Peter May (Brief): C's Putting Mercer Up For Auction

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

                                [The Boston Globe Online][Boston.com]
                                [Boston Globe Online / Sports]


                                NBA NOTES
                                NY is still entertainment capital

                                You've got to hand it to the Knicks for
                                spicing up the playoffs

                                By Peter May, 05/30/99

                                Vancouver Grizzlies are shopping their No.
                                2 pick for a veteran power forward. They
                                believe they have enough young pups and
                                don't believe Elton Brand, whom some
                                scouts believe will measure 6 feet 6
                                inches or 6-61/2 in Chicago, is the guy
                                ... Several general managers say the
                                Celtics aren't just shopping Ron Mercer,
                                they're all but putting him up for auction.
                                Rick Pitino
                                went on WEEI this past week and said the
                                state of college basketball was abysmal.
                                He's right. The NBA and its union blew a
                                golden chance to improve two games - the
                                college and the pro - by failing to enact
                                punitive salary scales for kids leaving
                                school early. There's only one reason why
                                the exodus continues - money. If the union
                                and league had adopted scales based on
                                years of school, and made the money a
                                severe deterrent rather than a panacea,
                                the kids might stay in school, grow up,
                                play college ball and actually be ready
                                for the NBA ...