off-season ideas

["Patrick Goggin" <patgoggin@hotmail.com>]

I've been lurking for awhile, but I wanted to voice two of my thoughts.

1st, regarding Tony Battie.  I have been as disappointed as everyone else.  
i also expected this year to be his breakout season.  It didn't happen.  
But, who had heard of Jayson Williams when he was 24?  Where was Dale Davis 
at 24?  Who had heard of Theo Ratliffe at the same age?  What about Antonio 
Davis?  These players are all current or potential all star power forwards 
and they all came into there own closer to 30 than 20.  OK, I don't know how 
old Theo is, but you get my point.  Battie could easily be the next. . .He 
has the defensive potential to be as good or better than any of the above 
and has more potential on offense than all of them.  He's signed long term 
and that's to our benefit.  You don't sell low. . .his stock will rise.

2nd, regarding Jemaine O'Neal.  I don't know why I didn't think of it 
myself.  It's brilliant.  To get to where the lakers are, you have to take 
chances and you have to make deals.  It paid off paying Shaq.  Not such a 
good idea trading Eddie for Rice.  Great move getting Harper but Horry is a 
waste product.  Jermaine is going to be a top center in this league.  Get 
him now while he still averages 3.9 PPG.  You won't have the same chance 
next summer.  If that doesn't work out, go for Cato.  I normally hate mock 
'what-if' lineups but humor me. . .our front four would include O'Neal or 
Cato, Walker, Pierce, and X at SG.  O'Neal's length and athleticism 
compensate for the lack of this at Walker's PF slot while the rest of 
Antoine's well-advertised positive attributes blow away the slower, aging 
PF's.  This is something that VP's game couldn't do for Walker's.  Our 
second front line then features VP, Battie, Walker/Pierce (one should always 
be on the floor). AG/Cheaney.  VP's and Battie's games clearly complement 
eachother.

The above scheme has a lot of flexibility--I haven't mentioned Fortson or 
our draft pick.  One would probably hace to go to get O'Neal.  I love 
Fortson and still think you can win with a front line rotation of 
Walker/Battie/Fortson/VP as long as it includes some other player that we 
don't currently have.  For the draft pick, i like DeMarr Johnson.  I live in 
Cincinnati, I watched every Bearcat game this season and this kid could be 
the real deal.  He could be what Kobe is.  (He could also be what Dontonio 
Wingfield is).

In conclusion, I would say forget about looking big in the draft.  Big guys 
bloom late.  Don't trade Battie because big guys bloom late.  Use VP or Fort 
(although I like both of them) to get a player like O'Neal or Cato to fill 
in our holes.  Then if you haven't used the pick after doing all that, draft 
an athlete, not a brute to be groomed to take AG's spot.  What do you think?

Goggin in Cincinnati

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