11/05/24
December 15, 2003
Paxson hands the keys to LeBron.: After bumping heads with head coach Paul Silas on numerous occasions, GM Paxson sends Ricky Davis as well as Chris Mihm and Michael Stewart to Boston for Tony Battie, Eric Williams, and Kedrick Brown.
More inside...
posted by lilnemo to basketball at 04:48 PM - 18 comments
There are no words. Danny Ainge is out of the family as far as I'm concerned. What are we supposed to do with Ricky Davis? I've got the over-under on days before Ricky has an ugly Boston media incident as 5. Eric Williams was a heart-and-soul player and I'll miss him. I suppose Kedrick will finally develop into the player weall hoped he could be. And maybe Tony Battie will get those braces he needs. I'll miss hearing him screaming "Get that shit out of here!" into the crowd mics on every block.
posted by yerfatma at 05:45 PM on December 15, 2003
I wouldn't wish Ricky Davis on any team I was even remotely fond of. Thankfully, I'm not fond of the Celtics.
posted by dusted at 05:54 PM on December 15, 2003
"The Cavs would have preferred trading Ricky for Williams straight up, but Boston also is searching for size to fill the Raef void . . . Cleveland's retaliation was getting Kedrick Brown instead of Walter McCarty." Gross. Kedrick will most likely go down as a "Could've". If he'd never gotten hurt before the Dunk Contest his rookie year, if he'd found his shot, etc. He could be a solid player in this league.
posted by yerfatma at 08:18 PM on December 15, 2003
"fill the Raef void" About a tablespoon of dirt ought to accomplish that.
posted by vito90 at 08:28 PM on December 15, 2003
I don't even follow basketball and I don't like Danny Ainge anymore. I was disappointed when he showed Antoine the door.
posted by jerseygirl at 08:36 PM on December 15, 2003
I'm betting Ainge's tenure as GM of the Celts will be much like his coaching tenure in Phoenix. He'll bring in a group of guys who do better than expected, and then will proceed to wilt in the face of adversity, leaving shortly thereafter.
posted by lilnemo at 08:45 PM on December 15, 2003
Having said that, the Celts were in dire need of some scoring punch. Bringing in Ricky allows Pierce to move back to the 3. The real question is what will the starting line-up look like?
- James/Welsch
- Davis
- Pierce
- Mihm
- Baker
Personally I'd prefer that Welsch stick at the 3 with Pierce at the 2 where he can exploit smaller defenders. But Ricky has to be a 2, working off the ball. If you place him at the 3 he gets hounded and goaded into jacking up shots, if you place him at the 1, the ball is in his hands too much. If I had my druthers this would be starting five:
- Pierce
- Davis
- Welsch
- Mihm
- Baker
posted by lilnemo at 08:51 PM on December 15, 2003
EWill was going sometime this season -- his high salary, ending this year, made him too valuable in a trade. So that doesn't sting as much as it might otherwise. However, the thought of Walker, Pierce, Mihm, and Davis playing on the same team? That stings a bit.
posted by Bryant at 10:18 PM on December 15, 2003
Jim O'Brien seems really pissed about the trade. He said that he didn't give his input and only found out about the trade pretty late in the process when he spoke at the press conference before the game. Then after the game tonight O'Brien refused to take any questions and stormed off. He must be angry over the way the Celtics defense has been sold out by this deal. He really liked Williams and Battie, and there seems to be a bit of a rift growing between O'Brien and Ainge.
posted by dimmykarras at 12:24 AM on December 16, 2003
lilnemo, your starting 5s lack someone who can play the point. Pierce and Welsch are good passers for players at 2/3. They aren't point guards. Then again, neither is Mike James (he's not a great passer and he can't dribble). Marcus Banks looks like he'll be decent some day, but that day won't be during this season. I hope OB punches Ainge in the face at some point. It was nice to watch Danny cringe during Cedric Maxwell's number retirement ceremony last night. Everyone else looked like they were enjoying themselves, but you could see Ainge being the kid whose parents let him throw a party and instead of playing the gracious host, he runs around telling everyone to behave better.
posted by yerfatma at 06:01 AM on December 16, 2003
posted by yerfatma at 06:07 AM on December 16, 2003
lilnemo, your starting 5s lack someone who can play the point. True, but then again, the Celts haven't had a true starting PG since Dennis Johnson. I don't count Sherman Douglas, and neither should you.
posted by lilnemo at 11:10 AM on December 16, 2003
Kenny Anderson was decent.
posted by yerfatma at 11:46 AM on December 16, 2003
Kenny Anderson was decent. He was serviceable, but he hasn't played up to his abilities since he left Portland. I just like the idea of putting the ball in Pierce's hands and living or dying with his decisions. He is the franchise. Putting him at the one or as a "point forward" allows you to keep Welsch in the lineup. In that alignment no one is shorter than 6'-6". Offensively the ball would move, and you would have your best scorers out there. Defensively you would be pretty long. A touch slow, but long. This is what upset OB the most.
posted by lilnemo at 11:58 AM on December 16, 2003
. . . and living or dying with his decisions. His decisions have looked like shit since Antoine left. I love Paul, but he's definitely someone who should get open, receive a pass and shoot. He racks up some assists, but he's not someone who's going to create shots for others.
posted by yerfatma at 12:51 PM on December 16, 2003
...but he's not someone who's going to create shots for others. But who on that squad will? Is there anyone else who's remotely a threat with the ball, or whom you would trust to initiate the offense? Mike James? Marcus Banks? I'd give it to Welsch if he wasn't so green (pardon the pun).
posted by lilnemo at 01:03 PM on December 16, 2003
Ahh, Niednagel strikes again. Will the brain doctor be right about Davis? Is his science legit? Discussed here.
posted by Mike McD at 02:45 PM on December 16, 2003
I had heard rumors that Ainge liked Mihm and was looking to send Williams on his merry way. But Ricky Davis? I think dealing Ricky is a bad move. I understand the need to hand the franchise over to LeBron, but without a proven scorer to relieve the pressure you have the same predicament Chicago had with Jordan prior to Pippen's arrival. I'm not quite sure who the clear winner or loser is in this deal. Both teams have helped themselves, and hurt themselves in the same breath. Sending off Ricky and Mihm deprives you of scoring, Yogi is mere filler. Trading Battie, Williams, and Brown weakens your defense and rebounding. Vin has looked good, but he can't anchor the entire Celt's defense. It must be noted that Ainge has raised the "White Guy Quotient" since his tenure began. Nevermind that this officially cements the Celts draft of 2001 as one of the worst ever as covered here.