Celtics/NBA Notes - June 1, 1998

[witchcraft1998@hotmail.com (Witch)]

                     Possible Trades

The gap between the have's and the have-not's may increase in the Atlantic 
Division, as Peter Vecsey reports in a recent column that Pat Riley plans to shake 
things up in Miami this summer.  He's "offered Voshun Lenard and either PJ Brown or 
Jamal Mashburn for Latrell Sprewell."   Vecsey's response: "I can't envision the 
Warriors doing better than that."   Other deals are also in the works, or at least 
that's what Riley hopes is the case, as the NY Post columnist notes, Riley has 
"offered to package Mashburn and Brown for Glen Rice and other goodies..." but that 
deal doesn't appear likely to happen.  One that could occur is Elden Campbell to 
Orlando for Horace Grant.  Vecsey seems to think, that deal makes a lot of sense for
both clubs.

On the free agent front, if the Ricktator wants to pursue Corliss Williamson instead 
of Matt Geiger, he's going to have to contend with Sacramento who doesn't want to 
lose him, and Houston who may make Williamson their top priority, now that it looks 
like Rod Strickland may re-sign with the Wizards.


                      Pitino's Real Big Man

When all is said and done, the best free agent center available to the Celtics may be 
7-8 North Korean Michael Ri, who in a recent game against a Chinese team scored 
fifty.  Ri, who's favorite player is Michael Jordan, has been called a George Muresan 
with "skills."  Unfortunately, it looks like Orlando may have the "inside track" on 
signing him, when he eventually receives from the U.S. State Department, the right to 
be gainfully employed in America.  Any team trying to sign him at the present time, 
would be, as Peter May mentioned in Sunday's Boston Globe, in violation of the 
"United States' Trading With The Enemies Act."  But a waiver may be on the way.
One thing not in his favor, is his age, as at 28, he'd be an old rookie.


           Peter May's Consensus Top Five Picks In The Draft 

1. LA Clippers: Mike Bibby
2. Vancouver Grizzlies: Paul Pierce
3. Denver Nuggets: Michael Olowokandi
4. Toronto Raptors: Raef LaFrentz
5. Golden State Warriors: Antawn Jamison



Peter May On An Unexpected Complication To The Celtics Signing Matt Geiger

"We hear that Matt Geiger may have told his housekeeper in Charlotte to forward his 
belongings to Boston.  Hmm.  Now, here's a potential fly in the Geiger-to-Boston 
ointment.  Suppose there is no lockout.  On July 1, a cap figure of $26.9 million per 
team is in place and it won't rise to the $30 million-$32 million range until mid-
August.  The Celtics can do nothing until the new numbers click in.  But several 
teams -- Houston, Phoenix, and maybe even Chicago -- will be able to do something on 
July 1.  So Boston, like many teams, may find its player gone.  Pitino may be better
off re-signing Popeye Jones and Zan Tabak than throwing all his cap money at someone 
like Geiger."

                     WC