sportsjabber.net

There’s nothing like a championship. There’s nothing like a championship. There’s nothing like a championship.

Right? Say it with me!

Because at certain times during an offseason or right around the trade deadline, we might need to mutter those five words to ourselves in a repetitive fashion. Because sometimes, another team might ask for what seems like too much. Or a player might ask for what seems like too much money. But there’s nothing like a championship, so you go through with it anyway.

Such a scenario could be building up in front of our eyes in Boston.

Here’s what sprang up on Chad Ford’s Twitter page yesterday, in case you missed it:

Celts are hooking up with Marquis Daniels for their swingman. They’ve been trying to trade with Indy for Walker, Pruitt and Allen.

This is where you inhale sharply, making that strange hissing noise, while also sharply squinting the eyes. It’s the classic, “That could be too much” face with patented hissing sound to boot.

Can we all agree we’d sacrifice Pruitt at this point? And we’re all probably wishing that Indy would take Allen off of our hands. But Walker, too?

If this were that ‘Price is Right’ game (conveniently titled, “That’s too much!”), we would see Walker’s name thrown up there after the other two and scream with ferocious vocal intensity, “THAT’S TOO MUCH!”

But this isn’t a game show. And there’s nothing like a championship.

So maybe we give up Walker if it means bringing in a quality backup for Pierce? Finding the captain a backup was (depending on who you ask), priority number one, two or three heading into this offseason. And now that a quality player is on the table, shouldn’t we make like a rattlesnake and strike?

Well, maybe not…Chad Ford added this bit after his first:

But if they can’t do the deal, they’ll just sign him to their $2 million bi-annual exception

That’s certainly a better option, isn’t it? Sure we wouldn’t be able to use it after next season (it’s not exactly, ‘Use it or lose it’, but instead, ‘Use it AND lose it’). Because, if we’re not meant to use it, why is it there in the first place?But our roster would also be jammed back with six players listed at 6?4 through 6?6. Ouch. Some will surely have to go.

I suppose I question a sign-and-trade with Walker in the mix because this isn’t exactly Al Jefferson for Kevin Garnett. Sure, we don’t regard Walker as highly as we regarded Big Al, but for all of the positives Daniels could bring, we’ve also heard various reports that question his consistency, focus and defensive intensity.

But if a deal for Daniels is done, then the quality bench we seek becomes that much more realistic. With Rasheed Wallace and Eddie House in the mix, we would have three of the backup five we seek. Throw in (most likely) a free agent point guard (Tyronn Lue, anyone?) and Glen Davis (seeing as how competition from other teams continues to diminish by the day) and suddenly the best starting five in the NBA can confidently hand the rock over to one of the best second units in the NBA.

So, if giving up Walker means bolstering our bench to better compete for a championship next season, I suppose we’ll have to do it. We’re playing for the moment, for the now. Just make it quick. And if it does happen, let’s not dwell on it. Let’s keep the focus on next season.

Because, after all, there’s nothing like a championship.

Stay Tuned.

Greg Payne - NES 24/7 Blog