CELTICS GREEN BLOG by and for boston celtics fans: Still Quiet on the Trade Front... Is a Big Deal Brewing?

August 29, 2006

Well That Day (August 28) came and went with nary a whimper of a trade. Danny may be still working on the final details, or it is possible that he didn't get Ratliff and Telfair with the thought of trading them. Ratliff could be a good back up center if he stays healthy. He will also offer a veteran presence. Telfair could really, truly be the PG that Danny wanted. We needed a true point who would have a pass first mentality and be able to run the fast break. Could it be that Telfair was really Danny's target? Could it be that he really likes what Ratliff brings to the team?

Yesterday on WEEI there was a discussion about the liklihood of a Celtics' trade. Pete Sheppard took a call asking about the possibility of an Iverson trade still happening and his response was that no matter what Billy King and Larry Bird say, he feels that Iverson and O'Neal are still available. He said that he feels that the Celtics are going to make a huge deal soon and that any deal they make will include Ratliff. But he feels that something big is going to go down soon. Now, this is probably just his opinion, but the fact remains that a lot of people are sitting on the edge of their computer chairs waiting for that huge trade to go down.

I have said it before, but I would like to see Danny keep this team intact at least until the trade deadline. By then we will know more about the players and who is going to take the next step to become a star and who probably won't. We will see how this team gels without the injuries that decimated it last year. In the Globe, Danny said that he is still working hard to try to make something happen, but who is out there that would be worth trading for? If, as Sheppard says, JO and Iverson are available, then there may be a deal out there. Or if there are other players available that haven't even been mentioned in trade talks, such as Marion, there may be a deal out there. But for the most part, I don't see any players out there who can come in and make a difference. Keep the team intact and see what they can do. If there is a weak link at the trade deadline, then go after a trade. By that time, other teams may be dissatisfied with one of their stars and there may be more out there to trade for. Right now, there is no guarantee that the young players we trade won't become better than the veteran we trade for. While, like every other Celtics'fan, I continue to watch for a big trade, I am one of those hoping it doesn't happen. At least not now.

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Comments:

Its still possible that a third team may be involved here. Thinking about Ratliff, it really isn't a perfect fit for him to go to Philly because they are already investing a big chunk of money to a young and sturdy Samuel Dalembert. Unless they are thinking of playing Dalembert at PF and Ratliff at C (this would make a tremendous shot blocking frontcourt tandem).

Plus, it isn't likely we can get back a Gold Medal player, or a Silver Medal player just by moving Ratliff's contract. We've heard Wally's name thrown out there all summer, but if he and Ratliff are packaged together, they'd combine for nearly 23 million in salary this season. No one in the NBA makes this amount. Iverson makes 18.2 mil, and Jermaine makes a bit under that.

I like the idea of staying put and developing what we have. I don't think we have any young player who will turn out to be a Gold medal player down the road (top 5 player in the NBA), but raising their value is paramount to getting back Gold or Silver medal talent in return. So this year, let the young kids develop their games more so that their value reaches a higher level.

But if Ainge can swing a deal this offseason to bring in a Silver, or hopefully even a Gold medal player (which is unlikely--Duncan, Shaq, Lebron, Wade, etc. are staying put), with the players we have now, I say go for it. As long as it doesn't involve Green or Jefferson, I can live with it.

# posted by

derrenmatts : 11:50 AM

Anyone think that Pierce is pushing Ainge hard for a JO trade behind the scenes, since both of them are good friends.

JO would be LOVELY in a C's uni, although I doubt it would ever happen.

The deal would probably have to go Ratliff, Big Al and (Green or Gomes or West)

That would be a LOT of great young talent given up, but we'd get an All-Star/Pro talent back.

Chance of happening 100:1.

# posted by

esco33 : 12:30 AM

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