Mashburn trade

[Alex Wang <awang@mit.edu>]

I'd say the proposed trade (essentially Mercer and Knight for Mashburn)
is really something that Pitino is the most qualified person in the
world to evaluate. Mashburn's had that knee injury but other than that
seems to have a pretty healthy history; does one injury make someone
injury-prone? Or is there more of an injury history?

Comparisons: Mashburn is 25, Mercer is 21. Mashburn has three-point range
which Mercer still has to develop. Mercer seems to be more athletic.
There are some important questions that Pitino may have insight on:
  Does Mashburn still have the "scoring machine" ability that he displayed
   in Dallas?
  How much will Mashburn improve in Pitino's system?

Right now Mashburn is the third option for Miami; on the Celtics he
would probably be option 1A (after Walker). Could he step up?

Do people on this list consider Knight an asset or liability at this
point, with his contract? There have been rumblings that he's unhappy 
here and judging by playing time and starts, Pitino's soured on him.

Alex