ESPN article on Knight

[Steskiles@aol.com]

Here's what ESPN is reporting about the Knight deal...beginning with a quote
from Knight himself and the official good-bye to Captain Rick Fox:

     "There were other teams involved. I don't think I would have left L.A.
for any
team but Boston," Knight said Monday. 
     "The money was the same with a lot of teams, but to play for coach
Pitino was an overwhelming factor."
     With oft-injured Pervis Ellison the only other center on the roster, the
Celtics
hope Knight can play 30 minutes a game next season.
     Knight, who averaged 16.3 minutes as a rookie, said he felt he could
make the
adjustment to the increased playing time.
    "When someone like Coach Pitino has confidence in you, you can't help but
have confidence in yourself," Knight said. "But I know I have a long way to
go."
     In order to fit Knight under the salary cap, the Celtics had to renounce
the rights
to all nine of their free agents, including captain Rick Fox.
     Pitino said he wanted to keep both Fox and forward Marty Conlon but "our
hand was forced. We'll deal with it and move on."
     Boston also renounced the rights to Frank Brickowski, Todd Day, Nate
Driggers, Steve Hamer, Michael Hawkins, Alton Lister and Brett Szabo.
     The Chicago Bulls drafted Knight out of the University of Connecticut
last year
with the last pick of the first round. They didn't sign him and he was
claimed by
Los Angeles, where he averaged 4.8 points and 4.5 rebounds last season.
Knight, 22, averaged 6.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 25.6 minutes in 14 games as
a starter.
     Celtics general manager Chris Wallace discounted the low projections for
Knight when he entered the league.
     "It's not so much his pedigree in the draft," Wallace said. "It's what
his
characteristics are. This guy has some bona fide NBA characteristics."
      "The sky's the limit about how much better he can get," Pitino said.