Re: I Think This Guy May Have Nailed The First 11 Picks

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>]

A couple of points on two good posts from Ray and Jim:

1.	Ray mentioned that Orlando may take Stevenson at 10 because they
fear the Celtics may take him at 11. This is a great point. Maybe the Celts
schedule the kid for another workout, making it seem like they're
interested, when in fact they're only trying to goad the Magic into taking
him at 10 so "Player X" (Alexander, Johnson) slips to them. It's all part of
the game.
2.	And Jim, on Tsakalidis... I've been thinking the same thing lately.
If the Cavs pass on this guy (unlikely), and he's there at 11... and
ASSUMING Wallace and Pitino have done all their homework, scouted the guy,
worked him out and are CONVINCED he's not just 7-2, 280 pounds of Eurostiff,
then take him. If he's the next Sabonis, and you're getting him when he's
21, 22, 23... whatever, you take him. Sabonis in his prime was a bigger Bill
Walton. If that's the kind of player you really, truly believe Tsakalidis is
or will be, then take him. Contract or no contract. I don't care how good
Alexander, Johnson, Crawford, Moiso or anyone else turns out to be, none of
them would have a greater impact than the kind of player we just described.

And finally, I'll get back on my Przybilla soapbox for one moment. My
fascination with this guy is inexplicable (other than the fact that I
believe he's the one guy in this draft who brings exactly what the Celtics
need-a Mutombo for the next 10 years), but bear with me.... It sounds like
there is one team seriously entertaining the kind of offer the Celtics might
be able to make... the Clippers, at No. 3. If they could pick up a Moiso or
Alexander with the 11th pick, and add a Vitaly or Kenny Anderson (they need
PF and point guard), might they bite? Sweeten the pot with a future No. 1?
Again, this is contingent on Wallace and Pitino being convinced, after
scouting and workouts, that Przybilla is worth it. But if he is (and I think
he might be), then offer everything short of Walker or Pierce to get it
done.

Mark