RE: Fortson Could Be Heading Back To The Celtics

["Michael Griffin" <mgriffin@rillc.com>]

I agree - take Fortson back instead of Del Negro(?!).  No one has mentioned
it but what about Anthony Carter from Miami for our exception?  I think he
is a decent point guard and filled it admirably for Hardaway.  ESPN thinks
Miami believes they can do better backing up Hardaway.  Not sure if that's
true.  Perhaps Riley likes Coles better?

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-celtics@igtc.com [mailto:owner-celtics@igtc.com]On Behalf Of
> Way Of The Ray
> Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2000 9:18 AM
> To: Celtics
> Subject: Fortson Could Be Heading Back To The Celtics
>
>
> If no sign-and-trade is worked out...
>
> http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/
> 2000/08/01/SP14658.DTL
>
> (Thanks to BSG for mentioning it. I'd re-sign him, rather than making
> another bad deal.)
>
> Foyle, Fortson at Forefront of Warriors' Plans
>
> Brad Weinstein, Chronicle Staff Writer    Tuesday, August 1, 2000
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------
>
>
>
> The talk that dominated the past month will be accompanied by action
> beginning today when NBA teams officially can start signing free agents
> and announcing trades.
>
> The Warriors hope to be involved in what should be a league- wide flurry
> of activity during the next week or two by fulfilling their two main
> objectives: re-signing Adonal Foyle and homing in on a deal for
> free-agent power forward Danny Fortson.
>
> The former is less complicated because Foyle has expressed a desire to
> return, and the Warriors can exceed the salary cap, if necessary, to
> lock up the free-agent center. The Warriors currently do not have a
> viable backup for Erick Dampier, who is coming off a season shortened to
> 21 games by knee and wrist surgeries.
>
> ``We sure are working hard to bring him back,'' St. Jean said, adding
> that he has shared ``positive dialogue'' with Foyle's representatives.
>
> Neither Foyle, who is in the Bahamas, nor his agent, Curtis Polk, could
> be reached for comment yesterday.
>
> St. Jean spoke cryptically about Fortson, who played this past season
> with the Boston Celtics, and declined to answer specific questions about
> him. The Warriors have courted Fortson, 24, and made considerable
> inroads when he visited the Bay Area two weeks ago. According to a
> league source speaking on the condition of anonymity, Fortson was at
> first indifferent about even meeting with the Warriors, but he took an
> immediate liking to St. Jean and was impressed with the team's
> presentation.
>
> ``The exercise has been very positive for the organization,'' St. Jean
> said. ``But the fact is you have to get that end result. . . . If we get
> to a point where we have a new Warrior, we'll have more to talk about.
> We have everything in perspective. We have a Plan A, B and C in this
> process.''
>
> St. Jean did say that nabbing a player through a three-team sign-
> and-trade deal -- the likely means to getting Fortson -- is a realistic
> option for the Warriors, who only have their $2.25 million and $1.2
> million exceptions to offer directly to free agents.
>
> ``Yes, it's challenging, but it can be done,'' St. Jean said. ``I sure
> would like to be included in that history page.''
>
> A source confirmed last week that one deal, among others, being
> mentioned would send the Warriors' Vinny Del Negro to Boston, a
> re-signed Fortson to Golden State and the Warriors' Terry Cummings plus
> a draft pick (most likely a second-round selection) to the Chicago
> Bulls. By moving Del Negro and Cummings, the Warriors would clear enough
> room under the salary cap -- which will rise from $34 million to $35.5
> million for the 2000-01 season -- to take on Fortson's new contract.
>
> Meanwhile, Fortson's agent dismissed a published report from a New York
> newspaper that his client would accept the Warriors' mid-level exception
> of $2.25 million.
>
> In response to an article in Friday's New York Post, Raymond Brothers
> reiterated there was ``no chance whatsoever'' that Fortson would sign
> for that amount, indicating Fortson would rather take more money and go
> back to Boston if no sign-and-trade deals were struck.
>
> The contenders for Fortson have remained the same. The Orlando Magic are
> believed to be pursuing either Fortson or Los Angeles Clippers
> free-agent power forward Maurice Taylor, dangling forwards Matt Harpring
> and Pat Garrity in potential sign-and-trade arrangements. The New York
> Knicks also are interested in adding Fortson and are looking to unload
> reserve point guard Chris Childs.
>
> Fortson said last weekend that he would have ``no problem at all'' if
> the Warriors worked out a way to acquire him.
>
> ``It's still one of the places I'm definitely considering,'' Fortson
> said. ``I'm just going to take my time with this because it's an
> important decision I have to make. I want to look at all the options
> before deciding anything.''
>
>
>