Re: Mutombo Idea

[Alex Wang <awang@mit.edu>]

I think that Pat Riley has the right idea in building a contending
team. He made what seemed like a huge number of trades in the 
beginning to get the major pieces, but after that, he has basically
let the core of his team develop together. Pitino has similarly
overhauled the team but basically has the major pieces together
in a complementary fashion. I really doubt that trading away 70%
of the current ten-man rotation is what he has in mind.

On the Sonics success: I think that it is another case of lockout
induced underestimation, which is the same mistake all the writers
made with the Celtics. The Sonics were a 61 win team the year before
the lockout. They have some younger parts now in Patterson and Barry
but they're still essentially a veteran team.

Regarding the two more important trades proposed here (Mutombo and
McGrady). McGrady reportedly was offered a maximum extension by 
Toronto so you are looking at a very expensive acquisition here.
Does he even start on the Celtics? I'm not sure. Plus he's a free
agent at the end of the season and could easily bolt. I don't see
us trading for him, or Toronto letting him go for Battie. Personally,
I don't see how he is worth that much money, unless you're paying
per highlight film dunk. His attitude during and after the Boston
game was pretty immature too.

Mutombo is 33 years old. Centers sometimes keep playing well into
their late 30's so it's possible that he could be worth a look.
He doesn't fit into an uptempo game but he's such a force on
defense that he could singlehandedly transform the Celtics into
a tough halfcourt defensive team. The finger wagging has to go
though, at least on blocks where his team doesn't gain possession
of the ball. Anyways, I personally don't agree with giving up
our 23 year old star player for a 33 year old center, but that's
because I still have a high opinion of Antoine. Also, if Mutombo
gets traded, I doubt they give up Henderson in addition.

Alex


> The more I think of it the more I really think Pitino needs to make a major
> play to get Mutombo, which will cost us Walker. If we want to compete with
> Miami and Zo, LA & Shaq & San Antonio and Duncan in the future, we need a
> big man in the middle. Potapenko doesn't cut it. Yes,  Walker could be a
> star ,but he is a bad defender, and really does not fit at the 3 or 4 spot,
> so how about;
> 
> Walker, VP, and Barros for Mutombo and Henderson ((Wright ?), and Bimbo
> Coles or Anthony Johnson
> 
> Then the Battie for Mcgrady
> 
> Then try to move McCarty, Cheaney, Williams, for a  Tim Legler, Kittles,
> Gill, Bryce Drew with struggling teams looking for chemistry changes.
>
[cut]
> 
> What does everyone think of the Sonics start ? A major overhaul, and playing
> better than expected.
> 
> John