Were gonna make a trade this season

[Hemingway]

I'm calling it. I think a three for one deal. With Al Harrington wanting out it got me thinking. Now I don't think we are going to get him, but something like this: Harrington for Scal, House/Allen, Powe/BBD/one of the rooks, is about what we will be looking for. We have too many guys right now that we will never be able to keep them all IF they were to all become good. I think we are going to want 2 open spots by midseason. PJ should be back for another title and someone else probably as well. As much as i hate to say it, Powe is probably our real trading chip if he looks good this year.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

I agree that Powe would be our biggest trading chip, and Danny's probably placed a call already. Harrington would be Posey's replacement I suppose, being able to fill in at the 4 during small ball. We could also have him play the 3 spot and guard the bigger 3s such as Lebron and Melo.

[BakersDozen]

I seriously doubt we get Harrington. Outside the big 3 we just dont have the contracts to make a deal work without trading half the roster. I dont really want to trade Powe anyways. After Rondo he is the best young player on the team.

[Bad-Thoma]

Harrington? I'm not sure he's even heard of defense, I'll take Powe over Harrington any day of the week, especially at their respective contracts.

[ParticleMan]

With Ainge at the helm, that prediction is like predicting the Sun will rise in the east.

I doubt the roster we have today will be the exact roster at the end of the season. but i don't think Al Harrington and his $9mil salary have any place on it.

[celticfan42487]

Maxiell got extended for 5 mil a year for 4 years.

That should set the market value for Powe and I don't know if we're willing to pay that.

But I doubt we have any contracts to trade for an established player like Harrington.

[greenbeans]

I'd love to see Al here but like other posters have said, we just don't have the type of contracts right now to make a trade like that. the only trades I could come up with without using the main 4 core is:
Pre Dec. 15th
Perkins + Scalabrine for Al

Post Dec 15th
Scal + T.Allen + any 2 of the rook scale du jour

[TheCelticTruth]

just about any player worth trading for would need at least two or three of scal, perkins, TA, house...

how does our depth look after that? not so good to me unless scal is the only one who goes

i actually think a trade is unlikely, we dont have a lot of flexibility

[sully00]

Everything is about this year and next, nothing else matters as far as the roster goes. Obviously it would be better to move Scal but we won't move him for a longer contract. Right now Powe and TA look like a Posey upgrade anyhow.

Trust me Al Harrington isn't looking to get traded from GS to Boston so he can back PP and KG he wants to start.

[ddb]

Danny is NOT trading Leon Powe. Powe is an incredibly valuable piece to the chemistry of this team. Money aside, I wouldn't even trade Leon Powe for Al Harrington straight up. Powe has a high basketball IQ, he understands his role, and he has the heart of a champion. He also has the respect of his teammates.
I disagree that Danny making a big trade this offseason. You may see something minor like Scal and Giddens for player X but that's about it.

Ainge has been so successful because he has patience. Even if a guy like Pruitt rides the pine again this season I guarantee he will have an important role next season.

Safe bet to stay:
KG, Pierce, Allen, Rondo, Perkins, Powe, House, and T Allen aren't going anywhere.

[Hemingway]

just about any player worth trading for would need at least two or three of scal, perkins, TA, house...

how does our depth look after that? not so good to me unless scal is the only one who goes

i actually think a trade is unlikely, we dont have a lot of flexibility

Any trade we make, we make with FAs already lined up. Nothing will happen before dec 15 for a number of reasons: 1 we cant trade anyone we just signed. 2 We need to see what we have. 3 we need to showcase our trading chips (Powe and Tony Allen)

IF we can convince the league that Powe and Allen could be legit starters then we can pair them with scal and see what we can get to put us over the hump this year. You may be right that Allen, Powe and Scal for Harrington is not a good deal but look at the return as Harrington, PJ Brown and Alonzo Mourning for example, that is a solid return and wins us another banner.

[campybatman]

Yeah, I already brought up Harrington's name before. But, with his salary, I can't see a deal happening with Golden State and Boston for him.

[Fidel Sarcasmo]

i completely agree with you DDB on powes worth. Why in the world would danny ainge trade a young, cheap, talented, humble ballplayer who's worth his weight in gold for a young expensive egotistical baller. Why?

Dude, If leon gets 5 minutes a game, he gets 5 pts and a few rebounds a game. He basically has a big impact in little time. when he gets 10 minutes a game, the whole team feels his energy and effectivness, now he's about to gets 20 minutes a game and already the other night he had like 13 pts and a bunch or boards. He is a bonafide producer for the coach and his team when you give him time.

On top of that, Leon Powe, lives in the paint, he doesnt care about the perimeter at all. every big man in the leage needs to learn what this kid already does in his sleep. Stay by the basket. Good things happen when your working your ass off by the basket, even better than from the outside.

[TheCelticTruth]

Any trade we make, we make with FAs already lined up. Nothing will happen before dec 15 for a number of reasons: 1 we cant trade anyone we just signed. 2 We need to see what we have. 3 we need to showcase our trading chips (Powe and Tony Allen)

IF we can convince the league that Powe and Allen could be legit starters then we can pair them with scal and see what we can get to put us over the hump this year. You may be right that Allen, Powe and Scal for Harrington is not a good deal but look at the return as Harrington, PJ Brown and Alonzo Mourning for example, that is a solid return and wins us another banner.

cant say your rationale is wrong (well maybe on harrington, the guy has always been an under on fair return for money paid to him) but i think it will be hard for things to fall into place that easily.

are we better able to lure free agenst now than before? absolutely, but these guys still have huge egos, i doubt pj is going to come back again, and teams are not going to want to make a deal with boston that makes boston better

[keltickings]

Danny is NOT trading Leon Powe. Powe is an incredibly valuable piece to the chemistry of this team. Money aside, I wouldn't even trade Leon Powe for Al Harrington straight up. Powe has a high basketball IQ, he understands his role, and he has the heart of a champion. He also has the respect of his teammates.
I disagree that Danny making a big trade this offseason. You may see something minor like Scal and Giddens for player X but that's about it.

Ainge has been so successful because he has patience. Even if a guy like Pruitt rides the pine again this season I guarantee he will have an important role next season.

Safe bet to stay:
KG, Pierce, Allen, Rondo, Perkins, Powe, House, and T Allen aren't going anywhere.

Agree completely

[GregB]

I do think Ainge wants to make a trade. But, I don't think He wants to make a large one. In my opinion, He simply wants to rid himself of Scal's contract. So He can give Leon Powe an extension in the offseason without having to worry about luxury tax too much. His best chance to do so will be at the trade deadline. Scal, 3 million cash and Big Baby could net us an expiring contract. It woul be sad to see Baby go. But, It's unlikely we resign both Powe and Baby in the offseason.

[UGA Hayes]

I think Harrington just might be the most overrated player of his generation. I can't think of too many guys who have done less that always gets mentioned as a desirable player.

[greenbeans]

Some memorable Al Harrington moments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6r4tkQakhE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP4WK4I0 ... re=related

[kmgarnett21]

if we trade powe, i'll be pissed. i'd MUCH rather trade ray allen. i think he's one of the most expendable players (who plays consistent minutes) on our team

[Pogue Mahone]

if we trade powe, i'll be pissed. i'd MUCH rather trade ray allen. i think he's one of the most expendable players (who plays consistent minutes) on our team

As do I.

In fact, there are much cheaper players who can play the same exact role with the starters better than Ray Allen can. Furthermore, those players wouldn't need to see big minutes on the 2nd unit, allowing Powe and T. Allen to forge their own identity.

Ray is a great outside shooter who really isn't much of a catch-and-shoot player. In addition, he really isn't as much of a floor spreader as he is given credit for being because of poor space discipline. When he is on the floor and a Perkins or Powe get a one-on-one on the block, Ray consistently is slow in bringing his man from the corner to at least the foul line extended. Additionally, when he is the point man in the pick game, he often ignores wide open dives to the front of the rim. Furthermore, Ray and Pierce provide a bit of duplicity in regards to their sweet spots on the perimeter.

The more and more I think about it, heck, this team might just be better served with a Cat Mobley or even Matt Carroll. The question then becomes, are the pieces you can get in addition to that package worth making a deal for Ray Allen. That would take involving multiple teams but it is possible, imo.

In the Carroll example, he is incredible from the right side of the court. Although not a physical talent, he has enough of a first step to make people pay for closing out on him. Essentially what you are already getting from Ray Allen, except that Ray prefers the ball on the left hand side of the court (which Pierce traditionally prefers, as well.) Now Carroll isn't even a good one-on-one defender but I don't think Ray is, either. Both are more than adequate in help defense.

Cat Mobley might be the ideal target, though. His three point shooting suffered a bit last season but I think it will bounce back. Additionally, he has the ability to post up other shootings guard. He has the long arms and the wherewithal to play both good man and help defense (though he has admittedly lost a step.)

As mentioned above, the only way you would do a deal like this is if the total package coming back makes it worth your while. I don't buy into the "never trade the best player in a deal" bit. Well, not always. Everything needs to be factored.

For instance, hypothetically speaking, if you were to do the following deal, it would set up the Celtics to acquire a quasi-star to pair with Pierce, Rondo and Garnett.

Celtics
Trades Ray Allen, Glen Davis, Brian Scalabrine, 2009 Boston 2nd RD'er and $3M
Receives Matt Carroll, Antoine Walker, Tim Thomas, Adam Morrison, 2010 Lakers 1st RD'er (via MEM) and 2010 Minnesota 1st RD'er (via LAC)

Bobcats
Trades Matt Carroll and Adam Morrison
Receives Glen Davis, Brian Scalabrine and Jason Hart

Clippers
Trades Jason Hart, Tim Thomas and 2010 Minnesota 1st RD'er
Receives Javaris Crittenton, 2009 Boston 2nd RD'er (via BOS) and $3M

Grizzlies
Trades Antoine Walker, Javaris Crittenton and 2010 Lakers 1st RD'er
Receives Ray Allen

The Skinny:

BOS: The Celtics acquire a floor spreader who is paid accordingly and will more likely mesh with his more talented teammates on the offensive end of the court better than his predecessor. Thomas provides a mobile tweener forward, with length, to additionally aid in the spreading of the floor. Walker and Morrison's contracts, paired with the two 1st RD'ers, allow for the acquisition of a piece before the deadline. Boston also has some young pieces that could be added to sweeten the pot, if needed.

CHA: Charlotte is in the market for a 3rd PG and Hart provides that. Additionally, Charlotte is a bit thin at the moment in the frontcourt. Though not world beaters, Scalabrine and Davis help to provide coverage in that respect. Lastly, Johnson can stop laying off marketing personnel as he saves $2,806,786 in 2008-09 and up to $11.7M after 2009-10.

LAC: The Clippership receives a young scoring guard, instant cap space, future cap savings of ~$6.5M in 2009-10 and payment of $3M for a draft pick that they are unlikely to see until 2012. With the salary savings of $5,770,280, the Clippers would still have the flexibility to acquire a piece or two in 2008 via the TPE. The addition of Boston's 2nd RD'er allows for the acceptance of a straight salary dump. If Los Angeles wanted any of the Miralles', Sesar's or Pepper's, in addition to what is being sent, so they could trade rights in lieu of the 2nd RD'er, that wouldn't be a problem, either. I would not include Erdren in any deals.

MEM: The Grizzlies acquire a veteran with name recognition to help sell tickets and provide leadership. And they acquire him for what amounts to an expiring contract, a developmental scorer and a (likely) late 1st RD'er.

Likelihood: Not happening. There would likely be too much fan backlash for the Celtics despite the likelihood of improved team performance.