Centers

[Alex Wang <awang@mit.edu>]

The Celtics currently have two very good starters (Walker, Anderson when
healthy) and two high-potential swingmen (Mercer, Pierce). If they can get
an above-average center, I feel they'll be a solid playoff team. Here is my 
ranking of the centers in the league:

Top tier All-NBA
 Shaquille O'Neal
 Tim Duncan 
 David Robinson

Other franchise centers
 Dikembe Mutombo
 Alonzo Mourning
 Patrick Ewing
 Hakeem Olajuwon

Best of the rest
 Jayson Williams
 Rik Smits
 Arvydas Sabonis
 Zydrunas Ilgauskas
 Isaac Austin
 Bryant Reeves
 Brian Williams
 Erick Dampier
 Vlade Divac
 Matt Geiger
 Theo Ratliff

In any case, I think that the best that Pitino could do would be to sign
Ike Austin, Matt Geiger, or Theo Ratliff. Another alternative (which fits
the "sign the players that burned Pitino in college" theory) would be to 
pursue Laettner and convert him back to center.  

Alex