Re: Pitino Basically Says No Boston/Denver/LA Deal

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

After reading this, I really don't think Pitino has shut the door on the 3
way deal.  I really think this is just one of Pitino's bluffs so that
afterwars he can say "I really didn't think the deal was possible, and I'm
estatic about having getting Wahad and having Herren come home to Boston."

I think the deal is still possible.

We'll see what happens.
Josh
----- Original Message -----
From: "Way Of The Ray" <wayray@ix.netcom.com>
Newsgroups: alt.sports.basketball.nba.boston-celtics
To: "Celtics" <Celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 3:41 AM
Subject: Pitino Basically Says No Boston/Denver/LA Deal


> Jersey Red loses out to BSG on this one...
>
> Walker-Croshere deal not close
> by Steve Bulpett and Mark Cofman
> Wednesday, July 26, 2000
>
>
> The Celtics and Indiana Pacers have had some preliminary discussions on
> a trade that would involve Antoine Walker and Austin Croshere, but
> sources indicated last night that nothing is close at this point.
>
> The deal, as constituted, would send Walker and Dana Barros to Indiana
> for Croshere, Travis Best and Chris Mullin. It was confirmed to the
> Herald that those names were raised, but a source said it seemed the
> Celtics weren't all that enthusiastic about such a deal.
>
> According to one source, if the Celts made that a hard and fast offer,
> the Pacers would jump on it. While Croshere did have a strong NBA Finals
> against the Lakers, he was still mainly a role player for Indiana. On
> the other hand, the Pacers believe that Walker is a monster talent
> awaiting a bit of wisdom before he becomes a major and consistent force.
>
> Croshere, who starred collegiately at Providence, received a
> recruiting-like visit from Celtics coach Rick Pitino at his home in
> Santa Monica, Calif., earlier this month. But Croshere is coveted by at
> least six teams, and he recently met with officials from the Toronto
> Raptors, who presented him with an offer.
>
> Meanwhile, Croshere will meet with newly appointed Pacers head coach
> Isiah Thomas today. Thomas replaced Larry Bird last week.
>
> Pacers president Donnie Walsh reiterated that he is trying to keep
> Croshere, but someone close to the situation said that Indiana has
> talked to the Celts about Walker on several occasions over the past few
> years. It was thought that Bird was the one who coveted the Celtics
> captain, but word is Walsh is also a fan and that Thomas - like Walker,
> a Chicago native - believes he could be the one to extract Walker's
> potential.
>
> Meanwhile, Pitino was in San Jose last night, where one night earlier he
> met with free agent guard Tariq Abdul-Wahad, who the Celtics have
> recently been courting.
>
> While the two seemed to hit it off, Pitino was less than enthusiastic
> about whether the 6-foot-6 defensive standout would ever become a
> Celtic.
>
> ``It was a great meeting. He's a great young man,'' said Pitino. ``I
> think he would love to be a Celtic but the chances of it happening are
> remote.
>
> ``It would have to be a three-team deal and I think there's too much
> involved.''
>
> If the Celtics are going to land Abdul-Wahad, it would have to be
> through a sign-and-trade. A three-way deal among the Celtics, Denver and
> the Los Angeles Clippers has been discussed, with Abdul-Wahad and Fall
> River native Chris Herren coming to Boston, Barros and (Denver forward)
> Keon Clark going to LA, and Clippers' free-agent guard Derek Anderson
> landing in Denver. The Nuggets would also be getting back the
> first-round pick that they gave the Celtics in last summer's Danny
> Fortson-Ron Mercer trade.
>
> If something along those lines were to take place, Abdul-Wahad would be
> pleased. He came away from his meeting with Pitino putting the Celtics
> squarely at the top of his wish list.
>
> ``If it happens, honestly, I'm going to be happy,'' Abdul-Wahad said
> last night. ``I'm not going to complain. It's the Boston Celtics.
>
> ``They really like me. They like my game. I like their coach. I'm not
> difficult. How can you be difficult if the Boston Celtics want you to
> play for their team. It's like the Yankees. Ultimately, it's going to
> turn (around) for Boston.''
>
> Abdul-Wahad has a number of teams interested in his services, among them
> Minnesota, Utah, New Jersey, Miami and Toronto. But a source in Denver
> said he was inclined to hold off on visits with those teams until the
> Celtics could attempt to work out a deal.
>
> The source also said a scheduled meeting tomorrow between Abdul-Wahad
> and Nuggets coach/general manager Dan Issel might be canceled by the
> player, pending the Celtics' success in closing a deal.
>
> His agent, Paco Belassen, said Abdul-Wahad is ready to play for the
> Celtics.
>
> ``The message really went through,'' Belassen said of Adbul-Wahad's
> meeting with Pitino. ``(Pitino) talked about how highly he regards the
> player - his unlimited potential, and defensive prowess. Everything was
> very sweet from him to make Tariq his top priority.''
>
> ``Maybe the best thing that can happen to Tariq is Rick Pitino. I think
> he can make him a better player.''
>
>
>
>