New Info On Utah Draft Pick & Walker Trade

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

The Boston Globe's Peter May reports that the Celtics
will likely receive the better of Utah's two draft picks next year.
But don't get too excited, as the two draft choices up for
consideration are most likely to be the Suns' first round pick
and the Jazz's selection.

I say most likely, because there is an incredible amount of
preconditions written into the draft pick. Here's a sampling of the
rigmarole:

Utah: 2 picks in 2001 draft: Theirs and Denver's - If both picks fall
into the top 15, Utah gets the better one/ships the lesser one to the
Celtics. Wait a minute you're saying, don't the Celtics have an
option on the Nuggets choice. Sure, and Denver would send Utah a pick
from either the Cavs or Phoenix - See, Denver has either Cleveland's or
Phoenix's pick - apparently not both according to May, and they don't
have the Cavs' choice, if it's in the lottery, as it's protected. But
wait there's
more.

If one of the Utah picks falls in the top 15, Utah will get that one,
and give the lesser choice to the Celtics.
If neither pick falls in the top 15, the Celtics get the better pick.

Am I losing you, I'm losing me. And there's more.

If the Cav's keep their pick, which they will, if they're  lottery
bound, then Denver instead gets the Suns' pick and ships that to Utah,
because it's the less favorable of their two draft choices.

If the Celtics elect to take Denver's pick next year, then the Nuggets
will send their other pick to Utah, who will then send the better of
their two picks to the Celtics, unless one or both of the two Jazz
picks are in the top 15, then the Celtics get the lesser of the Utah
picks.


In other less muddled news, May has quotes from Walker's agent,
Mike Higgins saying, if the right deal is out there, Walker will be
moved by the C's. However, he expects Toine to remain with the team.
May also notes that Toine doesn't "like to see his name and the
word 'weight' mentioned in the same sentence, which Pitino has
a habit of doing."
Ray