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Michael Holley: Walker In Boston Wants Mercer To Stay; Pitino Unsure Of Pierce Defensively At The 2 Spot
Whoops I missed this one. Some good stuff indeed. Chris Herren
is wowing them. Pitino second thoughts about trading the pick,
because of all the point guards????
[The Boston Globe Online][Boston.com]
[Boston Globe Online / Sports]
CELTICS NOTEBOOK
Walker pays visit to see program pay off
By Michael Holley, Globe Staff, 06/19/99
Antoine Walker loves talking about
basketball. Yesterday was no exception. He
talked about Scottie Pippen, Ron Mercer ,
Baron Davis, and Wayne Turner. But, he
said as he headed for Logan Airport,
basketball was not the only reason he was
in town.
''There are some great kids in Boston,''
he said after giving a graduation speech
at The Tobin School in Roxbury. ''These
kids, they took the idea I had for my
program and really ran with it.''
As part of his Real Deal program, Walker
gave the school's eighth-grade social
studies class a $5,000 grant for its
community service, attendance, and
classroom participation. When he presented
the check in late May, he promised to
return for graduation. So he departed
Chicago for here Thursday, gave a speech
yesterday, and was immediately given a
surprise from the young people.
''They were working with people from a
nursing home,'' Walker said. ''So after
they got the $5,000 from [Walker's The 8
Foundation], they turned around and gave
half of the check to that nursing home.
All I really wanted to do was thank them
for making the program successful.''
Walker was asked his philosophy of giving
speeches.
''Nothing complicated,'' he said. ''I try
to keep everything short and sweet.''
Walker weighs in
On the basketball side of things, either
Walker knows something a lot of people
don't or he is involved in some deeply
wishful thinking. The Celtics captain was
asked what he thought of Mercer's
situation, since the 6-foot-7-inch guard's
name always seems to be mentioned in trade
talks. ''I don't think he's going
anywhere,'' he said. ''I really don't. I
know we don't control those type of
things, but I don't think he's leaving.''
When Mercer first got to Boston, it was
believed that he and Walker did not get
along. That certainly is not the case now.
The two are close friends (their lockers
are even side by side). ''I really want
Ron to stay,'' Walker said. ''He's a good
friend of mine. I understand that the
Celtics have to do what they think is the
best business, but I want him to stay.''
If the Celtics were to trade Mercer, they
would probably have to shift Paul Pierce
to shooting guard and acquire a rebounder
and point guard. Celtics coach Rick Pitino
believes that Pierce would have no problem
adjusting to the shooting guard position
on offense. But defensively, the coach
isn't sure if Pierce can chase the Reggie
Millers, Mitch Richmonds , and Allan
Houstons for 40 minutes a night ...
Confused by trade rumors in which Mercer
and draft picks are mentioned? Don't be.
Pitino said in March that he didn't mind
dealing away a first-rounder because the
team doesn't need more youth. But the
coach also didn't anticipate the point
guards who will be available to him in the
first six picks. ''This is definitely a
point guard draft,'' Walker said. Among
them: Davis, Steve Francis, and Andre
Miller. Those three could all be gone by
the eighth pick, which was originally
Boston's before it was traded to Cleveland
for Vitaly Potapenko. The Cavaliers
anouned yesterday that they exercised
their option to take the No. 8 choice from
the Celtics. Arizona's Jason Terry also
will be a first-rounder. Another name
being mentioned locally is Turner, the
guard from Mission Hill and the University
of Kentucky. ''I'm a Wayne Turner fan,''
Walker said.
Herren wows 'em
Fall River's Chris Herren had terrific
workouts in Indiana and Atlanta. He was
particularly impressive with the Hawks,
who watched him put on a clinic from
3-point range. Herren is being projected
as a point guard, too. One thing scouts
like about him is that his height (nearly
6-2) actually comes close to matching the
numbers in the Fresno State media guide.
''Why lie?'' Herren said. ''Teams are
going to find out the truth. Some guys you
heard about in college shrunk a lot when
they were measured at the camps.'' One of
them was Stanford's Arthur Lee, who is a
lot closer to 6 feet than he is to his
listed 6-4 ... Indiana would be a nice fit
for Herren, projected to go in the middle
of the first round. Herren and his wife
are friendly with Pacers forward Chris
Mullin. Herren has stayed with Mullin a
few times in Indiana. Said Mullin of
Herren, ''Oh, he can definitely play in
the league; he got game.'' ... On Monday,
the Celtics will hold a press conference
to talk about their summer league.
Potapenko and Walker have indicated that
they will play here or in Los Angeles.
When Walker does come to town, don't
expect him to have the Pippen-type body
that Pitino said he needs to have. ''No,
man,'' Walker said, ''I'm just working
out. I'm Antoine. I'm not Scottie Pippen;
I'm not Karl Malone; I'm not Joe Blow.
Just me.'' ... Pierce will be in town
Monday. While here, he'll speak with a
group of youths at the Bird Street Youth
Center in Dorchester.
This story ran on page G09 of the Boston
Globe on 06/19/99.
© Copyright 1999 Globe Newspaper Company.