Payton and Oakley (was Re: PF pickups)

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

My mantra for this off-season is Payton and Oakley.  Add those two to
the
Celtics and things will be looking up.  I  think there's a chance that
this
could occur.  With Seattle having a lottery pick for a change, they
have the possibility of drafting a quality young point guard, so there's
not the necessity of dealing Payton strictly for a point guard
replacement, 
rather they could concentrate on strengthening the other positions on
the club.
Say, shooting guard for instance = Mercer; a young power forward =
Battie; a decent point guard = Barros, and a future draft pick.  Even
Bob Witless isn't stupid enough to trade Payton within their division,
so the
Sonics can be tormented for the next five years.  Nah, he'll try to deal
him East, if he deals him at all, so he only has to worry about
occasional 
reprisals. 

I feel if the C's could add Payton, it would add a high degree of
credibility
to the club in the eyes of free agent veterans, who are willing to
sacrifice
a large contract in return for the chance to compete for a title. 
Players like
Oakley and Richmond, maybe even a Charles Barkley.  But acquiring Payton
is
a must...
Ray    


> Subject: PF pickups
> Date: Tue, 18 May 1999 10:49:25 -0400
> From: Ellie Cutler <ellie@oreilly.com>
> To: celtics@igtc.com
> 
> If RP is in the hunt for a forgotten PF to add to the stable, how about
> John Wallace?  Why was Bo Outlaw used so sparingly against Philly -
> was he injured?  Others I can think of are John Thomas (I know RP
> moved him once already, but he was something!), Samaki Walker,
> Mark Strickland, JR Reid, Lawrence Funderburke, Malik Rose,
> Jerome Williams, and the two Clippers Lorenzen Wright and Rodney
> Rogers.  Other PFs who might be available, but not from
> Filene's Basement: Danny Fortson,  Gary Trent, Dale Davis,
> Tom Gugliotta, Oakley, and Anthony Mason.
> 
> Who do we want? Give me John Wallace anytime. Do you remember
> Mark Strickland toasting the Cs?  Wright is more consistent than
> Samaki W. and a better FT shooter.  When he starts, he's a count-on-it
> double double with blocks to boot.  Gary Trent is more versatile than
> Fortson, Gugs isn't  tough enough in the trenches, Oakley is too old for
> the Cs, Mason is a punk, Dale Davis would be a great addition. Wondering
> you guys are so down on JR Reid -- he was hot this season in Charlotte
> before the trade, and has been wasted in LA.