<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">PAYTON HEADED FOR PARTS UNKNOWN Last Tuesday night in Charlotte, before the Celtics beat the Bobcats, Gary Payton was contemplating his soon-to-be-over life as a Celtic, saying, "Two more weeks? Three more weeks?" He knows. Everyone knows. What he doesn't know yet is where he's going to end up. Payton thinks Minnesota and Sacramento are possible destinations. Asked about that, one general manager said, "Minnesota is desperate to make a deal." But would the Timberwolves be desperate enough to take on Payton, who is in the last year of his contract? Kevin McHale, the Wolves' vice president of basketball operations, was asked last fall for his thoughts on Payton coming to Boston. "That can either be really, really good or really, really bad," he said.</div> That is one of the stories that is circling about Payton. Another story says that shipping Payton will depend on the first round pick they acquired from the Lakers and if the Celts will be able to use it. Here's that story: http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/ce..._mr_fix_it?pg=3 <font size="1"><font color="blue">Please limit article quotes to 3 paragraphs. Thanks-44</font></font>
doesnt antoine walker wanna come back to bean town, or the celts want antoine walker back? i thought i heard something about that. anyways, if that happens im pretty sure GP will be part of the deal.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting jtam101:</div><div class="quote_post">doesnt antoine walker wanna come back to bean town, or the celts want antoine walker back? i thought i heard something about that. anyways, if that happens im pretty sure GP will be part of the deal.</div> Yeah, I heard something about the Celtics wanting Antoine Walker, I don't know who they are going to trade for him though. I also heard from InsideHoops that Minnesota really wants Payton. Payton also said that Sacramento and Minnesota were very possible destinations if there was a trade. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Last Tuesday night in Charlotte, before the Celtics beat the Bobcats, Gary Payton was contemplating his soon-to-be-over life as a Celtic, saying, "Two more weeks? Three more weeks?" He knows. Everyone knows. What he doesn't know yet is where he's going to end up. Payton thinks Minnesota and Sacramento are possible destinations. Asked about that, one general manager said, "Minnesota is desperate to make a deal." But would the Timberwolves be desperate enough to take on Payton, who is in the last year of his contract?"</div> Thats from InsideHoops.com. So, let's hear what you think the trade deals for Sacramento and Minnesota could be involving Payton?
Boston trades: SF Walter McCarty (3.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.5 apg in 12.6 minutes) PG Gary Payton (12.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 6.2 apg in 33.0 minutes) PF Tom Gugliotta (1.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.4 apg in 10.4 minutes) Boston receives: SF Wally Szczerbiak (15.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.2 apg in 33.0 minutes) PF Mark Madsen (2.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.4 apg in 13.9 minutes) Change in team outlook: +1.0 ppg, +0.2 rpg, and -4.5 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED
I think most of the Antoine stuff is made up or used out of context. Yeah Walker liked playing here and maybe he'd want to come back and play after experiencing how bad the NBA can be, having to endure a career stop in the ATL. <font color="DarkRed">However, 'Toine and DA would never coexist now.</font> They are fun to talk about, I guess, but there's almost no realistic scenario that lands 'Toine back in Boston. It'd have to be an absolute steal of a deal or DA would have a back up trade with another team ready to go and he'd use Walker as a chip in another trade, either during the trade deadline frenzy or at the end of the season. I don't see anything likely that puts 'Toine in Boston for more than the rest of post-deadline season and he'd have to come at almost no cost.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 44Thrilla:</div><div class="quote_post">Boston trades: SF Walter McCarty (3.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.5 apg in 12.6 minutes) PG Gary Payton (12.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 6.2 apg in 33.0 minutes) PF Tom Gugliotta (1.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.4 apg in 10.4 minutes) Boston receives: SF Wally Szczerbiak (15.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.2 apg in 33.0 minutes) PF Mark Madsen (2.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.4 apg in 13.9 minutes) Change in team outlook: +1.0 ppg, +0.2 rpg, and -4.5 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED</div> Even though I would feel better if the C's got a point in return for Payton, that's a good deal for the celtics. But I can't see the wolves doing it unless they have another deal already in place, because they're giving up a lot of size in that deal. Also, I can't see Cassell and Payton splitting minutes. As for the Walker stuff, I'm reluctant to completely dismiss it because Danny was on the roadtrip down to Atlanta and to Charlotte. As roadtrips go, that is not exactly the Texas Triangle, so I found it kind of curious. I'm willing to bet that Antoine could talk his way back into the hearts of Boston management, chalking his comments on the way out as emotion. But I just don't see anyone that we would offer Atlanta that is as attractive to them as the cap space that Walker's expiring contract will provide.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CeltsMan54:</div><div class="quote_post">Even though I would feel better if the C's got a point in return for Payton, that's a good deal for the celtics. But I can't see the wolves doing it unless they have another deal already in place, because they're giving up a lot of size in that deal. </div> Size? Walta and Googs? I do agree that the deal would help the Celtics, but I doubt it would ever happen. We were challenged to come up with a deal that sent GP to either Minnesota or Sac, so I played around with the trade checker a little. I know Ainge has interest in Wally, so it isn't exactly far fetched, but still, it's highly unlikely. IMO, Sacramento has nothing to offer in return for Payton. Anything that we'd want, would be considered "untouchable", and they don't have the brightest of young talent. I do like Evans, but I think DA could do much better than that for a centerpiece of a GP deal. I also don't know how Gary would feel about being Bibby's backup. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Also, I can't see Cassell and Payton splitting minutes.</div>Well, they did for a short time in Milwaukee, and I think that Minnesota would welcome what GP brings to the table. I could see Flip Saunders starting both Cassell and GP, because it's obvious that the T-Wolves are in need of some sort of change. With the loss of Wally, they could move Latrell to the bench, in an "instant offense" role similar to that of Ricky Davis.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 44Thrilla:</div><div class="quote_post">Size? Walta and Googs? </div> I meant the wolves would be giving up a lot of size in Madsen and Szerbiak and getting back Googs, his bad back and Waltah, who only gets a rebound if it comes right to him. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, they did for a short time in Milwaukee, and I think that Minnesota would welcome what GP brings to the table. I could see Flip Saunders starting both Cassell and GP, because it's obvious that the T-Wolves are in need of some sort of change.</div> you're right, I completely forgot they were teammates in milwaukee. But I think the wolves are looking to move cassell out anyways, because he wants the big extention and he had health questions. Can he really hold up the rest of the season, because his injury in the playoffs last year really hurt them in the WCF.
Get trade suggestion Thrilla, there's no doubt Minnesota is looking to make a move, and Wally would be a great addition to The Celtics. I'm looking for Payton to goto Minny, Houston, or Sacramento sometime in the next few weeks.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James X3:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm looking for Payton to goto Minny, Houston, or Sacramento sometime in the next few weeks.</div> You know, I appreciate everything that Gary has done for the team this year. I think his leadership has been invaluable and he has helped the team immensely with his professionalism. HOWEVER, are the Celtics really obligated to give him exactaly what he wants? Do they have to trade him to a western conference contender? I only bring it up because a team like Portland, with the expiring contracts of guys like Damon Stoudamire, Nick Van Exel and Shareef Abdur-Rahim could be an intriguing trade partner. At what point does making Gary happy outweigh making sure that the Celtics get the most value for themselves?
You know, I have yet to see any GP trades ideas/rumors that I've thought to be a possibility or that I have really liked. Antoine ain't coming back here. The only actual quote I have read from Antoine himself on this was when he laughed at the suggestion and said, "I ain't going back there." I can't see the GP/Waltah/Googs for Wally/Mad dog. Wally is a decent player, but we definitely don't need another swing. If that trade goes down, than Danny would definitely have to follow it up with another trade, most likely of Jiri. But then, we'd still have PP/Ricky/Allen/Wally. Wally would take time from Allen, and he's not the running, athletic type of wing player we want. His game is more like Jiri's than any of our other swing players, and you can see that Jiri, while talented, is not a perfect fit for this system. The wolves are also thin up front, so giving up Mad Dog may hurt. Waltah and Googs are tall, sure, but they can't compete against the likes of Amare, Webber, B Miller, Yao, Dirk, Boozer, etc. Though a GP/Cassel backcourt did work for a while in MIL, they are both 2 years older now. I don't think that backcourt gets them far in the playoffs. The Kings, like many said, don't have anything we want. GP is worth more than their 1st round pick. Besides, the kings are over the cap, and I don't think they have a trade exception. So we'd need to get a live body back in return. No point trading him for an expiring contract, since GP is one himself. I could see GP being shipped out for a lottery pick. But most lottery teams would rather keep their pick than a one year rental of GP. So most likely, he will be shipped off to a playoff team in need of that extra piece. Seattle? They have two young talented point guards. Dallas? I'd want one of their young studs, which Cuban wouldn't be willing to do. I don't want Terry. I dunno, keep trying guys, but none of these suggestions are doing it for me.
