FOXSports: Trying to get Sesar to the US; Papile sticks his foot in mouth again?

[Thndrblt31@aol.com]

Foreign affairs
Celtics trying to bring draft pick from Europe

Jul 15, 2000 9:26 a.m. ET
By SportsWritersDirect

The Celtics are working on getting second-round draft pick Josip Sesar onto 
the roster for the coming season. To do so, however, will require some 
international maneuvering.
The 6-foot-6 shooting guard, whose rights were obtained on draft night from 
Seattle, still has one year left on his current contract with Cibona Zagreb 
of the Croatian Pro League. In that the Celts are capped out, the most they 
could offer for a buyout is $350,000.

Beyond the start of training camp in October, Celtics general manager Chris 
Wallace has also tried to get Sesar in for next week's Boston Pro Summer 
League.

In the latter case, the chances are better because Cibona Zagreb doesn't open 
its camp until August. But the club may not want Sesar getting such a good 
taste of NBA life.

"We're still trying to see what we can do about getting him over here," said 
Wallace, referring to Sesar's availability for the second-year summer league, 
which runs July 17-24 at UMass-Boston. "That situation is still up for grabs, 
but it's something we're certainly looking into at this point."

Adding Sesar to their roster this season would be an obvious plus for the 
Celtics, who list depth at shooting guard among their needs. Adding a scoring 
threat at that position would allow Celtics coach Rick Pitino the flexibility 
to give swingman Paul Pierce more playing time at his natural position at 
small forward.

Sesar averaged 20.4 points in four seasons in Croatia, while also holding 
down a prominent role on that country's national team. His scoring average 
includes 40 percent shooting from beyond the 3-point arc — another glaring 
Celtics weakness in recent years. Sesar is also considered a good 
ball-handler and passer who saw extensive time as a point guard last year.

Wallace and associate head coach Jim O'Brien began to target Sesar after 
seeing his pre-draft workout in Chicago. But the deal to get a shot at the 
22-year-old didn't come down until late on draft night, with the Celts 
forking over a pair of future second round picks to get him.

Sesar lasted until the 47th overall pick in the second round. Like many 
European players, his contract status and questions about the discrepancy in 
quality of play between the United States and Europe helped him slide.

But the Celtics, whose second-round pick this year belonged to the Knicks to 
complete a 1997 deal involving Chris Mills, didn't mind spending two 
second-round choices next year (their own and another via Denver) to secure 
Sesar's NBA rights. They retain those rights regardless of whether Sesar 
joins them this season or next.

NOTES, QUOTES, ANECDOTES


Rick Pitino used to like hearing his name talked about for other coaching 
jobs. Now he's allegedly getting peeved. Pitino issued a statement this week, 
saying he is standing by his words of three months ago that he's not pursuing 
any other job. His name was raised when North Carolina's first four choices 
to replace Bill Guthridge didn't come through (Matt Doherty got the job), and 
Pitino is still being talked about with regard to the Notre Dame opening 
Doherty left behind. What Pitino ignores is that he was the source of a lot 
of speculation when he allowed University of Miami officials to fly to Boston 
and woo him in a six-hour meeting recently. ... Tony Battie took a nice step 
in the eyes of Celtic management when he agreed to play on the club's summer 
league team next week. Top pick Jerome Moiso is also scheduled to be there, 
as is last year's second round pick, Kris Clack. Clack never even got an 
invite to the C's regular training camp last October. Others playing for the 
Celts will be Jerome Allen, Roberto Bergerson, Mark Blount, Rodney Elliott, 
James Forrest, Bobby Hurley, Bobby Martin, Silas Mills, Damian Owens, Kevin 
Salvadori, David Vanterpool and Kenny Williams. ... Free agent Wayne Turner 
made a place for himself on the Celtic roster with his play in last year's 
summer league. But he was dropped early in the season and played in the IBL. 
This time around, Turner, a Boston native, is playing for the Pacers' entry 
in the league. Turner was the point guard on Pitino's national champion club 
at Kentucky.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "The first time I saw him in an AAU tournament, I thought he 
looked like Bill Russell." — Celtic head scout Leo Papile on Jerome Moiso

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL


The Celtics are making a heavy move for Pacer free agent Austin Croshere, but 
there is a question as to whether they can even come close.

Croshere is still waiting to see how things shake down in Indiana with the 
coaching situation, and he's very interested to know what his role there 
would be. The Celts, meanwhile, can only offer him the $2.25 million middle 
class salary cap exception, but they could do better if the Pacers wanted to 
work a sign and trade deal (they can have Danny Fortson, and a package 
involving Antoine Walker is not out of the question).

Croshere said Thursday his first choice is still to remain with the Pacers, 
but he's more open to checking things out now that he's hearing what suitors 
have to say.

He met with the Hawks this week, and Rick Pitino flew to Los Angeles to meet 
with him at the start of the free-agent negotiation period.

DRAFT REVIEW: Rick Pitino has been saying for months that the Celts need to 
get more athletic, and he certainly met that goal with the selection of 
Jerome Moiso (Rd. 1, 11). The question is whether the C's are a better 
basketball team now.

Moiso impressed the Celtics in workouts with his physical achievements, but 
the NBA is not a decathlon. Primarily, Moiso will have to sharpen his skills 
and his intensity to succeed.

As for second rounder Josip Sesar (Rd. 2, 47), the Celtics decided to take a 
chance on a tall backcourt player with a very good outside stroke.

FREE AGENT UPDATE: Pervis Ellison, Doug Overton and Danny Fortson are all up. 
Ellison is gonzo, one-way or another. Overton was a nice role player, but 
with Dana Barros still under contract, there is question whether Overton can 
come back. With the drafting of Jerome Moiso and financial concerns, Fortson 
is pretty much out of here.

ROTATION REVIEW: Starters — Point guard Kenny Anderson (14.0 ppg, 5.1 apg); 
Shooting guard Paul Pierce (19.5, 5.4 rpg); Small forward Eric Williams (7.2 
ppg); Power forward Antoine Walker (20.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg); Center Vitaly 
Potapenko (9.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg). Bench — Guard Dana Barros (7.2 ppg, 1.8 apg); 
Guard Doug Overton (3.2 ppg, 1.1 apg); Guard Calbert Cheaney (4.0 ppg); 
Guard-Forward Adrian Griffin (6.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg); Forward Walter McCarty (3.8 
ppg); Forward Danny Fortson (7.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg); Center-Forward Tony Battie 
(6.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg); Center Pervis Ellison (1.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg).

MEDICAL WATCH: Greg Minor (right hip fracture) missed the season and may well 
be done for good. Pervis Ellison (sore back) ended the season — and his 
Celtic career — on the injured list. Adrian Griffin had surgery on his right 
foot and ankle to repair a nerve compression. He should be playing again by 
summer league time in July, but he's not on the club's roster for the event.