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Post by DERRENMATTS on Dec 15, 2005 10:41:19 GMT -5
Wow, remember how we had all these trade rumors during the summer, about Pierce going to Portland and all the other rumors of the like? Well, they were true. It comes from Pierce's mouth. from the Globe (12/15): It hasn't been easy to erase the image he projected last May. Pierce spent most of last summer evaluating himself and his future with the only team he has ever played for, while his reputation absorbed a beating.
His initial conclusion: He asked the Celtics for a trade.
''I mentioned it," he admitted. ''At the beginning of the summer, I thought that was the best thing. But I wasn't going to do it through the media. I talked to them myself."
The problem, he quickly learned, was asking for a trade took his future out of his hands. All the various landing spots were relayed to him in one way or another, and some of them frightened him. Executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge, for instance, was enamored with point guard Chris Paul (good call, Danny), and at one point the Celtics and Trail Blazers discussed the No. 3 overall pick and Nick Van Exel, whose contract was about to expire, for Pierce.
''When I heard that one, I made it known [to Boston] that I wasn't going there," said Pierce. ''And, as the summer went on, we just never got to the point where it became a real serious option."If that trade went down, we would have had the 3rd pick (because the Blazers wouldn't have made that trade with Utah that gave them the 3rd pck) and now that we know that Ainge likes Chris Paul, we can stipulate that Ainge would have taken him. He would have been real nice here. I like Delonte, but Paul is a much better PG, hands down. But what's even more surprising is that Ainge may have done that trade. Nick Van Excel and Chris Paul for Pierce. Many fans would have laughed at this trade offer if someone brought up this trade proposal on a message board. Sure we'd want more in return if we're losing Pierce--but in reality, this trade may have happened if Pierce was willing to go to Portland.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2005 13:11:59 GMT -5
I don't think it's not out of the question that if this season goes to a downward spiral that PP might request to be traded again. Atleast this time his value is at a all-time high which could accomdate this team to get a real quality center or pg in this league.
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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Dec 15, 2005 13:19:19 GMT -5
Are Pierce, RD, and Blount trying to act like Golden Boys getting Ainge to trade them to good teams?
Boston's lineup is not set.
Indiana needs to trade Artest.
Minnesota is limping along in the WC.
There are a lot of common denominators here sports fans.
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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Dec 15, 2005 13:21:14 GMT -5
And here is the 2nd axiom I submit. Every player from Gaston/Pitino's regime must leave the Celtics organization before the climb to seventeen begins in earnest.
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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Dec 15, 2005 13:31:20 GMT -5
And the 3rd an final axiom is that the veterans Ainge has brought in here thorugh free agency or trades must eventually go.
Bottom line - Danny's vision was to build a team from scratch and try to leapfrog the league in terms of talent......
This is year 3 of the rebuilding project that takes 5 to 7 years. Pierce as well as RD, I believe, does not fit into the long term plans so he will be traded as Gerald Green and Tony Allen are ready to take over their positions.
The tragedy is I think Portland and Pierce were made for each other and that would have been a sweetheart deal for everybody. Derran, you made an excellent call but for the wrong guy (You wanted Felton in the deal).
The PG remains a longterm question mark....... Pierce for Kirk Hinrich deserves consideration (Chicago needs to give up filler).
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Post by esco33 on Dec 15, 2005 23:08:11 GMT -5
Are Pierce, RD, and Blount trying to act like Golden Boys getting Ainge to trade them to good teams? Blount definitely. He has had many problems with various issues in the past two years. When Obie left, he was complaining that we played zero defense, and wanted to go elsewhere. This year, he complained that he wasn't getting enough touches. Go figure. I'm starting to think that whenever Blount is playing good which is like every other month, it is because he is showcasing himself for a ticket out of town. Pierce on the other hand I believe is different. He bleeds green. He just wants to win. If it were up to him, in a dream world he would finish his career as a Boston Celtic, and win several championships, and have his 34 retired in the rafters. However, like I said, he wants to win. If we continue to lose this year and definitely by next year if we are not at least making Eastern Conference Finals again, he will want to go to a place where he has an opportunity to win a ring. Ricky also is not showcasing himself I do not believe. Ricky in Boston so far has been a perfect fit. He is having a career year this year, and he is very comfortable. The city likes him and he seems to have shed his bad reputation from Cleveland. He was also ready to become a leader for the Celtics, if Pierce was going to be traded. Ricky and Pierce like playing together and they want to stay...and win. Blount on the other hand is a grouch who is constantly complaining and who doesn't get along with any coach not named Jim O'Brien. I can DEFINITELY see him showcasing himself for trade. Too bad Obie isn't in the league anymore.
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Post by Celtic17 on Dec 15, 2005 23:14:09 GMT -5
Maybe Obie needs a tree trimmer...
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Post by esco33 on Dec 15, 2005 23:19:14 GMT -5
lol. Hopefully Obie wouldn't hire anyone else, and Blunt could trim the trees on his own, because he would probably complain to the other workers and say that they were hogging all of the nice trees.
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Post by Celtic17 on Dec 15, 2005 23:41:59 GMT -5
;D
'I need to touch the long-limb-trimmers more.' 'Where's my ladder?'
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Post by Roadrunner on Dec 15, 2005 23:50:44 GMT -5
Well, he needs his "touches."
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Post by Celtic17 on Dec 15, 2005 23:53:52 GMT -5
MMMMMMMM.....touches....
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Dec 16, 2005 0:11:55 GMT -5
We have so many young kids who have a lot more talent than the veteran players who are in their spots. The only problem is that they are like 4 - 5 years away from truly arriving onto the big stage. It will probably take at least that long for Perkins, Jefferson, Gerald Green, Tony Allen, Delonte West, Ryan Gomes, and Orien Greene to all develop into solid veteran players who can carry us in the playoffs.
So the question begs to be asked: is Pierce going to be content staying with this team as we go through our growing stages for the next 4 - 5 years? We aren't going to win with Blount and Raef as our main big men. We aren't going to win with Delonte's being at his current stage of development. We aren't going to win with Jefferson and Perkins still being this raw and inexperienced.
Pierce's contract expires in 2 years (with a player option in the 3rd year). In 2 years, its hard to imagine all of our young players developing to the point where they make us contenders. In 2 years, Pierce will be 30 years old and will probably only have 5 good years left in his tank. Will he want to take a chance and roll the dice that we'll win a championship during this time?
BC posted an article that has a piece about Pierce and Jermaine O'Neal being friends and joking about playing with each other. Could this be on Pierce's mind?
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Post by BCHISTORIAN on Dec 16, 2005 1:25:12 GMT -5
The PG remains a longterm question mark....... Pierce for Kirk Hinrich deserves consideration (Chicago needs to give up filler). amen! hinrich for anybody but pierce, jefferson, green and perkins
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Post by Roadrunner on Dec 16, 2005 22:29:24 GMT -5
Not sure about Hinrich...has he ever played, and led for a winner? Kansas choking hard, and the Bulls are my only memories of him playing for losers.
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Post by esco33 on Dec 16, 2005 22:42:57 GMT -5
I would never trade Pierce for Hinrich personally. I know a lot of people are high on him on this board, but I just don't see that he is the type of player to take a team to the next level. He is a good player, can shoot, is crafty.
But wouldn't trade the truth for him though.
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