RE: three-way deal with nugs

[OzerskyJA <OzerskyJA@cmog.org>]

I've been saying for years that high draft picks are the most precious
commodity in the game, and should never be traded under any circumstances,
unless you are getting a sure thing.  But since Denver's
pick is lottery protected to top five, and since there is a significant
chance
that we might end up in the lottery,ourselves, I can see how this deal would
be attractive.  Personally, I am in favor of holding on to the pick until
2003, when it is unprotected, but by that time we could all be dead of
boredom.  
I think you are mistaken about Wahad, however --- he is supposed to be
a MUCH stronger player than Ron on defense,  as well as a better finisher.
(Not that anybody will be fast breaking with Kenny at the helm.)
But since Ron can't shoot 3-pointers either, Wahad sounds like he could be a
valuable, hard-working reserve.  But then on the other hand, Cal Cheaney is
about as good as you can get on off-guard defense without being a star
defensive stopper; and we have him locked up at 2M a year.  So maybe it's
just as well if this trade doesn't work out.  To me, Herren is the most
appealing part of the package.  Given the probably presence 
next year of Curry, Griffin, Ford, Loren Woods, and who knows who
else, maybe this is taking the short money.

Josh Ozersky	
Marketing Communications Specialist 
Corning Museum of Glass

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Berry, Mark  S [SMTP:berrym@BATTELLE.ORG]
> Sent:	Monday, July 24, 2000 3:28 PM
> To:	'Celtics@igtc.com'; Celtics-Digest@igtc.com
> Subject:	three-way deal with nugs
> 
> I'm not sold on Tariq Abdul-Wahad. Am I alone on this? The guy has the
> size
> we need at 2-guard, but he is a career 42-percent shooter, and that's
> without a hint of three-point range (never as high as 30 percent). He has
> been a part-time player, averaging around 20-25 minutes per game, and
> scoring around 9 ppg. He also is a below-average passer and ball-handler.
> He
> reportedly is a good defender.
> 
> He sounds to me like a poor man's Ron Mercer who, thankfully, doesn't
> shoot
> as much and defends a little better. Now I was all for signing Abdul-Wahad
> or Mercer to the exception, or even working a sign-and-trade for
> Fortson/Battie/Barros or any other stiff, but it's the draft pick that
> concerns me. Normally, I'd hesitate to attach too much value to a draft
> pick, but if next year's draft is as strong as everyone says, then two
> picks
> in the lottery would seem to have more value, either to us or someone
> else,
> than Abdul-Wahad.
> 
> As for Chris Herren-yes, he's a point guard with a little size and seems
> to
> be a relatively natural playmaker. He's also a half-step slow and only
> played 13 minutes per game for a lousy Denver team last year.
> 
> Don't get me wrong-adding Abdul-Wahad and Herren while only subtracting
> Barros would make the Celtics better for the upcoming season. And you
> could
> argue it's worth it to include a draft pick. That was my first
> reaction-until I looked a little more closely at Abdul-Wahad and Herren.
> I'm
> just a little gun-shy about trading away lottery picks after the Vitaly
> deal
> (in what was supposed to be a terrible draft class).
> 
> Of course it's all just speculation at this point, and it hinges on
> Anderson
> going to Denver (all reports say he is leaning toward San Antonio, even if
> he has to settle for the exception) and Abdul-Wahad agreeing to Boston.
> We'll see.
> 
> Mark 
> 
>