Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

A day after reporting the Todd Helton-to-the-Red Sox talks, the Denver Post says the Celtics are the leading contenders in the Pau Gasol trade derby. The news appears as a brief snippet in Mark Spears’ NBA Report.

In return, Boston would send Al Jefferson and a package of draft picks to Memphis. There isn’t any word on which big contract player the C’s would have to include to make the number work under the salary cap, but Theo Ratliff’s name is sure to pop up should such a deal be consummated.

I’m torn about this one. I’ve always liked Al Jefferson. I’ve liked him even more since Doc Rivers was forced to play him 35+ minutes after the injury bug destroyed the C’s. The kid is a guaranteed double-double, with a career as a 20-10 contributor a distinct possibility. He’s only 21-years old and just finding himself as a player in this, his 3rd NBA season out of high school.

I’ve always been of the opinion Jefferson should be untouchable unless Kevin Garnett could be had for him. I wouldn’t have traded him straight up for Allen Iverson, Shawn Marion, or any of the other names mentioned as likely trade bait over the last year. Gasol was always someone I flip-flopped about.

The Grizzlies forward was huge during Spain’s World Championship over the summer, even though he missed the title game with a broken foot that’s held him to only 22-games this season. The 7-footer’s career averages of 18.6-points, 8.4-rebounds, and nearly 2-blocks per game are impressive enough, without factoring in the 3-point range and more than 3-assists per game. And he’s only 26-years old. A lineup featuring Pierce and Gasol would instantly vault Boston into the Eastern Conference’s upper echelon, with a legit shot at the Finals.

My bottom line; I think I do the trade if it involves Jefferson, Ratliff and draft picks in 2008 or beyond. I don’t do it if would cost Danny Ainge the 2007 first-rounder. Here’s why;

Even with Gasol and a healthy Pierce, that 2007 pick will still likely be in the mid-teens, an area Ainge has had decent success with. Give those two a full season together, and the C’s first rounders for 2008 and the foreseeable future aren’t likely to produce major impact players, so the damage isn’t as great. But if Pierce’s stress fracture and Gasol’s foot injury cause them to miss any more time in ’07, you could be looking at a lineup next year featuring Pierce, Gasol and either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant.

Then again, a lineup of Pierce, the rapidly improving Jefferson and one of the college studs wouldn’t look bad either. Plus, Jefferson’s game is exclusively in the post, whereas Gasol is more of an outside threat. Let’s not forget the presence of Gerald Green, another perimeter player. Is there enough space on the outside for all three of them? Think Memphis would settle for Green instead of Jefferson? If they did, I’d definitely give them the 2007 first-rounder. The possibilities are making me downright dizzy!

So as you can see, I’m still very torn about the potential trade, even though I think I’d do it. But as Bill Parcells famously said; I reserve the right to change my mind!

That’s my fence-sitting take…what’s yours? What would you trade for Pau Gasol? Is Al Jefferson becoming an untouchable? Can you believe I wrote this many words and still sound indecisive?