Re[2]: trade rumors

[MBerry@mail.journalink.com (MBerry)]

          JOzersky wrote:

No way Pitino takes Billups at Three.  It just doesn't make sense.  Having
high picks can be limiting too, and you are sometimes forced to take a player
who you will trade rather than the player you want. 

          I disagree, to a certain extent. If you can trade the pick
          or player you might get at No. 3, and still get the player
          you want a spot or two lower, then you should do it. But I'm
          not sure that will happen in this case. Vancouver wants a
          point guard, and may take Billups or Daniels. Same with
          Denver. If Vancouver wants Mercer, then you can make a deal,
          so they can move up one spot and get him, and we can still
          get Billups. But if you believe Billups is the best player
          available -- and it sounds like Pitino may believe that --
          then you take him. Pitino won't buy into hype. If he
          believes Billups is going to be a better player than
          Mercer/Van Horn/Daniels/Foyle, then he will take him at No.
          3. I understand your point about taking a player and trading
          him, but I'm not sure it will work in this case.

          Of course, the worst-case scenario is Mercer and Van Horn go
          4-5 and Daniels is sitting there at 6, in which case we'd
          have to trade the pick or draft Foyle. I do not think that
          will happen, however. Either Vancouver or Denver will take
          Daniels because both teams need and want a point guard. That
          ensures Mercer or Van Horn -- probably Van Horn -- will be
          there at 6.

          It's probably a moot point, because I'll be stunned if we
          end up keeping both picks anyway.

          Mark