Sportsline

[John Lyell <Jlyell@concentric.net>]

July 8th Sportsline repot:



Free agent outlook
None of the Celtics' top nine players are free agents, but Pitino made no 
qualifying offer to reserve point guard Damon Jones, who is expected to 
play in the summer league and still could be re-signed.

Pitino said it's unrealistic to think the Celtics could work a deal to get 
former Hartford University forward Vin Baker and the big salary he will 
command on their salary cap. Baker may leave the Seattle SuperSonics. But 
the Celtics still may trade Mercer, and they have their $2 million 
salary-cap exception available. The name most frequently mentioned is 
Rodney Rogers, the Los Angeles Clippers forward. But the Celtics also could 
be interested in Cliff Robinson, Detlef Schrempf, Michael Curry, Lawrence 
Funderburke or Jon Barry.

The personnel file
Pitino's Kentucky connection remains in force. The Celtics have expressed 
an interest in Golden State point guard Tony Delk, who played for Pitino in 
college but may be on the way out with the Warriors, who picked up point 
guard Vonteego Cummings in the draft and also acquired point man Mookie 
Blaylock from the Atlanta Hawks. And former Wildcats point guard Wayne 
Turner has been invited to participate on the Celtics' summer league team. 
?

Clack also is expected to play in the summer league along with Derrick 
Battie, the brother of Celtics forward Tony Battie, and guard Kevin Ollie. 
... The latest Mercer rumor involves a multi-player trade to the Chicago 
Bulls in a deal that could include either Toni Kukoc or rookie Ron Artest, 
but Mercer will be linked to many more names by the Aug. 1 opening of trade 
season.