs. Yes he played the 3, instead of the 4. Playing the 4 here would put AJ at 5, where he will be less productive.

Sorry, not a fit for all the risk of talent and financially, and loss of other opportunities.

You can find something wrong with every player you could get for Pierce. If you want to rationalize keeping him and his 60 million dollar liability forever, you can. You’ll win 35-40 games and watch Pierce’s number go to the rafters.

If that’s what these owners want, then count me out.

Let me add that if you wait around another couple of years for “better opportunites” you be waiting forever. AK-47 is avaliable NOW. You aren’t getting anything better for a 33 year-old Pierce.

Cos; I read what’s printed but like you, I try to decide what is posturing and what is fact. I happen to believe that it wasn’t Danny that quit the KG deal but KG himself. Somewhat similar to what Marion told Phoenix. What I read that you apparently MISSED, it was the 15% trade kicker and Hudson’s contract that Danny wouldn’t agree to.

In trading Jefferson, the 5th pick, Ratliff’s expiring contract and/or Wally IMO the price tag is too high. That Ainge doesn’t agree suggests that he UNDERVALUES Jefferson’s upside, the 5th pick and/or Ratliff’s expiring contract/Wally’s worth.

By the way, before you criticize a poster’s knowledge of player worth or the currency of their information, be sure that you’re not guilty of the same label yourself!

hard to believe with all this"rumor" stuff out there we would take a crap deal for every asset to get KG at 31 yrs old…i’m not sold that KG stuff was true….Brick-sometimes as contracts dwindle trade value maintains….sometimes

I am resigned to the fact that Danny will be getting rid of the pick. I don’t understand, the trade rumors notwithstanding, why a team that is supposedly building for the future, is so adverse to keeping a pick in the top 10 of the draft two years in succession?

Moskqq, I agree. That’s what’s fun about this site is all the varying opinions and no one should be belittling anyone else’s. My sense is that the KG talks weren’t as far along as we all (media) think. I would be stunned if Ainge does not value Jefferson’s worth as Brick states. He went for the home run pick and drafted him and I find it hard to believe that he’s lost faith in him so soon. For what it’s worth, these are a couple of thoughts that I wonder that could be going on… that Ainge all along knows he wants Yi. He was quoted and video taped stating he knew who he wanted as soon as the college season ended. That he was ready for the draft then. I could easily see him going for the fences again with Yi. If not Yi, I don’t see them picking Brewer at #5. He may be the best guy to take but the one thing to ask is, is his defense and athleticism so great that it offsets being a 3rd or 4th option type on offense? I saw him completely take Arron Afflalo out of the NCAA semi-final game with his defense and completely negate UCLA’s top scorer in that game. But would he be able to duplicate that at the NBA level? Don’t get me wrong, I love defense as well as anyone but for the sake of building a winning team, balance is needed. The Pats prove that in the NFL. At the end of the day I don’t think Ainge will take him just for the D when Brewer would have to find minutes amongst the other wing candidates (Green, Allen, Wally & Pierce). I think then Ainge looks at more realistic trade scenarios. Who knows what gets presented to him between now and thursday but Kirilenko would be a good guess with Gasol being a possibility. Both are 26 and would represent less risk than KG as they would be around longer, if you value that sort of thing. I guess AK would be used as a really mobile running power forward with Al at the 5. Where Gasol would be the five and Al play the power forward spot. If Ainge decides that is nothing he wants to pursue and turns back to the draft, I would see him looking big and again deciding between the home run pick of Yi or going for the size and mobility (the same as AK, but cheaper) of Noah. Just my current opinion for what it’s worth. It will probably change in a couple of days once we hear fresh new media reports of rumors. LOL

Moskqq, I forgot to mention that I also wonder if Ainge is quietly, very, very quietly shopping Pierce in conjunction with the drafting of Yi.

I have a headache.

I’m just bummed that it looks like I have to sit through another draft where the C’s trade the pick. I love the draft. You never know what you’re going to get. Did anyone one really see Wade coming out of Marquette? Gilbert Arenas, anyone? Tony Parker past the top ten? I love the fact we just dont know. I hope they have at least two picks in the draft, no matter where they are.

And I’d be pretty psyched if they picked up a player like Williams or the guy from Vandy, Byers (sp)

If they don’t trade the pick, Pierce will ask for a trade. Pierce doesn’t want to rebuild. And the owners will trade both Big Al and the pick to keep Pierce happy, because keeping Pierce happy is more important to Grousbeck than building a winning team.

I actually think Brewer is the pick. compare him to the other 2/3’s on the team

Green – brewers a better defender
Allen – who knows when/if he will be back to the late Dec/early Jan Allen
Wally – Brewers a much better defender
West – Brewers taller so he can defend more positions
Pierce – Brewers a better defender and he’s younger, making him the more likely replacement to Pierce.

I’m all for trading the #5, Theo, and anything outside of RR, PP, and AJ, but we can definately get an impact player with this first year. Also, its been publized already that the team doesnt want to be so young going into next season, combine that with DA knowing who he was going to pick since the NCAA Finals, I really think its a Gator.

As for trading GG, I’d much rather hold onto him for 1 more year, when presumably he has more value. This way, we can combine him with the Wally expiring contract and get another impact player.

Brick,

I agree you can find fault with every player.

But, AK47 didn’t just have some bad games, he had a bad year, and did a lot of sulking. His onw owner reduced his value to peanuts. My other issue is fit, not skill.

If PP stays you translate this into doom = drama “then count me out.” Your choice.

I suggested keeping the chips for a better opportunity and you exaggerate this into “you wait around another couple of years for "better opportunites” you be waiting forever." How about a couple weeks, if necessary to see what happens with the draft, free agency, trades offers when everyone is available to discuss?

I’m all for considering all opportunities, but not in a reactionary state of panic, nor with some pressure to do something, no matter what.

concur

After draft night, opportunities will be limited. For starters, another team could snatch the player you wanted. Or, Pierce could demand a trade if the Celtics keep #5, causing his value to plummet.

Trading for Garnett is a bandaid move. Jefferson is getting better, Garnett is getting worse. Trade Pierce for a 1st rounder and keep the young players.
If the Cs trade Jefferson for anyone this side of Kobe or Lebron they have rocks in their heads.

I just heard a rumor that the Celtics have made a promise to Conley. LOL

jurrasic earl said:

“I just heard a rumor that the Celtics have made a promise to Conley. LOL”

Stop teasing me. It’s cruel.