Article on Mercer, NJ, Pitino Quoted

["Josh Farber" <nbaj2k@home.com>]

With Kittles Out, Nets Make a Play for Mercer
By LIZ ROBBINS




Vincent Laforet/The New York Times
Kerry Kittles (30), the Nets' top shooting guard last season, will miss next
season. Kendall Gill may switch from small forward to replace him.


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OSTON, July 18 -- Gone are the far-reaching wings of Kerry Kittles. The Nets
are grounded at the shooting guard position this season now that Kittles,
their starter, will be recovering from knee surgery.
"Kerry is a player who makes shots, who particularly at guard is long, so he
presents defensive problems for players," Nets President Rod Thorn said. "If
you don't have a player with those kinds of skills, it hurts. Coming in, I
knew there was the possibility he wouldn't be playing, but now it's a
reality. Now we have to find someone to take his spot."
Two weeks from the beginning of the free-agent signing period, Thorn said
the team has identified its options to replace Kittles, concentrating either
on Ron Mercer, the Orlando free-agent guard, or on re-signing Kendall Gill,
who would move from small forward to his natural position of shooting guard.
How the Nets proceed depends on whether they receive one or two injury
exceptions back from the league, exceptions worth approximately $3.8 million
each. The Nets have applied for two injury exceptions -- for center Jayson
Williams, who retired because of his broken leg, and for Kittles -- but
realistically they hope to receive only one, within two weeks.
Still, the extra money is an advantage the Nets have over other teams
interested in Mercer that are also over the salary cap. Both Miami and
Boston are interested in Mercer. But those teams can offer Mercer only the
midlevel exception of $2.25 million, unless they work out a sign-and-trade
deal with Orlando, where Mercer started his final 31 games last season.
Chicago, another interested team, is under the cap and, if inclined, could
offer Mercer as much as $67.6 million over six years, the maximum amount
allowable.
"I'm sure Ron's looking for as much as he can get," Thorn said. "But the
marketplace will let you know. If I'm him, I'm going to look where I can
play, where I can fit in."
He said he would try to sell Mercer on that starting spot next week. "We're
trying to get him to come in," Thorn said, but added that the Nets do not
intend to haul out the marching bands, cheerleaders and other razzle-dazzle
tactics other teams have used this summer to recruit free agents.
Mercer made the National Basketball Association's all-rookie team in 1997
with the Celtics, who drafted him No. 6 over all.
While he has averaged 16.2 points in his three seasons, the 6-foot-7-inch
guard has also been traded by two teams who did not think they would be
willing to satisfy his salary demands when he became a free agent.
Boston Coach Rick Pitino, who recruited Mercer at Kentucky and traded him
last season, is still very close to Mercer and said he plans to visit Mercer
on Thursday at his home in Nashville to discuss the player's future, and not
necessarily in Boston.
"Ron has a lot of loyalty to me and to Boston," Pitino said. "But right now
I'd have to say Chicago and Miami are the front-runners."
The Nets could offer Mercer the $3.8 million exception this year but would
also be able to increase it by 10 percent each year, up to six years. Most
likely, the Nets will not be the first to have the ink dry on Aug. 1, when
free-agent signings can begin, because they will wait to see what value the
market places on the available free agents.
"If we don't sign anybody by Aug. 1, don't worry about it," Thorn said.
"We're going to be signing somebody."
While the 3-point specialist Hubert Davis, a free agent from Dallas, is also
a consideration, re-signing Gill is an attractive option for the Nets unless
he demands much more than his $5.6 million salary. The team is happy with
Lucious Harris as the backup shooting guard but wants to solidify the
starting spot.
"I think that's where Kendall would rather play," Thorn said. "He's been one
of the better defenders in the league, but his shooting is what's kept
Kendall from being a star in the league."
Thorn added: "If we get the injury exception or a midlevel exception for a
player of Mercer's skills, do you need both of those guys? Probably not."
REBOUNDS
The Nets lost their Shaw Summer League game to the Washington Wizards,
78-73, in front of Nets officials, including the owner, LEWIS KATZ, and
HARVEY SCHILLER of YankeeNets.
TREMAINE FOWLKES scored 14 points and KEVIN FREEMAN added 11 for the Nets.