June 30, 1985
It's obvious that free agent Bill Walton wants to play for the Celtics and that the Celtics would happily send Cedric Maxwell to the Clippers as compensation.
It makes a lot of sense, right? The Celtics can use Max' salary to sign Walton and stay within the limits of the salary cap. The Clippers get Maxwell to team with rookie Benoit Benjamin and veterans Marques Johnson and James Donaldson.
The prospect of Walton spending his golden years alongside Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish is a Celtics fan's dream.
Realistically, it seems little more than a dream. Are we to believe that the Clippers are blowing smoke when they say they want to keep Walton and don't like Maxwell's knee? Do you seriously think Red Auerbach and Jan Volk can cleverly circumvent salary-cap restrictions, and deliver a flatbed truck carrying Quinn Buckner, Scott Wedman and Carlos Clark in exchange for Walton? Forget it. The Celtics have a better chance of getting John Boy Walton than Bill Walton.
Here's why:
1. Maxwell's knee. Clippers general manager Carl Scheer and team physician Tony Daly have strong doubts about Maxwell's left leg. They wonder why it didn't get better three months after minor arthroscopic surgery.
2. The salary cap. Unless the Clippers are willing to take Maxwell's salary, the Celtics have no serious money to offer Walton. Even if LA takes Max, that only frees $400,000 (Max' 1983-84 salary) for Boston to give Walton.
3. Clippers' interests. Walton for Maxwell makes great sense to Celtics fans, but what's in it for the Clippers? They know the Celtics want to dump Max and his salary. If they think Max is healthy, they should take him off Boston's hands, then match any offer the Celtics make to Walton and keep both players. The Celtics have no leverage in this exchange.
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