Fortson Gone In Next 86,400 Seconds - C's Ready To Do A Sign And Trade

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

There is a slight possibility they could re-sign him, or
he'll be dealt and money and
draft picks would be the C's return (Think second round draft
choices methinks).....

http://www.bostonherald.com/sport/basketball/celts08082000.htm


Celts poised to deal: Knicks, Warriors interested in Fortson
by Mark Cofman
Tuesday, August 8, 2000


Though Celtics general manager Chris Wallace has left the team's door
open ever so slightly, Danny Fortson likely will be playing for either
the New York Knicks or Golden State Warriors next season.

The free agent power forward also likely will be signed, sealed and
delivered to either team within the next 24 hours.

A source yesterday said month-long sign-and-trade talks between the
Celtics and Fortson's two strongest suitors were finally reaching a
head. With 14 players already under contract, the Celtics would likely
be getting money and draft picks if either trade scenario came to
fruition.

Fortson was unavailable for comment yesterday. His agent, Raymond
Brothers, would not discuss negotiations other than to say, ``Nothing's
done right now. Obviously, we're hoping to get things resolved for Danny
as soon as possible, but a lot of this is out of our hands.''

That's because Fortson, feeling the crunch of a free agent market
overloaded with teams without salary cap space, will not settle for a
team's $2.25 million mid-level exception. The Knicks, who would almost
certainly be able to accommodate Fortson's desire to be a starter, have
already offered him their $2.25 million slot and were turned down.

The Knicks, having struck out to date in aggressive attempts to acquire
Portland power forward Brian Grant, tried to work a sign-and-trade deal
with the C's for Fortson last month. The Celtics would have received
point guard Chris Childs as part of a package in return.

Wallace and C's president/coach Rick Pitino shot down that trade and
would be even less likely now to accept any deal involving Childs with
Randy Brown in the fold. The Celtics used their $2.25 million exception
to sign Brown last week. The former Chicago Bulls point guard is
expected to back up Kenny Anderson.

The Warriors, meanwhile, have dangled shooting guard and Springfield
native Vinny Del Negro in their attempts to acquire Fortson. Golden
State general manager Garry St. Jean, envisioning the 6-foot-7
rebounding specialist joining a frontcourt that includes rising talent
Antawn Jamison, has been hot on Fortson's trail since they met two weeks
ago in San Francisco.

According to a well-placed source in Chicago, both the Knicks and
Warriors were trying to employ the Bulls as a third party to help broker
their sign-and-trade deals for Fortson. The ball last night appeared to
be in the Celtics' court.

``We've explored sign-and-trades but this situation is still not
resolved yet,'' said Wallace, who acquired Fortson from Denver in last
summer's Ron Mercer deal.

``Danny and his agent would like to beat the exception if they could,
and that of course would necessitate a (sign-and-trade) deal involving
us. But I have no timetable for when that might happen.''

Like virtually every team in the league this summer, the Celtics'
payroll is well above the salary cap. But if they were so inclined,
Wallace and Pitino could try to keep Fortson. The league's collective
bargaining agreement allows teams to disregard the salary cap to re-sign
their free agents.

Up to now, however, the Celtics' braintrust hasn't appeared inclined to
go that route. Fortson would have to settle for backup minutes behind
Antoine Walker if he remained in Boston.

Had Fortson agreed to a mid-level exception from the Knicks or Warriors,
the Celtics would have watched him depart while getting nothing in
return. Now it's simply a question of finding a sign-and-trade agreement
that works for all concerned. That is, unless the Celtics have a change
of heart.