Re: Jersey Red Column: One-Dimensional Mercer Likely To Go For Some Future All-Star

[j.hironaka@unesco.org]

>       The Herald News - Sports
>
>       Wed, Jul 28, 1999
>       RED'S WORLD: Expect a few changes with the Celtics next season
>       By KEN 'JERSEY RED' FORD
>
>       Pitino is having fun. And what about those trades?
>       Don't be shocked by anything that happens. Ron Mercer is likely to go, and
>       if they can work out the numbers, the kid they bring in for him has future
>       all-star written all over him. If not, they will go to plans B and C.
>

Hi List. Any guesses which players have "future all-star written all over him"?  I
assume it may be a sign-and-trade, since it involves working out numbers. Is
25-year-old Michael Finley a past All Star??  How about Fortson??

I can't believe I'm actually starting to take a lap dog like Jersey Red this
seriously. At least he's a bonafide insider.


>       Also, you would be surprised at how many teams did not show an interest in
>       Mercer mainly because of the money and also because right now he is a
>       one-dimensional player who comes off the screen and hits the "j" as well
>       as anyone in the league, but refuses to go in the paint shoot the "3", get
>       the boards he should and play defense all the time.
>       Antoine Walker, whom I wrote a semi-negative column about several weeks
>       ago, is another matter.
>       The ball is in his court and to trade him would be much more difficult
>       than you would imagine. For openers, he has to be paid $71 million and
>       then there's the question of his attitude and desire to be "The Man."
>       The majority of the GM's "are not" calling 1-800-Celtics for this kid, but
>       there have been a few intriguing scenarios.