RE: Sportsline report

[John Lyell <Jlyell@concentric.net>]

Neither Walker nor Garnett have shown they are worth that kind of money. 
 They are just too inconsistent.  One night they look awesome, the next 4 
they can't throw a brick in the ocean.  When you commit this kind of money 
it better be a dominant bonified star or you could burden the franchise for 
years to come, and not allow you to build a successful team.

Will Minnesota be able to keep Marbury & Gugliotta there for the long term 
and be profitable ?  Portland spent a bunch on Wallace & Grant but I don't 
think they are really that closer to contending, but they do have a good 
young nucleus and Alvin Williams performing very well, but I don't see them 
going deep in the playoffs.


Anyone know if the Lakers are limited on what they can offer Kobe Bryant ? 
 This kid has got it.






On Tuesday, January 20, 1998 5:40 PM, Alex Wang [SMTP:awang@mit.edu] wrote:
> The latest Celtics report on CBS sportsline has some interesting 
commentary:
>
> On Walker's salary negotiation:
> --
> Antoine Walker has supported Rick Pitino's claim that it won't 
necessarily
> take a contract in the established stratosphere to keep the star forward 
in
> a Celtic uniform.
>
> Pitino stated flatly last Wednesday that the Celts would not be 
delivering a
> package in the Kevin Garnett $120-million range (for a six-year 
extension).
> The coach and president added that Walker would be given the opportunity 
to
> become extremely wealthy while holding the position of prominence on the 
club.
>
> Walker tip-toed around the issue of dollars, but he agreed that other 
factors
> will carry a great deal of weight when he enters the period of 
negotiation for
> an extension this summer. (If he does not sign between July 1 and October 
1,
> he will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 1999.)
>
> "I'm in a great situation here right now, and that's important," Walker 
said.
> "Things can be pretty much the same in a lot of places as far as the 
money
> goes, so then you've got to go with the situation that's best for you.
>
> "But it's really going to be up to management. When we go into 
negotiations,
> they're going to know what it's going to take to keep me, and we'll see 
what
> happens then."
>
> Asked about the Garnett's raising of the salary bar for second-year 
players,
> Walker was cognizant of the financial playing field but understanding, 
too,
> of the side factors.
>
> "I'm not really into that," he said of the dollar competition. "I'm into 
the
> process of hopefully being able to stay here and be happy.
>
> "They'll take care of me if they want me to be here. That's basically 
what
> it's coming down to."
>
> --
> It really sounds good to me that he won't blackmail the Celtics but
> you never know what'll happen when the negotiating begins.
>
> Another interesting bit on trading Dee Brown:
> --
> Amid word from the league that other clubs are showing interest in a 
trade for
> Dee Brown, Pitino said he would like to accommodate his veteran's desire 
for
> playing time with a mutually beneficial deal.
>
> "We haven't had much conversation with that at all," Pitino said in 
regard to
> active possibilities with clubs.
>
> "But I think, on Dee's behalf, he's worked very hard, he's in very good 
shape,
> can help a team, has a good attitude, plays good defense. I'd like to see 
him
> play, so if we could trade him to a position where he would play, I would 
do
> it because he wants playing time."
>
> Brown is clearly slipping into the cracks here, but he's not rocking the 
boat.
>
> "His attitude has been outstanding, with the understanding we're going 
with
> (Ron) Mercer and (Bruce) Bowen," Pitino said. "So if I could trade him 
into a
> situation that's good for Dee, I would consider it."
> --
> If Pitino has truly turned Brown into a positive asset, he's more of a 
genius
> than I reckoned, because Dee's salary is a huge minus.
>
> Alex
>