Re: Rate Pitino's move Poll

["Damon Graff" <dgraff@mfi.com>]

     Clearly you think that Pitino's moves weren't very good, just by the 
     way you asked the question.  Cynicism aside, here's the deal on the 
     deals:
     
     1. Letting David Wesley go.
                B       Wesley was a good player, but he's not the point 
     guard of the future.  Billups might be, and we have to go with that.  
     Wesley's at the top of his game now, and even though he was a scrappy 
     player for us and did some good things, he wasn't more than an average 
     point guard.
     
     2. Swapping down our second round pick with Miami for Chris Wallace.
                C       Even though everyone kept saying how it didn't 
     really matter because no one any good was available in the second 
     round, I've got to believe that we'd have had a better shot at someone 
     good at the top of the round than at the bottom.  Still, Chris Wallace 
     may prove to be of more long-term value to the franchise, and Ben 
     Pepper is a good long-term risk with a second-rounder.
     
     3. Signing Travis Knight to a 7 year contract.
                B       The jury will be out on this one for sume time.  If 
     Travis gives us 15 points & 10 rebounds, then the deal was a steal.  
     If he turns in to the next Montross, then not.  But he seems to be 
     almost exactly the player Pitino wants at the 5 hole right now, and 
     we've got to see what he's got before we can condemn him.
     
     4. Renouncing Rick Fox and Marty Conlon
                Rick: C-, Marty: B      Marty Conlon was a good player to 
     have on a 15-win team, and gave us some good minutes.  As a role 
     player, he's OK.  But if keeping him interferes at all with our larger 
     plans, then letting him go is a no-brainer.  Fox would have been good 
     to keep around, as he's definitely a quality player.  But we have a 
     glut of 6-7 guys on the C's, and re-signing him would have crippled us 
     far more than the Travis Knight deal.
     
     5. Getting rid of Dino.
                B+      It may not have gone as smoothly as one would like, 
     but let's not forget that he's damaged goods now, and simply does not 
     fit in Pitino's system.  You can't teach an old dog new tricks, and 
     he's not going to box out and play defense no matter who his coach is. 
      And run down the floor?  Even if he were physically able, he wouldn't 
     do it.  As far as getting rid of him "for nothing", that's just 
     inaccurate.  We're getting about $3 million in cap money, which in 
     today's NBA is as good as a trade, if not better.  Dino for DeClerq 
     and Strong?  Who wouldn't have made that trade?
     
     6. Drafted Chauncey Billups #3
                A       Did the best with what was available, and didn't do 
     the predictable ML move of getting the largest guy out there, despite 
     deficiencies in his game.  Once again, the jury's still out.
     
     7. Drafted Ron Mercer #6
                A-      Could be a solid A, we'll see.  If Battie had been 
     available at 6, it might have been a different story.  But choosing 
     Mercer over Foyle is a good move.
     
     8. Renounced the other guys
                A       Dead wood, all of 'em.
     
     Overall GPA: B
     
     But keep in mind that this team has yet to play a single game together 
     under a new coach, new system, etc.  By midseason, we'll either have 
     him at a solid A or somewhere in the C- range.
     
     What would ML have done/not done?  Well, he would have re-signed both 
     Fox and Wesley to long-term megadeals, drafted Battie at #3 and Foyle 
     or Mercer at #6, kept Dino, etc.  I don't think anyone would argue 
     that we're not better off under Rick P.
     
                - Damon


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Subject: Rate Pitino's move Poll
Author:  Paul Whitla <whitla@iohk.com> at Internet