Fortson Gone Too: C's Striking Out Big Time In The Off Season

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

If it isn't bad enough, that you can't even give away a first round
pick for the likes of Tariq Abdul Wahad, then how about
Danny Fortson turning down approximately $25 million dollars
with the Celtics, to sign with the lowly Golden State Warriors
for the exception, as Peter Vecsey is reporting?

Bleah, I say bleah, Rick Pitino. I'm looking at the giant scorecard of
Celtic moves this summer, and Il Duce, you are batting under the
Mendoza line.

There was the stupid offer of three first rounders for Jermaine
O'Neal. Geez, I say, geez. And then, bypassing future All-Star
shooting guard Courtney Alexander forJerome Moiso, who will
be a good and nice player in the NBA. But the C's are loaded
right now with good and nice players. In fact, several at the same
position or positions Moiso plays. They need great players,
of which, Alexander has a much better chance of becoming one
than Moiso.

Then, the Flavor-of-the-Month fascination with Tariq, when Pitino
should have been pulling out all stops to try to arrange a sign and
trade with Orlando involving Mercer and Fortson. Frankly, I'd take
Mercer any day of the week over Tariq.

And how can I forget the C's or should I say Pitino's or Gaston's
desire for Austin Croshere, at $9 million per year. That's right,
according to Vecsey, the sign and trade for Austin
not from Boston would have fetched Corshere $9 million per
season. Aye Carumba.

Moves, moves, moves. You can not be liking the Celtics moves
or lack of right moves this summer.

In fact, the best one actually might turn out to be the signing
of tall, post-collegiate basketball nomad, Mel Blanc, I mean
Mark  Blount, who exhibits a nice shooting touch, shotblocking
skills, and an ability to run the court. With Pot being Pot, and
Battie mailing in half his games, Blount could actually see more
playing time than first round pick Moiso.

And there might be some hope for a major move on the horizon.
Al Iannazzone in today's Herald News (New Jersey) reports that
the long rumored trade involving Antoine Walker and Keith Van
Horn is "'not entirely dead.'"  And a source has told Iannazzonne
that the Nets want to move Van Horn, and will if they can.
Ray