Re: this team sucks/but will change

[j.hironaka@unesco.org]

Hi Zhi Zhir/Friends:

Mercer and Battie for a Anthony Mason etc. makes sense because we'd have a starting
lineup of genuine bad-asses who can also adroitly whip the ball out of any double
team. But personally I think we are giving up too much potential (two former top 6
lotto picks after all) to buy such instant gratification. Speaking as a New Yorker
at heart (I used to write for Unicef), I actually always greatly preferred Mason to
Oakley when they both played in the Apple. Besides, I believe Oakley was contracted
to earn well over 10 million this year, so he'd laugh in Pitino's face if we
offered him 1.7 million for the privilege of immediately taking part in
4-times-per-week workouts as soon as the season ends for our (hopefully) 22nd best
team in the NBA.

Personally, I think Toronto sold their souls to the devil by trading for two 35-36
year old guys (Willis and Oakley) to improve their 1999 record. I'd much rather
have the Celtics' future than swap it for Toronto's present.

I can't believe I'm in my office past 10:00 pm writing procrastination posts to the
Celts list. I'm over my head with work out here. I want to stick my head in the
paper shredder.  Sob, sob...


****

Alex Wang wrote:

> Hart,
>
> The nine-man rotation that you give wouldn't be a bad direction
> for the Celtics. In fact, in another three years when the young
> players mature, it could be pretty impressive. I see a couple of
> potential problems though:
>
> First, the salary structure. The Walker/Mercer/Pierce rotation at
> 2 and 3 is probably going to end up being a $200M rotation.
> You have another $11M/year invested at point guard.
>
> Second, a lack of inside scoring. I think Oakley is best suited to
> be a complementary forward to a scoring center (like he has been
> to Willis and Ewing). He doesn't have much of an inside offensive
> game; he gets most of his points from open midrange jumpers off
> double teams. I don't know if I feel comfortable having Vitaly
> carrying so much of an inside scoring load. While Walker
> could post up at the small forward position to some degree, using
> him exclusively inside would be a misuse of his talents.
>
> Third, I doubt we can obtain a quality veteran power forward for the
> middle class exemption, because we are obviously a young developing
> team with no contending chances. My guess is that the exemption is
> spent on a veteran scorer at 2 or 3.
>
> My preference is to see Mercer and Battie traded for a power forward
> that can rebound, defend, and draw double teams. Both of these guys
> are in their contract extension years which is trouble for the Celtics
> because the Celtics don't have infinitely deep pockets. Trading Mercer
> for an inside player would turn the whole offense from a mostly jump
> shooting one into an inside oriented one.
>
> Alex