CELTICS GREEN BLOG by and for boston celtics fans: Danny Making Offers... Could Tony Be Trade Bait?

January 9, 2007

2 things of note this afternoon. First, The Memphis Commercial Appeal has a little blurb today that says that Danny has made an offer for Stromile Swift, even if it was a feeble one.

Griz president Jerry West disparaged any notion that a healthy and happy Swift can be had in a trade as has been rumored since coach Mike Fratello was fired. But the Grizzlies' unwillingness to part with Swift hasn't prevented teams such as Boston, Minnesota and Sacramento from making offers, however feeble, over the past two weeks.

This tells me two things. Danny is still out there making calls and trying to make a trade and that he isn't willing to give up the core of players like Al or Gerald to make a trade.

Second, Mike Fine, who has been a bit on the negative side in his articles hints that Tony's new found success may just make him a tradeable commodity. First, he mentions Danny's history of making a big trade at the deadline in each of his 3 years at the helm.

The NBA trading deadline is six weeks away, and the likelihood that Celtics director of operations Danny Ainge will make a pre-deadline (Feb. 22, 3 p.m.) deal is strong. In each of his three previous years with the Celtics that’s exactly what he did, and he wasn’t messing around with fringe players, either.

Then he goes into what makes Tony a prime candidate for a trade.

He’s got a player, Allen, performing at the upper levels of his ability, a team that is underachieving and going nowhere and a team that needs to get older, bringing in some talented veterans who can settle the situation.

And finally touches on the reasons that Danny may possibly not want to or be able to move him.

Allen doesn’t want to go anywhere. There’s a feeling that his legal issues stemming from an incident outside a Chicago nightclub (assault charges are pending) may be cleared up when they resume in April, but other teams might be scared away by it.There’s also the matter of the right knee, which was operated on in September, 2005. Allen said it’s still sore, certainly giving potential suitors room for pause.

Tony just may be the trade bait that Danny needs to bring in another veteran, or he may be the player that Danny keeps because he has stepped up his play. I am sure we will know soon enough.

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