ProJo on Fortson trade

[Kevin Lok <kevin.lok@lycosmail.com>]

http://www.projo.com/report/pjb/stories/03158193.htm

<snip>
Pitino remains sensitive to criticism of the
Mercer deal, and last night explained again what
he tried to accomplish with that trade and the
Fortson trade to Toronto.
``People have a tendency not to listen as you
talk. I'll say it once again. Ron Mercer could not
have been signed by us. Impossible. So we did the
best we can. We got a first-round draft pick,
which is what we were after. That was the best you
can get,'' he said.
``Danny Fortson, we did not feel we could sign
him. In this scenario, we feel we cannot give him
the minutes that would be worthwhile. So, we're
trying to get an asset, to fill a need of our
basketball team.''
The Celtics do need backup help at the point
because Dana Barros is primarily a shooter, and
his ball-handling is not as sharp as it was a year
ago.
Pitino said that after speaking with Fortson's
agent, he concluded it would be impossible for the
Celtics to sign the No. 10 pick in the 1997 draft
next summer.
``Let's throw the money issue out,'' he said. ``We
could not please him with playing time. At the 5
spot, we're going to play (Vitaly) Potapenko and
(Tony) Battie ahead of him. At the 4 spot, Walker
takes a lot of minutes. So we could not fulfill
his playing time.''
Antoine Walker's inability to play at 3 (small
forward) also was a factor in Fortson's scant
court time since his return from a broken foot.
The Celtics shopped Fortson around, but few teams
were interested because he is in the final year of
his contract. The trading deadline is Feb. 24.
Toronto's Glen Grunwald was one GM who was.
``We didn't think there was going to be really
anything out there any better over the last two
weeks . . . and we were a little intrigued by
having a bigger point guard with defensive
capabilities in Alvin Williams. So we struck while
the iron was hot today,'' Celtics general manager
Chris Wallace said during last night's game.
``Alvin Williams is a bigger point guard we've
been looking for for the last three years. He also
can defend both point guard and second guard
spots. So that could help us considerably
defensively,'' Wallace said.
After the Celtics' pathetic defensive effort
Tuesday night in New Jersey (46 points allowed in
the first quarter of a 131-113 loss), they need
defensive help.
Wallace saw Marks play against UCLA once, and
knows he did well at the Nike Desert Classic in
1998. ``We're taking a little shot on him to see
if there's anything there that can be developed.
We basically get to try him out for the remainder
of the season,'' he said.
Grunwald told reporters that Williams was not
working out at the point, and Wallace noted that
Doug Christie and Tracy McGrady were logging more
minutes at the position. The Raptors and Celtics
had talked on and off for a few weeks, but
discussions heated up in the last two days,
especially yesterday afternoon.
``It's funny how this business works,'' Wallace
said. ``This morning I didn't think I'd be
standing here having a press conference. These
things take on a life of their own.''
It's also funny how trades like this one sometimes
don't work. Just ask Fortson, no longer riding
Pitino's Celtics Carrousel.