Mercer for Dampier

[Jeremy <jwarren@eecs.tufts.edu>]

From: Evan LaGrasse <01elagra@jasper.uor.edu>

>That's why we're lucky you're not the "Ricktator." Hey, why don't we
>trade
>Walker for Bradley too and then we will have the most imposing twin tower
>tandem in the league. Robinson and Duncan watch out, Bradley and Dampier
>are coming!!!

From: "Greg Odegaard" <gmodegaa@longvred.rmc.com>

>Sorry you can pick maybe 10 other players in the entire league that I
>think
>the average C's fan would trade for Mercer, and Dampier is not likely in
>the top 50.

	The problem with a lot of sports fans is that they overrate their
own players.  Greg your basically implying that Mercer is one of the top
ten players in the league when he isn't even in the top 50.  Mercer is at
this point an average starting two guard with a lot of upside.  This type
of player is available in every draft.  Here are the eastern conference 
two guards who are as good or better than Mercer:

Penny Hardaway
Allan Houston
Kerry Kittles
Kendall Gill
Michael Jordan
Steve Smith
Joe Dumars
Jerry Stackhouse
Reggie Miller
Ray Allen

Now I admit a few of these are debatable, but I don't see Mercer making
the all-star team in the next five years.  On the other hand, with the
lack of centers in the eastern conference, I could see Pitino developing
Dampier into a near all-star.

And Greg do yourself a favor and stop deluding yourself with this you
don't need a good center to win a title talk.  Houston won two titles in
the last ten years.  Five of the other eight were won by the Bulls.  They
have the greatest player of all time and one of the top 50 (if not top 25)
of all time.  To think that Mercer and Walker are the next Jordan or
Pippen is a pipe dream.  And even if they are, the Bulls still needed
solid centers (Cartwright in the early years and Longley now) and tough,
dirty work, rebounding power forwards (formerly Horace Grant and now
Dennis Rodman) to win their titles.  The Celtics don't have any players
that meet these qualifications (unless you're hoping Popeye Jones is the
next Dennis Rodman).

I'm not saying Mercer for Dampier is the best possible scenario, I was
just responding to someone who asked what it would take to get him.  I
still like the idea of packaging Travis Knight, Dana Barros, and our
lottery pick to the Lakers for Elden Campbell.  That would leave us with
all of our cap room to get the best available forward that we can afford.

Why are so many people hung up on getting a back up two guard?  Bruce
Bowen is a great back up.  Let's worry about filling out the starting five
first.  With two more frontcourt starters, our bench would look very
solid.

Jeremy