Latest on C's Fortson - 4 Team Deal

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

http://www.bostonherald.com/sport/basketball/celts08142000.htm

Mavs, Jazz join in: C's, Warriors still pursue Fortson deal
by Mark Cofman
Monday, August 14, 2000


Negotiations for Danny Fortson continued last night, with the Celtics
and Golden State working on a multi-team exchange that would land the
free agent power forward on the Warriors.

The Celtics and Golden State had tried on their own last week to work a
sign-and-trade deal involving Fortson. But following a stalemate,
discussions have broadened to include the Dallas Mavericks and Utah
Jazz.

The Jazz, trying to get something in return for free agent point guard
Howard Eisley, would send the former Boston College star to the
Mavericks as part of the deal. Dallas has already offered Eisley its
$2.25 million exception, but he's held off signing that contract and is
reportedly looking for a deal in the six-year, $30 million range.

That's the same financial ballpark Fortson hopes to be playing in this
season, but the 6-7 power forward has the same roadblock in front him as
does Eisley. He can't land a contract worth that kind of money unless a
team under the salary cap surfaces to offer it. That hasn't happened.

The most aggressive pursuit of Fortson to date has come from the
Warriors and New York Knicks, who are both over the salary cap. Each
team has offered its $2.25 million exception and has been turned down.
If Fortson reconsiders his decision and accepts a $2.25 million offer,
the Celtics would receive nothing in return.

It's come down to a long, tenuous game of poker in which the combination
of players/money/draft picks has yet to satisfy all parties concerned.
As long as Fortson doesn't budge on his position not to settle for the
mid-level exception, the Celtics hold the trump card on his free agent
fate.

They know the Warriors would love to add Fortson's rebounding to a
frontcourt rotation that includes Antawn Jamison, Erick Dampier and the
recently re-signed Adonal Foyle. Golden State general manager Garry St.
Jean has made no secret of his desire to bring in Fortson since they met
in San Francisco earlier this month.

The only names that have surfaced in rumors involving the Warriors are
shooting guard Vinny Del Negro and small forward Donyell Marshall. The
Celtics would likely have an interest in the 6-9 Marshall, who averaged
14.2 points and 10 rebounds per game for the Warriors last season.

The former UConn star is entering his seventh NBA season, having spent
all but the first part of his rookie year with Golden State after he was
the fourth overall pick in the 1994 draft by Minnesota. Another scenario
that might interest the Celtics is one in which they would receive a
first-round draft pick, giving them a potential bargaining chip for a
future deal.