Can Danny?

In my post about the Cavs (and in the Touchables column), I mentioned a three-way deal that could help out the Celtics. Say the Celtics dealt Ratliff and Wally for Chris Webber. (Philly gets Ratliff, Gooden, Snow, Jackson, conditional Cleveland pick for Webber and Korver; Cleveland gets Wally and Korver for Gooden, Snow, Jackson, and a pick.) The particulars have to be worked out but this is a win-win-win for everyone involved.
    The C's get a versatile big man who could play center or power forward and would allow both of our big guys to get solid minutes. This deal also opens up a guard spot so the young guns can get some run with Pierce. Best of all, Webber's deal only has two years (same as Ratliff's) so in a couple of years we'll be sitting pretty with cap space to resign our guys and maybe go after someone else without fear of the luxury tax.

    Ideally, we look to grab another big man like Lo Wright or Scot Pollard to fill out the roster and our 2006 roster looks like this:

• C: Perkins, Wright, Jones
• PF: Webber, Jefferson, Gomes, Powe
• SF: Pierce, Green, Scalabrine
• SG: West, Allen, Ray
• PG: Telfair, Rondo

    While this isn't as exciting as Pierce and AI, this tandem could actually work well. While Webber may be a ball hawk, he's no worse than Antoine, whom Pierce played well with. Unlike Antoine, Webber plays in the post. His ability to run the offense through the post should open up Pierce. With defenses focusing on the inside-outside game of Truth and C-Webb, the floor opens up for everyone else. The front court rotation is Perkins, Wright, Webber, Jefferson with Gomes switching between the 3 and 4. Telfair and Rondo handle the point with West getting some spot minutes. Pierce, West, Allen, Gomes fill out the swing positions with Veal getting some minutes here and there.

    This doesn't make us instant contenders but it allow us to give our young guys minutes so we can see what we have. We fight for a playoffs spot (and probably make it if everyone is healthy) . Even if we don't, we should have a very good picture of where we stand for the 2007 offseason when we'll have a huge expiring deal in Chris Webber.