OT: Pat Riley thinks C's traded pick for KG

[eitanr]

In today's wiretap, Riley is quoted as saying he has leverage and may deal the pick, since the 2nd pick does not neccesarily guarantee a super star.

In his defense, he cites the Boston Celtics as a team that traded it's pick for a super star. I was thinking, okay I guess he feels that Ray Allen really turned it around for us. On the contrary, Riley seems to indicate that he wants to be like Boston as they traded their 5th pick to acquire Kevin Garnett.

It seems that Riley doesn't realize that the Celtics in fact did not deal their pick for KG, but did so for Ray Allen?

Shouldn't a current president/GM of a club know this information even off the cuff. Most average NBA fans even know this. I would expect more knowledge from Pat Riley.

[sam_I_am]

Did we trade Minnesota's #3 pick this year back to them or was it a lottery protected pick?..... I cannot remember.

[Taget]

The problem with the Minnesota pick is it had conditions on it is the Clips have first dibs on the pick, the Clips pick is highly conditional, a pick can't be traded two seasons in a row, AND there is a time limit on any deal. Hence especially given Minnesota won the 3rd pick this year it is highly likely we would've ended up with a second round pick.

[Gant]

The Celtics traded their 2009 pick in the Garnett deal as well.

[bruno sundov]

Where is Darth Celtic when you need him? He can explain this stuff inside out.

What is Riles thinking? Maybe all that tanning is affecting his brain!!!

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Question - Would the Heat be able to trade their expiring contracts in Jason Williams and Ricky Davis with the pick? Or is it too late?

[P2]

Question - Would the Heat be able to trade their expiring contracts in Jason Williams and Ricky Davis with the pick? Or is it too late?

Technically, both are already unrestricted free agents.

[JMillott]

In fairness to Pat Riley we actually did have a trade in place for KG using the 5th pick a week before the draft. KG wasn't willing to come here at that time or we'd still have had Delonte West, Ryan Gomes and Theo Ratliff on the roster and would've gone into July under the cap last year.

Chances are pretty strong that Pat Riley isn't sold on Michael Beasly being a winner, I know i'm not. He strikes me as the Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Coleman, Glenn Robinson type who will put up numbers but doesn't have the real will to win at all costs like a real franchise player.

If that pick allows the Heat to drop Mark Blount's contract while picking up allstar veteran help who he knows want to win at all costs I think he'll do it.

I think Riley knows the difference between a winner and a stats guy but after taking Ricky Davis, Smush Parker and Mark Blount last summer maybe he doesn't anymore?

[RoyHobbs]

All that article suggests is that the reporter didn't know what he was talking about, not Riley. The part about the "trade of its fifth overall pick for Garnett" wasn't Riley's language, it was the idiot reporter's.

More likely, Riley was talking about moving its pick and young assets for superstars, and immediately going from a young rebuilding team to a contending one. The trade of the #5 for Ray helped facilitate that.

[Egregious Blunder]

we DID trade the pick for KG.

he would have NEVER came here without 2 existing stars.

im fairly convinced that ray allen trade would never have happened if KG agreed to come after the initial minnesota offer was made.

[eitanr]

I do agree that the Ray Allen deal set the table for the KG deal. Just thought the reporter and/or Riles knew better.

Miami may want to go for a title. They could have suitors for that pick in Denver with Mello or Brand with the Clippers. Ainge started a trend of going for a big 3 and I see the Heat en route to such a scenario. A Wade-Marion-Brand trio is quite dangerous.

[JahReid]

I'm pretty sure he was talking about last draft day and how the Celtics had there best draft day ever. Essentially we did trade our pick for KG by getting Ray Allen. KG would not agreed to have come without Ray being brought in.

[Al n' Perk No Layups!]

For those who are wondering, we traded Minny's pick back to them in the KG deal as well as our 2009 pick.