Trading for A.I. is such an Isiah Thomas move; give up on the rebuilding project for the quick-fix. This move alone would make the C's a top four team in the Eastern Conference, bring life back to the
Plus, even though A.I. is forcing the hand of the Sixers, the C's will have to compete with offers from Minnesota and Sacramento. Philadelphia won't just accept an offer of Ratliff, Scalabrine and Perkins. They'll have to give up some youth with potential like Gerald Green, Rajon Rondo or Al Jefferson. That doesn't sound all that bad until you consider how quickly the C's have given up on Chauncey Billups and Joe Johnson in the past.
Danny Ainge really needs to consider the future of the franchise with this deal; win the the short run or commit to long-term development. Ever since Ainge became the General Manager, his goal was to establish the Celtics as annual title contenders. That won't happen with this deal.
Also, let's not ignore the potential on-court problems of two Alpha Dogs in Pierce and Iverson competing for shots. I'm sure they'll make an extra effort to get along for the rest of the season. You'll see smiles all around in blow-out wins over Toronto and Milwaukee. Yet, who's gonna take the shot in the clutch? What's going to happen when Iverson has his typical 10-for-35 night in a loss?
On paper, it's nice to have two hall-of-famers on the team, but if you want to see what happens with too many me-first guys, just look at the Knicks. Now, that's not a pretty picture.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-10-2006 @ 12:43AM
Bourne To Kill said...
I love AI, and he'd make a great Duxbury, MA resident... but you don't want to be holding his huge contract when he loses a step.
This year should be nothing but a Rain Dance where we do everything we can to summon Greg Oden. I'd love to see Pierce break his non-shooting hand and miss 3 months.
If all goes well, and God doesn't pull that Duncan stuff on us again... my dream starting 5 is Oden, Jefferson, Pierce, Green, and Bassy. Getting those last two guys ready should be this year's job.
Wally will be a superb 6th Man, with West, Allen, Gomes, and Perky making for a very nice second unit.
That Pierce shot tonight was simply grapefruit-sized testicularness.
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12-10-2006 @ 4:29AM
mutoni said...
but the Knicks won, and Eddy Curry looked like a hall of famer tonight! (k, i'll stop talking now...)
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12-10-2006 @ 2:26PM
SEDIN said...
DIS GUYS TALKN BOUT DA FUTURE.... U GUYS SAID DAT COUPLE YEARS AGO DAT DA CELTICS WILL BE A GREAT TEAM, BUT DEY HAVE NOT BEEN FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, EVER SINCE ANTOINE WALKER FOR RAEF LAFRENTZ DEAL. SO DA CELTICS NEED SOME TRADESS, AND ALLEN IVERSON WILL BE GREAT, WE CAN WORRY BOUT DA FUTURE WEN IT COMESSSSS
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12-10-2006 @ 5:55PM
Craig said...
SEDIN - No need to scream. Between AI & Pierce, who takes the shots in the clutch?
M - Something tells me that you might have a Knicks blog. BTW, when did Charles Oakley possess Eddie Curry's body?
BTK - Let the Oden sweepstakes begin, great point!
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12-11-2006 @ 5:10AM
Planet Killer said...
My feeling on Iverson is that if Ainge can get him at a reasonable price, make the deal. If he's got to open the vault, pass. But I'd do an offer of, say, Ratliff (for his contract), Jefferson or Perkins, and one of the 3 guards (Telfair, Rondo, West). Two young players for AI is a fair trade. There's not enough playing time as is for all of these young guys. I'd even throw in a first round pick, so long as it's lottery protected. The last thing the Cs need is another mid-first round draft pick. Their problem isn't lack of young talent.
I'd love to see Oden, too, but rolling the dice with AI is better than rolling the dice for Oden.
Simply waiting around for all this young talent to mature isn't going to get the Cs where they want to go. Iverson is an impact player. None of those kids are consistent impact players right now - and won't be for a few years. The Celtics are going to have to ultimately decide between these guys anyway - might as well make that decision now. If they wait they'll just end up worrying about Pierce losing a step ...
And I don't buy into much of the "Iverson will lose a step" stuff. He's still an elite PG - 10th in the league in assists, too, despite all the shots he jacks up. He loses a step and he's still better than almost every PG in the East. He's only, what, 31? He's got plenty left in the tank. Plenty to get through the next two years of his contract, at the very least.
What Danny can't do is end up bidding against himself. Put a fair deal out there and if the Sixers take it, great. If not, move on.
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