The NBA's biggest trade of the off-season began in a most unlikely way, with job-hunter Bill Walton calling the Boston Celtics and asking if they had any openings.
After three months of negotiations involving the Celtics, Walton and the Clippers--his former team--the 7-foot redhead was dealt for forward Cedric Maxwell , a first-round draft pick and cash. If Walton stays injury-free, he will join Robert Parish to give Boston a pivot combination capable of stopping Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Walton and Maxwell were regarded as damaged goods--Walton with foot problems, Maxwell with a knee injury. But a healthy Walton had the most to offer--the potential for another Celtics' championship. And, after playing just 14 games over an injury-filled four-year period, the former UCLA star has increased his games each year from 33 to 55 to 67.
The acquisition of Walton excited Boston's Larry Bird, who attempted to pattern his game after Walton's.
"We just have to make sure we rest this guy, that we keep him from getting injured," said the league's MVP the past two years. "If we keep him healthy we can win a championship a lot easier than we could without him. He's the best passer I've ever seen in my life."
Maxwell, whose slow recovery from knee surgery was interpreted as laziness by Celtics officials, is believed healthy enough to be a major asset for the Clippers.
Los Angeles coach Don Chaney, a teammate of Maxwell's for three years in Boston, has faith that the Clippers received a quality player whose eight years in the league will be valuable to his club.
"He's taking a leadership role, that's already obvious to me." Chaney said.
The coach is not concerned that Maxwell, a defensive workhorse and MVP of the 1982 playoffs, was used infrequently by Boston the last half of the 1984-85 season.
"As long as Max is running, jumping and cutting, the rest will come," the Clipper coach said. "Players don't lose talent overnight."
The Celtics, unhappy over losing the NBA crown to Los Angeles, was the league's busiest team, making four trades. Along with the Walton-Maxwell deal, they traded guard Quinn Buckner to Indiana for a draft pick; acquired forward Sly Williams from Atlanta on a contingency deal; and picked up guard Jerry Sichting from Indiana for a pair of draft choices.
But the Lakers were not idle either, obtaining power forward Maurice Lucas from Phoenix for two draft selections.
The only other major trade was Washington's exchange of Bruise Brother Rick Mahorn and 6-10 reserve Mike Gibson for Detroit forward Dan Roundfield. Each team sought to strengthen a weakness, the Pistons needing power on the boards and the Bullets looking for good shooting at a forward spot.
The negatives are that Roundfield, 32, was injured much of last year, missing 26 games and averaging only 10.9 points a game in his only year with Detroit. Mahorn, 6-10, 240 pounds, averaged just 6.3 points per game with 608 rebounds as coach Gene Shue was disappointed with Mahorn's production.
Washington's other deal was to send nine-year forward Greg Ballard to Golden State for two draft picks.
Chicago shipped center Steve Johnson to San Antonio for forward Gene Banks. Johnson, a 6-10 fifth-year pro, averaged 10.0 points a game last year. The 6-7 Banks, also entering his fifth year, averaged 9.5 points.
On draft day, Cleveland and Chicago swung a four-player deal. The Bulls sent first-round pick Keith Lee, a 6-10 forward from Memphis State and guard Ennis Whately to Cleveland for rebounding forward Charles Oakley, a 6-9 product of Virginia Union, plus the Bulls' second-round draft choice.
Showing posts with label Celtics Get Walton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Celtics Get Walton. Show all posts
4.24.2008
3.25.2008
Celtics Get Maxwell for Walton
August 31, 1985
WALTON DEAL STILL ON TARGET CLIPPERS WILL GET MAXWELL
Bill Walton passed a physical in Boston yesterday, but the Celtics were unable to announce that Walton had been acquired for Cedric Maxwell because of a disagreement between Walton and the Clippers regarding deferred compensation. However, Clipper officials said last night that an agreement has been reached on the deferred compensation issue.
It was expected that the trade would be officially announced late today.
"Everything is on target, there are no hitches," said Clipper general manager Carl Scheer.
The Celtics and Clippers reached a tentative trade agreement Thursday and supervised physicals for both players yesterday. Walton was examined by Celtic team physician Thomas Silva at University Hospital. At the request of Clipper physician Tony Daly, Maxwell was examined by Dr. Tim Taft at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill).
The Celtics were expected to call a press conference late yesterday to announce the transaction, but Boston general manager Jan Volk reported problems after phone conversations with the Clippers and a lengthy meeting with Walton, Silva and Celtic president Red Auerbach.
Two problems had been holding up the deal. One involved conformity with the NBA's complex salary cap restrictions and was not believed to be a major snag, because, according to Volk, "everybody wants to get it done; it's just difficult to do."
The other issue involved deferred compensation that the Clippers owe Walton. Before completing the deal, the Clippers wanted Walton to defer owed money for a longer period of time.
Clipper legal counsel Arn Tellem said, "That part is resolved. It's not a problem anymore. We're in agreement now. I think it was just a misunderstanding."
All other details of the agreement appear to be set. Boston will pay more than half of Maxwell's $805,000 per year contract and send Maxwell plus next year's No. 1 draft pick (not to be confused with Seattle's pick, which the Celtics also own) to the Clippers for Walton.
In Los Angeles, Maxwell will have a four-year deal with an option (the team's) for a fifth year. Walton's pact with the Celtics calls for Boston to pay the redhead $450,000 per year for each of the next three years.
Volk and Silva said that the Celtics have no problems with Walton's physical condition. Walton appeared tired when he left the Celtics' offices yesterday. His only comment: "We're working on it." Reached later in his Boston hotel room, Walton elected not to comment on the deferred compensation issue.
Scheer did not expect a report on Maxwell's physical until today. Maxwell's agent, Ron Grinker, predicted that Maxwell would have no problems with the physical. "I guarantee he won't fail it," said Grinker.
Grinker said that the Clippers have asked Maxwell to withhold comment until a week from Monday, when Maxwell has scheduled a press conference in Los Angeles.
Grinker never thought the deferred money issue would endanger the deal. "He (Walton) will sell his soul to get out of there," said Grinker. "They want to get rid of Walton, and the Celtics want to get rid of Max. This just prolongs it."
WALTON DEAL STILL ON TARGET CLIPPERS WILL GET MAXWELL
Bill Walton passed a physical in Boston yesterday, but the Celtics were unable to announce that Walton had been acquired for Cedric Maxwell because of a disagreement between Walton and the Clippers regarding deferred compensation. However, Clipper officials said last night that an agreement has been reached on the deferred compensation issue.
It was expected that the trade would be officially announced late today.
"Everything is on target, there are no hitches," said Clipper general manager Carl Scheer.
The Celtics and Clippers reached a tentative trade agreement Thursday and supervised physicals for both players yesterday. Walton was examined by Celtic team physician Thomas Silva at University Hospital. At the request of Clipper physician Tony Daly, Maxwell was examined by Dr. Tim Taft at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill).
The Celtics were expected to call a press conference late yesterday to announce the transaction, but Boston general manager Jan Volk reported problems after phone conversations with the Clippers and a lengthy meeting with Walton, Silva and Celtic president Red Auerbach.
Two problems had been holding up the deal. One involved conformity with the NBA's complex salary cap restrictions and was not believed to be a major snag, because, according to Volk, "everybody wants to get it done; it's just difficult to do."
The other issue involved deferred compensation that the Clippers owe Walton. Before completing the deal, the Clippers wanted Walton to defer owed money for a longer period of time.
Clipper legal counsel Arn Tellem said, "That part is resolved. It's not a problem anymore. We're in agreement now. I think it was just a misunderstanding."
All other details of the agreement appear to be set. Boston will pay more than half of Maxwell's $805,000 per year contract and send Maxwell plus next year's No. 1 draft pick (not to be confused with Seattle's pick, which the Celtics also own) to the Clippers for Walton.
In Los Angeles, Maxwell will have a four-year deal with an option (the team's) for a fifth year. Walton's pact with the Celtics calls for Boston to pay the redhead $450,000 per year for each of the next three years.
Volk and Silva said that the Celtics have no problems with Walton's physical condition. Walton appeared tired when he left the Celtics' offices yesterday. His only comment: "We're working on it." Reached later in his Boston hotel room, Walton elected not to comment on the deferred compensation issue.
Scheer did not expect a report on Maxwell's physical until today. Maxwell's agent, Ron Grinker, predicted that Maxwell would have no problems with the physical. "I guarantee he won't fail it," said Grinker.
Grinker said that the Clippers have asked Maxwell to withhold comment until a week from Monday, when Maxwell has scheduled a press conference in Los Angeles.
Grinker never thought the deferred money issue would endanger the deal. "He (Walton) will sell his soul to get out of there," said Grinker. "They want to get rid of Walton, and the Celtics want to get rid of Max. This just prolongs it."
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