Random Thoughts (February 19, 2009)

Other than trading Sam Cassell and Patrick O'Bryant to Sacramento in separate deals that do nothing more than clear roster space, the Celtics are not expected to do anything significant before today's trade deadline. However, the C's will still look to bolster their roster by the March 1 deadline to add players that are eligible for the playoffs. The Boston Globe is reporting that Oklahoma City forward Joe Smith, who TheBostonInsider has lusted after most of the winter, would love to be bought out from his contract so he could sign with Boston. Smith is close friends with Kevin Garnett from their days in Minnesota. Smith would provide the C's with height (6-10), shooting, and experience off the bench... Tim Thomas, traded from the Knicks to the Bulls today, would be another intriguing name for the C's to look at if he were to be bought out of his contract. He is 6-10 and can shoot but he has been indifferent to playing hard throughout his career. That lazy streak would be fixed by KG and Pierce... The Shaq-to-Cleveland rumor, while very interesting, is probably not going to happen. Shaq once compared the three marquee guards he played with (Penny Hardaway, Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne Wade) to the three Corleone brothers from The Godfather. If Penny was Fredo, Kobe was Sonny, and D-Wade was Michael, what role would LeBron fill? I say Luca Brasi... Now that Tom Brady has announced he is going to be ready for the 2009 season, the Pats can get going on moving Matt Cassel. The best deal, in my opinion, is with Detroit. The Lions could add Cassel and use the first overall pick on an offensive tackle while the Pats could add a first round pick (the Lions own the 20th overall pick via the Cowboys) as well as additional picks in the middle rounds... Mike Lowell has said he was upset the Red Sox tried to add Mark Teixeira at his expense this winter but I see a healthy Lowell playing like a true professional this summer and hitting over 30 homeruns... Enjoy Ray Allen tonight...