Bulpett: Budget Clouds Mercer's Future

[wayray@ix.netcom.com (Way Of The Ray)]

This is a paraphrase of Steve Bulpett's article -- non-
Web posted -- from today's Boston Herald (p. 115):

- Contract negotiations between the C's and Mercer will be interesting
this summer

- "Budgetary concerns" could intrude upon the negotiations, despite the
fact, that "Mercer is clearly a key member of the operation..."

- Pitino said negotiations will be more difficult than the Walker one's
because he said he has a budget, "'that I have to stay within...'"

- Pitino further stated: "'It's not something that's just going to 
happen, like Antoine's...'"

- Bulpett mentions that the C's could wait to sign Mercer in the summer
of 2000.

- Pitino mentions that Chris Wallace is going to handle the financial 
aspects of the negotiations, and that he hasn't thought about it all
that much

Now for the good stuff:

Bulpett says:

"Mercer's name has been raised in trade discussions 
before, and he will likely come up again if the Celtics
can find a large, high-quality defender and rebounder for
the power forward spot - or even a front-line point guard.

"The latter would have to be a package that includes 
Kenny Anderson.

"While noting that he certainly isn't trying to get rid of a
talent like Mercer (Ray's comment: Ha Ha Ha), Pitino acknowledged
that a new contract for his Kentucky pupil would essentially
bind him to Boston for a while.

"'Once you sign him, you can't really trade him for two years... 
If Ron signs, then he goes to base year and you can only get 50 percent 
back in trade after a certain date.'"

Bulpett says the Mercer contract issue will come down to "how much Gaston
allows his coach and president to spend."
Ray