RE: trading up/down

["Michael Griffin" <mgriffin@rillc.com>]

I think the attitude and physical shape of Walker (of course avoiding
injuries as well) is the single most important determinant on whether the
Celtics make the playoffs next year.  If he plays like he did the 2nd half
of the year and if Pierce shows any improvement on the defensive side, we
should be able to grab the 7th or 8th spot.  I wouldn't expect too much help
from the draft but if I had my druthers, Demarr Johnson is my hope at this
point.  It would be a gift if Miles,Miller,etc...slid to our spot although
in recent years, someone has slid farther than the experts thought.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-celtics@igtc.com [mailto:owner-celtics@igtc.com]On Behalf Of
> Berry, Mark S
> Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2000 10:38 AM
> To: 'ozerskyja@cmog.org'; 'celtics@igtc.com'
> Subject: Re: trading up/down
>
>
> You may be right about Przybilla, Josh, but I'm not so sure. I said weeks
> ago I thought he had a chance to move up into the top 3 or 4 in workouts,
> and it sounds like he's doing just that. He's talented, thinks defense
> first, has a knack for blocking shots and a little mean streak. Mihm is a
> talented offensive player, but he's nowhere near the defender in
> the middle
> that Przybilla is. The other guys-Swift, Martin or even
> Miles-will be great
> players, and I'd be thrilled to add any of them, but I'm not sure they're
> the types of players who will make a big difference with the Celts.
>
> Of course, I may be completely wrong about Przybilla. It won't be
> the first
> time. But we'll see.
>
> When breaking down this draft, it seems there is a certain consensus about
> the players certain to be gone before we pick: Martin, Mihm, Swift,
> Przybilla, Fizer, Miles, Miller. I'll throw Tsakalidis in there, assuming
> his contract problems work out and the Cavs snatch him up. That's eight
> spots. That leaves, in my opinion, three players up in the air: Alexander,
> DerMar Johnson, and Moiso. Now, Johnson or Alexander certainly may be gone
> in the top 8, but it seems that these three are the most likely targets at
> No. 11. Houston at No. 9 reportedly loves Moiso, and they need a
> PF, so that
> makes sense. That leaves Orlando choosing from Johnson and
> Alexander. I'd be
> shocked if, given this choice, they didn't go for Johnson. He may be a
> little more raw, but he seems to have a higher ceiling and lacks
> Alexander's
> baggage. The more I look at it, the more I think Alexander may be
> the guy in
> that group who slides to us.
>
> Now, if that happens, does Pitino make the deal with the devil? He's a
> talent, and maybe the most NBA-ready player in the draft. But he is a
> headache and a shoot-first player. Would Pitino do it? I don't know, and
> that's where all the other options come in: Ernest Brown is a reach at 11.
> Morris Peterson has been awful in his workouts and is dropping out of the
> lottery. Etan Thomas is a solid, safe pick with no upside. The other
> high-schooler, DeShawn Stevenson, might make sense in this
> scenario, but the
> Celts are said to want a contributor. Quentin Richardson? Maybe, but he
> scares me. A 6-4 shooting guard who made his living on the offensive
> glass-almost playing PF-is risky. Jamal Crawford could be the compromise
> pick. He would be the big point guard Pitino wants. OO? Who knows? I'm not
> going to speculate without ever seeing the guy play, but maybe he's an
> option.
>
> Maybe if this scenario plays out, Pitino trades out of that spot, either
> down in the draft or straight out of it for a veteran.
>
> Anyway, it seems the best thing that could happen to the Celts is to have
> Alexander go early and drop one of those other "elite 11" players
> into their
> laps. Or maybe someone else sneaks into the top 10-Stevenson or OO seem to
> be the most likely possibilities, or perhaps Q.
>
> I've also read theories that if Alexander were there for the Celts, they
> would take him in order to trade him, and maybe that's where Przybilla (or
> Swift/Mihm/Martini) comes in-say the Celts send Alexander and
> Vitaly to the
> Bulls for Przybilla, who they snatched up with the fourth pick. Or to the
> Clippers.
>
> I don't know, but it does seem that a few names are becoming more and more
> likely to be considered at 11, if we stay there. I will say this (as if I
> haven't said enough already)-none of these guys at 11 are going to make a
> significant difference next year. If that's the only change we make, we'll
> be back in the same spot next June.
>
> Mark
>