Re: Potapenko pros/cons

["Josh Farber" <joshfarber@home.net>]

Is it a fact that Cleveland has said no to the deal?

That's what another post and Bskball.com said!
                            Josh
-----Original Message-----
From: peter delevett <pdelevett@amcity.com>
To: Celtics <Celtics@igtc.com>
Date: Thursday, March 11, 1999 4:03 PM
Subject: Potapenko pros/cons


>I have been a long and loud backer of acquiring this guy, but I agree with
>some of the concerns that have been raised about this proposed trade.
>
>PROS
>Potapenko is just damn huge. I would think he has to improve our defense,
if
>only as a deterrent from the uncontested drives-to-the-hoop that have been
>victimizing us. I haven't seen enough of his game to know if he's got the
>lateral quickness to defend centers one on one, as someone else noted; but
I
>gotta think he's got the girth to lean on the big bodies, which we're
>currently lacking. He held Ewing to 14 and 16 points this year and Ike
Austin
>to 12. He also is a legit post scorer (dropped 14 points on San Antonio, 16
>and 17 points on the Knicks) and will force respect from defenses, which
could
>open up things even more for Pierce and Mercer on the wing. Antoine won't
have
>to absorb all the beating from the opposition's big man, and when Potapenko
>sets a pick, better believe the opponent will feel it. As someone else
>mentioned, he will probably have a higher trade value than DeClercq.
>
>CONS
>He won't help out much on the boards, which is pathetic given his size. He
>averages 5.5 rpg (in 27 minutes) and .9 blocks (comparable, BTW, to what
Matt
>Geiger's putting up this season). On the other hand, Andrew's not much
better
>in those departments; their per-minute numbers this season are about
>identical. I too would hate to lose Drew's energy and ferocity, which is
>something you love to see and which sets an example for the team. But then
>again, while that's popular with the fans, how much does it truly
contribute
>to the W-L column? I think we'll all agree that DeClercq is not a starter
on a
>championship team, while Vitaly perhaps could be, in the role of the Bill
>Cartwright/Luc Longley. Potapenko also has worked to pick up his per-minute
>shotblocking since Ilgauskas went down; he swatted 2 against the Spurs, 2
>against Orlando and 3 in the first Knicks game (along with 12 boards). I
would
>be totally averse to including our 1999 pick in this deal, given the wealth
of
>PGs and our need in that department; if it's a 2000 or 2001 pick, I say why
>not. Finally, we have got to have some kind of understanding with Falk that
>we'll get every opportunity to re-sign the guy; if we trade away a nice
player
>and a pick and end up with nada this summer, that will be more egg on
Pitino's face.
>
>Bottom line, I think VP currently is one of the best backup centers in the
>league and has a legitimate chance to start for somebody next season. He
will
>be one of the top FA centers coming on the market. Don't doubt for a minute
>that if Embree can flush out a better offer for him, this one's off the
table
>in a heartbeat.