Check out This Rumor

[BelichickFan]

As I've said, I'm not a Celtics' fan (or a fan of any NBA team), but I saw this from Chad Ford on ESPN :

"If Boston is passing on Yi, I think that means we might see a trade coming. There's talk that the Suns -- to slash payroll -- might be willing to take the No. 5 pick, Theo Ratliff's expiring contract and Delonte West for Shawn Marion. That would make Paul Pierce happy."

 

[Brarrell]

As I've said, I'm not a Celtics' fan (or a fan of any NBA team), but I saw this from Chad Ford on ESPN :

"If Boston is passing on Yi, I think that means we might see a trade coming. There's talk that the Suns -- to slash payroll -- might be willing to take the No. 5 pick, Theo Ratliff's expiring contract and Delonte West for Shawn Marion. That would make Paul Pierce happy."

Would be a great trade for the Suns terrible for the Celts. If I'm the Celts you go with Yi or Brewer. Ratliff gives you cap flexibilty and Delonte is good young veteran who is still on the books for low money and when healthy is a productive player at low money. Pierce will eventually be traded IMO.

 

[BelichickFan]

Would be a great trade for the Suns terrible for the Celts. If I'm the Celts you go with Yi or Brewer. Ratliff gives you cap flexibilty and Delonte is good young veteran who is still on the books for low money and when healthy is a productive player at low money. Pierce will eventually be traded IMO.

Like I said I'm not a Celtics fan so I don't understand the roster like you guys but put Jefferson, Pierce and Marion together and I can't see how it wouldn't be a good team.

 

[maverick4]

is the negativity towards that Yi guy because he is Asian? kind of closet racist, isn't it?

 

[BradyManny]

As I've said, I'm not a Celtics' fan (or a fan of any NBA team), but I saw this from Chad Ford on ESPN :

"If Boston is passing on Yi, I think that means we might see a trade coming. There's talk that the Suns -- to slash payroll -- might be willing to take the No. 5 pick, Theo Ratliff's expiring contract and Delonte West for Shawn Marion. That would make Paul Pierce happy."

That's funny, I was actually thinking about this exact trade (minus DWest), and how it would be a perfect fit for the C's.

Marion can play SF or PF, and he is a force on the boards, and versatile defender, which is exactly what the C's need.

 

[BradyManny]

Would be a great trade for the Suns terrible for the Celts. If I'm the Celts you go with Yi or Brewer. Ratliff gives you cap flexibilty and Delonte is good young veteran who is still on the books for low money and when healthy is a productive player at low money. Pierce will eventually be traded IMO.

What good is cap flexibility if you have no plans to make a splash in the FA market? Danny has said that he doesn't really look towards free agency as a viable way to get better.

The only good thing that Ratliff contract brings us is a chip, as plenty of teams would be happy to take on his expiring contract.

The 5th pick is worthless to the Celts unless they plan on trading Pierce and rebuilding completely.

They have two options right now: 1) truly build around Pierce 2) suck hardcore for a couple seasons and collect some lottery players.

Personally, I'd rather build around Pierce. It takes quality veteran players to win a championship, and if you want to sit around hoping that Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Rondo, etc. and this upcoming fifth pick all pan out AND somehow all happen to stay on this team for the 3-8 years it will take for them to become experienced enough to compete, then more power to you. I just think that's not worth the risk.

If they continue to try and walk this middle ground, they'll be mediocre well into next decade.

 

[BradyManny]

Think about this potential starting 5:

PG - Rondo
SG - Pierce
SF - Szczerbiak
PF - Marion
C - Jefferson

While I think Szczerbiak is overrated, he would actually be suited to this offense more. With Marion and Jefferson as forces on the board, you can see Wally getting a lot of open shots in transition or on the result of solid offensive rebounding. Marion would make up for Wally's below average D.

You could bring Tony Allen off the bench to spell Wally for great lengths, and you'd have four solid defenders on the floor (Rondo, Pierce, Marion, Allen). Heck, now that I think about it, I'd rather just start Allen and have Wally be the 6th man.

Anyway, I think if you add Marion onto the C's, they become a competitive team.

 

[BelichickFan]

is the negativity towards that Yi guy because he is Asian? kind of closet racist, isn't it?

Do you think that if you keep saying it that it becomes true ? Yi is a high ceiling low floor guy whether he's white, black, or anything in between. What's the negativity ? Largely that he's one of the least ready rookies they could draft and most Celtics fans probably want someone to help more now. I've never read anything to suggest it's about his race.

 

[scout]

There's a ton of rumors out there concerning the Celts, tho this one looks good. If the Celts trade they need to do it for an immediate impact as Pierce has two or three really good years left. Forget about any Garnett scenario, he's had 12 seasons of NBA. Remember Cowens retired after 10. I'd rather wait a few seasons and let some youngster develop then see a two year window go by and go through another 20 years of drought. Thus, I guess I would be ok with Yi, even tho he's Asian

 

[patsfan55]

Think about this potential starting 5:

PG - Rondo
SG - Pierce
SF - Szczerbiak
PF - Marion
C - Jefferson

While I think Szczerbiak is overrated, he would actually be suited to this offense more. With Marion and Jefferson as forces on the board, you can see Wally getting a lot of open shots in transition or on the result of solid offensive rebounding. Marion would make up for Wally's below average D.

You could bring Tony Allen off the bench to spell Wally for great lengths, and you'd have four solid defenders on the floor (Rondo, Pierce, Marion, Allen). Heck, now that I think about it, I'd rather just start Allen and have Wally be the 6th man.

Anyway, I think if you add Marion onto the C's, they become a competitive team.

tony allen will be a starter over wally this year
as long as his knee cooperates

 

[patsfan55]

the guys i want in order of preference that are possibly being traded:

amare stoudamire
kg
carlos boozer
rashard lewis
shawn marion
jermaine oneal
pau gasol


i dont give al up for anyone
the only time i give up gerald is for the top two guys on the list
otherwise we're talkin giving up number five, ratliff, and gomes/dwest

 

[BradyManny]

tony allen will be a starter over wally this year
as long as his knee cooperates

I think that would be wise...it would require a shift in philosophy from Ainge, which is exactly what this team needs. He believes that defense can be learned, and that the premium should be placed on offense. But if this team wants to compete, it will have to put the emphasis on defense.

A great defending team will always compete against the best teams in the league.

Marion would drastically improve the team's D, whether he plays SF or PF, and that could change on a nightly basis depending upon the team. If they wanted to go big, they could send out Rondo-Pierce-Marion-Jefferson-Perkins.

As you can see, I really hope there is something to this rumor and that this trade comes to fruition.

 

[PonyExpress]

I love this kid Brewer. He's got leadership traits, plays great perimeter defense, blocks shot with his length. He's only 185 lbs, but deceptively strong. This kid has ridiculous upside. He's like a Dwayne Wade, who can be had at #5. Screw Paul Pierce. I'm a Celtic fan, not a just a Pierce fan. Draft Brewer, and if Pierce can;t take it dump him at the deadline next season. Big Al is the bomb.

 

[BradyManny]

I'm a Celtic fan, not a just a Pierce fan. Draft Brewer, and if Pierce can;t take it dump him at the deadline next season. Big Al is the bomb.

But just think how long it takes to rebuild a team through the draft unless you get a bonafide superstar. Talent in the draft is much thinner nowadays, takes longer to develop, by the time these guys do develop, their contracts are up and they move on.

Re-building is a COMPLETE crapshoot. Paul Pierce is a sure thing. If we don't try to win with him, odds are, we won't be putting up another banner in a LOOOOOOOONG time.

 

[patsfan55]

But just think how long it takes to rebuild a team through the draft unless you get a bonafide superstar. Talent in the draft is much thinner nowadays, takes longer to develop, by the time these guys do develop, their contracts are up and they move on.

Re-building is a COMPLETE crapshoot. Paul Pierce is a sure thing. If we don't try to win with him, odds are, we won't be putting up another banner in a LOOOOOOOONG time.

i agree completely
which is why i wanna make one of those packages work for a bonafide vet star

 

[DarrylS]

I think it is time for PP to move on, will never see a championship here, go to a team like Dallas or similar, a team that needs one final piece of the puzzle. We need to move on with our core younger guys, bring in some complimentary players... and do well in the draft.

 

[scout]

Completely agree that PP needs to be traded. So, if we trade our pick and get a seasoned vet we will have a window of two or three years to compete. That is not going to satisfy my thirst thats not been quenched since the Bird days. I'll take my chances on #5 (or trading down) and tradeing PP. Ainge is a good judge of talent when it comes to the draft, and top picks usually do not flop. I would rather get a young player or two and wait another few years for a LONG run.

 

[Stokes]

is the negativity towards that Yi guy because he is Asian? kind of closet racist, isn't it?

No, that would be because he's a 7 footer whose best asset is his midrange shot. Plus he has only released film of him playing against 5 foot 7 guys and refuses to work out for teams. He looked pretty awkward/gangly to me in the video I've seen. He reminds people of Nikolas Tskitisvilli (I hope that's at least close to how its spelled), which is NOT a good thing. I don't like him for the same reasons I was terrified they would take Robert Swift 2 years ago, and he's as white as the newfallen snow. Oh wait, I guess that means I must hate Chinese people AND white people.

 

[Real World]

As I've said, I'm not a Celtics' fan (or a fan of any NBA team), but I saw this from Chad Ford on ESPN :

"If Boston is passing on Yi, I think that means we might see a trade coming. There's talk that the Suns -- to slash payroll -- might be willing to take the No. 5 pick, Theo Ratliff's expiring contract and Delonte West for Shawn Marion. That would make Paul Pierce happy."

I'm not a fan of the Marion deal if it involves #5. Phoenix is , or will be, around the luxury tax (dollar for dollar tax for every penny over the cap) next year, or the year after, which means it has to trade a contract, or pay the money. Their owner has said he is not paying the tax. This makes Phoenix a seller, and thus in a lesser bargaining position. I don't think we need to pay a kings ransom in such a situation, and certainly would not give up #5, when the last year of the two years on Marion is an option. What happens if Marion comes here, hates it, and opts out after next season? Plus, is Marion the answer? He plays Pierce's position of SF.

Someone at CelticsBlog had mentioned making a move for Marcus Camby instead. I like that better. Denver has to move him for Tax purposes, and he wouldn't cost you #5. Adding Camby for Theo's contract, plus a player (telfair/Allen?) & pick (minny's 1st?) would be great since it would bloster our front court, and allow us to draft at #5. Think of a 4/5 rotation of Jefferson/Camby/Perkins with Pierce, Wally, Rondo, West, #5 pick, etc... that's good enough and saves our future.

 

[dhamz]

Teams trading guys for tax reasons are not going to take back Ratliff's contract. They aren't going to trade with the Celtics because we are over the cap and have to give equal salary back - putting them in the same tax spot with lessor talent. They need to trade to teams under the cap so they reduce salary.