RE: Ratliff...

[John Lyell <Jlyell@concentric.net>]

I really think Ron Mercer is better suited for the 3 spot.  The one thing 
since his college days he has not shown is range beyond 20 ft.  He is a 
horrible 2-27 this year from the 3 point mark. I heard Brian Burwell? from 
ESPN respond to Vince Cellini's question on the status of Antoine Walker. 
 He stated he had spoken to Walker and that he said he wanted to stay in 
Boston but would test the market for his value.

I think if we keep Walker at the 4, move Mercer to the 3, in the draft take 
the best big 2 (Vince Carter, Bonzai Wells , Corey Benjamin, Miles Simon, 
Toby Bailey, Richard Hamilton) with range,  or center available, in FA fill 
the other spot (A Jerry Stackhouse if we go for the 5 spot in the draft ? 
), we will have a pretty awesome foundation for the future.   I also would 
love to steal a Jeff Sheppard with some move of Barros, Minor, or Travis 
for a mid to late first rounder. He can shoot the rock.


Here are a couple of ideas for the center position .  Juwan Howard will 
probably be gone at year end.  Can we put any package together to get him ? 
 I doubt it, but if we were to give up our first round pick, Knight, and 
Barros it might fit, but I have a feeling Sprewell will end up in 
Washington for some reason, and Washington will want more than we can 
offer.

Another is Derrick Coleman.  Although not a true center he has played 
pretty good this year, especially against us.  I know he has a salary about 
$10M but that doesn't seem that ridiculous any more for a productive big 
man.  As someone said, when we sign Walker we probably won't be under the 
cap for a long time so any moves proceeding this signing will be key to our 
future.









On Sunday, April 05, 1998 8:39 AM, Jaime Castillo 
[SMTP:jaims@philonline.com.ph] wrote:
> I didn't say we get Ratliff as our center, we are getting him for his 
power forward height, strength and skills.  I was only saying if it would 
take a lot of money to go after Geiger...then forget it, I would pursue on 
Theo and offer him what's reasonable.  If he gets greedy too, junk him.  Go 
after the next best available PF or center.
>
> My only point is that we go after the most talented, skillfull free agent 
that would really contribute on what the team is needing now (defense, 
power rebounding-10 caroms/game at least, and of course intimidation in the 
middle).
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