C's Are Open To Trades

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

Don't count the draft pick eggs until they've hatched...

http://www.foxsports.com/nba/bos/teamreport.sml

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL


The Celtics would appear to be done with their personnel maneuvering,
considering they have used both available salary cap exceptions -- $1.2
million on Chris Carr and $2.25 million on Randy Brown -- but that may
not be the case.

Word is the C's are hoping teams might open up to trade possibilities
once they realize how little they got done in transforming themselves.
Such may be the case with all the talk that went into the proposed
four-way deal that would have involved Patrick Ewing.

Said one source, "Teams might be more willing to talk as we go along
here. They might be more willing to discuss certain players and make
deals."


http://www.bostonherald.com/sport/basketball/nbanotes08272000.htm

It's back to the future for Celts
NBA Notes/by Mark Cofman
Sunday, August 27, 2000

Despite a sense of urgency to make the playoffs this season, the
Celtics' offseason moves have been a mixed bag, with as much focus on
the future as the present.

Signing veterans Randy Brown and Chris Carr with their $2.25 million and
$1.2 million salary-cap exceptions suggested the Celtics were addressing
immediate needs for a run at the postseason. But the Danny Fortson trade
suggested something different, as did the drafting of Jerome Moiso.

The Celtics shipped out a proven veteran rebounder in Fortson and a
dependable backup in Dana Barros to acquire oft-injured Robert Pack and
John ``Hot Rod'' Williams, a throw-in for salary-cap purposes who isn't
expected to play this season.

The real attraction of the deal for the Celtics, according to general
manager Chris Wallace, was acquiring Utah's 2001 first-round draft pick.
Consequently, the Celtics could have as many as three first-round
selections next season, depending on whether they exercise the Denver
pick acquired in last year's Ron Mercer deal.

Meanwhile, Pack and Williams enter the final year of their contracts,
which potentially opens future salary-cap space. That's good work by
Wallace given the Celtics had never intended to re-sign Fortson and
stood to lose him without receiving anything in return had he signed a
$2.25 million exception.

But the question remains, how much stock should this regime be placing
in the future? Wallace and president/coach Rick Pitino enter their
fourth season at the helm. They know the restless public is no longer
interested in rebuilding strategies.

``There's more reasons now than ever for having multiple draft picks
because of the (salary) cap,'' said Wallace. ``For teams like us that
are over the cap, those picks become extremely valuable chips. They give
us flexibility. They can be used to draft more talent or to make
trades.''

One would have to assume the Celtics are thinking more along the lines
of the latter. Wallace and Pitino, who were aware the athletically
gifted but raw Moiso probably wouldn't make an impact this season, are
no longer in the business of long-range plans. Their future is now.
Expect the Celtics to continue dangling those draft picks as trade bait
until the right deal comes along.