Well, time to kill myself.

[peter delevett <pdelevett@amcity.com>]

It's been nice knowing all of you.


Josh Ozersky wrote:

>By Marc Stein / The Dallas Morning News

>Coach-general manager Don Nelson revealed Thursday
that he is also pursuing Boston's Ron Mercer in a
sign-and-trade deal that would send Samaki Walker to
the Celtics.


But wait! A ray of hope!

>Nelson admits a sign-and-trade deal "can't be easily
>done," because Samaki Walker would first have to agree
>on contract terms with the Celtics and sign that deal
>with the Mavericks. 

Now let me get this straight. We won't sign Mercer because of our "budget,"
but we're actually entertaining notions of signing a mediocre player who
rejected $20 million over 4 years?

Mercer may or may not have asked for Michael Finley money ($42 mil over 5),
and I can agree with those who say at this point Ron doesn't deserve it, based
on Finley's contributions. (On the other hand, 16 ppg on better than 44%
shooting ain't so bad for a guy's first two years in the league, IMO,
especially with a bunch of ball-hoggedy teammates.) But it's clear to me
Pitino's wanted to dump Mercer all along -- why else make an initial offer
that was, by all accounts, surprisingly and insultingly low? For that matter,
Pitino never seemed too hot on drafting Ron in the first place. No doubt he's
not poor, hungry and driven enough, or doesn't love the weight room, or
something.  

Also in this scenario, Dirk Nogameski becomes a backup. I don't know that I
see Dazzling Don abandoning his latest stroke of genius that easily.
 
Jerky Red is right: Samaki Walker easily is a future All Star. In the CBA.