I like Rondo, West, Green, Jefferson, Pierce, and Perkins. keep those guys, trade Wally for someone and you'll be fine. I still think that trading Ricky Davis is one of the worst things McHale has ever done.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PN13 @ May 14 2007, 12:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I like Rondo, West, Green, Jefferson, Pierce, and Perkins. keep those guys, trade Wally for someone and you'll be fine. I still think that trading Ricky Davis is one of the worst things McHale has ever done.</div> Wally is virtually untradable, we'd have to overpay and package young talent and/or picks to move him, and it's certainly not worth it. $10-11M a year + bad knees + bad ankles + slow + bad defense = nothing in the trade market. Also, you mean trading Ricky was one of the worst thing Ainge has done, right? Either way, I disagree. That trade was made more so to get the bad attitude/contract of Mark Blount out of Boston. Blount didn't want to be there, his contract is horrible for what he produces, and Banks didn't want to be there either. It wasn't a horrible move, but you're right it wasn't a good one. However, that's the price you have to pay to get a guy like Blount out of town. But financially, that deal is better for us in the long run.
Yeah, I'm an idiot for proposing that Saras trade. West is better than him. I do think he'd be a good fit as long as we don't have to give up too much. Maybe we could get him for Bassy. :happy0144: I'd say we keep Pierce, Jefferson, and Rondo for sure. Gomes, West, Allen, and Green should stay too unless we can get an all-star caliber player for a package of them. Wally, Perkins, Scalabrine, Powe, Ray, and Telfair are all easily expendable. I was just thinking, the Telfair-#7 trade could still work out as long as Ratliff's contract can be turned into a great player. Otherwise this is one of the worst trades in history.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Living_Legend33 @ May 14 2007, 07:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah, I'm an idiot for proposing that Saras trade. West is better than him. I do think he'd be a good fit as long as we don't have to give up too much. Maybe we could get him for Bassy. :happy0144: I'd say we keep Pierce, Jefferson, and Rondo for sure. Gomes, West, Allen, and Green should stay too unless we can get an all-star caliber player for a package of them. Wally, Perkins, Scalabrine, Powe, Ray, and Telfair are all easily expendable. I was just thinking, the Telfair-#7 trade could still work out as long as Ratliff's contract can be turned into a great player. Otherwise this is one of the worst trades in history.</div> First off, trading Bassy for Saras wouldn't be a good deal, it would be pretty pointless actually. Why trade our 3rd string point guard for another 3rd string point guard that makes about $1.5M more than him? Wally, Perk, Scal, Powe, Ray, and Telfair... do you realize that they will get us NOTHING? Wally is only tradable if we make a LaFrentz/#7/Dickau type of deal, and the other guys have absolutely no value around the league. Perk maybe a little, but not much, and besides he's too valuable to this team. If we are gonna get better next year, we need to deal guys like Gerald, Delonte, and Gomes to go along with other things for sure. Lastly, even if we never deal Ratliff and his contract, that trade still helps us a TON financially. You yourself said you want to keep Al, Rondo, West, Gerald, Gomes, and TA. How do you expect to pay them all?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ May 14 2007, 08:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>First off, trading Bassy for Saras wouldn't be a good deal, it would be pretty pointless actually. Why trade our 3rd string point guard for another 3rd string point guard that makes about $1.5M more than him?Wally, Perk, Scal, Powe, Ray, and Telfair... do you realize that they will get us NOTHING? Wally is only tradable if we make a LaFrentz/#7/Dickau type of deal, and the other guys have absolutely no value around the league. Perk maybe a little, but not much, and besides he's too valuable to this team. If we are gonna get better next year, we need to deal guys like Gerald, Delonte, and Gomes to go along with other things for sure.Lastly, even if we never deal Ratliff and his contract, that trade still helps us a TON financially. You yourself said you want to keep Al, Rondo, West, Gerald, Gomes, and TA. How do you expect to pay them all?</div>You're opinion of Saras is too low. He can play and would relieve some of the pressure off Rondo. He'd be the #2 PG and a pretty good one at that. I was just rating the players as to what value they had to the team. I realize that Wally is almost untradable and that the rest have virtually no value whatsoever, but that's why I'm not too concerned with keeping them.Just go over the cap. Currently Al is the only guy that's going to demand big money. Delonte and Gomes could both be kept for around what Perk makes, maybe a little more. That's not exactly a backbreaking amount. Allen and Green could be in a position to demand a big deal or they could have no leverage whatsoever. Their play this year will determine that. Plus, as you pointed out not all of them will still be around to demand big contracts. Why would you let the largest expiring contract in the league run out without using it to secure a great player? That trade helps us out ZERO if it expires because all that money will just be given to Al, thus allowing no room to sign a big free agent. If it's dealt we could get a great player and keep Al. Sure we'd be way over, but only for a single season until Wally's contract expires...or he's traded for another key guy. What you basically just said was that trading Brandon Roy to avoid the luxury tax for one year wasn't a bad deal.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Living_Legend33 @ May 14 2007, 09:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You're opinion of Saras is too low. He can play and would relieve some of the pressure off Rondo. He'd be the #2 PG and a pretty good one at that. I was just rating the players as to what value they had to the team. I realize that Wally is almost untradable and that the rest have virtually no value whatsoever, but that's why I'm not too concerned with keeping them. Just go over the cap. Currently Al is the only guy that's going to demand big money. Delonte and Gomes could both be kept for around what Perk makes, maybe a little more. That's not exactly a backbreaking amount. Allen and Green could be in a position to demand a big deal or they could have no leverage whatsoever. Their play this year will determine that. Plus, as you pointed out not all of them will still be around to demand big contracts.</div> Maybe I don't think very highly of Saras, but maybe you are overrating his talent. Ever think of that? He couldn't find himself stable rotation minutes or consistent play in a place with an injured Jamaal Tinsley, Anthony Johnson. If I remember correctly, Eddie Gill ended up playing a bit near the end of that season. I know Golden State runs a tight 8 man rotation, so I'm not going to knock him for minimal playing time there, but at age 30 he couldn't find consistent minutes or a home in the league on a team where Tinsley played half the season and the other guards were AJ, an old Armstrong, and Eddie friggen Gill. That says it for me. He's not going to get any better at his age and he makes $4M a year. He's a 3rd string point guard in the NBA, I don't want to pay a 3rd stringer that much (because he would not play point guard minutes over Rondo or West). Saras isn't what we need at all. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Why would you let the largest expiring contract in the league run out without using it to secure a great player? That trade helps us out ZERO if it expires because all that money will just be given to Al, thus allowing no room to sign a big free agent. If it's dealt we could get a great player and keep Al. Sure we'd be way over, but only for a single season until Wally's contract expires...or he's traded for another key guy. What you basically just said was that trading Brandon Roy to avoid the luxury tax for one year wasn't a bad deal.</div> No, that's not what I said. I said that using Theo's expiring $12M to help pay off our young star, like Al Jefferson's, extension would be well worth it. If we don't make a deal, we can extend Al without going over the luxery tax. That's not a terrible position to be in at all. If we didn't do that trade, we'd be F*cked with our money situation (imagine having Raef and Wally's deal, mixed with Pierce's $20M a year and trying to extend these young players? Good Christ, we'd be on our way to turn into the Knicks (money wise).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ May 14 2007, 10:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Maybe I don't think very highly of Saras, but maybe you are overrating his talent. Ever think of that? He couldn't find himself stable rotation minutes or consistent play in a place with an injured Jamaal Tinsley, Anthony Johnson. If I remember correctly, Eddie Gill ended up playing a bit near the end of that season. I know Golden State runs a tight 8 man rotation, so I'm not going to knock him for minimal playing time there, but at age 30 he couldn't find consistent minutes or a home in the league on a team where Tinsley played half the season and the other guards were AJ, an old Armstrong, and Eddie friggen Gill. That says it for me.He's not going to get any better at his age and he makes $4M a year. He's a 3rd string point guard in the NBA, I don't want to pay a 3rd stringer that much (because he would not play point guard minutes over Rondo or West). Saras isn't what we need at all.No, that's not what I said. I said that using Theo's expiring $12M to help pay off our young star, like Al Jefferson's, extension would be well worth it. If we don't make a deal, we can extend Al without going over the luxery tax. That's not a terrible position to be in at all. If we didn't do that trade, we'd be F*cked with our money situation (imagine having Raef and Wally's deal, mixed with Pierce's $20M a year and trying to extend these young players? Good Christ, we'd be on our way to turn into the Knicks (money wise).</div>Did you ever consider the situation he was in? Rick Carlisle stresses defense, and as you've already pointed out that's not his strong suite. He's obviously not going to fit in on a defensive minded team, which would explain his lack of playing time in Indiana.Again, we'd be way over for ONE SINGLE year. Both Raef's and Wally's contracts expire at the same time. That's Brandon Roy for one year of luxury tax relief. If you go by that way of reasoning then the Vin Baker deal worked out well.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Living_Legend33 @ May 14 2007, 10:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Did you ever consider the situation he was in? Rick Carlisle stresses defense, and as you've already pointed out that's not his strong suite. He's obviously not going to fit in on a defensive minded team, which would explain his lack of playing time in Indiana.</div> That's my point, we don't need an unproven 30 year old that makes $4M, doesn't play defense, and has always been a streaky shooter. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Again, we'd be way over for ONE SINGLE year. Both Raef's and Wally's contracts expire at the same time. That's Brandon Roy for one year of luxury tax relief. If you go by that way of reasoning then the Vin Baker deal worked out well.</div> Stop trying to put words in my mouth by saying "In that case, you must think ______ was a good deal." Also if we never did that deal, we'd be in no position to make a big deal this summer (if one comes along). Nobody would take on Raef or Wally's deal in a trade like that, but they'd sure as hell take on Theo's $12M expiring. Timing is everything. This summer you have guys like Jermaine O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and possibly even Kevin Garnett being thrown around in trade talks, if we are gonna get a good player to pair up with Pierce, the time is NOW. It's not gonna be like that next year. Also, look Paul Pierce straight in the eye and say "It's just one more year, Paul."
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ May 16 2007, 11:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>That's my point, we don't need an unproven 30 year old that makes $4M, doesn't play defense, and has always been a streaky shooter.Stop trying to put words in my mouth by saying "In that case, you must think ______ was a good deal." Also if we never did that deal, we'd be in no position to make a big deal this summer (if one comes along). Nobody would take on Raef or Wally's deal in a trade like that, but they'd sure as hell take on Theo's $12M expiring. Timing is everything. This summer you have guys like Jermaine O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and possibly even Kevin Garnett being thrown around in trade talks, if we are gonna get a good player to pair up with Pierce, the time is NOW. It's not gonna be like that next year.Also, look Paul Pierce straight in the eye and say "It's just one more year, Paul."</div>However, that unproven 30 year old can run a decent offense and not make rookie mistakes. He only has one year left on his contract, so it's not like he has a Scal-like deal. Misunderstanding here. I said IF Theo's contract isn't moved for a guy like Gasol, Garnett, etc, THEN it was an absolutely horrible deal. Essentially trading Brandon Roy for one of the top talents available this offseason is a brilliant move...IF Danny can get it done. If Theo's contract expires then Danny traded the rookie of the year in order to avoid paying the luxury tax for a single season. He gave up an excellent player in order to save a little money. That principal is the same as what caused the Vin Baker trade; saving a little money.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Living_Legend33 @ May 17 2007, 12:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>However, that unproven 30 year old can run a decent offense and not make rookie mistakes. He only has one year left on his contract, so it's not like he has a Scal-like deal.</div> He can run an offense well? Since when? He obviously can't, because if he could, he would have gotten more playing time. Also, he's more of a sharpshooter than a real point guard. This team can't afford to take a gamble on an unproven 30 year old, we need proven veterans that we can count on. Not a 30 year old streak shooter. Having both Delonte and Saras would be bad, and moving Delonte in a deal where Saras is the main piece we get in return would also be ridiculous. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Misunderstanding here. I said IF Theo's contract isn't moved for a guy like Gasol, Garnett, etc, THEN it was an absolutely horrible deal. Essentially trading Brandon Roy for one of the top talents available this offseason is a brilliant move...IF Danny can get it done. If Theo's contract expires then Danny traded the rookie of the year in order to avoid paying the luxury tax for a single season. He gave up an excellent player in order to save a little money. That principal is the same as what caused the Vin Baker trade; saving a little money.</div> The trade wouldn't be 100% ridiculous even if Theo isn't dealt this summer because that money would be used to pay off extensions. And yes, it was a financial trade to try and "make up" for his 1st mistake of bringing in Raef's contract. Danny was given orders from the organization to deal Raef's contract. Also, you are overlooking the fact that Brandon Roy didn't fit here at all. At the time of the draft/trade, we had a healthy Paul Pierce, a healthy Wally Szczerbiak, a healthy Tony Allen, Delonte West, and a developing Gerald Green. Not to mention Ryan Gomes... now, how does Brandon Roy fit in a wing-loaded rotation like that? And you may counter that by saying "Roy is better than so and so" or "yeah, well look at how bad our season was." Well, at the time, we had a nice thing going for us on the wing, and had injuries not completely shafted our team this year, it would have only gotten better.
Still when you have a chance to upgrade to filet mignon from steak you do it.Roy and Pierce on the floor together?tony allen and delonte west just became trade bait.The Blazers followed your logic of 'well we already have a player(s) at that posistion, so we'll draft for need instead' and got Sam Bowie over Jordan.That's not necessairly true 100% of the time, but in this case I believe Roy would have been the right call.I understand the logic of trading for Bassy because he has a few years under his belt and the need for a pg that can run a team right away.. but Bassy was not the guy to get. I didn't believe so when the trade happened and it's more true right now.Ainge shoulda sought out a better Deal.Raef and Allen or West for another part to add to the team after the draft.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticFan @ May 17 2007, 07:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Raef and Allen or West for another part to add to the team after the draft.</div> See, that's the thing. A trade like that couldn't have happened, Raef's contract was literally untradable without that pick (which we didn't need then, and Ainge's "guy" in the draft was Rondo as it is), much like Wally's contract is stuck in Boston as well. Look, I'm not saying that I wouldn't have liked Brandon Roy, because I love Roy. But again, Ainge had orders from the organization to deal that contract, and with our wing logjam at the time (and now, when healthy) it does make sense. Had we not done this deal, it would be tougher to extend these young players and we wouldn't even be in position to make a big deal this summer. I'm not saying I'm 100% behind the deal and I'm not saying it was a great trade, but I fully understand the reasoning for it, I understand that Roy wouldn't have fit , and I definitely don't think it's as bad as you two think it is. Also, CelticFan, my logic is not to draft for need. In fact, I'm a big believer that you take BPA 99.9% of the time, but this deal made more sense than you guys make it out to have.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ May 17 2007, 09:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Also, CelticFan, my logic is not to draft for need. In fact, I'm a big believer that you take BPA 99.9% of the time, but this deal made more sense than you guys make it out to have.</div>but you did state that there was not need for Roy because we already had enough wing players.so that is in fact drafting for need rather than BPA.and dumping salaries is a good move I agree.I'm just of the opinion that there shoulda been a better option than giving up Roy and taking on a pretty much useless Telfair.that's the best trade Ainge could come up with for the #7 pick in the draft?!?!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticFan @ May 17 2007, 11:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>but you did state that there was not need for Roy because we already had enough wing players. so that is in fact drafting for need rather than BPA.</div> How is it drafting for need when we didn't use this pick to draft a player anyway? If we kept the pick, yes, we obviously should have taken Brandon Roy. This past draft, where we were picking, wasn't what we needed anyway. Sure, it'd be great to have a young talent like Brandon Roy, but he wouldn't have busted out in Boston right away as it is. He'd be yet another young talent being held back because of the minimal available minutes. On paper, this deal f*cking sucked, but it was a financial deal. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I'm just of the opinion that there shoulda been a better option than giving up Roy and taking on a pretty much useless Telfair. that's the best trade Ainge could come up with for the #7 pick in the draft?!?!</div> Again, that trade was a financial move, nothing more. It wasn't centered around Telfair at all, Ainge took a flyer on him to go along with it. Since we didn't need a wing at all (the best 2 players available were wings - Roy and Gay), the best time to make that move was then. That also was the ONLY opportunity Ainge would have had to move Raef's contract.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ May 17 2007, 12:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He can run an offense well? Since when? He obviously can't, because if he could, he would have gotten more playing time. Also, he's more of a sharpshooter than a real point guard. This team can't afford to take a gamble on an unproven 30 year old, we need proven veterans that we can count on. Not a 30 year old streak shooter. Having both Delonte and Saras would be bad, and moving Delonte in a deal where Saras is the main piece we get in return would also be ridiculous.</div>The guy was the Euroleague MVP, which is equivalent to the NCAA player of the year. He's shown he has talent and ability, but the two teams he hasn't fit in on either NBA team he's been on. He may not be an NBA veteran, but do you really think pressure gets to this guy? He's a leader, and even though he isn't a great player he has enough talent to be a good backup point.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The trade wouldn't be 100% ridiculous even if Theo isn't dealt this summer because that money would be used to pay off extensions. And yes, it was a financial trade to try and "make up" for his 1st mistake of bringing in Raef's contract. Danny was given orders from the organization to deal Raef's contract.</div>Those extensions could be paid off regardless of whether or not there was salary cap room. And don't say the tax would've killed because it only would've lasted a single season. So Danny made one bad trade to make up for another one? Now that really makes sense. He traded one overpaid useless player for an identical one with a slightly shorter contract, but had to give up the #7 overall pick to do it.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Also, you are overlooking the fact that Brandon Roy didn't fit here at all. At the time of the draft/trade, we had a healthy Paul Pierce, a healthy Wally Szczerbiak, a healthy Tony Allen, Delonte West, and a developing Gerald Green. Not to mention Ryan Gomes... now, how does Brandon Roy fit in a wing-loaded rotation like that? And you may counter that by saying "Roy is better than so and so" or "yeah, well look at how bad our season was." Well, at the time, we had a nice thing going for us on the wing, and had injuries not completely shafted our team this year, it would have only gotten better.</div>Here's how the deal is still bad: If you draft Brandon Roy then you can deal those guys for something of value, or if you want to keep those guys then you could trade the pick for a player like the Rockets did to get Shane Battier. Either way you're getting something that will benefit the team. As it is now the only thing Ainge received for the #7 pick was $12 million in salary cap space a year earlier then it would've originally come. If that space isn't used to bring in somebody good then why do the deal? Avoiding the luxury tax is the only explanation. That's a cheap move that can be compared to the Florida Marlins selling off players whenever they have to pay market value. Boston has some of the most expensive tickets in the league and one of the most loyal fanbases; it can afford to go over the cap for a year or two.
[quote name='Living_Legend33' post='358183' date='May 17 2007, 05:27 PM']The guy was the Euroleague MVP, which is equivalent to the NCAA player of the year. He's shown he has talent and ability, but the two teams he hasn't fit in on either NBA team he's been on. He may not be an NBA veteran, but do you really think pressure gets to this guy? He's a leader, and even though he isn't a great player he has enough talent to be a good backup point.[/quote] Euroleague MVP. Cool, the same league all the NBA "scrubs" go and succeed (ala Langdon, Bremer, Forte, etc.). I'm not doubting that he can play, but he's certainly not what we need at all. You won't change my opinion, let's stop arguing about Sarunas Jasikevicius lol. Not when you factor in the extensions, especially Big Al's. I'm not the only one who thinks this way. It's the truth. He did a terrible thing to take on Raef's contract (also knowing he was hurt when the trade was made), and he tried to correct it by dealing a pick that we did not need and helping the organization financially. A $12M chip benefits the team. One year is nothing to us as fans, but it's big for Paul Pierce and Danny Ainge. If we didn't do that draft day deal, we would be in no position to shop that to get ourselves a quality player or two. <u>Also, for the 500th time, Ainge was given orders to get rid of Raef's contract and improve financially</u>. It helps us in the long run whether it looks good now or not. Yet again, 1-2 years of luxury tax seems like nothing to me or you, but you also don't know how much Al will make, or Rondo, or how Gerald will elevate his game and earn himself a bigger paycheck, etc. And again, it's about time as well. Paul Pierce isn't getting any younger, the organization definitely wants to bring in a veteran or two to help Pierce now while we can still win with him, and without this deal we'd be in no position to do so. Do you want to turn into the Knicks with Raef/Wally each getting $11M a year, plus Pierce's $20M, plus Al's extension, plus the other young players' extensions? I sure as hell don't. This deal helped us a lot more in the long run than you may think. On paper, when comparing the players dealt, obviously it looks like we were raped because Brandon Roy is a young star. But he would have never fit here, we didn't need the pick, and this put us in a much better position financially or to go out and get ourselves a good veteran. Wyc has stated plenty of times, when we are in a position to win, they'll spend the money and do whatever it takes. You don't want to start off on the wrong foot and get yourself in a bad financial position when you aren't even good enough to win games or even have the options to put yourself over the hump.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ May 17 2007, 12:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Also, you are overlooking the fact that Brandon Roy didn't fit here at all. At the time of the draft/trade, we had a healthy Paul Pierce, a healthy Wally Szczerbiak, a healthy Tony Allen, Delonte West, and a developing Gerald Green. Not to mention Ryan Gomes... now, how does Brandon Roy fit in a wing-loaded rotation like that?</div>so that's not a quote about not drafting Roy because we already had the posistion filled. IE not drafting the BPA because the posistion is filled.I get that you see it as a good financial move, and it is. There's also a risk involved. It's up to Ainge to make use of that salary leverage he created with the move to improve the team, not just sign up Al and the other young guys. They're the ones who went on an 18 game losing streak this year. You think the deal was okay because it opened up salary cap room, I think it wasn't enough for giving up the #7 pick who turned out to be the ROY and was the most ready player who entered the league last year.again it's all speculation until 2-3 years down the road to see how good Roy is and how well Ainge handles the financial freedom.
[quote name='CelticBalla32' post='358251' date='May 17 2007, 07:22 PM']Euroleague MVP. Cool, the same league all the NBA "scrubs" go and succeed (ala Langdon, Bremer, Forte, etc.). I'm not doubting that he can play, but he's certainly not what we need at all. You won't change my opinion, let's stop arguing about Sarunas Jasikevicius lol.[/quote]The level of play in the Euroleague is often debated, but I think it's a step above the NCAA as far as competition is concerned. The players aren't as talented as the best college guys, and they certainly don't have as much potential, but they're better overall because they've been playing longer. They also all know how to play team basketball, something so many college guys lack. So the owner is to blame for this awful deal? That makes me feel so much better. Wally and Raef's contracts would've expire in 2 seasons, giving us $25 million in cap relief just in time for the extensions of Green and Rondo, and only 1 season behind West, Allen, and Jefferson. Of course if we had Roy half those guys could be dealt for a big man. We would be the Knicks for exactly one season. Think about what you're saying for a second. The rookie of the year wouldn't have fit in here? You need to think outside the box. When you have the opportunity to draft the best player in a draft, who just happens to be better than all but 1 guy at that position on your roster, you make room for him, you don't just get rid of the pick. This team was awful this past season. We could use everything. Say what you want about Allen, Green, and West but Roy is better than all of them. Green is the only one with the potential to be better, but like you just said we can't wait around for him since Pierce only has so many years left.Plus, at the end of next season BOTH Raef and Wally's deals would become more valuable trading pieces than Theo Ratliff's. Do anything to win that doesn't involve going over the tax. They could've paid the price for one year, but they didn't. In the long run this is still a horrible deal. At the end of next season, we could've had Pierce, Al, Roy, Rondo, whatever player(s) West/Green/Allen would bring, whatever player we got in this deep draft, and two huge expiring deals.I'll admit that our position could be better off if we get Durant or Oden, but that just means we were incredibly lucky, not that this was some well planned series of trades. Ainge has done a horrible job from the start. Trading Walker for Lafrentz crippled the team for years, so then he trades for another guy with bad knees in Sczerbiak. Simply brilliant. Before you say we needed to get rid of Blount, just who signed him to that deal? I'd say all those things are getting off on the wrong foot. Keep in mind that when he took over this was a solid playoff team.Now because of his previous incompetence it becomes a good idea to trade the rookie of the year for an early year of salary cap relief? The only way this gets better is if we get a franchise guy this Tuesday, and we're only in that position because of all the aforementioned moves. Anyway, I understand what you're saying, but if we had Roy then we would've been much more competitive this season, and who knows, maybe had enough expendable young players to bring in Gasol.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ May 17 2007, 12:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>That also was the ONLY opportunity Ainge would have had to move Raef's contract.</div>Now how the hell can you say that?you're not part of the organization and who knows what could have/would have come up in FA?he might have been able to do more.that's purely speculative on your part, NOT MATTER if you caps locks or not.
[quote name='Living_Legend33' post='358373' date='May 17 2007, 09:39 PM']The level of play in the Euroleague is often debated, but I think it's a step above the NCAA as far as competition is concerned. The players aren't as talented as the best college guys, and they certainly don't have as much potential, but they're better overall because they've been playing longer. They also all know how to play team basketball, something so many college guys lack.[/quote] Very true, but Sarunas Jasikevicius is still not the answer. Great, 2 seasons, when Paul Pierce has to waste yet ANOTHER year of his prime so we can finally make a move when he's pushing 31. Um... no. Had we kept the pick, Roy would not have flourished in Boston right away like he did in Portland because it would be a struggle to find minutes for him to go along with Pierce/Wally/TA/Delonte/Gomes... I won't even count Gerald. Yet you're telling me you want to wait another season and let Pierce rot his prime away while we wait for 2 players to enter contract years. Again, another year wasted of Paul Pierce's prime. I'm not arguing that, but you just set me up to state my point yet again - Ainge made all those financial mistakes, and he did what he could to deal the horrible contract we had to get a sooner expiring deal that could help us sooner rather than waiting an extra year. Also keep in mind that Tony Battie, Kenny Anderson, Eric Williams, and Tony Delk would have only directed this team downhill as the years progressed. He did the right thing by rebuilding, but I agree he didn't make the right deals. <span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">BANG! No we wouldn't, because we wouldn't have the salary matcher to move with it (now we do, Ratliff).</span> They wouldn't have taken on Raef or Wally. [quote name='CelticFan' post='358374' date='May 17 2007, 09:40 PM']Now how the hell can you say that? you're not part of the organization and who knows what could have/would have come up in FA? he might have been able to do more. that's purely speculative on your part, NOT MATTER if you caps locks or not.[/quote] No, you're wrong. Nobody would have taken on Raef's contract in a deal last summer unless we sweetened the deal with that pick. It's honestly not an opinion, it is a fact. That's why Ainge pulled the trigger on this devilish deal (in you guys' eyes), because he knew that was his only opportunity to move it.
