P-Dub34

Hindisight is 20/20, bud. All I'm saying is that obviously they believed that Raef LaFrentz was the best player available for them at that time.

ehmunro

And they also believed that Ron Mercer and Skita were the best choices for them at the time. So what's your point? I'd say mine's pretty clear.

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"Opium is the religion of the masses." Fred Reed

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Those who are in the know praise Dead Women Tell No Tales:

"The account of Kobe participating in orgies and the description of the surroundings is accurate. I attended few of those parties myself..." -- Jondell R. Montgomery, Long Beach, 2006

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P-Dub34

My point is, it wasn't as stupid as you thought to take LaFrentz at #3. You act like it was the most retarded thing ever (which you can say now that you've seen the results), but you managed to forget at the time that Raef was coming off equally good (or better) seasons than Jamison, Carter, Pierce, and Hughes.

Premier

Yes, but collegiate sucess doesn't always translate into potential NBA sucess. The general report on LaFrentz coming out of Kansas was that he wasn't strong and/or athletic enough to become a star. He didn't project to be anything greater than a serviceable starter and the Nuggets' management should of recognized this before they drafted him with a very high selection.

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P-Dub34

Perhaps they felt he could work on his strength?

Not from every draft board/article I read at the time.

Don't forget that "prime" LaFrentz was a 15/7/3 guy and without injuries he probably would've panned out into a very good player. I know I'm being picky, but the Nugs were the ones that drafted him, not the C's. And if Denver wouldn't have taken him, somebody else in the Top 10 would've.

agoo101284

To get back to the topic, I don't see the point of dealing someone who plays well for cap unless you actually get under the cap. It will be a series of deals for that to happen.

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ehmunro

He was a weak, soft player that relied on a size advantage over smaller players. He had Average White Man written all over him.

I hate to break it to you, Raef's "prime" lasted exactly 51 games, a sample size way too small to project out. Do we now get to say that the "prime" Mark Blount is a 14/10 guy?

__________________
"The Spurs are the Jason Voorhees of the NBA. No matter how many times you think you've finally killed them, turn your back on them and they're right back on their feet, machete in one hand and chainsaw in the other."

"Tim Duncan is the biggest crybaby in the NBA. If the Spurs were gay, he'd be Liberace." MCD

"Opium is the religion of the masses." Fred Reed

"I do not know what the Queensberry rules are, sir, but the Wilde rules are to shoot on sight!" Oscar Wilde to the Marquis of Queensbury after being threatened by the former pugilist.

Those who are in the know praise Dead Women Tell No Tales:

"The account of Kobe participating in orgies and the description of the surroundings is accurate. I attended few of those parties myself..." -- Jondell R. Montgomery, Long Beach, 2006

"Mom, you'd tell me if you were in a German scheisse video, right?"

P-Dub34

His second year he was 12/8/2. The year after that he was 14/7/3 over 78 games. That's like 13ppg, 7.5rpg, 2.5bpg roughly, over 2 years, which isn't all that far off of my projection, and based on that, it's fair to say that had he avoided injury he could've been a 15/7/3 guy.

I'm not saying LaFrentz should've been 3rd overall pick by any reasons...I'm just saying at the time it wasn't as crazy as you are all making it out to be. He was highly touted coming out of college and every draft board/article I read at the time was lauding him. And, unfortunately, Mark Blount is not a 14/10 guy. He wasn't last year, he wasn't for two years in a row (as Raef was to my stats), so that doesn't really hold water.

Causeway

I would not trade Raef simply for cap space - and especially if it menat losing young talent. Cap space does not do much for the Celtics - we are not a hot spot for FA's. In addition Raef had a nice year this year. People had him left for dead but he pretty much played the whole season and had a nice impact. He knows how to play the game and his outside shooting spread the floor nicely for the C's. I am happy with Raef.

P-Dub34

Yes, to get back to the original topic, Raef had a very productive year this year and showed people that he could still play. You gotta respect him on the perimeter and often that helps other guys get opportunities. Also I haven't seen anybody give him his rightful props for doing a very good job on Jermaine O'Neal, who is bigger, quicker, stronger, etc. etc. I know JO was hurt, but Raef still did a hell of a job.

Truth34

I voted no on this one.

First of all, I think Raef played well this season. Getting good players is hard enough, and I think Raef is a valuable part of the team.

Secondly, I defy anyone to tell me when the Boston Celtics EVER wooed a quality free agent to town. Why are we clearing cap space? Nobody wants to come here.

I would, however, gladly trade Mark Blount for space. But not Raef.

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ehmunro

His final stat line for year 3 was 13.5/7.4/2.7, he was 14.9/7.4/3 for 51 games in Denver, that was his "prime" according to you. In Dallas he was 10.8/7.4/2.2, so his "prime" was over by the time he got there. There is no way to accurately gauge whether his performance in Denver was a predictor for his career or a fluke. If it's a predictor for a career, wheres the 14/10 Mark Blount? He has to be around here somewhere.

__________________
"The Spurs are the Jason Voorhees of the NBA. No matter how many times you think you've finally killed them, turn your back on them and they're right back on their feet, machete in one hand and chainsaw in the other."

"Tim Duncan is the biggest crybaby in the NBA. If the Spurs were gay, he'd be Liberace." MCD

"Opium is the religion of the masses." Fred Reed

"I do not know what the Queensberry rules are, sir, but the Wilde rules are to shoot on sight!" Oscar Wilde to the Marquis of Queensbury after being threatened by the former pugilist.

Those who are in the know praise Dead Women Tell No Tales:

"The account of Kobe participating in orgies and the description of the surroundings is accurate. I attended few of those parties myself..." -- Jondell R. Montgomery, Long Beach, 2006

"Mom, you'd tell me if you were in a German scheisse video, right?"

ehmunro