New Info On The Trade via Boston Herald

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

No Bruno Sundov in this article, but $3 million to play with, and
Pitino has more trade lust - Goodbye draft picks in the plural...

Fortson yields Pack, Hot Rod for C's
by Mark Cofman
Tuesday, August 15, 2000


It took four teams and seven weeks of dialogue to get it done, but the
Celtics have finally worked out a sign-and-trade deal for Danny Fortson
that will land the free agent forward with the Golden State Warriors,
the Herald has learned.

As reported in yesterday's Herald, the Celtics and Warriors joined
forces with the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz to engineer this deal,
which will be officially announced today. According to a well-placed
source, the Celtics will ship Fortson to Golden State and receive guard
Robert Pack, center John ``Hot Rod'' Williams and one of Utah's
first-round draft picks next season. The Celtics are also expected to
receive $3 million in the exchange.

Reached by phone yesterday, Celtics general manager Chris Wallace would
neither confirm nor deny a deal had been worked out. When asked if a
trade involving Fortson was imminent, Wallace said, ``I can't comment on
that.''

Celtics president/coach Rick Pitino did not return messages. Fortson's
agent, Raymond Brothers, would not confirm whether a deal had been
struck.

In addition to Fortson, the Warriors will get Adam Keefe from Utah,
which in turn will receive forwards Donyell Marshall and Bill Curley
from Golden State. Dallas' part in the deal is to produce both Pack and
Williams for the Celtics, while getting guards Howard Eisley and Scott
Padgett from the Jazz.

Eisley and Curley were teammates for four years at Boston College.

Pack, 31, entering his ninth NBA season, can play either backcourt
position. His best season was with Washington in 1995-96, during which
he averaged 18.1 points, 7.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 35 minutes per
game. Struggling with injuries last season, he averaged 8.9 points and
5.8 assists in 22.9 minutes per game.

Pack has built a reputation as a solid defender, which would make him a
natural for Pitino's style of play. He could help the Celtics' perimeter
defense, which at times last season was nonexistent.

Williams, who turned 38 last week, was once one of the league's better
shot-blockers. But he played just 25 games for the Mavericks last season
and averaged 1.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 16.1 minutes. The 13-year
veteran enjoyed his greatest success with the Cavaliers, for whom he
played his first nine NBA seasons.

Williams averaged double figures in scoring in each of those seasons,
with a high of 16.9 points with 8.1 rebounds in 1989-90. If he remains
healthy, the 6-11 Williams would give the Celtics a useful big body with
defensive skills, shot-blocking and occasional scoring.

The addition of Pack and Williams will bring to 16 the number of players
on the Celtics' roster. That could very well mean Wallace and Pitino are
not finished wheeling and dealing this summer. For now, however, they're
finally able to close the book on the Fortson negotiations after mulling
several offers from the Knicks and Warriors, among others, since July 1.

The Knicks and Warriors, both over the salary cap, had only been able to
offer Fortson their $2.25 million exceptions during that time frame.
They were turned down and needed to work a sign-and-trade arrangement
with the Celtics for any realistic shot at acquiring Fortson. The
Warriors got the inside track last week, first by trying to work a deal
with the Celtics independently, and then by broadening the trade
scenarios to include Dallas and Utah.

By going to the Warriors via a sign-and-trade, Fortson was able to avoid
settling for the $2.25 million exception and will receive a seven-year
contract in the $40 million range. The 6-7 rebounding specialist was
highly frustrated with the drawn-out process of his free agency, but in
the end he got exactly what he wanted - a lucrative deal and the chance
to be a starter for the first time in his three-year career.



http://www.bostonherald.com/sport/basketball/celts08152000.htm