The Calm before the Calm
Everybody wants to improve now.
HOWEVER
Nobody wants to make a panic move. The frustrating position that most Celtics fans are in today is that while we want to be better next season (and probably have to to keep Paul Pierce happy), we can't really do so without making a panic move or, at the very least, a deal in which the production we are receiving is far outweighed by the potential we are giving up. The bottom line is that if the owners aren't willing to risk paying the luxury tax then we won't be able to deal Theo Ratliff and if we can't deal Theo's expiring contract then we won't be able to get the most out of our assets. After Theo's deal (and Pierce's untouchable contract), the only contracts the Celtics have to add to make offers work are Wally Szczerbiak (2 years, 15 million), Brian Scalabrine (3 years, 10 million), and Kendrick Perkins (4 years, 17 million). Wally's value couldn't be worse. He played only 32 games and had, by far, his worst shooting season (a career 49% shooter, he hit only 41% of his shots this season). While his contract has some value, it probably won't be at peak value until, at best, midseason. As for Veal and Perk, they are solid players whom nobody is falling overthemselves to acquire. In order to make a trade work under the cap, we have to include either Wally or Perk/Veal and, in the eyes of most teams, they'd be doing us a favor taking those deals off of our hands. In the end, the Celtics would be packaging an asset, say the 5th pick, with a liability thus diminishing the return we'd get for the #5. Making matters worse, the assets that we have on the block are far from sure things. The #5 has some good value but with both Atlanta's #3 and Memphis's #4 pick in play, it isn't a sure thing that someone will be able to get their guy at #5. For instance, if Golden State wants Yi Jianlian, they will wait until the pick comes up during the draft before they are willing to make a deal. They aren't going to agree to a deal for the #5 only to have Chicago then move up ahead of them to grab Yi. Then again, at least teams are sure that they will be getting a player with the pick. Many people might not be so sure with our other asset, Gerald Green. While Gerald has potential, that's really all he has. He has struggled to grasp strategies and is still very raw. His shot seems pure but he shot only 41% this season and when averaging over 23 minutes a game, his percentages dropped below 40% from the field and hovered around 30% from three. In the end, the best thing to do with our assets is probably to hold on on them. Wally's contract becomes an asset rather than a liability by next offseason (or maybe even by mid-season) and Gerald will hopefully improve his game and show more than just potential next season.
HOWEVER
Nobody wants to make a panic move. The frustrating position that most Celtics fans are in today is that while we want to be better next season (and probably have to to keep Paul Pierce happy), we can't really do so without making a panic move or, at the very least, a deal in which the production we are receiving is far outweighed by the potential we are giving up. The bottom line is that if the owners aren't willing to risk paying the luxury tax then we won't be able to deal Theo Ratliff and if we can't deal Theo's expiring contract then we won't be able to get the most out of our assets. After Theo's deal (and Pierce's untouchable contract), the only contracts the Celtics have to add to make offers work are Wally Szczerbiak (2 years, 15 million), Brian Scalabrine (3 years, 10 million), and Kendrick Perkins (4 years, 17 million). Wally's value couldn't be worse. He played only 32 games and had, by far, his worst shooting season (a career 49% shooter, he hit only 41% of his shots this season). While his contract has some value, it probably won't be at peak value until, at best, midseason. As for Veal and Perk, they are solid players whom nobody is falling overthemselves to acquire. In order to make a trade work under the cap, we have to include either Wally or Perk/Veal and, in the eyes of most teams, they'd be doing us a favor taking those deals off of our hands. In the end, the Celtics would be packaging an asset, say the 5th pick, with a liability thus diminishing the return we'd get for the #5. Making matters worse, the assets that we have on the block are far from sure things. The #5 has some good value but with both Atlanta's #3 and Memphis's #4 pick in play, it isn't a sure thing that someone will be able to get their guy at #5. For instance, if Golden State wants Yi Jianlian, they will wait until the pick comes up during the draft before they are willing to make a deal. They aren't going to agree to a deal for the #5 only to have Chicago then move up ahead of them to grab Yi. Then again, at least teams are sure that they will be getting a player with the pick. Many people might not be so sure with our other asset, Gerald Green. While Gerald has potential, that's really all he has. He has struggled to grasp strategies and is still very raw. His shot seems pure but he shot only 41% this season and when averaging over 23 minutes a game, his percentages dropped below 40% from the field and hovered around 30% from three. In the end, the best thing to do with our assets is probably to hold on on them. Wally's contract becomes an asset rather than a liability by next offseason (or maybe even by mid-season) and Gerald will hopefully improve his game and show more than just potential next season.
