I am a huge Celtics fan (well anything Boston/New England). There is a 13 player 5 team trade in approval stages going on with the Heat looking like they just pulled the biggest hose job ever. They get Antione Walker, Jason Williams and some one else. While everyone else looks to get screwed, they lose Eddie Jones who is getting veterans pay at this point.

Can anyone explain the details of the trade, i just don't get it. Looks like a bad move for 4 out of 5 teams, Celtics getting screwed the hardest since they are letting a in division rival get 3 GOOD players.

It is basically all made to clear cap room for the other 4 teams for the future. The other guy you didn't mention was James Posey,(who is better then Eddie Jones all by himself) he is a good defender and a great team player. On the other hand Jason Williams is a very streaky player and might not work well with the Heat. Same goes for Antoine Walker, he was a poison for every team he has been on. He has a killer post-game but seems all he wants to do is sit back and shoot 3's. The Heat should be better and win the championship barring another injury this year.

Shaq defered a lot of this year's salary in favor of (a) signing more players for their run at the title, and (b) a bigger long-term deal.

Detroit is still the road out of the east until proven otherwise.

Wasn't it already proven last year that they are no longer the team to beat? What about this year with a new coach?

Eddie Jones WAS a dynamite player, and I enjoyed watching him play.

Jason Williams HAD some great potential, but read too much of his own press.

Antoine Walker MIGHT still have a chance to become the player he is capable of, with the right coaching.

And Shaq sees the end of his career is not that far down the road now, and deferring salary is one way to ensure he can extend that career a bit longer.

I expect to see more of these trades with the salary cap being a major consideration in putting together teams with potential to make the finals.

Wasn't it already proven last year that they are no longer the team to beat? What about this year with a new coach?Uh, no, they won the east, unless I'm missing something.

you are missing something Detroit won.

Are you all hitting the same pipe?Detroit is still the road out of the east until proven otherwise.I said that in rebuttal of any sort of "Miami is the team to beat" nonsense, and I get told that Detroit wasn't the team to beat in the east. HUH?!? I'm most certain that Detroit won the East, and I stand by my statement that in light of that, they're still the team to beat in the East, until Miami proves otherwise.

Regular season records are pretty, but it didn't make for a Heat/Suns final.

I guess i was hitting the pipe. For some reason i thought the Heat did make it to the championship. I was wrong. How good do you think Fli Saunders will be compared to Larry Brown coaching the Pistons?

Detroit won the East, but I think you'd have to admit they were either a healthy Shaq or a healthy Wade (since both were injured) from losing.

Of course, they might have played better had they had a manager who created fewer distractions.

Poor Utah got saddled with Ostertag once again...

Sooo glad I'm a Pacers fan living in Utah.

Fandros

Detroit won the East, but I think you'd have to admit they were either a healthy Shaq or a healthy Wade (since both were injured) from losing.

Of course, they might have played better had they had a manager who created fewer distractions.I no fan, but I don't have to admit anything. They've demonstrated they're the team to beat in the East until proven otherwise.

As a Suns fan, I'll be busy dreaming out West.

Pacers will give them all they can handle this season!!

Fandros