RE: and one more thing

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

I may be in the minority, but I believe scouting has probably improved
overall and if Tsak was the real deal he'd be a top five pick - i.e. teams
would definitely confirm his contract situation, his commitment to play
long-term in the NBA (i.e. Dino) and that his upside is as good as described
by "some teams".  If he were that good - every team in front of us would
pick him because quality athletic 7 footers are hard to get.  He might be
good but at this point there is too much uncertainty and then you have to
wonder if he is another "soft" euro.

I think people forget that the #11 could in fact bring an all-pro to the
Celtics.  There is depth in this draft and I would not be surprised to look
back at this draft three years from now and see that the #11 has had a
better career than Pfizer, Mihm or Joe P.  Most of the lottery picks are on
potential but at least you kind of know what you are getting.  I am not
convinced that Tsak is a diamond in the rough and I believe we will probably
get a decent big man with one of our first round picks next year either via
draft or trade.

I say go with the most athletic person available at #11.  The Celtics aren't
a very athletic bunch and probably can use some athleticism.  My choice
would be Miles but he'll be long gone.  I would still go with Crawford or
perhaps Stevenson.  I don't like Joe P. at any price - the same adjectives
describing Joe P. is almost what they said about Big Country.  Joe P. will
not get any more athletic.  He had a great game against an unathletic
Hoosier front court and people use that last game as an indicator?  He will
get schooled often by the NBA centers and power forwards and he is dirt
slow.  Mihm looks like Darrell Green compared to Joe P.  Big fan of the Big
ten and know that the front courts of the Big Ten last year wasn't great so
Joe P. stats were exaggerated for his brief season.  You can't teach height
and that's why he is a lotto pick but he'll just fall in line behind the
several other seven footers that will give you five fouls against shaq.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-celtics@igtc.com [mailto:owner-celtics@igtc.com]On Behalf Of
> Berry, Mark S
> Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2000 8:16 AM
> To: 'celtics@igtc.com'
> Subject: and one more thing
>
>
> I don't know if it goes without saying in my previous post, but if someone
> like Johnson or Alexander slide to us at 11 (and that's very
> possible), then
> you keep the pick or explore trade offers at that point. The 11th
> pick has a
> lot more value if Johnson or Alexander is sitting there.
>
> Finally, am I the only one on the list hoping, if we keep the pick and no
> trades happen, that Tsakalidis slides to us at 11? Am I the only one? The
> guy is 7-1 in bare feet, 280 (solid) pounds, and supposedly comparable to
> Mihm and Przybilla in terms of talent. He'd be a top-five pick if his name
> was Jim Smith. I just hope that, with all the talk about these guards and
> small forwards, we don't lose sight of the forest for the trees. If,
> somehow, Tsakalidis slips past Cleveland, and falls to 11, we'd better not
> pass in favor of Keyon Dooling or the Golden State castoffs.
>
> Am I the only one who wants this guy?
>
> Mark
>