Celtics Discuss Walker Deal With Pacers

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

Never fear Walker fans, as I did hear Chris Wallace say on the radio
that he envisions Antoine in a Celtics uniform this fall. And of
course, there's the base year compensation issue. But Tony Battie?
A small forward ala Rahim and Garnett... possibly.

      Boston Herald       

      Celtics, Pacers talk Walker deal
      by Mark Cofman 
      Wednesday, August 4, 1999
      After packaging Ron Mercer in a trade with the Denver Nuggets yesterday, 
      the Celtics could be set to ignite more fireworks in the organization. 
      They have turned their attention to possible deals involving star forward 
      Antoine Walker.
      Sources yesterday said the Celtics were in contact with the Indiana Pacers 
      again to discuss a deal involving the 6-foot-9 forward. But one potential 
      trade scenario the teams had previously discussed, which included both 
      Walker and Mercer, evaporated when the C's completed the deal with Denver.
      The Celtics signed Walker to a six-year, $71 million contract in January, 
      the maximum allowed players with six or less years of NBA experience. That 
      contract goes into effect this season, Walker's fourth in the league.
      Larry Bird, in town last week to coach the Pacers in the Shaw's Pro Summer 
      League, has already gone on record as saying his team would welcome the 
      opportunity to acquire Walker through a trade. Bird was one of M.L. Carr's 
      advisers three years ago when the Celtics drafted the ex-Kentucky star 
      with the sixth overall pick.
      The Celtics were not exactly broadcasting their eagerness to trade Walker 
      this week as the NBA moratorium on deals was lifted, but last week Pitino 
      made it clear he wouldn't hesitate to trade anyone - including his team 
      captain - if he believed it would help the club.
      ``Any move that can help us - one, two, three players, it doesn't matter 
      how many - is a move we're going to make,'' he said.
      That became quite clear with their bold exchange with Denver. The Celtics 
      sent Mercer, Popeye Jones and Dwayne Schintzius to the Nuggets for Danny 
      Fortson, Eric Williams, Eric Washington and a first-round pick.
      If Walker survives the trade winds, he would move to small forward, 
      alongside Fortson. But some in the Celtics organization, after witnessing 
      Walker report to training camp out of shape last season, are concerned he 
      lacks the quickness to play the position.
      Also, the Celtics have far more frontcourt depth as a result of the Denver 
      deal, giving them flexibility to trade Walker if they so choose. Besides 
      Fortson, the Celtics have added small forward Williams to join a returning 
      frontcourt nucleus of center Vitaly Potapenko, small forward Walter 
      McCarty and power forward Tony Battie.
      Battie, who came on as a shot-blocker and rebounder during the final month 
      of last season, was extremely impressive for the Celtics in summer league 
      games in Long Beach, Calif., and at UMass-Boston last week. He might be 
      ready to assume a starting job should Walker be moved.
      There are, however, two basic snags in any Celtics-Pacers exchange 
      involving Walker. He is a base-salary player scheduled to earn $9 million 
      this season. Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement, the 
      Celtics can only receive half of that salary back in a trade.
      Also, much of Indiana's nucleus is made up of players past their primes. 
      Guard Jalen Rose is one player who could be attractive to the Celtics. 
      Rose, who recently lost his bid for free agency, will earn $2.4 million 
      from the Pacers this season.