| Deadline Looms Large For Celtics Authored by Stephen Lars Aaron - February 13, 2009 - 12:24 pm
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Of course, Danny says this every year. And if you believe that, then you'll believe that Jason Varitek is happy he didn't accept his arbitration offer from the Red Sox.
The truth of the matter is that without some depth off the bench heading forward, I maintain this team will not repeat as NBA champions.
Wednesday night for example, the Celtics won a key game on the road in New Orleans, but Ray Allen went down with a hyper-extended thumb and Gabe Pruitt started to begin the second half. They don't have any length or scoring up front off the bench either.
Danny has already looked into Dikembe Mutombo, whom I think he should've signed, as well as inquired about Reggie Miller, Alonzo Mourning, P.J. Brown, (and behind closed doors with) Stephon Marbury.
There are some possibilities that would work for this team, and do fly when using RealGM.com's handy Trade Checker. So, Danny, if you're reading this, I pass these ideas along to you:
Option 1
Joe Smith, the veteran forward from Oklahoma City, has been mentioned as a possibilty and could be obtained in a package involving guard Gabe Pruitt and forward Brian Scalabrine.
Now why would Oklahoma make the deal?
Smith is going to walk at the end of the year, and the Thunder would get a young guard with some upside in Pruitt and Scalabrine, who can hit the three and play some defense. The Celtics, of course, would get a 6'10" forward that could be a vital player behind Kevin Garnett. Smith is a player that has length/height, and can score and rebound the basketball.
The second part of this option would be to send guard Tony Allen to Orlando for a guy that Ainge has always coveted, guard J.J. Redick. Allen is a better all-around player than Redick, especially defensively, and can take the ball to the hole. However, Redick can nail down the three with ease and would help the Celts spread their offense, while also giving them a pure shooter and scorer off the bench.
Option 2
The Celtics could swap forward Glen Davis and center Patrick O'Bryant to Philadelphia for ex-Celtic center Theo Ratliff and Donyell Marshall.
This one isn't as likely as Option 1, and it all depends on how the Celtics view Davis and his upside. But, in this deal you'd have the ideal backup for Perkins in Ratliff, who was hurt during his first tenure here, and Marshall would give them a "long" player off the bench, who can definitely score and be a terrific presence.
From Philly's end it seems like a no-brainer, as they would acquire a guy to be Elton Brand's understudy in Davis. Again, this deal works using RealGM's Trade Checker.
Once again, to complete this plan you could make the Redick swap involving Allen. Now you've retooled the bench with Marshall, Ratliff, and Redick.
Either scenario would give the Celtics some veteran options and flexibility off their bench. And need I mention that Marbury's name hasn't even been included in either plan.
Come Game 7 against the Lakers in June's NBA Finals, if the starters rest on the bench to begin the second quarter, and the Celtics come in with Donyell Marshall, Theo Ratliff, J.J. Redick, Eddie House, and Stephon Marbury, Celtic nation will feel a lot more comfortable. |
