C's still want Croshere; Moiso, Clack, and Blount shine at Shaws

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C's look for Croshere: But Pacers have inside track on forward
Celtics Notebook/by Steve Bulpett 
Tuesday, July 18, 2000

The Celtics are waiting at the altar for Austin Croshere, holding out hope 
that he will join them in holy free agent contract. In the meantime, Rick 
Pitino is set to hit the road in search of other possible sign-ees.
It appears the Celts will be waiting a while for an answer to their proposal 
to Croshere. The Indiana forward and his agent have told the Celts their 
primary interest is in remaining with the Pacers, a club that has several 
important issues to deal with before getting to Croshere.
Though sources indicate Indiana has settled on Isiah Thomas to replace Larry 
Bird as coach, Thomas must first get his house in order (selling the CBA, 
etc.) before things can be finalized. Then the Pacers must deal with free 
agents Jalen Rose and Reggie Miller.
``And then,'' Celts coach and president Pitino said last night, ``there's 
other teams after him, as well.''
But as Croshere said during the NBA Finals, he rates Boston as a strong 
option, having attended Providence College.
``I think he's very high on us,'' said Pitino, ``and we're very high on him. 
He loves Boston. We're not really looking at trades. We're looking at the 
open market, and Croshere's the most serious conversation we've had.''
The best the Celts can offer Croshere is the $2.25 million middle class 
exception, while the Pacers can go over the cap to keep him.
Said one league source who has weighed in with Croshere, ``If the Pacers 
offer him a good deal and the right role, I think he stays there, no 
question. If not, I think Boston's got a real chance. That's the way the kid 
is talking.''
Walking on Coles
As for other free agents on the Celtics' radar screen, the club will host 
point guard Bimbo Coles tomorrow, and Pitino will be hitting the road 
Thursday.
``I'm going to talk to Hubert Davis, I'm going to talk to Ron (Mercer), and 
I'm going to talk to Tariq Abdul-Wahad,'' Pitino said.
The Celtics are clearly in search of a starting 2-guard. The 6-foot-5 Davis 
averaged 7.4 points in 23 minutes a game for Dallas last season, and the 
30-year-old's 49 percent 3-point shooting average topped the league. The 6-6 
Abdul-Wahad averaged 11.4 points in 25.9 minutes between Orlando and Denver. 
Obviously, the Celts are aware what Mercer can do after he spent his first 
two seasons here.
The visit with Mercer is said to be more of a feeling-out process. The Celts 
dealt him away last summer (essentially for Danny Fortson and Eric Williams) 
when they couldn't meet his contractual asking price. But the market has 
changed, leaving it all but impossible for Mercer to get what he originally 
sought. Mercer will likely have an offer from Miami to peruse in the next 
week or so as well.
Clack has knack
The Celts' top draftee, Jerome Moiso, had a nice debut in the Shaw's Pro 
Summer League at UMass-Boston yesterday, but it was last year's second-round 
pick, Kris Clack, who scored the decisive points in Boston's 81-79 win over 
Atlanta.
Moiso had 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots in 19 minutes 
(the games are 40 minutes long), while Clack hit two free throws to break a 
tie with 1.9 seconds left. . . .
Helping himself the most this summer for the Celts is 6-10 center Mark 
Blount. The Pittsburgh product has strengthened his frame considerably. He 
had 15 points in 26 minutes yesterday (tying Rodney Elliott for team-high).
``We're very high on Mark Blount. He's going to be in our camp,'' said 
Pitino. ``We're going to sign him.'' . . .
Tony Battie is on call for the Celts. He may play at the end of the week 
after Moiso leaves for a personal commitment. . . . A crew from ESPN2 came in 
late last night to install TV lights at the Clark Center. The network will do 
a pair of games today and Thursday. . . . Four games are on tap today, 
beginning at noon. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and at the 
door. . . . The Celts have hired Bill Bonsiewicz as PR man Jeff Twiss' new top
assistant.

  
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