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New York Daily News Article on Pitino.
Here is excerpts, from a New York daily news article on Pitino. Needless to say
it paints a pretty negative picture for the Celtics future. But hear are points
that might just indicate that he is playing around with the media:
- Some months ago Pitino said that Pitino had said that he has OK
to negotiate contracts up 7-8 mill. This article reports that RP
is now saying that he has the authority to negotiate contract in
13-14 mill range but not 120 mill range.
- On an another point pitino remarked earlier that Gaston won't
be willing to spend a lot of money on a player.This article says
that Gaston is willing to spend the cash but Pitino feels that
he may not do a 120 mill contract.
- Mishra
Pitino Sees Stars But Celts owner won't overpay if he were
starting over again in Lexington, Ky., building above the remains
of a scandal, Rick Pitino would have cherished this loss to
the Knicks. His players moved with urgency and passion,
scaring a superior opponent on the road, succumbing only to a
dearth of skill. But in the NBA, a quick recruiting pitch or two
does not a program make. Pitino needs talent his owner
likely won't buy. Precisely why in the first decade of the
next millennium, with the FleetCenter hanging no new
banners to call its own, the coach will understand why he never
should have graduated from Kentucky in the first place. Pitino
will make $42 million for six years of sideline rage, another $8
million for four years of phone work. So he'll end up as
heavy in the wallet as he'll be light in the trophy case. His
career won't be the better for it. The problem doesn't involve
style. As one of the three or four best coaches alive, NBA or
NCAA, Pitino can add a professional title to his collegiate
one with his manic approach to defense and
substitution. But he needs star players.
Paul Gaston, Celtics owner, knows the price of stardom. He
paid it for Pitino. He doesn't want to pay it for Pitino's
ambition. "I think Paul is very realistic," the coach said
an hour before his Celtics were beaten by the aims of Allan
Houston and Chris Mills and the elbows of Charles Oakley.
"He said he's willing to spend money, but I don't think he'll get
into a situation with a $120 million contract and bankrupt the
organization." No bankruptcy, no ring. Such is the new order of
the NBA. You either grant $100 million contracts the way the
Lakers, Heat, Timberwolves, Cavaliers and Wizards did, or you
remain rich and miserable after Michael Jordan retires.
Pitino said Gaston assured him final say on all decisions
involving annual salaries below $14 million.
Of course, $13.5 million today will get you Joe Smith and the
eighth seed in the East. Gaston is telling his country club
friends he doesn't want to give Antoine Walker more than
$10 million per. That should be good for a few laughs when
Gaston sits down this summer with one of Walker's country club
friends, David Falk. The agent has a reputation to protect, and a
client who might be better than Kevin Garnett. If Gaston
says no to a nine-figure deal, Walker will be leaving early on
his college coach one more time. "I already told Antoine we
can't do that," Pitino said, referring to a Garnett-sized
offer. "If you're competing with other players who can
make the most rather than how many times you get the ball . . .
that, to me, is more gratifying than whether you can
get another million or two." Pitino could sell holy water to the
Vatican. It is why he willed Providence to the Final Four
"Best coaching job I've ever seen," said Jeff Van Gundy,
yesteryear's aide and yesterday's victor. It is why Pitino made
Mark Jackson play out of his dreams with the Knicks. But sweet
talk has second-round boundaries in the pros. Pitino might have
convinced a teenage Walker he belonged at Kentucky. Four years
later, convincing Walker he belongs at $80 million rather than
$120 million is a different proposition. That's just to keep the
Celtics' one valuable piece in place.
Pitino believes his team needs at least two more high-grade
players to grow into a contender, and Scottie Pippen, Tom
Gugliotta and Damon Stoudamire could be available. But Gaston
isn't Paul Allen or ITT. He's more worried about his
franchise than his franchise coach. "You're in this to win
a championship and at least break even," Pitino said, "but losing
money is not something smart for any businessman. "I don't
think it will ever happen, but I'd love to see a hard (salary)
cap. The New York Knicks' payroll is $54 million (actually
$52 million), and that doesn't bother them at all. It would
bother us. It would be great if everybody . . . had the same
playing field." There will be no hard cap to save Pitino. In
fact, the players' union might fight again this summer for the
death of the soft cap. Either way, cash flow will determine
the winners and losers.
Pitino had no problem with this concept in the summer of '96.
Before meeting with the Nets at a Cincinnati airport hotel,
Pitino told C.M. Newton, Kentucky athletic director, he
was leaving for Jersey. This was before Nets owner Henry Taub
told his recruit he didn't want to lose any money. A year later,
Boston offered Pitino $30 million more than the Nets did, then
stuck him with a team that had won 15 games. Pitino already
has beaten that mark, though his roster is rife with headaches.
Travis Knight, at $22 million, was a mistake. Walter
McCarty starts. People named Bruce Bowen come off the bench.
The Celtics cannot rebound or draw fouls. After 38 games,
their opponents have taken 376 more free throws. "Right now,"
Pitino said, "we've got the desire and hustle but
nowhere near the talent." That didn't stop Pitino at Kentucky.
But in the pros, there's only one way to secure talent.
It isn't a quick recruiting trip to Bed-Stuy.