Eddie Jones, Antoine Walker, Jason Williams involved in 5 team trade proposal

[The REAL Bling]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2122976

[Mouldsie]

The Celtics are run by morons

[The REAL Bling]

The Celtics are run by morons


Personally, I don't think it's the greatest trade for the Heat. Statistically, Miami isn't gaining tons of points, and they lose their best perimiter defenseman in Eddie Jones and replace with Antoine Walker. Not to mention nutcase Jason Williams--though he is better than Damon Jones. I also fear the loss of Rasual Butler after already losing Keyon Dooling. Those 2 were the best players for Miami off the bench.

[The REAL Bling]

But if Williams and Walker play their best, Miami can DEFINITELY beat the Pistons if healthy.

[Merk]

To tell ya the truth I really dont like the trade and what teams are getting

[HURLS]

I guess it went through, it was on ESPN News. It said the Jazz got Greg Ostertag? I thought he was done. It says he was with the Kings, then traded to Memphis, now back to Utah. He's the gem of the whole deal, lol.

[Mouldsie]

But if Williams and Walker play their best, Miami can DEFINITELY beat the Pistons if healthy.
horsecrap

[CoachC.]

Here's the story. The Heat just got better:

Antoine Walker Dealt in Largest NBA Trade
By TIM REYNOLDS, AP Sports Writer

In the largest trade in NBA history, Antoine Walker was dealt from Boston to Miami on Tuesday night in a transaction involving five teams and 13 players.

The Heat also acquired point guard Jason Williams and small forward James Posey from Memphis, while the Grizzlies received guard Eddie Jones from the Heat. The New Orleans Hornets and Utah Jazz were also involved in the deal.

The trade was larger than a 12-player, four-team deal in 2000 involving Patrick Ewing that had been the biggest in league history.

Miami also received Andre Emmett from Memphis and the draft rights to Roberto Duenas of Spain from the Hornets; Utah received Greg Ostertag from Memphis; Boston picked up Curtis Borchardt from Utah and a package — Qyntel Woods, the draft rights to Spanish center Albert Miralles, two second-round draft picks and cash — from Miami; New Orleans acquired Rasual Butler from Miami and Kirk Snyder from Utah; and the Grizzlies received guard Raul Lopez from the Jazz.

Hours after signing Shaquille O'Neal to a five-year deal, the Heat added three significant pieces to a roster that nearly reached the NBA Finals last season.

"We traded a lot, but we got back three quality players," said Heat president Pat Riley. "Antoine Walker is one of the very best multi-faceted, versatile players in this game. ... He is able to handle the ball, pass it, make plays, shoot 3's and rebound the ball. There isn't anyone in this league better at doing that."

Walker, a three-time All-Star, figures to become the starting small forward and would be backed up by Posey, one of the league's better defenders.

Walker signed a six-year deal worth nearly $53 million with Boston as part of the deal's preliminary framework, and agent Mark Bartelstein said he appreciated the Celtics' willingness to help out their longtime forward.

"Antoine is thrilled," Bartelstein said. "This was a grueling process trying to put a sign-and-trade together. This took a lot of time and work and energy from a lot of people."

Williams would take over as Miami's starting point guard if Damon Jones leaves as a free agent.

Eddie Jones exits Miami after five years with the Heat.

"I spoke to him and he's appreciative of the five great years he's had in Miami," agent Leon Rose said. "He's proud that he's helped build something, although it's unfortunate that he won't be able to see it to fruition. But he wishes the organization nothing but the best."

Riley wished the three players leaving Miami well, especially Eddie Jones, whom he called "the consummate professional through thick and thin."

"I know he had fun and he was a major part of this," Riley said. "But in order to get something good back, you have to give up something good going out. I wish him nothing but the best."

Memphis acquired Borchardt earlier Tuesday in a deal in which Sacramento got Bonzi Wells from the Grizzlies in exchange for guard Bobby Jackson and Ostertag.

The Hornets did not give up any players under contract in the megatrade, which was approved by league officials late Tuesday night.

"Our cap flexibility is what allowed us to get these two players as part of this deal," Hornets general manager Allan Bristow said. "We were able to acquire two young, quality players while only giving up the rights to a player who has never appeared in a Hornets uniform."

Walker, who averaged 19.1 points and nine rebounds last season for Atlanta and Boston, will be a welcome addition to the Heat, said forward Udonis Haslem — who formally signed his $30.7 million, five-year deal Tuesday.

"We're two different players and we can bring two different things to the table," Haslem said, a few hours before the trade got done. "If we put that together, we should have a pretty good tandem."

Miami reached Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals this past season — even though O'Neal and Dwyane Wade were both hurt at the time. And not only was Jones a starter on that team, he was the Heat's best perimeter defender — a role that Heat president Pat Riley and coach Stan Van Gundy have long valued.

Eddie Jones, a career 16.4-point-per-game scorer, averaged 12.7 in the regular season and 13.7 in the playoffs as Miami's third option.

"Eddie Jones is an All-Star caliber player who has had a terrific NBA career. He is a great 3-point shooter who will make an immediate impact on our offense, while also serving as a solid defender in the backcourt. We look forward to Eddie finishing his NBA career in Memphis," Grizzlies president Jerry West said.

Williams averaged 10.1 points and 5.6 assists for the Grizzlies last season. Riley likened his playmaking ability to Steve Nash and Jason Kidd.

"He is a very athletic, quick, explosive scorer and has great experience," Riley said. "One of the reasons why we are making the trade is that we haven't had anyone here like that since Tim Hardaway left."

Posey was limited to 50 games this past season because of injuries, and only 18 starts. He averaged 8.1 points and 4.4 rebounds.

The trade capped a flurry of activity by the Heat — who moved quickly once the league's moratorium on player signings expired Tuesday at noon EDT.

O'Neal was signed to a $100 million contract; the move was expected, although the contract was considerably smaller than what O'Neal figured to command.

Haslem said the team has full confidence in whatever personnel choices Riley and general manager Randy Pfund make.

"Since I've been here, they've made great decisions," Haslem said. "And I'm sure they'll make the right decision here."

[SabreNasty2630]

Shaq, Haslim, Walker, Wade, J-Will

Just plain Nasty

[Orange Nation]

spurs/heat in NBA finals...book it

that lineup is just plain scary!

[The REAL Bling]

From talking with Heat fan it seems like Miami has the F position unknown. There's 3 options.

Option 1
PF: Haslem
SF: Walker
Tons of points, but can Walker play with faster SF? He's definitely not a good permiter defender.

Option 2
PF: Haslem
SF: Posey
Lock down Defense. It might look funny right now with Walker on the bench, but Posey averaged 8 pts off the bench last year. Eddie Jones averaged 12 pts as a starter. With Jason Williams wanting the ball more, he can easily match Damon Jones' number and makeup for whatever Posey lacks in pts. With Walker coming off the bench (though I doubt he could do that).

Option 3
PF: Walker
SF: Posey
I don't really know what would happen here.

[dogginbox]

The Celtics are run by morons


...because they traded walker?

i am a celtic fan and initially i didnt like ainge taking over and then when he traded walker originally i didnt like the deal he got for him. but everything else esp. ainges drafting is bar none as good if not better than anyother gm in the league.

ainge is building a solid team in boston, not too many teams can say that everyone they 've drafted can come in and contribute right away......while still making the playoffs.

trading antoine(to the heat) was the best thing they could've done. everyone in boston was iffy on him coming back for his 2nd tour of duty last season and for the 1st 10 or so games it looked like his game had changed and we saw the passing skills that any team would love to have on their team.

then after those 10 or so games he went back to his old ways, hurling 3's, one on one garbage. antoine will never change, there will be spurts when heat fans will love him and spurts when they cant stand him. good luck to the heat they are going to need it.

im not for every move ainge has made hiring doc rivers as coach in paticular but he is changing the face of the C's. people outside of boston just see and hear what reporters tell them. and that is only half of the story the athleticism on this team is the best in the league and all of their young guys can play.

not only are the celtics looking at #17 but they are looking at getting #17, #18,& #19, & so on consecutively

[dogginbox]

it kills me how much everyone dogs walker when he was playing for boston and now he is on the heat he's "nasty"

[ckg68]

But if Williams and Walker play their best, Miami can DEFINITELY beat the Pistons if healthy.

I have a feeling Pat Riley's going to lay down the law to Williams:"Either do it our way or hit the highway." And he now has Shaq and Dwayne Wade to handle locker room issues,since they're the two go-to guys. Right now,Stan Van Gundy's on the hotseat...produce,or prepare to see a coaching change if they stumble early.

[Mouldsie]

...because they traded walker?

i am a celtic fan and initially i didnt like ainge taking over and then when he traded walker originally i didnt like the deal he got for him. but everything else esp. ainges drafting is bar none as good if not better than anyother gm in the league.

ainge is building a solid team in boston, not too many teams can say that everyone they 've drafted can come in and contribute right away......while still making the playoffs.

trading antoine(to the heat) was the best thing they could've done. everyone in boston was iffy on him coming back for his 2nd tour of duty last season and for the 1st 10 or so games it looked like his game had changed and we saw the passing skills that any team would love to have on their team.

then after those 10 or so games he went back to his old ways, hurling 3's, one on one garbage. antoine will never change, there will be spurts when heat fans will love him and spurts when they cant stand him. good luck to the heat they are going to need it.

im not for every move ainge has made hiring doc rivers as coach in paticular but he is changing the face of the C's. people outside of boston just see and hear what reporters tell them. and that is only half of the story the athleticism on this team is the best in the league and all of their young guys can play.

not only are the celtics looking at #17 but they are looking at getting #17, #18,& #19, & so on consecutively
because it's true

[dogginbox]

how is it true? they are better than their team they sent to the eastern conference finals a few yrs ago, the only difference between now and then is teams around them have improved.

they traded eric williams, a bum now, who last time i checked teams arent knocking down his door, traded him and battie for ricky davis who had as good a chance as anyone to win 6th man of the yr.

then traded jeri welsch (lol) to cleveland for a 1st rnd pick, im still laughing at the robbery of that one.

also have a 1st rnd pick coming from the lakers that is top 10 protected for the next 2 yrs. and i dont see the lakers being a top team in the next couple of yrs so that pick might be a really good one.

i agree till ainge took over they had a bunch of morons running the team, but since he did the only move that warrants your opinion of them being "run by morons" is signing mark blount to the deal that he got. and they only did that because they werent sure about their center situation w/ raef lafrentz and the kid perkins.

you can continue to believe they are "run by morons" but after they become the next great dynasty...once again you wont have much to argue with

[zanthrax54]

To tell ya the truth I really dont like the trade and what teams are getting


it's almost like everyone's losing in this trade...LMAO...

Walker's best days are behind him and who knows what williams will do...it's a big risk...

[dogginbox]

Walker's best days are behind him and who knows what williams will do...it's a big risk...

i dont feel his best days are behind him but more of he'll never reach the potential that he has. if he played the way he did in the 1st 10 games back w/ the celtics then i have no doubt he would still be a celtic.

he is much better down low and not out on the perimiter, and not as a scorer but as a passer, also his offensive rebounding is very underrated. the reason why he doesnt get praise for it is because he spends too much time on the perimiter and takes himself out of rebounding opportunities, but when he is down low id put his offensive rebounding up there w/ just about anyone else in the league

[sahlensguy]

it's almost like everyone's losing in this trade...LMAO...

Walker's best days are behind him and who knows what williams will do...it's a big risk...

Yeah, the Jazz "lost" three of thier former first round draft pics (Lopez, Snyder & Borchart) to get Ostertag back for one year.

Which wasn't a bad deal for the Jazz, although it does show how poorly they've drafted lately.

[sahlensguy]

and damn didn't Miami, who finished so close to the Finals, role the dice on two guys who could have a few chemistry issues.