Is it time to think about trading........Rasheed!!

[nickagneta]

A lot of people here are probably thinking that this is a crazy idea but before jumping to conclusions, please, hear me out. This is not a trade to be thought about in the here and now. I understand that KG is out and I understand that Baby is out and I understand that Rasheed is insurance for long term KG injury problems. I understand all that.

But I don't think either KG or Baby have long term injury problems right now. Yes, with KG things are iffy but I believe the current absence is more from a bump and some need for rest that I think the C's front office knew he was going to need a couple times this year.

But right now, across the league, there are teams definitely looking to unload contracts and/or who are in need of big men and/or veterans. Rasheed is definitely both of those thing and has a reasonable contract that could be packaged with some good expiring contracts.

Part of the problem with upgrading this team is the general lack of very good talent that we have to trade in contracts that are expiring other than Ray Allen. I don't think anyone WANTS to trade Ray and his $18.8 million expiring contract but in reality, are we really going to get good long term value back? Personally, I don't think so.

So, are the following players with their aggregate total of $13.8 million going to net us the help we need:

Brian Scalabrine - $3.814 million
Tony Allen - $2.5 million
Eddie House - $2.862 million
Marquis Daniels - $1.99 million
Sheldon Williams - $825,000
Lester Hudson - $457,000
Bill Walker - $736,000
JR Giddens - $1.028 million

I just don't think so. I also think that trading some of our "kids" just isn't going to get it done either as they just don't add up to enough money or talent to get anyone worth trading for.Tony, Eddie, and Q are okay additions to throw into the mix to increase the value of the package being shipped out but there are only so many 2's and 3's you can add to one package before it becomes too redundant to work.

Enter Rasheed Wallace. He's a real, honest to goodness 7 footer that can play either center or power forward. He is good enough to start on most teams across the league. He has a reasonable contract for a player of his caliber and he varies the package that we can now offer to include a big and some wings and guards.

Do I have a specific trade in mind? No, but after I post this I am definitely going to go look to see what could possibly be available.  But what I think this opens up is the possibility of increasing the monetary and talent value of the player or players coming back as well as possibly changing the style of bench big man we could have. Are we really happy with the type of post player Rasheed is and what he brings as a total package? Would we be better off getting a rebounding, post playing big man to back up Perk rather than the outside playing, three point chucking player Rasheed is on offense at the sacrifice of defense?

I think there are a ton of different scenarios this opens up and maybe, Rasheed is the player we need to start to think about dealing to upgrade the bench and team as a whole.

[Drucci]

This is the first time I think you're totally (from start to finish) wrong, Nick, and I'm shocked by such a trade idea. Rasheed will be a big part of our chances of winning a championship so it would be foolish to trade him (unless you could get LeBron James in exchange and you can't).

[moiso]

I'd be very happy to unload Wallace and his horrible 3 year deal.  He's washed up.  He is horribly inefficient on offense and he has no legs anymore.  I'd be thrilled to unload him if we could find a taker.

[wdleehi]

This team's title hopes are built around inside defense out.


Wallace is a great fit for that. 


We have also seen how good he has been against Orlando and Cleveland. 


No, he is still to much of a good fit for the Celtics against such teams. 

[Who]

The only teams that will be interested in acquiring Rasheed Wallace will be contenders. And, those teams won't be interested in giving up serious talent to get Sheed or Sheed + expiring contracts.

Trading expiring contracts for a bench player with a large contract is the Celtics best method for improving the team. The second best method is trading Ray Allen. That's where Danny's focus should be.

[Fafnir]

1. I think he'd be pretty difficult to trade

2. I think he'd be even more difficult to trade for a piece the Celtics need more than him.

I mean who'd be interested in Rasheed? Only another contender, what contender matches up with us well enough that we could trade Rasheed for another quality piece and both teams would do it?

[Fafnir]

This team's title hopes are built around inside defense out.


Wallace is a great fit for that. 


We have also seen how good he has been against Orlando and Cleveland. 


No, he is still to much of a good fit for the Celtics against such teams. 

I agreed that we need size off the bench. BBD isn't good enough to be a title team's third big man in my opinion, neither is Sheldon.

[Casperian]

The only teams that will be interested in acquiring Rasheed Wallace will be contenders. And, those teams won't be interested in giving up serious talent to get Sheed or Sheed + expiring contracts.

Trading expiring contracts for a bench player with a large contract is the Celtics best method for improving the team. The second best method is trading Ray Allen. That's where Danny's focus should be.

The 76ers are currently looking to unload some of their players. Who knows which team will look to unload some bad contracts (maybe Clippers, Hornets, etc) in one month?

[Who]

Legitimate Contenders -- Orlando + Cleveland + San Antonio + LA Lakers

Hopeful Contenders -- Dallas + Atlanta + Denver + ... Phoenix? Portland? Utah?

Legitimate Contenders

Orlando have Brandon Bass to offer up in a trade. Maybe Marcin Gortat. Cleveland have Delonte West. San Antonio has expiring contracts. The Lakers have Jordan Farmer.

Hopeful Contenders

Tougher to say ...

Would Portland consider bringing back Sheed? Would they consider him a key bench player on a contender next season and the year after + a stop gap starter now? Outlaw? Webster? Blake or Miller? Would Utah view Wallace as their much needed interior defender and what would they give up to get him? Korver? Okur?

Dallas have some interesting assets. Beaubois. Barea. Maybe Josh Howard depending on his injury situation. Drew Gooden. Denver has little in the way of current ability, maybe Lawson, but they do have a Bobcats draft pick. The Hawks have Zaza Pachulia. Jeff Teague? Would he be available? The Suns have nothing to offer.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Well, as if you can get better than sheed for what he does, he fits well all around, his only fault is his 3 pointer love, should be easy to fix, when he plays the post, he can't be stopped, he is pretty fast for his size, better than PJ brown, although i do like pj...sheed is better than he was....BBD is the weakes link here, tell me what he adds....he doesn't like to be in the paint either, sheldon does....BBD wants to be a shooter...hmmmm, how many year will that take..how hard is it to develop a shot when that is all you have to do for a living..I developed my shot in 2 months...after working 10 hours a day and doing everything else in life......!

[Fafnir]

he doesn't like to be in the paint either, sheldon does

Have you watched BBD in is his few games back? He's been banging just as hard as Sheldon. In particular on the offensive glass. Just because he doesn't rebound well defensively doesn't mean he's not a banger.

I like Rasheed in the post, but he's certainly not unstoppable down there.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

well, no i haven't seen bbd in a while, my mistake there then, if he is getting to it, well, then I'll learn to like him for that, we NEED rebounding, more of it.....too many times people are shooting with no one underneath, basics never let you down...!

[Fafnir]

well, no i haven't seen bbd in a while, my mistake there then, if he is getting to it, well, then I'll learn to like him for that, we NEED rebounding, more of it.....too many times people are shooting with no one underneath, basics never let you down...!

Offensive rebounding is one of the team's weaknesses but that's largely by personal and design at this point. Its on the areas I hope BBD will really add something to the current mix.

Its defending our own glass that concerns me.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

perk gets lost often on D, that is why i like sheldon, he gets all thos D rebounds, he knows where to be, he gets O rebounds and does good things with them, perk O is getting to be almost great....

[wdleehi]

perk gets lost often on D, that is why i like sheldon, he gets all thos D rebounds, he knows where to be, he gets O rebounds and does good things with them, perk O is getting to be almost great....

Perk does not get lost on D.  He is playing the right rotations.  When he is pulled away from the basket, it is up to the other players that rotated down to box out and go for the rebounds. 

It is Sheldon that would get lost on defense leading to open shots.