Re: C's Are Open To Trades

[Dan Forant <dforant1@nycap.rr.com>]

So do I take this article the way I find it? We're still rebuilding with
the emphasis upon 2001? Not this season. This is clever politics if it
works, designed to keep bodies in the Center seats this winter. Fool me
once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

Dan.

At 01:00 PM 8/27/00 -0400, you wrote:
>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.
>
>
>
>