Re: Mitch Lawerence on Celtics and Pitino ( kind of long)

["Mike Harris" <GENIE@prodigy.net>]

>Er, what?  Like Larry Bird at number 6 in 1978?  Or Michael Jordan at
>number 3 in 1984?  Kevin McHale at number 3 in 1980?  I mean, you can go
>on and on.
>
>That's not to say that a player of that caliber was available in the 1997
>draft at those positions - there wasn't.  But sportswriters sure use
>strange logic to support their points sometimes...


Looking back, this draft has to be one of the worst since the infamous Len
Bias draft of 86-87.  Putting aside Duncan and Van Horn, who weren't
available to the Celtics even with the 3 pick, who were the best players in
this draft.  Ron Mercer?  Tim Thomas?  Tracy McGrady (a future star, but
nothing special yet)?  Maurice Taylor?  In the previous year's draft, the
Celts took Toine with the 6 Pick, and he was possibly the WORST of the top 6
picks, being beaten out by the two Allens, Abdur-Rahim, Marbury, and Camby
(although I take Toine over Camby).  Later in the draft you can kind
Kittles, Kobe, and other good to serviceable players.  Think about the Celts
with Shareef instead of Chauncey