Re: A closer look at the Detroit offer

[CeltsSteve@aol.com]

In a message dated 02/06/2000 12:08:59 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
DJessen33@aol.com writes:


<< Back to the Detroit trade, what was the Pistons offering? I believe it was 
 Laettner. The money seems to work for a Laettner for E Williams and Fortson. 
 Look at their team. What else could they be offering? There was a recent 
 newspaper article on why Laettner should be traded away. It seems to fit to 
 me. Now the reports say Pitino countered with Fortson and Pervis for J 
 Williams. The money works out right there also. I haven't seen Laettner for 
 awhile. He really had game before. He can has a decent inside game and has a 
 nice outside shot. He can hit that shot at the top of the key where the 
 Celtic big men seem to spend most of their time in this offense. Laettner 
 could really solidify the second unit, can rebound some and play some backup 
 center. He would go well with Battie. However, supposedly he hasn't come 
back 
 well from his Achilles injury. Again, I haven't seen him play for awhile. 
But 
 there is also the Pitino/Laettner connection from March Madness. You got to 
 know that Pitino respects him. Also remember the Stackhouse/Laettner fight. 
 (In that case, I sided with Laettner...You don't have to show your cards if 
 the other player folds...) Well, Stackhouse isn't going anywhere now that he 
 made the All-Star team. >>




DJ, 

Wouldn't it seem to imply that if the Pistons originally offered Laettner and 
the C's counter-offered for Jerome Williams that RP wouldn't be as interested 
in Laettner?  It could also be a case of 'ol trader Rick playing his brand of 
poker and making the Pistons sweat a little or trying to drive the price for 
Laettner down. The key, though, is not wait too long and let the Pistons make 
another deal with somebody else.
Personally, I think I'd rather go the Fortson/EWilliams for Laettner route 
than Fortson/Pervis for J Williams. 

Why?

Laettner would give the C's another offensive post player; something that J 
Williams clearly is not. It would also accelerate cap relief from E Williams' 
contract as well as clear up a glut at the SF spot. Even as a worst case 
scenario if Laettner is a total bust or a disaster chemistry wise, he'd only 
have one year left on his deal after this year. E Williams would still have 4 
years left after this year.

Additionally, Pervis would have value to a team like Orlando for cap relief. 
To get Strong in exchange would give the C's a new look front court. If, to 
use Sptguy33's idea of Pervis and the Denver #1 for Strong and either Doleac 
or Pat Garrity, that would almost be too good to be true.  V, Battie, Walker, 
Laettner, Strong, and either Garrity or Doleac is a nice blend. Certainly an 
improvement over V, Battie, Walker, Fortson, Pervis, and E Williams.

The C's then address their backup PG need via this year's draft or through 
one of the two exceptions they'll have this summer.