Bonzi Wells

[greeny05]

RealGM is reporting that the Boston Celtics have had serious discussions with the Grizziles about the 8 million dollar expiring contract of Bonzi Wells.

My take trade Walker for Bonzi straight up or
Walker, Pierce and banks for Gasol, Bonzi and Williams.


Bonzi's contract expires at the end of the year you have a big man for the first time since McHale and Parish and a pure point guard that has value in this league. The combination of Gasol and Jefferson is scary.
Any thoughts?

[VI_CelticsFan]

Gasol would be sweet, but I don't want Williams getting anywhere near Boston.

[DERRENMATTS]

I'm not sure how likely this trade is to go down, but I do know that Ainge has been high on Gasol for a long time. That's what makes this trade rumor interesting. Could he pull the trigger on Gasol and give up Pierce?

You'd be replacing Pierce with Bonzi Wells--a guy who hasn't been the example of a "good citizen" in the lockerroom. Is that a smart move? Can you imagine what it will be like with Bonzi and Ricky in the lockerroom? But I was very much a fan of Wells because of his scoring ability.

Jayson Williams? Not sure what to think about this guy. He's gone from a brash, razzle dazzle PG who's sole purpose was to excite the crowd, to a plain PG who's sole purpose is not to turn the ball over. From one extreme to another, and in the process, has gone from a crowd favorite to a nobody in a matter of a few years.

Bonzi's contract expires after next season, which seems to be a favorite contractual manuever Ainge likes to execute whenever he's doing trades.

In all of this, I'm only interested in Gasol. I could careless about getting Wells and Williams.

[eja117]

So basically Gasol for PP and Williams for Banks. It's an upgrade on the salary cap, a minor upgrade on talent/team configuration (cause we get to rotate a major frontcourt player with Perkins and Al J and get more time to our young guys on the perimiter) and probably a bad hit on team chemistry because I don't trust J Will to be a backup PG without complaining and crying, which is what he needs to be long term. Then again by the time we have a good pg his contract might expire. You're basically trading for the heart of a Grizzlies team that will never win a championship. I just don't see it but i don't think you can get much better offers for Banks and PP. Maybe if they talk to J Will ahead of time and get on the same page. I just might do it if i planned to get rid of Wells after the year, which would cause a year of chemistry/locker issues. It's really disrupting a lot of chemistry and a slow and steady plan for the sake of some cap relief and adding gasol. I think our players are good enough and young enough we can wait 4 years for these bad contracts to go away if we can't trade them for something like draft picks and expiring contracts and young prospects.

[Deleted]

I don't want anything to do with Wells and Williams. We're better off resigning walker than picking up these two trouble makers.

[greeny05]

The point is the 8 million will come of the books if they don't exercise the TEAM OPTION in Bonzi's contract.

[meltinjohn]

Still though. I don't agree with this. If anyone hasn't noticed also, Gasol is not getting any better year by year. As much as I'd want a player with his style, hes not a winner.

[meltinjohn]

And my take on both Wells and Williams. Forget them both totally. You can get better for Pierce.

[greeny05]

MeltinJohn says "You can get better for Pierce" This is the best deal the Celtics have gotten for Pierce. Paul Gasol dosen't get better year from year. Paul Gasol is a 20 + pts and 10 rebounds per game everynight and if I'm not mistaken led his team to 50 plus wins in the West when Shaq was there. Your trading a dominant perimeter player for dominant low post player. This will free time for all our wing players without giving up any of our young talent to free up minutes.

I love Pierce's game but we have more than capable players at his position and get something thats are to find a dominant low post scorer.

[meltinjohn]

Gasol would be a good return for Pierce but he is not getting better year after year. I see him kinda falling off. Unless Boston can change him. Memphis is loserville after all. Every player has declined there or never got the chance to show what they had. But take away J-Will and Wells totally. Gasol for Pierce straight up yea I wouldn't mind. As long as Gasol can show hes a winner for once despite his near 20 and 10 stats.

[greeny05]

So Elton Brand is not good because he plays for losing teams right? This deal is to good of a deal for the Celtics I don't see Jerry West doing this deal unless Walker or someone else is included besides Pierce.

Meltin let me ask you a question is Pierce getting better and better each year? No his stats have been consistent since his second year with last year being better for him because of the better talent around him so his assists went up.

[greeny05]

Guess what I haven't missed a celtics game in 5 years and have traveled to road games and sat behind there bench.

[Harris34]

Gasol is a softie. He's not worth the bank he makes. We have Jefferson. I would much rather have Toine at the MLE than Gasol at his exhorbent price.

Not to mention that Gasol has been a bit injury prone in his career. I would much rather have an iron man like Pierce, who still puts up monster numbers, than cap room with the CHANCE to nab a free agent that rivals his talent.

Cap room doesn't win championships. Especially if it's Boston, who couldn't attract a free agent leprechaun if their life depended on it.

[cfoo]

Gasol is a nice player but I dont see where this deal makes much sense. Is Gasol any better than Pierce(Id take Pierce personally) and how would he fit on this team? We already have Jefferson at that spot. Only way I would trade Pierce is if it equals a pg and or center that would fit with the kids. The first trade makes more sense although trading Walker for cap space doesnt necessarily mean more money. We might as well just let Walker walk if we are trading him for a player like Bonzi. We can sign and trade Walker because we own his bird rights and we avoid luxury tax range by signing him and trading him and can potentially get a player back that could help moreso in that range. Plus maybe a pick. We are still over teh cap regardless.

[Celtic17]

You guys having fun?
Where you two are going, I'm sure you're the only ones.