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Boston Globe Online / Sports / Boston Celtics
- Subject: Boston Globe Online / Sports / Boston Celtics
- From: Tony Pinto <bagaco@worldnet.att.net>
- Date: Sat, 23 Aug 97 15:03:45 -0700
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> [The Boston Globe Online][Boston.com] [Celtics]
> [Today's Date]
>
> Mills, Edney in new Celtic mix
>
> By Michael Holley, Globe Staff, 08/23/97
>
> Cleaning House
> The Celtics, under Rick
> Pitino, have renounced
> their rights to or traded
> away 12 players from last
> year's roster. Here is
> what has happened to the
> '96-97 Celtics:
>
> Player His fate
>
> Dee Brown Still on
> team,
> penciled in
> as reserve
> guard
>
> Greg Minor Still on
> team, figures
> to be reserve
> guard
>
> Dana Barros Still on
> team, to be
> used as sixth
> man
>
> Pervis Still on
> Ellison team, but
> where he fits
> in is
> question
>
> Dino Radga Settled
> contract,
> allowing him
> to play in
> Greece
>
> Eric Traded to
> Williams Denver
> Nuggets for
> two draft
> picks
>
> David Unrestricted
> Wesley free agent
> signed with
> Charlotte
>
> Rick Fox Restricted
> free agent
> renounced
>
> Monty Restricted
> Conlon free agent
> renounced
>
> Todd Day Restricted
> free agent
> renounced
>
> Frank Restricted
> Brickowski free agent
> renounced
>
> Alton Restricted
> Lister free agent
> renounced
>
> Brent Szabo Restricted
> free agent
> renounced
>
> Nate Restricted
> Driggers free agent
> renounced
>
> Michael Restricted
> Hawkins free agent
> renounced
>
> Steve Restricted
> Hammer free agent
> renounced
>
> hey are now a team
> made over, nearly
> nipped and tucked beyond
> recognition. The New
> Celtics still wear
> green-and-white uniforms,
> but that wardrobe is among
> the few links to last
> season's 15-67 crew. Rick
> Pitino and Chris Wallace
> believe they have made
> more than surface changes
> to the Celtics. They think
> most of the guys coming in
> are upgrades over the ones
> who have gone away.
>
> 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.
> [Image]
>
> 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.
- --
GO CELTICS!!!!! GO BRUINS!!!! GO RED SOX!!!! GO BRUINS!!!! GO CELTICS!!!!
GO RED SOX!!!!! GO PATRIOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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