Top > Sport > 2006 > January > 2006-01-04

West and Ainge Looking to Deal

Both Boston and Memphis are actively looking to trade some of their assets. No matter how much Ainge denies it, league sources are reporting that Paul Pierce is available. Realizing that this Celtics team is headed towards another rebuilding season, Aige is trying to accumulate more young players. I think he is going about it the wrong way. Boston?s is not short of young players ? if anything they have too many of them. Instead of getting younger, Boston needs to get older and wiser.

The Celtics pledge that Peirce is not going to be traded, but there continues to be speculation that if the right combination of younger more coachable players were presented the Celtics might come off Paul and it could happen this year. Its more likely than not the Celtics trigger a smaller deal, but don?t be surprised as the trade deadline approaches that Paul?s name comes up again. Why would you want to trade your best player anyways?

The other team that is actively looking to trade is Memphis, who lost starting point guard Damon Stoudomire for the rest of the season. The Grizzlies are shopping for a replacement ?veteran? point guard. Grizz VP Jerry West indicated the team would explore all the options, looking at available free agents first, but acknowledged that a trade was more likely and that a deal would need to be made soon.