all these moves

[mberry@journalink.com (Mark Berry)]

Here's my take on all the latest moves and rumored moves:

Knight for Battie: I like it, mainly because it gives us a player with more 
potential who seems like a good fit for the system. It also lets us out of the 
contract sooner.

Signing Popeye: Like everyone, it seems, I think this is a great move. He gives 
us a banger we haven't had in a while.

Signing Dwayne Schintzius: I know he's been considered an underachiever, but 
he's 7-3 and, more importantly, 260 pounds. Like it or not gang, this league 
still is about size, and we have been sorely lacking it lately. Schintzius gives 
us a huge body who can bang with the league's big boys. He also happens to have 
some skills, so if he's healthy and Pitino can motivate him (even just to play 
defense), I think this could be the most significant acquisition of the bunch. 
He certainly gives this team more of what it needs than Stewart does. (I'm of 
the thinking that the most overrated statistic when considering defensive 
presence is blocked shots. They usually come from weak-side help, not from 
straight man-to-man defense. Stewart will block shots, but he'll also get pushed 
around a lot. Schintzius, on the other hand, won't block shots, but he will 
stand his ground.)

Anyway, I'm in favor of all three. Also, as much as I love the idea of Paul 
Pierce in green, I think the proposed four-way deal would have been great for 
the Celts. You add Mashburn, who still is young and a good fit for the system, 
and, most importantly, Potapenko. This guy was the difference between us and 
Cleveland last year. The Cavs started four rookies, but they could do it because 
Potapenko is one of the best young centers in the league. Those guys are a lot 
harder to come by than small forwards. Anyway, looks like it won't happen, but 
it would have been a great deal.

Mark