Crawford Not In C's Plans, But Speedy Claxton...

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

Forget those Jermaine O'Neal rumors I guess....

Celtics size up, narrow down field
NBA Notes/by Steve Bulpett 
Boston Herald - Sunday, June 25, 2000


There is much movement still to be done before the draft, and some of it
could affect what falls to the Celtics at No. 11. Agents are doing some
last-minute covert action, trying to deliver clients to certain
positions, and it's possible someone could make a late leap with an
extra visit to a club.

But as it stands now, judging from league sources and agents for first
rounders, the Celtics pick is likely to come from a group of six players
- seven if Cincinnati freshman DerMarr Johnson ticks off enough people
by not visiting and, thus, slides Boston's way.

Assuming they even have the pick (a number of teams are looking to move
up), Rick Pitino could be calling out on Wednesday night for Jerome
Moiso (6-foot-11, UCLA sophomore), Quentin Richardson (6-5, DePaul
sophomore), Keyon Dooling (6-3, Missouri sophomore), Olumide Oyedeji
(6-11, Germany), Speedy Claxton (5-10, Hofstra) or Courtney Alexander
(6-5, Fresno State).

The heights are as measured barefoot at the Chicago predraft camp, and
it's clear the Celts have a good range of sizes in mind.

Whom the C's eventually choose could largely be decided by what they're
going to do with free agent Danny Fortson and what Paul Gaston will
allow them to do financially (using both salary cap exceptions, etc.).

( I wouldn't draft Moiso - He's a 7-foot small forward/tweener type.
  Richardson is like Griffin only more athletic. I'd bypass him.
  Dooling is a bigger Chauncey and that makes me leery. Big O2
  is Big Okay. Alexander is evil but talented. And Claxton would
  be a great choice. Methinks he'll be the best point guard in the
  draft and since no one's even mentioned him in conjuction with the
  Celtics before, I like the freshness aspect. Take Claxton and leave 
  people scratching their heads.)



Austin power

Pitino says he doesn't read the newspapers, but Celtic fans can only
hope he ``hears'' what Austin Croshere said in the Herald a week ago.

The Pacers forward out of Providence came up large in the NBA Finals,
and it's almost certain he will opt out of his contract in search of
more money - preferably with Indiana. But Croshere said he was not at
all averse to coming to Boston. The only drawback he saw was Pitino's
statement that he would offer Gaston his resignation if the Celtics
don't make the playoffs or at least show huge improvement next season.

Croshere said he didn't want to leave one unstable situation (with Larry
Bird leaving and many free agent decisions due) for another.

And while Pitino has asked for (nay, demanded) patience from the fans
for his young club, it is he who most needs to heed the advice. There
can be no question that more moves must be made if this Celtics group is
to be transformed into a contender, but they must be moves made from a
solid base.

Pitino said he was just trying to put the heat on himself for the coming
season, but the effect was to announce to the NBA that the Celtics were
still in flux and could even be headed for yet another overhaul, from
coach to roster. He may not believe that, but it's precisely what
players are saying.

Sample line from player participating in this year's conference finals
and league finals (uttered several times by different players): ``Hey,
what's up with your boy in Boston?''

What's up is a man who is trying to sprint to a goal that was miles away
for the 15-win team he took over.

But how must Celtics fans feel to hear of a guy like Croshere wanting to
play for Pitino (under the right circumstances) and then seeing him have
second thoughts because of the coach-president's pronouncements? Does
maddening about cover it?

The bottom line is that if Pitino is willing to ride this out, he can
get what he wants here with the right plan. If not, get ready to
reshuffle the deck again next summer.