RE: Trade Rescinded!!

["David J. Boutte" <dajubo@earthlink.net>]

Yipee!! Maybe now, Pitino can get thie right.


Here's an account from ESPN:

-David


G Williams fails physical, trade with Celtics voided

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Toronto Raptors point guard Alvin Williams failed a
physical today, negating Wednesday's three-way trade with the Boston
Celtics.
The Celtics sent forward Danny Fortson to the Raptors for Williams and
reserve center Sean Marks, but the deal was rescinded after Williams did not
pass an examination by Boston team doctors.

Toronto general manager Glen Grunwald denied the Celtics were getting
damaged goods.

"Alvin did have minor knee problems in the past and he did have arthroscopic
surgery on his right knee after we acquired him from Portland two years ago,
but it has never affected his ability to play," Grunwald said.

In 102 games with the Raptors, including 76 as a starter, Williams has
averaged 5.3 points and 2.6 assists in 19.0 minutes.

"He has not missed a game due to any kind of knee injury and has been a
regular starter for the Raptors over the past two seasons," Grunwald said. A
free agent at the end of the season, Fortson originally was acquired by the
Celtics with forward Eric Williams and guard Eric Washington from Denver on
August 3 in a six-player deal that sent guard Ron Mercer to the Nuggets.

Fortson missed the first 25 games of the season with a stress reaction in
his right foot. He has averaged 5.9 points and 5.0 rebounds in 23 games
since his return.

Fortson entered this season with career averages of 10.9 points and 7.9
rebounds in his first two campaigns.

The trade could have given the Raptors more salary cap room at the end of
the season in their attempt to re-sign impending free agent swingman Tracy
McGrady.

"Both Alvin and Sean are good players and individuals of great character,"
Grunwald said. "It was a difficult decision to trade them in the first place
and we are happy to have them back with the Raptors." Williams lost his
starting job last month as the Raptors have gone to Doug Christie as their
point guard.

A 1997 second-round pick of Portland, Williams was acquired by Toronto
during his rookie campaign and is averaging 6.5 points and 3.0 assists in 39
games this season.

Marks, 6-10, is in his second NBA season and is averaging 1.6 points in only
five games.

 

WEEI just reported that Alvin Williams failed his physical and that the trade has been rescinded.