<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Celtics are in first place in the Atlantic Division, but reports are circulating that Gary Payton is available. One rumor has him going to Minnesota in exchange for Sam Cassell. "I don't pay attention to none of that, neither," said Payton. "After what's happened the last two years with my trades [from Seattle to Milwaukee, then LA to Boston], all this stuff is a business for me. If they called me today or tomorrow and said, `You've got to move, Gary,' I'm going to pack my bags up and I'm going to move on to the next place and I'm going to be good with it. "But I'm not going to go too many more places. I'm not going to keep changing to different area codes. This [next move] is going to be the last for me. If it happens again, I'm going to have to just hang it up then."</div> Link I don't know about this trade. I would really like to see Sprewell go rather than Cassell. He has been injured this year, and I still think he can be valuable if we make a playoff run. Payton isn't much better even if he is better than Cassell.
Why would Minnesota want another old point guard with a bad attitude? What more can I say? If they did that, they really would be an organization of idiots. What, are they going to do another 1-year fix? Payton will retire soon, as will a bunch of other Wolves, they need some young players, and pass on the old guys.
The Twolves need youth surrounding KG, not an old vet. That formula isn't working right now (Cassell, Spree) so why would GP make things different?
It would be better than keeping Sam around. It's alright to get an old guy for an old guy, if that is the best you can get, and it may be. Payton is playing better this year than Sam. The only problem is... the Celtics! What do they stand to gain from this?
Sam is a great player when he isn't injured, so assuming he stays healthy, (when he gets healthy) the Celtics could get a big shooter/ 4th quarter player, thats what they get. It's still a bad trade though.
Well, they traded Payton, but to bring back Antoine Walker. Do you think Walker will be as productive this time around as he was last time that he was teamed up with Paul Pierce? Do you think they can still compete in the already weak Atlantic Division with the revamped Sixers?
1 - The story is that the Hawks are going to buy out Payton's contract so he could re-sign with the Celtics. Payton is said to really enjoy playing with for the Celtics and for Doc Rivers. 2 - Payton doesn't have the history of injuries and is an intense player. I don't believe he is a problem player or headcase (per se) like alot of other players. I don't see him in the spotlight much in a negative way and don't see him doing alot of weird (except for the attempted bite either last or two years ago, that was hilarious) things.
So, Payton may be bought out by this time tommorrow. He may sign with the Wolves and it wouldn't cost them anyone. They're saying that he is also considering going to Houston, Sacramento, Indianapolis or re-signing with the C's because he likes the young guys and there was actually talk of an extention this week.
I heard Payton is going to Atlanta for Walker. I saw this article on BSPN so i don't know if it's true tho http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1998923
