04/24/24
August 06, 2004
Gary Payton for -- Banks?: That's about how the trade boils down; it's Payton, Rick Fox, a 1st round pick, and cash for Marcus Banks, Chris Mihm, Chucky Atkins, and a 2nd round pick. Payton will be wearing the Celtic green. Bill Simmons loves it. I think a lot depends on Delonte West, who had better be ready to play point guard next year when Payton's gone.
posted by Bryant to basketball at 03:53 PM - 4 comments
Now both the Globe and the Herald are reporting that Payton is unhappy about this... which kind of undercuts Simmons' claim that Pierce and Payton are gonna be happy as clams. Ooops.
posted by Bryant at 11:00 AM on August 07, 2004
I read in the paper that Payton is angry at the Lakers, not unhappy about playing in Boston. He signed last season for less money, so he's angry the Lakers traded him. Someone needs to remind him that he picked up the player option for this season when the Lakers were obviously in flux. He was unlikely to get $5 million/year contract anyway after his choke job in the playoffs. Payton's feelings aside, I think this is a good trade for the Lakers and the Celtics. The Lakers get what they needed (something, anything other than small forwards and youth), and the Celtics get a potentially great point guard. I still can't believe that Payton's game deteriorated that much - last season was just a bad match of talent and system. Good luck to him.
posted by dusted at 06:46 PM on August 09, 2004
Obviously Vanessa is unhappy with the deal.
posted by yerfatma at 01:34 PM on August 10, 2004
Yeah, West better be ready to play this year. They could do a Halloween promo at the Fleet Center featuring The Corpse of Gary Payton. The real story here is: how will Tommy Heinson's loyalties fall? Yeah he loves Walta now, but Rick Fox was his first love, the Maude Gonne who spurned him and made him the Poet of the Hardwood. How will Vanessa take the move? And does the gel come out of Rick's hair?