Reportedly, the Nets and Bobcats are
working on a trade that would dump the salaries of Jordan Farmar and Johan Petro along with a protected first round pick from Houston in exchange for the expiring contract of Boris Diaw.
I can see the Celtics getting in on that to snag Petro, an athletic 7-footer who runs the floor well but is not a particularly good center and certainly non-starter caliber.
The Celtics send out Dooling, Marquis Daniels, and a second round pick. In return, they get Petro (from New Jersey) and, to fulfill salary cap roles since Dooling for Petro straight up doesn't work, little-used and undrafted 6'5" rookie combo guard Cory Higgins, the University of Colorado's all-time leading scorer.
The main impediment is that Petro is owed $3.5m for next season, but that contract is movable in the off-season, especially if some time on the floor with Rondo makes Petro look good.
Is getting rid of Dooling and acquiring some center depth without having to give up a first round pick or a key rotation player a good enough price to give up some cap flexibility for next season?