Former Celtics head coach John Carroll (2003-04, the bridge guy from Jim O’Brien to Doc Rivers) is a contributing writer for ESPN.com.
He’s come up with 5 logical trade scenarios involving Paul Pierce.
1. To Atlanta for Josh Smith
2. To Memphis for Rudy Gay
3. To Indiana for Danny Granger
4. To Utah for Paul Milsap or Enes Kantor and a draft pick
5. To Houston for Kevin Martin and Jordan Hill or Patrick Patterson
I like Josh Smith’s game. He’d be an intriguing experiment. I think he would benefit from the tutelage of Kevin Garnett. So I pull this trigger only if I can get KG back on the real cheap for next year. Oh yeah, Smith is only 26.
Rudy Gay, 25, would be an athletic wing partner for Rajon Rondo, but he is due an awful lot of money. $68 million, to be exact.
Granger, 28, is similar to Pierce. A big small forward who can score and rebound a bit. His contract after this year is an affordable 2 years, $27 million. Color me interested.
The 26-year-old Milsap is considered an undersized power forward. He’s an excellent mid-range shooter. Is it fair to say Brandon Bass is a poor man’s Milsap? Not sure about him. Any deal moving Pierce for a power forward leaves a gaping hole at the 3.
I have zero interest in Kevin Martin.
Thoughts?
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
