Re: The Boston Celtics Mailing List Digest V4 #181

[kjgoo <kjgoo@worldnet.att.net>]

JOzersky@aol.com wrote:

> 
> It seems to me that what we have is a mismatch problem. If, and this is a big if, Patino isn't being disingenuous when he says that Foyle is 
not a center, than (assuming we keep the picks) we have a problem 
picking at three.  We need an all-star, but we need size too.  SO if we 
go for Mercer, there won't be a high-caliber big man left at six -- 
Patino is not crazy about Tim Thomas' head.  It seems to me therefore 
that in such a situation the Celts will be inclined to take Van Horn, 
whom Patino likes.  He would give us a decent sized front line at 3, and 
would be a defensive problem for other threes.  Then with the 6 pick 
take Billups/Daniels whichever is left.  (If Denver takes Thomas, then 
Billups will probably be the man).  This still leaves us without a shot 
blocker, so I say, draft Mercer with three and trade him to Vancouver 
for Van Horn and Roy Rogers.  Or use the 1 Million dollar exemption to 
sign FA Bo Outlaw, who is our kind of player anyway.  As for trades, 
Bird is going around saying he needs a 3 who can score.  So trade
Eric Williams or Van Horn for Dale Davis (and if VH, than also Indiana's
pick, where you take Crosher or Andersen.) For my part, I think D. 
Andersen is as good as Mercer.  There has to be some way we can trade 
down to take him and (say) Brevin Knight.
> If the new regime (who ought to know) really isn't sold on Mercer, I 
like the idea of exploiting his marquee value and getting a quality 
player in return.  On the other hand, I think Dale Davis has probably 
seen his best days, while the general consensus aroung the league is 
that Williams has a substantial upside.  Finally, if Cleveland is 
interested, you could easily swing a trade of the 3 for the 13 and 16 
picks (and presumably remove some salary cap deadweight as well) -- 
those two ought to be sufficient to bring Anderson & Knight.

By the way, JOzersky, it's "Pitino", not "Patino".  Sorry to be a 
nagger.