From: sweettalker69101@yahoo.com
Subject: Trading Pierce
Date: June 17, 2006 9:49:55 AM EDT
To: celtics@igtc.com
Reply-To: celtics@igtc.com
Hi guys-
I can understand all the talk of trading Paul. I think the time is right. The problem in trading Paul is what you're looking at as a fair return on the investment.
I dont think getting a guy like Villanueva is a positive trade for the Celtics. While getting the number one pick is nice, CV is the wrong player. A starting frontcourt of Perkins - Jefferson - Villanueva is a layup drill waiting to happen for the smaller teams.
If I'm trading Pierce then the team I'd be looking at is the Atlanta Hawks. They have the cap room to absorb the hit that getting Paul would cause them but he's the PERFECT player for their team.
Their starting backcourt of Joe Johnson and Josh Childress is a nice backcourt. Both guys have many facets to their game. They can both create shots for team-mates, they're both long and they're both athletic and quick enough to guard the smaller players. Their projected starters at PF - C long-term, Zaza Pachulia and Marvin Williams are a little on the small side. They need a rebounding small forward who is also a volume scorer. Hence, Pierce is perfect for their team.
The player on their team that I would be targetting is Josh Smith. While he's a bit of a head case (apparently) that aspect of him can be worked on. He is athletic enough that he would allow for a Perkins and Jefferson combination and he would eliminate the weaknesses of that combination where Charlie Villaneuva wouldn't.
He's a potential all-star as soon as next year and fits right in the age range of Jefferson, Perkins, Delonte West and Gerald Green. While the team see Delonte West as a two-guard I see him as the perfect long-term first guard from the bench. The guy who plays 25-30 minutes a night and has an impact at both positions.
I would be in favour of dealing Pierce for #5 and Josh Smith. I dont view the #5 pick as being all that much different from the #1 pick. You're going to be getting one of the following; Adam Morrison, Tyrus Thomas, Rudy Gay, LaMarcus Aldridge and Andrea Bargnani, Brandon Roy.
Ideally we would be able to get one of the athletic big men (Thomas, Aldridge and Bargnani) . One of them may even be available at #7 (there usually is a surprise in the first half a dozen picks).
For arguments sake we're able to draft Aldridge and Marcus Williams. That gives you a core group of;
C - Kendrick Perkins - LaMarcus Aldridge
PF - Al Jefferson - LaMarcus Aldridge - Ryan Gomes
SF - Josh Smith - Ryan Gomes
SG - Gerald Green - Delonte West
PG - Marcus Williams - Delonte West
That's without considering Wally Szczerbiak, Raef LaFrentz and Tony Allen (Scalabrine, Dickau, Greene and Jones also).
I think that is a tremendous long-term unit. We'd most likely be in the bottom five teams in the NBA next season (meaning we'd be eligible for right now -- Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Joakim Noah, Thaddeus Young, Brandon Wright).
Btw- anyone seen Kevin Durant play? NBADraft.net compares him to T-McGrady but dude is 6'10" already!
Warwick
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