If Houston rebuilds, Ainge should ask about Battier

[campybatman]

Battier and Lowry for Scalabrine, Tony, Walker and Pruitt. It works...

Now, the Rockets have tough decisions to make: Do they keep pushing Tracy McGrady and his expiring contract on the market or let the $22 million expire next summer? So far, Morey is getting offered bad contracts and junk talent for him. What’s more, does Houston re-sign Ron Artest to a $40 million-plus contract when contention is no longer viable? Why not create cap space for the summers of 2010 and 2011? Why not get younger now? Yao could opt out of his contract next summer, but odds are that Houston won’t be so fortunate.

The Rockets should do themselves a favor and just start over. That isn’t easy in a sophisticated and rabid NBA market like Houston, but what everyone long suspected has reached fruition: Yao and McGrady are no longer a faulty foundation, but a collapsed one. Houston needs to proceed with an understanding that they’re no longer chasing the Lakers, but beginning again.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

[Zin5]

Battier's a Morey favorite. Ainge should inquire about him, but he's not going to get him.

[I love heinsohn]

You'd definitely have to throw in a 1st and probably at least $3 million in cash as well, but I would def. do it if Houston is clearing the decks. Battier and Lowry would fit perfectly into the depth chart and allow DA to focus only on big men with the MLE.

[Ortho Stice]

Well Morey just tried to trade him and Aaron Books for Rubio, so Battier's definitely available. I'm not sure if I'd trade Rondo for them, but I'd consider it. Brooks had some very good games in the playoffs, can hit the three and score, and Battier is a better version of James Posey.

[Celtics>Breathing]

You'd definitely have to throw in a 1st and probably at least $3 million in cash as well, but I would def. do it if Houston is clearing the decks. Battier and Lowry would fit perfectly into the depth chart and allow DA to focus only on big men with the MLE.

Lowry isn't going anywhere. They love that guy, that's why their shopping Brooks while his stock is high. Love the Battier idea though. He would be outstanding coming off our bench!

[TheOGJabroni]

I wrote this in the Ron Artest thread but it seems more appropriate here now that there is a thread about Battier.

It looks like they are shopping Battier at least a little bit. I wonder if the Rockets would do that same deal with us for Rondo instead of Rubio if they add in a future 1st rounder.

And now that Yao looks to be out for the year or at least most of it you would imagine the Rockets could use some help inside. I'm no good at coming up with new trades (I'll give it a try) but if a third team were to get involved, let's say the Clippers... Could we also get Marcus Camby if we dump a bunch of our players?

Celtics in:
Shane Battier
Aaron Brooks
Marcus Camby
Future 1st Rounder (Houston)

Rockets in:
Glen Davis (S&T)
Ricky Davis
Rajon Rondo
Future 2nd Rounder Protected (Clippers)

Clippers in:
Tony Allen
Chase Budinger
JR Giddens
Eddie House
Gabe Pruitt
Brian Scalabrine

Honestly, I'm not even quite sure if this could happen. It's hard to use to trade checker when players would need a S&T. I'm sure little adjustments could be made but,

Why for the C's:
We get 2 things we really need. A big man who can block shots off the bench (Camby) and a versitaile swing man who can play D and hit the 3 (Battier). Along with this, we get a decent PG prospect in Aaron Brooks who can knock down the 3 off the bench for us and provide energy. Now, we can use the MLE on a starting PG like Jason Kidd.

Why for the Rockets:
Without Yao they aren't going anywhere this year anyway. They were going to make a Battier and Brooks for Rubio deal, so this deal for them is not much different but now they get a sure thing in Rondo and also a big man in Davis to help with the Yao blow and could be their future starting Power Forward.

Why for the Clippers:
Major salary dump. They have a ton of players that demand minutes at the PF and C spots. Getting rid of Camby eases that a little. Davis is useless on their team. They will have to cut a few players for this to happen but they will pretty much get to pick and choose who they want to keep for the future.

(Look for Scal to be bought out and probably even more players that may help the C's)

The C's could sign Scal to a vet. min. deal to play a few minutes off the bench until Leon is healthy.

Our roster immediately after the trade with players ready to go:
Perkins / Camby
KG / Mikki (vet. min.)
Pierce / Walker
Ray / Battier / Hudson
Brooks / Steph (LLE)

Our roster with some possible tweaks (Hopefully Jason Kidd or another vet. Pg for the MLE, a healthy Leon, and at least Scal bought out and brought back for the vet. min.)

Perkins 32 / Camby 16 / Mikki
KG 32 / Powe 16 / Scal
Pierce 32 / Battier 16 / Walker
Ray 32 / Battier 16 / Hudson
Kidd 32 / Brooks 16 / Steph

[campybatman]

You'd definitely have to throw in a 1st and probably at least $3 million in cash as well, but I would def. do it if Houston is clearing the decks. Battier and Lowry would fit perfectly into the depth chart and allow DA to focus only on big men with the MLE.

I don't know anything about Brooks but I would think that Houston could be open to including either point guard depending on what they're receiving in return. Since Boston gave their first round pick to Minnesota this year, they're required to keep their first round pick in 2010 according to NBA rules I believe. It'll have to be a future first round pick that's lottery protected.

With Battier, you've your backup to Pierce and Ray and he might can guard certain power forwards in a small lineup. Plus, he's a player that seemingly doesn't mind coming off the bench. As a sixth man, he'll get a lot of minutes on this team anyways.

[CelticFaninLBC]

If they're dealing Rondo, then ask for Artest & Brooks.

[Joekickass2008]

If they're dealing Rondo, then ask for Artest & Brooks.

Do they have any bigs we might like?

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Hey, Morey owes the Cs since they helped launch his career. Rondo for Battier, Brooks, and a 2nd rounder.

And for the record: Battier > Artest

Battier doesn't try to play hero on offense like Artest. A true professional who stays within not only the team concept, but plays within his limitations as well.

[CelticFaninLBC]

If they're dealing Rondo, then ask for Artest & Brooks.

Do they have any bigs we might like?

Scola, Landry and Hayes don't seem like the type of bigs Ainge is looking for.. Could get a 3rd team involved like the Clippers involved tho??

[underneathtoDJ]

I would love to get Battier, but not at the expense of giving up Rondo. Look at what the Spurs just gave up for Richard Jefferson. If Houston is really going to rebuild, we should be looking to give them cap space and young players, not our All Star-in-the-making PG in a crazy 3 team deal that probably has no chance of ever happening (esp. when you consider Mike Dunleavy would have to be involved in this deal). Add to the fact that we'd be very thin at PF, I don't think it's something we should do. And who thinks J.Kidd would have ANY interest in coming to play in Boston (although that starting 5 sure does look nice on paper).

[campybatman]

I like Artest to a certain extent but I would rather have Battier than him. Not to mention, I think, Thibodeau was a part of Houston's coaching staff long enough that he would know Battier better than anyone on Boston's staff. The choice is clearly Battier. He's a defender you can readily assign to guard LeBron or Kobe. And he's already under contract so you know how much you're committing to him already.

I wouldn't offer Rondo, though. If Rondo's in a deal for him, never mind. Neither Brooks nor Lowry replace what you lose from Rondo. I feel my original offer plus a future first round pick is fair enough. But, if the Rockets are solely seeking salary relief, then I take back the first round pick.

[Octolor]

I think it would take a lot for Houston to trade Battier.

This is the type of guy you keep around during the tough years, he's a solid citizen and quality human being.

I don't think we have a package that would match Houston's needs.

The only way to get him would be to deal Rondo. It doesn't really make sense from the Celts standpoint.

It wouldn't hurt to ask as Battier personifies Celtic basketball, but its a longshot at best.

[Andrew McCeltic]

J*sus, if you trade Rondo it's not for a roleplayer. Scal/TA/Giddens for Battier works in the checker. If we somehow added Sheed and Battier without losing any key pieces, we'd have the roster to put together another season of dominant defense.

[TheOGJabroni]

J*sus, if you trade Rondo it's not for a roleplayer. Scal/TA/Giddens for Battier works in the checker. If we somehow added Sheed and Battier without losing any key pieces, we'd have the roster to put together another season of dominant defense.

If this happens for Battier or someone very similar I will not be able to sleep until the season starts.

[Slartibartfast]

We just don't have the young talent to entice a creaking contender on the verge of rebuilding. I doubt Gabe Pruitt, Tony Allen, Scabs or Bill Walker have caught stat buff Morey's eye, and I hardly think they represent the best available offer for a big wing in his prime who can stroke the 3 and has a great defensive reputation. Portland should try and add him. They'd be set at the wings and the frontcourt, with a half-decent point guard committee in Blake and Bayless and oodles of young talent off the bench.

[GreenMachine]

J*sus, if you trade Rondo it's not for a roleplayer.

THANK YOU. Are you guys out of your mind? Trading Rondo for a 6th man??? Just pure crazy.

And to top it off - the premise of this whole conversation is that they would be 'blowing it up' - and when someone is 'blowing it up' - you don't overpay, you underpay!

[campybatman]

Houston's resigning of Artest can go a long way in determining whether or not Battier's contract is expendable or not. You've to remember, if the Rockets decide to keep McGrady's expiring contract and resign Artest. Perhaps, you can trade a Battier for expiring contracts. I think Boston can get it done, it's about the offer. I'll like to believe that Houston understands that Battier is a gloried role player and their asking price for him shouldn't be that high.

[GreenDreamer]

One thing in our favor would be that we are in teh East and they are in the West. I love Battier's game, and I'mm sure that it woukd terrify our conference opponents if they had to deal with him on this club. It is bad enough having to beat us when we are healthy, but to have that dude draped all over your best wing scorer?

Once again, another guy who would fill the Posey role better than James. That would give us three all NBA defenders on the floor. If you thought 2008's defense was nasty, one including this guy would blow it away.