DeClerq and D. Strong

[Kerry Kee <kkee@highground.com>]

This ran in today's Boston Globe.

>
>Celtics wait on Radja before inking DeClercq=20
>By Peter May, Globe Staff, 07/15/97=20
>
>
>The Celtics may not have any money to spend, but that unimportant
>technicality isn't stopping them from making deals.=20
>
>Yesterday, it was learned that the team has reached an agreement in
>principle with free agent center/forward Andrew DeClercq, who played the
>last two years for the Golden State Warriors. The 6-foot-10-inch DeClercq
>will be on board for five years and $8.4 million.=20
>
>In addition, the team also has an offer to free agent power forward Derek
>Strong for four years, probably in the same financial neighborhood. Strong
>also is considering re-signing with Orlando, but only for one year with the
>understanding he would be rewarded down the road.=20
>
>How can the Celtics do this? These are contingency deals and hinge on the
>resolution of the Dino Radja mess, which yesterday appeared to be a
>happening thing. That could free up close to $3 million as Radja takes an
>offer to play in Greece. The Celtics conceivably could use that sum to sign
>both DeClercq and Strong.=20
>
>The team also will get more money in mid-August when the new salary cap
>figures are implemented. That figure could be as much as $1.6 million.=20
>
>So, clearly, settling the Radja situation is ultra-critical. Last Friday,
>Radja's agent, Marc Fleisher, said he thought the deal was basically dead.
>Yesterday, he was not nearly as pessimistic.=20
>
>``We're getting closer,'' he said. ``But I've been up and down this road so
>many times I don't know what to think. This should have been done a long
>time ago.''
>
>Celtics general manager Chris Wallace said last night that the matter is
>still being negotiated. ``We're still talking,'' he said. ``There is still
>some life in this thing. But from my experience, they can get protracted=
 and
>take on a life of their own. We hope to have it settled soon.''
>
>That has been what the Celtics have been saying for the last two weeks, or
>ever since the Globe first reported that Radja was being courted by
>Panathinaikos. The holdup has been getting the sides to agree to a buyout,
>as Radja cannot earn in Europe what he is owed by the Celtics: $16.2=
 million
>over the next three years. Until that gets settled, everything else is on
hold.=20
>
>As for DeClercq, the Warriors were in no mad rush to re-sign him, having
>Adonal Foyle, Joe Smith, Felton Spencer, and Todd Fuller up front. DeClercq
>did play well down the stretch for Golden State last season, but was not in
>the team's plans for next year. Reportedly, they offered him two years for
>$1 million, total.=20
>
>DeClercq told the San Jose Mercury News yesterday that nothing was final.
>However, he talked of the Celtics in the present tense and later, sources
>said, the Warriors were informed of the five-year agreement.=20
>
>``Having watched coach [Rick] Pitino at Kentucky, I know how he coaches and
>I've gotten to see his style and his ability to take a team and make a
>winner out of it,'' DeClercq said. ``It's going to afford me the chance to
>play.''
>
>DeClercq also was being pursued by the Lakers and Knicks, teams that can
>offer only the $1 million exception as part of a two-year, $2.15 million
>deal. The Sixers were in that position, too, but knew things were hopeless
>when DeClercq yesterday canceled his visit. The Celtics were in a position
>to go higher with their contingency offer. DeClercq and Pitino also met=
 last
>Saturday for lunch in Atlanta; the free agent lives in Florida.=20
>
>``I can't comment on any offer, but we have interest in him,'' Wallace said
>of DeClercq. ``Rick knows him well. And you don't have to be a basketball
>guru to know that we have some holes up front.''
>
>DeClercq appeared in 71 games for the Warriors, averaging 5.3 points and 4
>rebounds a game. He earned $276,000 last year and is somewhat similar in
>style to Travis Knight. Both players can rebound, run the floor, and
>DeClercq also can pick up garbage points around the basket.=20
>
>Strong's situation is not much different than it has been for days. He has
>an offer from Boston, but he also has support in Orlando, notably from
>teammate Penny Hardaway. Strong's options are a one-year deal this season
>with Orlando for around $300,000 and then a hoped-for raise to $2.6 million
>and $3.1 million the following two years under the Early Bird exception.
>That would give him $6 million over three years, which is in the same
>ballpark as what the Celtics are offering. However, the Celtics' offer=
 would
>be valid. The Magic's would be hypothetical.=20
>
>This story ran on page C03 of the Boston Globe on 07/15/97.=20
>=A9 Copyright 1997 Globe Newspaper Company.=20
- -----------------------------------------------------
Kerry M. Kee                     kkee@highground.com
HighGround Systems               (508)263-5588 x144
1300 Mass. Ave, Suite 205        (508)263-5565 (fax)
Boxboro, MA 01719-2203
- -----------------------------------------------------