trade and draft

[Jeremy <jwarren@emerald.tufts.edu>]

	The Dino trade was beautiful.  I just hope he passes his physical.
I can see Dino welling in pain when the doctor taps his knee just to get
out of Philly.  In any case, I think the trade only frees up $4.3M next
year.  They have to pay $1M to opt out of Cage's contract and I don't see
why that wouldn't count against the cap.  But it's still $4.3M more than
we would have had.  If we can unload one more contract (maybe #6 and Dee
to Toronto for #9?) we can have room to make a run at either Penny or
Garnett next year.  With the 9 pick we would be looking at Foyle, Cato,
and McGrady.

	Battie's stock is dropping because he was measured at 6' 9.5" at
the Chicago camp.  Thus he will never be a center.  I would be very happy
with either Billups or Van Horn at #3.  Although Van Horn will create a
logjam at the forward spots if we don't move Weatherspoon.  Still he looks
like the best all around offensive player in the draft.

	But Billups is also tempting because of his size and
explosiveness.  I can see him developing into an all-star point guard in a
few years.  Look at how he completely carried Colorado from nothing to
nearly making the sweet sixteen in two years.

	There was a mock draft in yesterday's NY Times that had the C's
taking Billups and McGrady (Van Horn went second, Mercer ninth).  I don't
see Pitino taking McGrady over Mercer at #6.  Ted Sarandis was saying it
could happen because Mercer won't be able to creae his own shot in the
pros.  But in all of the clips they showed of him, he looked incredibly
quuck and athletic.

Here's hoping Lorenzo Coleman (7'1", 300 lbs) slips to 55,
Jeremy