No Subject

[Peter Delevett <pdelevett@nopg.com>]

I've been thinking today about these Ike Auston rumors. First, I dont 
think it will happen -- I dont think Riley would trade to Pitino (just a 
hunch), and I dont think he'd trade within the division, and finally I 
think other teams probably can offer more.

All that being said, just for the sake of fantasizing I love the idea of 
Ike in our lineup. Last night's showing against the Lackeys shows we can 
hang with any team on any given night, but IMHO we are still a quality 
power layer, and several years' seasoning, from championship caliber. Ike 
in the middle would give us that missing piece. Then (indulge me here) if 
Roy Rogers can get healthy, I think he could be a big, shot-blocking, 
rebounding stud a la Ho Grant. His development lets Walker move to the 3. 
Mercer and Chauncey at the guards (and please, everyone, I hope the last 
few weeks have demonstrated Chauncey deserves time to grow into his job, 
and he will be a solid presence there). Coming off the bench are McCarty, 
Knight, Bowen and Edney, giving a big boost of energy from your top 
reserves. DeClercq sticks around too for size. The Fat Contract Brigade 
of Barros, Pervis, Dee and Minor go away, either through trade or 
attrition (how much time do these guys have left on their contracts, 
anyway?) None of the 4 is making a serious enough contribution to keep 
around for an eventual run at the ring, and we will need their money to 
keep together the core group. So it looks like this:

SF: Walker, McCarty
C: Austin, Knight, DeClercq
PF: Rogers (with Walker, Knight & DeClercq getting minutes here too)
SG: future All-Star Mercer, defensive stopper Bowen
PG: Billups, sparkplug Edney

I really think that lineup, in two or three years, has the makings of a 
champion. The only thing they might need would be another sizeable guard 
who can handle and shoot the three -- someone, in other words, who could 
combine the best attributes of Minor & Barros, but come cheap. There 
should be someone to fit that bill coming up in the college or CBA ranks.

As said before, all this hinges on the unlikely event of our getting Ike, 
but plug in some other future FA (Rony Seikaly? Elden Campbell?) and it 
still works. Of course, if Rogers can't go and Walker is stuck at PF, we 
need another SF as I really think Walter is best suited to a reserve role 
on a true championship-caliber squad. Thoughts?


                                    
           Peter Delevett             
            Staff Writer         
     New Orleans CityBusiness       
         pdelevett@nopg.com