Information Leafblower

Dec 15 2003

BREAKING NEWS

Celtic Director of Basketball Operations Danny "Not Afraid To Make A Move" Ainge has completed a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers in which Boston sends Eric Williams, Tony Battie and Kedrick Brown to Cleveland for Ricky Davis, Chris Mihm, and Michael "Yogi" Stewart.
Today was the first day that players that were either drafted this summer or signed a new contract this summer were able to be traded. This deal likely opens up the floodgates for more deals around the league.
My first thoughts regarding this deal:
- I don't doubt anything Danny Ainge does but the C's are on a 5 game winning streak and playing the best basketball of the year so the timing of the deal is a little suspect. They host Minnesota tonight and will retire Cedric Maxwell's number at halftime. The new players won't be in uniform yet so we will have a depleted bench tonight. Also, their first game in Green would be Wednesday when Fatoine Walker, Texas Ranger comes to town. Yikes.
- The Celtics are giving up a player with one eye (Eric Williams is legally blind in one eye), one player with bad knees (Tony Battie hasn't been able to practice with the club in the last two years due to his knees) and Kedrick Brown who is possibly the most athletic player in the league but has done nothing of note on the court since being drafted out of junior college with the 11th pick in the 2001 draft.
The Cavs trade away their version of Fatoine Walker in Ricky Davis. Davis is capable of giving you 20, 5 and 5 every night but also libel to pout if he doesn't get his touches. Mihm is a big body that has been a bust since coming out of Texas in 2000 and being drafted 7th overall. However, he is playing well this year and rounding into form. Yogi Stewart is widely considered the worst player in the league but is a certifiable veteran locker room presence and if I'm not mistaken he is the President of th NBA Players Union. Don't ask me why I know that.
- The deal breaks down thusly, The Cavs go for addition by subraction trading Davis away while packaging Stewart's contract and being forced to throw in Mihm to sweeten the pot. SG Dajuan Wagner is coming back from injury soon so this free's up some PT for him. Also they get three above average defenders that can help their lackadaisical effort on that end of the court. For all of Kedrick's failure on the offensive end of the court, he is a lockdown defender.
For the C's, they gain a load of offense in headcase Davis. However, Davis is signed to a reasonable contract through 2008 so if he can live with being 2nd fiddle to Alphadog Paul Pierce, the C's will have a potent offense. Much like the Walker deal and Jiri Welsch, Chris Mihm may be initially overlooked in this move but don't sleep. He is a younger version of Battie that can really help the Celtics out on the boards, where they have been killed this year. He's avergaing 6 boards in just 18 minutes a game, good enough for 2nd on the C's. Mihm may step in as starting center very soon. Stewart will take his customary place on the bench while earning over $4 million for the next 2 years. His contract is Pitino-like.

Now if you will excuse me, I will be spending the rest of the evening on Celtic messageboards of all shapes and sizes.

Also, Paul Pierce was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week today.

Lastly, god help us all but Peabs has a blog.

PS - to the guy at the gym that felt the need to take a large shit and stink up the entire locker room...two word buddy. COURTESY FLUSH.
Look into it.

Posted by Kyle in Permalink