Vecsey Once Again On Penny/Celtics

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

                  PITINO, CELTICS HAVE PENNY IN THEIR THOUGHTS 

                  By PETER VECSEY 
                  NY Post - 6/1/99
                  <snips>


                  SOURCES say the Celtics are thinking seriously about offering 
                  Kenny Anderson and Ron Mercer for Penny Hardaway, whose 
                  playing days in Orlando appear over. Magic GM John Gabriel 
                  told me last week it was time for management and its franchise 
                  player to have a brutally frank talk about what each party 
                  expects from the other. "It may be time for both of us to say, 
                  'See ya.'" 
                  Come July 1, Hardaway has the right to exercise an escape 
                  clause in his contract. That would make him a free agent, as 
                  opposed to being obligated to the Magic for four more seasons 
                  at an average of $9.5M. 
                  Given his injury, conditioning and attitude problems over the 
                  last two years, Penny would be out of his mind to give up such 
                  a massive guarantee. Very few teams have the salary cap room 
                  to compensate him for that loss. Those who qualify 
                  (specifically the Bulls) don't have the inclination to take 
                  such a big gamble. 
                  In other words, the Celtics would almost certainly have to 
                  come to terms with Hardaway regarding a new contract before 
                  agreeing to the trade, or receive assurances he wouldn't opt 
                  out of his current deal.