CELTICS: Murdock hopes to play for Pitino

["Belanger,Roger" <rbelange@foxboro.com>]

CELTICS: Murdock hopes to play for Pitino

The former PC star takes part in the Celtics' rookie-free agent camp in
a bid to join the coach he never had.

By KEVIN McNAMARA
Providence Journal-Bulletin Sports Writer


WALTHAM, Mass. -- Coming out of high school in New Jersey, Eric Murdock
had his hopes set on playing for Rick Pitino at Providence College.
Unfortunately, he never had the chance.

Pitino broke Murdock's heart, and those of Friar fans everywhere, when
he left PC for the New York Knicks in 1987. Murdock, who was recruited
by Pitino and assistant Stu Jackson in the fall of his senior year at
Bridgewater-Raritan High, thought his chance to play in Pitino's
pressing, uptempo style was gone forever.

"I always thought my game was perfect for Pitino's system," Murdock
said. "I still do."

The lure of finally playing for Pitino has Murdock in the Celtics'
rookie-free agent camp this week at Brandeis University. While Murdock's
chances of landing a spot on the Celts' opening day roster appear slim
right now, he's opening some eyes.

As he did so well for Rick Barnes at Providence, Murdock's hands are
super quick and dangerous. He deflects virtually any ball that comes his
way. In the pressing, trapping defense Pitino hopes to use with the
Celtics, those are valuable skills.

"I really feel I'm perfectly suited for this style, especially on
defense," he said. "Hopefully there's room for me."

The point guards blocking Murdock's path to a roster spot are rookie
Chauncey Billups and veterans Dana Barros and Dee Brown. Despite his
praising of Brown in recent days, Pitino would dearly love to trade his
large contract and free up salary cap room for future moves. That would
also open a spot for someone like Murdock or Rumeal Robinson, another
point guard looking good in camp.

"The thinking with Eric and Rumeal is something could open up in a
trade," Pitino said. "We may have to throw someone into a trade for
salary cap reasons, for example. If there is a trade, we may need
someone at point guard."

Timing could be key for Murdock and the Celtics. He says he'll play for
the Celts in a three-day camp in Atlanta this weekend if he's invited
after the camp closes today. If he's left off the 10-man team, he may
travel to Sacramento and play with the Kings in a different camp.

By the end of July, Murdock hopes to have a handle on either NBA
situation so he can decide his future. Murdock, 29, spent last season
playing for Bologna Fortitudo in the Italian Professional League. He
says the team has offered him a deal to return for roughly $1 million in
American money. 

Murdock has no chance to sign a deal that large with an NBA team. But
the chance to return to the best league on the planet is enough to
entice Murdock to take a pay cut.

"I'm 29 and not getting any younger, so making the most money I can is a
priority, but I will sacrifice to play with Boston because I think I can
thrive here," he said.

As recently as two seasons ago, Murdock looked to be a permanent fixture
in the NBA. On the last year of his contract in Milwaukee in 1995,
Murdock took the wrong side in a labor dispute where several agents
looked to disband the union. Murdock's open lobbying for the move did
not win any friends in Milwaukee and he was traded to Vancouver.

Greg Anthony beat out Murdock with the Grizzlies, and at the end of the
'96 season, the Grizzlies released him. He signed with Denver last
summer and played well for the Nuggets in the pre-season. But when Mark
Jackson returned from an injury after the first month of the season,
Murdock was waived.

He signed with Bologna a month later and teammed with former Syracuse
star Conrad McRae to lead the team to the Italian league finals.

He's played well with the Celtics, especially on defense and feeding
teammates on fastbreaks. His shot has been off, though.

"I'm shooting it real high for some reason," he said. "It's really just
confidence. I'm thinking too much instead of shooting it. I'm not
worried about that, though."

Like most players, Murdock is high on the future of the Celtics with
Pitino in charge. He'd love to work his way into an uptempo,
free-wheeling style dependent on guards taking defensive chances and
shooting from anywhere on the court.

"I think the Celtics won't be down for long," he said. "You look at Ron
Mercer the last few days. He's a player. Who knows, maybe I'll finally
get a chance to play for coach Pitino."