Profile Of Eric Washington Whose life Was Changed By Celtics Trade

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

      Boston Herald

      Life-altering deal for Washington 
      by Mark Cofman 
      Friday, September 17, 1999
      After finishing a successful week with the Nuggets in the Salt Lake City 
      Summer League last month, Eric Washington made the flight home to Denver 
      confident about the upcoming season. By the time Washington reached the 
      airport terminal to claim his baggage, his professional life had changed. 
      ``I got a call from my agent as soon as I stepped off the plane and he 
      told me a trade was in the works,'' said Washington, recalling the turn of 
      events that resulted in a six-player deal between the Nuggets and Celtics 
      on Aug. 2. ``I think at first I was a bit stunned by the news. But this is 
      a business and trades are part of it. Players do get traded in this 
      league.''
      Washington did, joining Danny Fortson and Eric Williams in the blockbuster 
      exchange with the Celtics that sent Ron Mercer, Dwayne Schintzius and 
      Popeye Jones to Denver. Washington, expecting to compete for a spot in the 
      Nuggets' rotation when he left Salt Lake City, quickly turned his 
      attention to the Celtics.
      ``I was trying to figure out who they had at the position,'' said the 
      6-foot-4 off-guard. ``There are a lot of thoughts that go through your 
      mind in that situation, because of so many things. You never want to be 
      traded. Denver was my home.''
      Washington, who arrived in Boston on Sunday, will try to find a new home 
      in the Celtics' backcourt. As the least-known player in the trade, many 
      considered him something of a throw-in to make the deal work. But the line 
      on Washington is he plays solid defense and is a good outside shooter. 
      Rick Pitino has discovered both qualities in short supply during his 
      two-year tenure as Celtics coach.
      ``I thought I fit in well with what they were doing in Denver, but I feel 
      the same way about the Celtics,'' said the former Alabama star, entering 
      his third NBA season. ``I know Rick Pitino's style very well from our days 
      in the SEC. His (Kentucky) teams did a lot of running up and down the 
      floor, pressing - a style that fits my game very well.''
      Washington will compete at the position that has undergone the biggest 
      facelift on the Celtics this offseason. Pitino and general manager Chris 
      Wallace sandwiched the Denver deal between the free agent signings of 
      off-guards Adrian Griffin and Calbert Cheaney. Paul Pierce, shifting from 
      small forward, is expected to fill Mercer's role as the starter.
      ``I feel confident I can make a contribution here,'' said Washington, who 
      worked out informally with his new teammates on Tuesday. ``But what I 
      think of myself as a player or about my chances with the Celtics are not 
      really important.
      ``What counts is what the coaching staff thinks after they've evaluated my 
      performance. My job is to go into training camp prepared to earn a job. 
      I'm not looking for anything to be handed to me.''
      Washington's level-headed approach comes from experience. Selected by 
      Orlando with the 47th overall pick in the 1997 draft, he was part of a 
      draft-day trade with Denver. Washington, who averaged 5.3 points per game 
      last season, knows nothing comes easy for second-round draft picks. 
      Fighting for a job becomes a way of life.
      ``I'll be in a different training camp with a new team in a few weeks,'' 
      said Washington, temporarily living in a hotel in Waltham. ``I don't 
      really know anything about Boston, but my fiancee and I will make the 
      rounds and get used to the area.
      ``The trade definitely came as a surprise, but I'm happy to be here. I'm 
      looking at it as a tremendous opportunity. I want to take advantage of 
      it.''