Celtics on Globe

["JLyell" <jlyell@concentric.net>]

Some excerpts from a Globe article

Mills, Edney in new Celtic mix 

By Michael Holley, Globe Staff, 08/23/97 


So yesterday the surgery continued. The Celtics signed forward Chris Mills
from the Cavaliers and guard Tyus Edney from the Kings while waving goodbye
to Eric Williams. Under M.L. Carr, the 25-year-old Williams was touted as
one of the forwards of the future. Now he is a forward of the Rocky
Mountains after being dealt to Denver Thursday night for two second-round
draft picks, in 1999 and 2001. Losing a 15-point scorer for a couple of
second-rounders doesn't seem like a fair return, but Wallace explained that
the picks are only a portion of the trade. 



''Essentially, we traded Eric Williams for Chris Mills and Tyus Edney,''
the general manager said. 



Wallace and Pitino reasoned that the Celtics wouldn't have been able to
pick up both players if a salary was not cleared from the roster. When the
salary cap was raised last week, the Celtics had more money than they
anticipated.

So they traded Williams, who will be a free agent after next season if the
Nuggets don't sign him to a new deal in the next six weeks. And they signed
Mills to a contract that is believed to be worth at least $26.1 million
over six years, an average of $4.35 million annually. Mills, who completed
his fourth season with the Cavaliers, made $1.2 million last year. Edney,
who will be married today and promptly leave for Hawaii, was signed to back
up Chauncey Billups. 



With the new players, the Celtics now have 13 contracts guaranteed for next
season. That means another trade could happen soon, although Wallace said
yesterday that the chances are slim anything will take place in the next
couple of weeks. For now, the Celtics are counting on Mills, Billups,
Antoine Walker, Ron Mercer, and Travis Knight to be their core players. Los
Angeles native Mills, 27, is the old man of the probable starting lineup. 



Wallace was asked why he and Pitino thought Mills was a better fit than
Williams. 



''Chris gives us a much better long-distance shooter [than Williams],''
Wallace said. ''Statistically, he's a better rebounder. We're impressed
with his defense and durability.''



They also believe he will play better in a faster-paced offense as opposed
to the trickle-down offense the Cavaliers have used the past three seasons.




One thing the Celtics won't have to worry about with Mills is his
workmanship. He once played 223 straight minutes, including every minute of
a double-overtime game. During one offseason, he decided to work out with
Michael Jordan and returned to Cleveland with a flawless physique. And
while he was in Los Angeles on breaks from the University of Arizona, he
would answer the morning basketball calls of Magic Johnson. The former
Lakers star would rent a gym and invite NBA and college stars to play in
pickup games. It was during those informal sessions, Mills once said, that
he learned the value of being on time. Johnson would tell the players when
he wanted them to be on the court. Once, Hakeem Olajuwon showed up late.
Johnson told him he would have to sit out a while because he wasn't on
time. 



None of that will disappoint Pitino, who hasn't taken an extended break
from basketball since his May hiring. 



''Coach Pitino is extremely comfortable with durable players,'' Wallace
said. 



Once again, durability had something to do with the signing of Edney, the
small guard known for his winning shot for UCLA against Missouri in the
1995 NCAA tournament. The Celtics wanted a proven point guard backing up
Billups. They also wanted someone who can quickly advance the ball upcourt.




Now, less than two months before training camp, it appears all the Celtics
have to do is play and see what happens. Only five players remain from the
worst season in franchise history. That number may be reduced in the next
eight weeks, adding further to the Merrimac Facelift. 



This story ran on page of the Boston Globe on 08/23/97. 
© Copyright 1997 Globe Newspaper Company.