Re: More on the newest Celtic

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

Here's some updated information on the Denver pick from Sandy
in the News Group who heard Chris Wallace on 790 AM:

C's option on the Denver choice starts in 2001, ends in 2004.
2001, it's lottery protected for the first five; 2002 for the
first 3; 2003 at 1; 2004 equals no protection. C's must use
the pick by 2004.  No option in 2000, most likely because Orlando has
first dibs on the higher of Denver's two choices. It's likely,
Orlando will end up with Denver's pick and the Nuggets will
have Cleveland's choice, somewhere between 15 and 24.

As far as the C's ever drafting a player with that Denver choice,
I don't see it happening. Pitino will package it off, perhaps
as soon as the February trading deadline, or if San Antonio puts
Duncan up for bids, it could be included then....
Ray


> Subject: More on the newest Celtic
> Date: Tue, 03 Aug 1999 13:38:56 EDT
> From: Alex Wang <awang@mit.edu>
> To: celtics@igtc.com
> 
> Fortson goes to the line very often - 231 free throw attempts vs 386 field
> goal attempts. And he shoots over 70% from the line. To compare, Walker
> took 202 FT to 735 FG, Mercer took 105 FT to 707 FG. Couple that with his
> excellent 49.5% shooting from the field and you have an nice, high-percentage
> offensive player. Along with Williams, he should reduce the free throw
> disparity that the Celtics typically face.
> 
> On the negative side, Fortson has the tendency to get into foul trouble. I
> count nine times that he fouled out last season. Twelve more times he ended
> the game with five fouls. That's over 40% of the season where he gets into
> extreme foul trouble. As others have speculated, the new rules may hamper
> him even further. However, he may do better if he plays his natural power
> forward position rather than center.
> 
> The trade also fulfills Hubie Brown's rule of 3.5 scorers per unit. We have
> Pierce and Walker as full scorers and Potapenko, Anderson, and Fortson as
> half scorers. Or perhaps Potapenko ends up being a "full scorer" and Fortson
> counts as a non-scorer who has very few plays run for him (but scores due
> to putbacks and other opportunistic baskets).
> 
> Was it Ray that suggested that the first rounder could be dealt? I think
> that's quite possible, and a good use of the pick to improve the team now.
> For instance, Denver's last pick was used by Toronto to acquire Antonio
> Davis. Pheonix is evidently trying to use their pick (Shawn Marion) to
> acquire Penny Hardaway. Seattle's low lottery pick was sufficient to pry
> away Horace Grant. Atlanta is heading for a younger team; could Potapenko
> and Denver's draft pick, along with cap filler, pry Mutombo away, during
> the season or near draft time next year? Or how about pursuing Darrell
> Armstrong, who at 31 years old doesn't seem to fit in with the Magic's
> rebuilding plan?
> 
> Alex