Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Encountered this little blurb in an article posted over in the NBA section from the Boston Herald:
While Gary Payton is starting and playing well, Ainge may be facing a similar situation with his veteran point guard. Payton has been an exemplary soldier but would like to be moved west to be closer to his family. His mother has been diagnosed with cancer and will start chemotherapy soon. Payton would also like a better opportunity to chase a championship.
Sources say Ainge is looking to see what Payton can bring from other clubs but won't give him away. It's possible that a first-round pick would be enough to pry The Glove loose.
Well now. Payton is from the Bay Area. On the West Coast Seattle and L.A. are pretty obviously out, and Clippers and Warriors are not contenders and would be highly unlikely to give up a first rounder for him anyway. That leaves Portland, who already have two PGs and are not a contender either, and then the Kings. Sitting in Sacramento perhaps 100 miles from dear ole mom (the only other possibility is a little disturbing -- Phoenix could use a backup running PG and is probably close enough, and the overall article was about a Celtics/Suns trade for McCartey. Would hate to see Payton added to that deal).
I am not a huge Payton fan, and I was mercifully correct about his failure in L.A. last year. But there is a certain logic to the possibility, and he's got an expiring contract and could play Bobby rental for us for the remainder of the year while chasing a title. Thing is I'm confused by the throwaway line in the article about how a first rounder might be enough to get him -- he's still got a considerable salary, and I am having a hard time figuring any reasonable deal that would bring him that wouldn't involve trading away our only shotblocker (Tag).
While Gary Payton is starting and playing well, Ainge may be facing a similar situation with his veteran point guard. Payton has been an exemplary soldier but would like to be moved west to be closer to his family. His mother has been diagnosed with cancer and will start chemotherapy soon. Payton would also like a better opportunity to chase a championship.
Sources say Ainge is looking to see what Payton can bring from other clubs but won't give him away. It's possible that a first-round pick would be enough to pry The Glove loose.
Well now. Payton is from the Bay Area. On the West Coast Seattle and L.A. are pretty obviously out, and Clippers and Warriors are not contenders and would be highly unlikely to give up a first rounder for him anyway. That leaves Portland, who already have two PGs and are not a contender either, and then the Kings. Sitting in Sacramento perhaps 100 miles from dear ole mom (the only other possibility is a little disturbing -- Phoenix could use a backup running PG and is probably close enough, and the overall article was about a Celtics/Suns trade for McCartey. Would hate to see Payton added to that deal).
I am not a huge Payton fan, and I was mercifully correct about his failure in L.A. last year. But there is a certain logic to the possibility, and he's got an expiring contract and could play Bobby rental for us for the remainder of the year while chasing a title. Thing is I'm confused by the throwaway line in the article about how a first rounder might be enough to get him -- he's still got a considerable salary, and I am having a hard time figuring any reasonable deal that would bring him that wouldn't involve trading away our only shotblocker (Tag).
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