re:Pitino on El Lotto

[j.hironaka@unesco.org]

The Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett reports that Toronto is prepared to
resign "Oaktree" to a 3-year contract between 12 and 14 million (wow!).
He also reports that Ricky Ricardo may opt to trade the lottery pick for
a veteran, if the Celts manage to retain the pick.

Of course, at this time last year Pitino was saying that nobody
available at the #10 slot could even help our roster. He holds a dim
view of rookies in general, it seems.

Joe

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(copyright BosHerald)

``It really doesn't matter to me,'' Pitino said of the lottery. ``We're
not looking to get younger, so I'm not sure we'd keep the pick if we did
get it (in the top three).

``There are no centers in this draft, certainly none that can help
us.There are a lot of twos and threes (shooting guards and small
forwards), but we already have twos and threes. So I don't even care
about the lottery.''

One thing this draft does have is point guards, and while Pitino
insists  it won't be the case, the belief remains that the Celts might
wince a bit if Utah point guard Andre Miller is still on the board when
the Cavaliers are using that seventh pick.

But even then, the coach is leaning on the positive from the deadline
day deal with Cleveland.

``We're very happy with Vitaly,'' Pitino said. ``We needed a center on
this team, and there's nobody in the draft as good as Vitaly for that.

`We've got a very slim chance in the lottery. It could happen, but the
percentages are certainly not in our favor. But even if we did get a
break, we'd probably be looking to trade the pick to get a veteran
ballplayer.''

As for the draft itself, the Celtic staff has taken due note of all the
underclassmen coming out. A talent like Rhode Island's Lamar Odom would
be intriguing.

``He's got tremendous potential,'' said Pitino. ``But I don't think this
is a lock draft. The No. 8 pick could be as good as the No. 3 pick.
There's no Tim Duncan out there. It's more a draft for need, and I
think that's what you'll see teams do.''

Any shot the Celtics may have had to snare free agent power forward
Charles Oakley from Toronto has likely gone by the boards.

Oakley is a Pitino pal and would give the Celts a needed measure of
toughness, but the Raptors will offer him a three-year deal in the
vicinity of $12 million-$14 million.