TRADE CHATTER INCLUDING ANTHONY TRADE 2/21

ESPN

Boston Celtics. They can't win a championship without a backup small forward to replace Marquis Daniels, who is out indefinitely after suffering a bruised spinal cord. They need someone with size to help engage LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, but the Celtics have little to offer in a trade. So they'll probably be looking to acquire a perimeter veteran like 6-6 Anthony Parker of the Cavaliers, or else seek buyout help from someone like Rasual Butler, the Clippers' 6-7 swingman with excellent three-point range.

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2/21, 9:19 pm EST, per Marc Stein, ESPN:

Celtics contact Rockets inre Battier.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/25076/sources-celtics-rockets-discuss-battier-deal

Kurt Helin, NBC Sports:

In a move that should strike fear into every other title contender, the Celtics have reached out to the Houston Rockets about Shane Battier, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.

Boston has been looking for depth at the three since Marquis Daniels went down with an injury, but Battier is a considerable upgrade.

It’s a tough deal to make. Battier is in the final year of a $7.4 million contract, and the Rockets are not going to give him up without something of real value for their future in return. A deal of Avery Bradley and Jermaine O’Neal works on paper, but that may well not be enough to interest the Nuggets. Boston is not going to move anyone from its core.

This seems a bit of a longshot, but it shows how hard Celtics GM Danny Ainge is working the phones to get a deal. They face some competition as the Bulls also would like to fill a slot on the wing before the deadline.

bob

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Even the remote possibility of that one could make it difficult to get to sleep tonight. I've always thought Battier was a Celtic in some other team's clothing. Including a #1 would be a no-brainer.

Sam

Even the remote possibility of that one could make it difficult to get to sleep tonight. I've always thought Battier was a Celtic in some other team's clothing. Including a #1 would be a no-brainer.

Sam

Even the remote possibility of that one could make it difficult to get to sleep tonight. I've always thought Battier was a Celtic in some other team's clothing. Including a #1 would be a no-brainer.

Sam

please oh pretty please...would gladly give up Quis an jo...dag, this would really put us over the top!

Damn it... I don't want to rain on the parade but...
If it looks to good to be true, .... well, you know.....

Doc Says Team "Clearly Looking for another Player"

Semih and Delonte "Should Play" Tuesday

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

SAN FRANCiSCO -- The Celtics are not entirely comfortable with their current roster making a deep playoff run and coach Doc Rivers made that clear Monday by declaring the club trade seekers before the Thursday deadline.

The Celtics are looking for a backup to Paul Pierce and the candidates are Cleveland's Anthony Parker, who is playing out an expiring contract, New York's Roger Mason, Washington's Josh Howard and perhaps Indiana's Dahntay Jones.

With Marquis Daniels likely out for the rest of the season with a bruised spinal cord, the Celtics need to get the 33-year-old Pierce some relief down the stretch.

"Obviously we're out there looking," Rivers said. "Like I said earlier, I don't think you should look forward to Marquis coming back any time soon. Obviously, we're out there looking but we're not just going to do something to do something. We're clearly looking. We're don't have a lot of assets to move. We'll see what happens.

"Nothing happening and Marquis didn't coming back, that'd be tough actually because of our size. We'd have a huge gap at the 3 spot. When you look at who we have to go through. The Luol Deng's, the LeBrons, Kobes, whoever, that would make it tough."

Rivers did say Semih Erden and Delonte West would practice Monday night and should play Tuesday against Golden State.

(Article ends here)

Of the four players mentioned, Howard's the only one who's over 6' 6" (he's 6' 7" and plays longer with a 7' 2" wingspan), and scouting reports characterize him as a tough, tenacious defensive player. So-so on outside offense and at the line, but can really move out and finish on the break and take it to the hole as well as out-leaping opponents in traffic for rebounds. He could potentially be a major upgrade for the bench in terms of athleticism and a real defensive asset. His current contract for $3 million ends after this season. The big risk with him is that he's just played two games (starting both) since coming back from missing 19 games due to an ACL tear. He says he's feeling fine, and he averaged 9.5 in 24 minutes during those two games; but we all know the ongoing risks concerning knee injuries—particularly injuries to a player who's being acquired largely for his defense and athleticism. There are various player combinations that could work salary-wise in a trade, without the Celtics' having to give up any healthy members of their core. Josh would have to approve the trade (why wouldn't he?), just as Marquis would have to approve any trade involving him.

I tend to shy away from 6' 6" guys as SFs, because most of them seem a bit undersized for the position. I don't believe Howard would be undersized. It's just the knee that bothers me. More overtime for the Celtics' medical staff?

Sam

Anthony Apparently Traded to Knicks

According to ESPN:

After weeks of trade talk, Carmelo Anthony has apparently found a new home in the Big Apple. The Nuggets traded the star forward to the Knicks on Monday along with guard Chauncey Billups, forward Shelden Williams, guard Anthony Carter and forward Renaldo Balkman.

In return, the Knicks sent forward Wilson Chandler, guard Raymond Felton, forward Danilo Gallinari and center Timofey Mozgov to Denver. The Nuggets will also get the Knicks' 2014 1st-round pick, the Warriors' 2012 and 2013 2nd-round picks and $3 million cash.

ESPN's Chris Broussard reports the Knicks will also receive Corey Brewer from the Timberwolves and send center Eddy Curry and forward Anthony Randolph to Minnesota. The 12-player trade (not including draft picks) is tied for the second-largest trade in NBA history.

Chandler, Felton, Gallinari and Mozgov combined for 53.4 points per game this season (50.3 percent of total team scoring). The Knicks acquired a combined 50.9 points per game in the five players that they received from the Nuggets, 47.3 percent of the points that Denver had scored this season.

The Knicks gave up an awful lot to bring Carmelo Anthony to town, especially when it comes to outside shooting. New York ranked among the league's best in spot-up shooting metrics, including 25.3 points per game. Chandler, Felton, Gallinari and Mozgov contributed 13.1 of those points.

In the last five minutes of games in which the score is within five points, Raymond Felton (32.4), Danilo Gallinari (30., and Wilson Chandler (24.0) have the three lowest FG percentages among Knick players who have attempted a shot. Conversely, Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony have shot a combined 43.6 percent in those situations, slightly above the league average of 41.8 percent.

Points From Leak Out Plays
NBA Leaders, Last 5 Seasons

Carmelo Anthony<< 220
Andre Iguodala 177
Dwyane Wade 145
Jason Richardson 144
Leandro Barbosa 132

>>Ranked in Top 2 in 3 of last 5 seasons
When you are a scorer, you need to find different ways to provide your team with points. For Carmelo Anthony, the leak out play has been a key cog in his arsenal. He is only NBA player who has had more than 100 leak out plays during the last 5 NBA seasons (133).

Sam's pithy commentary:

I wouldn't trade for a player who, when the going gets tough, has to take a leak.

Sam

Well, things just got a little more interesting for the stretch run in the East. I'm thinking longer term than this Thursday or this year's playoffs for the Celtics.

I'm thinking Boston Big 3 II. I've heard D12 in '12 which I would like so we can wipe that stupid smile off his face and show him how to win a championship, but that's about it. If we're not going to tank after next season and "rebuild" , DA is going to have to go to work hard. And there's another thing. Will winning B18 this year make DA hang up the GM shoes and go out on top seeing the writing on the wall?

The East is looking very crowded now, which is great for basketball. Now we start to look like the West with all their top heavy teams. And with Big 3 team forming now in its second generation just before the wheels come off this summer under CBA, the bottom feeding owners are going to have to start screaming at the top of their lungs for protection as well as stay just afloat with(out) a lockout, lest Sam and I get what we want.

It's hard to project what lies ahead for us. The way they have layered our Big 3 looks like they have prepared for a gradual rebuilding at best. So much so, DA could step out without much consequence, I would think.

I'll go back to my original idea that there are only two obvious places in the league to win big, sustained championships, LAL and BOS. The combined odds alone to date are over 50%. LAL has perfected it over the last decade. BOS has reinvented themselves back into Celtic teams of old. Despite the mystique of the "Garden", NYK only have 2 titles. MIA has 1, CHI has 6, of course, with only Michael and nothing of significance before or since until now. ORL has 1. This is our selling point to any free agents who come available in 2012 and forward. Do you really want to spend the better part of your prime playing years on a long shot for a title?

Will we still continue to be the viable thorn in everyone's side, especially Miami? After last night with CA to NY, do we all still believe we will win the lion's share (or all) of titles between 2011-2016 without a decline?

The players the Knicks got cannot play defense in fact the players styles and strengths are contrary to D'Antonio's method of basketball. Watch this blow up in their faces. Billup's is 34 speed down and no upside. Anthoney ...Wow so he scores...so did LBJ and we kicked his ass in Cleveland. Also shut Kobie down as well.

I say Knick's are Not!

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I had the pleasure of watching Battier play here in the triangle area with Duke. I'm quite certain BBGD got out college tapes of Battier on how to take a charge. Battier was the first to really make a stat out of that like they now do for BB on the pro level.

Battier has the defense down and would be the top pick for fitting into our system, I would think. I haven't seen him play much in Houston, but if Battier comes to Boston, I can promise the Coach K years will kick back in on the defensive end for sure as well as the offensive end. That would be like throwing Shane into the briar patch.

dbrown4 wrote:Well, things just got a little more interesting for the stretch run in the East. I'm thinking longer term than this Thursday or this year's playoffs for the Celtics.

I'm thinking Boston Big 3 II. I've heard D12 in '12 which I would like so we can wipe that stupid smile off his face and show him how to win a championship, but that's about it. If we're not going to tank after next season and "rebuild" , DA is going to have to go to work hard. And there's another thing. Will winning B18 this year make DA hang up the GM shoes and go out on top seeing the writing on the wall?

The East is looking very crowded now, which is great for basketball. Now we start to look like the West with all their top heavy teams. And with Big 3 team forming now in its second generation just before the wheels come off this summer under CBA, the bottom feeding owners are going to have to start screaming at the top of their lungs for protection as well as stay just afloat with(out) a lockout, lest Sam and I get what we want.

It's hard to project what lies ahead for us. The way they have layered our Big 3 looks like they have prepared for a gradual rebuilding at best. So much so, DA could step out without much consequence, I would think.

I'll go back to my original idea that there are only two obvious places in the league to win big, sustained championships, LAL and BOS. The combined odds alone to date are over 50%. LAL has perfected it over the last decade. BOS has reinvented themselves back into Celtic teams of old. Despite the mystique of the "Garden", NYK only have 2 titles. MIA has 1, CHI has 6, of course, with only Michael and nothing of significance before or since until now. ORL has 1. This is our selling point to any free agents who come available in 2012 and forward. Do you really want to spend the better part of your prime playing years on a long shot for a title?

Will we still continue to be the viable thorn in everyone's side, especially Miami? After last night with CA to NY, do we all still believe we will win the lion's share (or all) of titles between 2011-2016 without a decline?

did I miss something when did ORL get one?

I stand corrected. I thought they won one with Shaq many years ago. My bad. That makes my point even better.

Sam

I like Josh Howard too,has a much more diversified offensive game than Battier and he can play some defense,playing with our talent he could really thrive and add a burst of firepower,hes a veteran so he could pick up the system relatively fast,hes still younger than Pierce and Ray.....if we can get him right thats alot of offensive energy off the bench with Delonte and Wafer,if hes right could be huge.

cow

If I made up a realistic (realistic = still got game, willing to be a bench player, affordable) list of players I'd like to see come off the Celtic bench to backup Pierce, Shane Battier would be at the absolute top of that list. In fact, on another thread, I mentioned him as a trade possibility with the words "I can dream, can't I?".

He's one of the top defenders at that position in the league. He's got an outstanding basketball IQ. He's a great locker room presence, a true professional. He's 6'8". He's shooting 45% from the field and almost 39% from 3. His assist-to-turnover ratio is about 2.5:1 (that's what you'd expect from a solid backup point guard).

He'd give LeBron fits. He'd give Carmelo, assuming he plays in playoff-bound NY, fits. He could even help with Kobe.

I absolutely concur with Sam. Shane Battier was born to wear green.

bob

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I like Shane Battier too and would be thrilled if we could pull a deal off,however I like Howards ability to create his own shot and driving/finishing ability and with our talent he could really shine IMHO.....but I do wonder how healthy he is and how much he has left,not everyone ages like Pierce and Ray and comes back as strong as Perk.I wish we could get John Havlicek.

Cow

Hondo is free I believe.

beat

Here's Peter Vecsey's take on the 'Melo trade:

"While there's a chance Anthony and Stoudemire can work things out offensively, there's not a chance that happens defensively. If they're stationed at center and power forward and Stoudemire goes to block a shot, Anthony will be abused on the switch to the five. 'Worse yet,' explained a GM, 'when 'Melo plays three, he's not a willing chaser. All his man has to do is run him through picks and he immediately yells 'switch.' ' This all leads me to wonder, if things go bad, how is Isiah going to blame it on Larry Brown? Meaning Walsh and D'Antoni are in deep trouble. If the Knicks succeed, Isiah will tell Dolan, 'I told you this will work.' If it fails, he'll tell him it's time to change management. 'And I'm your reset button.' "

Actually, our old friend Shelden Williams was traded to NY too, so now they have Williams and Turiaf for beef.

bob

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The Knicks gave up a fair amount to get Melo, but the whole thing looks like more of a long-term project rather than a boost for this year. Anthony and Amare make for a great 3 and 5 scoring combo, but then what? It seems there have been a few players who have been quoted as being interested in NY as a destination if this went down so perhaps that's part of the thinking. They're sure going to have to find some defenders and as we know, that payroll is going to get real expensive real fast.

i'll be going to the Denver Knicks ... er, Nuggets game on Thurs against the C's. i am expecting the C's to show Denver how it's done. in fact, i'm expecting it to be over by the 4th ... hope so anyway. get our starters a little rest.
this is my only chance to see a live Celtics game this year and i am hoping they'll play hard, tough and together. i am psyched !!

NYK aren't done adding pieces yet. Melo sure can score, seemingly almost whenever he wants, and Billups is still capable of distributing the ball and of shooting fairly efficiently. NYK gave up a LOT to get their player(s) and they'll be going after more to complete the puzzle. maybe next year, they'll coalesce. i think they may have a hard time with chemistry for this year, but Billups may well speed up the process.

I'm going to the Celtics-Warriors game tonight.

A stranger in a strange land.

I'll be that little patch of green you see in the sea of blue and gold. I think my seats are just off to the side of a basket, about 14 rows back.

I predict David Lee will be a pain in the ass, just like he was when he was in NY. I believe Monta Ellis will shoot his team into the game and then ME-ball shoot it out of it.

Go Celtics!!


bob

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bob,

You'd be surprised. I'll bet 3/8th of the fans are Celtics. When I went to Charlotte for the 1st 30 point blowout, there were more Celtic fans than Bobcat fans. We were even leading the cheers. Have a great time.

Not a good move to add battier. First he is an outstanding player but he is not going to be happy playing less minutes. Also reports indicate that either baby or perk would have to be included. That alone kills the deal for me.

Dbosd

I think Battier would be a fantastic addition to the team-if he can be acquired for the right price. No way do we trade Davis or Perk to anyone; thats not going to happen.
It will be interesting to see how all this plays out. Ainge is going to have to work a miracle to get a quality player and not surrender one of our core guys.