Maybe Fortson is leaving

["Jim Meninno" <jim_meninno@hotmail.com>]

I hate all the trade rumors, because they so often end up being so far off 
base, but to read Pitino's comments in Bulpett's column today, it's hard to 
draw any conclusion other than Fortson will be traded.  The combination of 
events that lead to this are, Fortson got injured, Griffin emerged as a 
genuine player, and comes at a rock bottom price, and Antoine struggles to 
move to small forward (was he even tried there?) but excells keeping his 
game inside.  Fortson for Mercer, Part II?  I doubt it.  This team could 
sure use another point guard.  Fortson and Dana somewhere?  Possibly.  
Toronto perhaps?  Oh God, now I'm starting.

Jim

Celts shoot for stability: Pitino likes look of current starters
by Steve Bulpett
Tuesday, February 1, 2000

...
In a season that has seen a number of changes in the Celts, a lack of change 
for a while with this starting group would suit Rick Pitino just fine.

Though preseason thoughts of going with Danny Fortson ended when the power 
forward fractured his right foot, Pitino settled on Paul Pierce, Antoine 
Walker, Kenny Anderson, Vitaly Potapenko and Adrian Griffin for openers.

``Well, I didn't realize Adrian would be that good, so I was unsure there,'' 
Pitino said yesterday. ``I was thinking more of Calbert (Cheaney). But 
Adrian obviously played very well, so he became one of the starters.''

Now that Fortson is back - though not getting much time on some nights - 
using him more heavily would necessitate a move of Walker to small forward. 
Said Pitino of such a plan, ``That was not a very successful venture.''

...

``I think with the second group, we have to continue to develop Tony Battie, 
obviously,'' he said. ``And right now, because our other guys are playing so 
many minutes, we're trying get Danny Fortson some more minutes. It's very 
difficult to do when Antoine's playing as well as he's playing.''

...
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