Stevie is still a terrific player. However, with 48 and change still due him the next three years, is he that terrific? Starbury is, yes he is, a terrific player. However, with 60 and change still due him the next three years, is he anywhere near that terrific?
I personally wouldn't take any of those players on this team. They are all good-real good players, but I don't think they fit this team well. We don't need another superstar (ie: Marbury, Pierce, etc). We were going after Artest, but that was different since he brought a lot of intangibles that the Rocket's lack. Give me either a taller, younger version of Wesley at SG and/or a "banger" PF that can hit the mid-range jumper with consistency; and we have an elite team.
The Celtics has been in a "re-building" mode ever since Bird retired. It's amazing to see how much a single player has meant to a franchise.
Let us be clear- 1 Stevie is not coming back to Houston. 2. Refer my assumption no 2 in the orginal post (regarding money) 3. We achieve two things- get a third option who can create his own shots and a PF for under 3 million ( average) for 4 years. Is that worth the extra 20 Million? I would think so- considering our options are limited.
Boston has a fairly proud history with the Celtics and I find it unlikely that they'd deal Pierce at this point. The trade for Wally Disturbiak was strange, however, so who knows? But why trade for Wally if you want to rebuild? I think the only "realistic" option with Boston is to take Raef Lafrentz off their hands (I know, I know, horrible contract) and maybe get hometown phenom hopeful Gerald Green. Before I get flamed for this---blow-torched? nuked?---the idea would be to get a PF/C who can open the floor with his three-point shot, can back up both Yao and Juwan (or Stro), and to get a young player who, if he hits his potential, could be the next T-Mac, albeit a few years away (as T-Mac and his bad back become obsolete, we roll out the new model). Boston could get some cap relief and a better-rounded team. Pierce and Wally are in their prime and the Celtics need to win with them now. So they should probably take some combination of Mooch or Wesley (expiring contracts) + Stromile or Juwan (depending on whether they want a steady veteran or a young, agile PF with a four-cent brain) and maybe Luther or draft rights to Badiane or Vassilis Whatshisfaceuss.
If you'd take that pair, I suggested above reasonably and correctly, "If you want to do biz with Boston then take Raef, GGreen and a #1 for JuHo and Mooch."
They've had no luck with draft picks and haven't been able to get a free agent that makes them a tier one team. That has nothing to do with Bird leaving, that should be blamed on management not doing their proper research. Honestly, I think it's because they're from Boston. I'm a Yankees fan, I should know.
firstable i'm not a huge pierce fan and i don't think he's a good fit here, i'd prefer if we have a chance on role players like Al Jefferson or Mo Peterson. with that said i don't see why we can't get Pierce without giving up Yao/T-Mac if we really want him. exactly which "eaual value" player can Anige get for trading Pierce? proven players in Pierce's caliber most likely has close to Max contract and that's not what you need when you are in "re-building" mode that's why they turned down the Keyon Martin trade. i think if that's the case they'd prefer some young talant + a bunch of 1st picks with expiring contracts in return like the B. Davis trade and the V. Carter trade. when you trade for equal talant with similar contracts that meants you still have the same direction just trading for players you think is a better fit to your team; examples: the Ricky-Wally trade or the Peja-Artest trade that's not "re-building". let me ask is there any rockets fan would like to see a Swift + Head + Wesley + 3 1st round picks for Pierce trade? i think the Celtics would do it but would you?
I like the trade idea, my only concern though is I heard something mentioned about Green having a really messed up hand that has been affecting his playing ability. I heard something along the lines that he's missing a finger on his shooting hand and apparently he has some kind of affliction that causes him tremendous pain sometimes. Has anybody with more knowledge on the situation heard anything or could clarify?
You forgot one. Rockets trade: Juwan Howard + 1st rounder for Emeka Okafor why would Charlotte do it? They are sucking, Emeka is sucking, and the team needs to start over and rebuild. A first rounder would be awesome for them. Why would the rockets do it? The only reason I can think of is that Emeka is a native houstonian, so maybe they could sell more tickets(imagine all the jersey sales in China!!!!)? But he would be a very good backup pf/c for years to come, like Theo Ratliff or Chucky Brown. Yao / Okafor Stro / Okafor TMac / Okafor TMac / Head Sura / Faints
u know whats gonna happen if we get another star player: 1. T-mac get mad and jealous because that player takes away lots of his ball-handling time. 2. Yao makes 5 shot-attemps less than now per game. Even less points-in-paint than now. 3. you know what happend to Lakers 2 years ago when they had the "big four".
His hand is very old news and he has (had?) been playing in the D-League so I question the pain thing. The thing is he is not NBA ready so he would be a project (and JVG is a patgient coach).
Wow, if we could pull that one off that would be incredible. I doubt the Bobcats would do this considering Howard's contract, but Okafor is injured right now, maybe that provides some extra incentive?
They went to the finals and lost to the better team because two of their big four were playing injured or not playing at all.
I'd suggest KG, but I don't won't another puppy to die. Why would Charlotte trade Okafor? He is their "franschise" player.
Knicks would not give up Fryer for Artest, I wonder what we have to get him. So option 3 is out of the windom IMO. We've got nothing outside of Yao to Tmac to get Pierce, who unlike Artest, is sane and has reasonable trade value. I don't see how the Orlando trade benefit us, not to mention how bad that contract is.
If Boston wanted to trade Pierce, which I doubt, someone would have to take Raef's monster contract along with it. We don't have the expirings to absorb two of those. I'd really like pierce here, but he ain't coming.
The odds of the Bobcats trading Okafor are slightly less than the Rockets trading Yao. That dude is going nowhere.
Off the top of my head... GS might be willing to let go of Baron Davis, who is having an off year... Portland might let go of Zach Randolph for Pierce, God knows I would... Lakers would let go of Odom... Dallas might send Stackhouse and filler... Personally, I would send Ginobili if PP was offered for him and I were the Spers GM... All of those players would give Boston something worthwhile in return for a superstar player. I would love to see Pierce in a Rox uni, but it isn't going to happen for cap space and scrubs. Then again, I never would have guessed that Webber would be traded to Philly for the scrubs they sent...
