Hartford Courant/TSN: Pitino Staying - Mercer May Want To Leave

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

     The Sporting News


      Lure of money dominant for draft's early entries
      JULY 4, 1999 

      Alan Greenberg
      The Hartford Courant
      <snip>
      THERE WAS A RUMOR GOING around at the NBA Finals that Celtics Coach Rick 
      Pitino, having seen that his single-minded coaching ways are unlikely to 
      return the Celtics to glory, was looking to get bought out of his 
      contract, which has eight years and $36 million remaining. Pitino says 
      that's hogwash. Besides, it seems unlikely Celtics Owner Paul Gaston would 
      go for that. And with Pitino's contract as coach/CEO so front-loaded -- 
      he's due to make $28 million over the next four years -- why settle for a 
      smaller lump? 
      Pitino's faith in his coaching ability remains unshaken, though there seem 
      to be fewer and fewer veteran players around the league who would favor 
      playing for him. 
      The Ron Mercer situation has to be Pitino's biggest embarrassment since 
      taking over. Mercer played two years at Kentucky for Pitino, and when 
      Pitino drafted Mercer No. 6 overall two years ago, he said, "Ron is like a 
      son to me." Before the Celtics played their first exhibition game, Pitino 
      compared Mercer to John Havlicek. As Mercer's game continued to improve, 
      Pitino said, "There's greatness ahead for that young man." 
      But where? The Celtics could and were willing to pay Mercer the maximum 
      under the new collective bargaining agreement -- $70.9 million over six 
      years. Now they are acting as though they can't afford him. The truth 
      seems to be that Mercer, who is eligible for free agency next summer, 
      wants to leave. 
      

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