Pitino: Payton Not Available

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

Pitino on WEEI said they called Seattle about their various players
and were told they, the Sonics, have too much invested in Payton to
trade him.

Other bon mots:

Anderson's make or break year is this upcoming season.  If he fails,
they'll have to move him out, but he's hard to deal.  One of the big
reasons
they traded for him, besides many in the organization, like Cousy,
putting
the kibosh on Billups, was financial.  Portland paid the first $10
million
of his contract - still have $2 million left.

Antoine has a personnel trainer and the C's are hoping he'll change his 
off court habits - dietary habits mentioned.  Pitino mentions Walker
showing up out of shape, and wouldn't get a personnel trainer last year.

Walker's shot selection: Pitino's been trying to change it since
Kentucky.

Walker failed last season, because he didn't take care of his body.  He
use
to be a great offensive rebounder, but the lack of conditioning killed
that
last season.  Walker is a much better player than he exhibited during
the
shortened season.

David Wesley had an axe to grind when he criticized Pitino's style.
Il Duce says he likes Wesley.  Also says, he's talked to a lot of free 
agents, and it's not them, but the players under contract that are
critical of his system and don't want to play here.