Minnesota trades Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Olowokandi, Dwayne Jones, and a first rounder to Boston for Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Marcus Banks, Justin Reed, and two second rounders.
This trade started off two weeks ago as Olowokandi for Blount, which seems to me like trading a Pinto for a Gremlin, but then blossomed into a multiplayer deal including Wally and Ricky Davis, and trade fodder. The deal gives KG a much needed second scorer who can create his own shot in Ricky “Andre3000” Davis. Meanwhile, the Celtics get rid of the albatross that is Blount and his contract but pick up another hefty contract in Szcerbiak; however, Olowokandi’s contract is up after this year. I think this is a neutral trade (yes, going out on a limb) but let’s see what they’re saying in the blogosphere.
Timberwolves fan reactions:
[Citypages.com]: Is it the perfect deal? No, it isn’t highway robbery. It might not even turn out to be a good deal. But for those clamoring for the Wolves to do something, to shake things up, it does do that.
[
Kevin Garnett Source]: This is a good trade for the Wolves. The way I see it, Davis is slightly better than Wally and Blount is slightly better than Olowokandi. We certainly just lost some shooting and rebounding, but in Davis, the Wolves have acquired the all-around, slasher type player that they need.
[Twolvescentral.com]: Both teams probably washed. But with names like Ron Artest and Steve Francis floating around, you’re going to tell me this was the best that we can do? … I very highly doubt this was little more than a trade between two old friends (McHale, Ainge) making a move out of desperation with both of their jobs on the line.
Celtics fan reactions:
[Johnny Bag O’Donuts ]: Szczerbiak may be the one guy who could disprove the myth that Boston will embrace any white basketball player (Raef and Scal don’t count–I’m talking talented players). Granted, this town does love us some honkeys (nothing necessarily wrong with that), but I don’t think Szczerbiak’s act will fly here. Boston can deal with whining (Ainge, Antoine Walker), nuttiness (Manny Ramirez, Ricky Davis), self-aggrandizement (Curt Schilling, Ty Law) and prettiness (Larry Bird, Dennis Johnson) but all four on a bad team? That might not work out too well.
[Boston.com forums]: scottboy79: Is Danny Ainge the wold’s largest d!ckhead, or is it just me?? Isn’t Kandi Mark Blount, version 2.0?
[BSMW Full Court Press]: This trade adds a player who can space the floor for Jefferson and Perkins, who has shown much more in the post offensively than I would have expected. Wally’s arrival, coupled with Delonte West’s incredible shooting over the past couple months, gives the Celtics a troika of players (with Pierce) who cannot be left alone or their opponents will surely pay the consequences. Forcing an opposing coach to decide between defending the post against talented young big men or the perimeter against dead-eye marksmen can only help the Celtics put up more W’s today and tomorrow.