fred@mirror.UUCP (09/09/85)
With traing camps officially opening soon (about two weeks) this notes
group should start discussing the upcoming season.
I would like to start discussion on the subject of Walton for Maxwell deal
that was completed last week. Being a Celtic fan I would really like to hear
the opinion of Clipper fans about this deal. I do not know the needs of the
Clippers but believe the Celtics may have assured themselves another NBA
championship. (If Walton stays healthy, that is a BIG IF).
--
Fred Nesseralla {mit-eddie, ihnp4!inmet, wjh12, cca, datacube} !mirror!fred
Mirror Systems 2067 Massachusetts Ave.
617-661-0777 Cambridge, MA, 02140kosower@harvard.ARPA (David A. Kosower) (09/14/85)
I'm a Celtics fan, but here are my two cents' worth: even though
Maxwell has played poorly and cared little since his injury this
spring, I think that getting Walton is a complete mistake. The man
is washed up. He used to be great, but has spent most of the last
five years or so on injured lists. Besides, he's a vegetarian (ugh),
and the Celtics are meat-eaters: they *eat* vegetarians.
David A. Kosower
kosower@harvard.ARPAstar@cdstar.UUCP (J Quillard) (09/16/85)
Some thoughts about Walton for Maxwell + draft pick:
The Clippers have James Donaldson and Benoit Benjamin, thus
Walton was expendable. He refused to play for the Clippers
anymore, but didn't receive any offers as a free agent. The
trade for Maxwell reduces the overcrowding at center, and adds
some depth and versatility at forward. The Clippers now have
Maxwell, Marques Johnson, and Michael Cage, three players who
can rebound, play 'D', and score in close. With Derek Smith as
a swingman and Stormin Normin Nixon at the point, the Clippers
have a great team on paper.
The Celts signed David Thirdkill (ex-Hawk, ex-Piston, ex-Spur)
as a small forward, uh ... can he play 'D'?? The Celts front
court should be awesome - Bird, McHale, Parrish, Walton, Wedman,
and maybe Ronnie Williams or Andre Battle, and uh ... Thirdkill.
There is a plot, engineered by Red Auerback, to get the number
one overall 1986 draft pick for the Celts. They have Seattle's
pick, and by trading Maxwell (who really is back 100%) to the
Clippers, there is no team in their division the Sonics can beat!
Think about it - Lakers, Blazers, Clippers, Suns and Warriors.
Remember the Warriors have Joe Barry Carroll and Chris Mullin
this year, and the Suns have a HEALTHY Walter Davis and Ed Pinkney.
(Give this idea a big :-))
Reward offered or Ransom paid for Celts tickets!!
{wjh12,talcott}!cdstar!star J Quillard @ Cambridge Digital
page@ucla-cs.UUCP (09/17/85)
For ten minutes a game, Walton can still be the best center in basketball; and ten minutes is exactly what the Celtics need out of a back up center. No longer will McHale have to play undersized center when Parish needs a rest or is in foul trouble. As far as the deal from the Clippers point of view...who can say what the Clippers need. They seem to have a reasonable starting lineup. The trade can't hurt the Clippers all that much because ten minutes a game was not all they needed. It does seem that they could have received a little more in return for Walton. They should have taken a chance on a younger player with potential rather than an older player with a certain future.
sdp@chinet.UUCP (steve d. pruitt) (09/19/85)
O'L Red Aurbach(sp?) has made a lot of slick moves in his time but I can't remember him ever making this big a gamble (someone correct me if I'm wrong). In my opinion Bill Walton should have bowed out gracefully after the '77 championship; he's been a joke ever since (I mean that "I'll play part time while I go to Law School" stuff was really a ton of laughs). Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for what Walton did at UCLA and in his "early days" as a pro. If he plays even 50% as well as he did back then, this could turn out to be a break even deal for the Celts. Of course the jury will be out on Walton's performance until mid December or so but, based on his performance over the past few years I'd say Red rolled craps this time. -- ......................................... . "Living forever isn't just a dream!" . . . . Steve Pruitt . . ..!ihnp4!chinet!sdp . .........................................
fred@mirror.UUCP (09/19/85)
Agreed Walton is not the man he was at UCLA or his early years in the NBA,
but can he be any worse than Greg Kite? Even as bad off as he is Walton
can still play basketball better than Kite even dreams of playing.
--
Fred Nesseralla {mit-eddie, ihnp4!inmet, wjh12, cca, datacube} !mirror!fred
Mirror Systems 2067 Massachusetts Ave.
617-661-0777 Cambridge, MA, 02140