Globe: Celtics try to get to the point

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

It sounds like the Celts are trying now to focus on a point guard and have
given up in the 2 guard race, atleast for now.  The article talks about
Mercer in passed tense, but I still think we have a shot at him.  Sounds
like the C's may use their midlevel exception on Coles!  That's the best we
could do?

Josh
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Celtics try to get the point
Coles, Vaughn, Brown in Boston's sights


By Shira Springer, Globe Staff, 7/31/2000


Unable to broker a sign-and-trade deal and left holding two exception-level
salaries, the Celtics shifted their focus over the weekend from shooting
guard to point guard.


By all indications, sought-after shooting guards Tariq Abdul-Wahad, Ron
Mercer, and Derek Anderson are not within Boston's reach. By all
estimations, backup point guard candidates Bimbo Coles, Randy Brown, and
Jacque Vaughn could fall into the exception category. At least, that's what
Celtics deal-makers hope.


Testing the marketplace with salary slots of only $2.25 million and $1.2
million available, Boston coach Rick Pitino and general manager Chris
Wallace could not afford the players they wanted most. Left to the whims of
teams with cap room, the Celtics came frustratingly close to pulling off a
deal. With teams allowed to make deals with free agents official tomorrow,
Boston appears to be restructuring its priorities, entering a phase of the
free agency period that it will have more control over and that will likely
lead to a signing.


''We really don't have any direction as far as 2-guards are concerned,''
said Pitino. ''When the Clippers fell off [a three-way deal with the Celtics
and Nuggets], we felt [Abdul-Wahad] was going to Denver at that point. We're
looking at Ron Mercer, but we thought he'd go to Chicago. [Anderson] would
have to be a sign-and-trade because we don't have anything to offer Derek
and it doesn't look like the Clippers want to do anything with us.


''Probably, right now, we're heading in a different direction, looking at
backup point guards and things like that.''


Added Wallace: ''Almost all the point guards have always been
exception-level players from day one. Cap room has not really been allocated
for point guards.''


Making them good targets for the Celtics.


Pitino worked out Vaughn on the West Coast. Wallace gave Brown the grand
tour of Boston last Friday. And Coles enjoyed a round of golf and dinner
with Celtics personnel during the Shaw's Pro Summer League.


In his third season with Utah, Vaughn played in 78 games last year,
averaging 11.3 minutes per game, 1.6 assists, and 3.7 points. According to
Wallace, the young point guard served an ''apprenticeship'' with the Jazz,
learning from veteran John Stockton and playing behind Boston College
product Howard Eisley. Before heading to Salt Lake City, Vaughn played with
Celtic forward Paul Pierce for two seasons at Kansas.


Competing for the Bulls last season, Brown came back from minor arthroscopic
surgery on both ankles and worked through a case of turf toe. He played in
59 games (starting 55) and averaged 27.5 minutes, 2.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists,
and 6.4 points per game. He can provide a tough, energetic presence and can
draw on his championship experience (1996-98) with Chicago.


Coles can offer the Celtics versatility. He has played both point guard and
shooting guard over a 10-year NBA career. Last season with Atlanta, he
played 80 games (54 starts) and averaged 24.1 minutes, 2.2 rebounds, 3.6
assists, and 8.1 points. He may be the Celtics' most intriguing
exception-level option.


''When Bimbo left Boston after his visit there, he was extremely impressed
with them,'' said his agent, Sean Holley. ''In fact, to the point of had
they made a firm [midlevel] offer at that time, this all probably would've
been over. That's not to say we're disappointed or anything of that
nature.''


And Coles has no reason to be disappointed. There is a long list of teams
interested in his services, including Atlanta, Cleveland, Miami, Milwaukee,
Orlando, Portland, and Utah. He has received at least one midlevel exception
offer. He started his career with Miami and returned for a recruiting visit
last Saturday. In the next couple of days, Coles will make his way to
Cleveland.


''He's not so concerned about starting,'' said Holley. ''He's willing to let
that be the coach's problem, with regards to why he shouldn't be on the
court. He's going to do whatever he can to make that a difficult decision.
He's not looking to go to teams to be a starter. He wants to go to a strong
team that has potential to do something. If it's not a playoff team, a team
that certainly has the potential to be in the playoffs.''


The Celtics should appreciate the optimism, considering Boston remains high
on Coles's long list of suitors. Whether or not Coles wears a
green-and-white uniform next season, Wallace expects ''sometime between
Tuesday and Thursday an awful lot of this business will be done.''