Re: Fortson Poll Results

[opi@unesco.org]

I was hoping we would use our practice week during the All Star break to
test Fortson into a playoff-run, 8-man rotation. But it sounds like the
team will be given the time off from what the newspapers say.

Having said that, I don't personally think Pitino/Wallace will rush to meet
the trade deadline on Fortson for less than fair value. If he goes for a
future pick, I'm not convinced our young starters can sufficiently overcome
the hurdle of our remaining crapola bench and make the playoffs this
season.

I was hoping that making the playoffs this year would give our young core
players the hunger and the sense of confidence to really start delivering
whupass cans in 2000-01 on a bunch of teams ahead of us that are a lot more
brittle with age and a lot less well-balanced at all five positions than
the Boston Celtics are. Making the playoffs is really important. If we
can't get a Jerome Williams for Fortson (obviously we can't), then we
should explore a serviceable 20 mpg backup young "point guard of the
future" along the lines of a Baron "El Busto" Davis or even look to a
Cleveland blockbuster involving the about-to-be-downsized Brevin Knight and
one of the Cav's many redundant three-point bombers.

Personally, I'm hoping the deadline will pass without a move. My gut
feeling is that the coaching staff actually likes Fortson as an overall
positive influence and wish, like we all do, that he had a full training
camp. You can see a lot of Oakley in this 24-year-old, and I'm sure Pitino
does too.

He just needs to take the extra leap of imagination and conclude that
giving Antoine 5 to 10 token minutes at small forward at the horrible
expense of leaving Waltah/Eric/Calbert on the bench will NOT hurt this
basketball team. It will lead to a net gain in team rebounds on both ends
of the court which should more than make up for whatever unclear team
chemistry ingredients we'll lose as a result of sitting one of our "Three
Stooges" down.


****


Josh Farber wrote:

> Well here are the results of my Fortson Poll.
>
> Sorry I'm late posting them!
>
> (1) Yes definitely! - 2
> (2) Only for atleast a high draft pick - 5
> (3) Only if we can get rid of some cap hogs too - 4
> (4) He deserves more time to prove what he's worth - 12
> (5) He'll really help us in the long run, definitely a keeper - 5
>
> Well if Pitino would rely on the results of this poll.  He'd keep him
> and let him prove himself.  Although, he could do that and still trade
> him by playing him more.
>
> If Fortson is on the trading block, why not play him a lot more to show
> all the other teams what potential is there instead of having him sit
> the bench!
>
> Josh