Re: Przybilla

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

Nice posts Kevin.

Now, I may be wrong about Przybilla, but I just feel like your argument
perfectly illustrates the bias against the guy. Certainly there have been
some BWGs who have been flops, but there also have been some BBGs who have
been flops (Benoit Benjamin, William Bedford, etc.) Big men are hard to
judge because so much of their success depends upon their willingness to
play and work hard (witness: Big Country, who was pretty darn good before he
got fat and lazy). Now, if we choose to pass on Przybilla because of the way
he left the Minnesota program, fine. But if we pass because he's white,
we're making a big mistake. I really believe the guy could be a Mutombo-type
player. Of course, it's probably a moot point, because it's unlikely we'll
be in position to consider him.

I've been trying to come up with a good NBA comparison to Mihm, but I
haven't had much luck. The best I've done is Kevin Willis-a 7-footer with a
nice outside touch, who can run the floor but always leaves you wanting
more. He's certainly going to be a good player, but he seems to lack a mean
streak that I see in Przybilla (who admittedly lacks all of Mihm's
considerable offensive skills).

Now, forget any kind of improvement in this team if we stand pat and just
add the 11th pick in the draft-he won't help this year; I don't care who it
is, he won't help. There have been some good players picked at 11 over the
years, and I believe the Celts certainly could pick up a good player there
this year, but all of those good players-Houston, Keon Clark, etc.-took time
to develop.

That's why I'm so concerned about the future of this team. It's going to
take a bold move to improve next year, and taking Morris Peterson, Jerome
Moiso or some high schooler at the 11th pick isn't going to do it. If the
Celts are to get better, they will have to move up in the draft or trade for
an upgrade in personnel. That Walker-for-Iverson rumor is interesting, but
it would be even moreso if we switched Pierce for Walker. In Iverson and
Walker, you'd have two fierce competitors. We'd still need to improve up
front, however.

Finally, it sounds like a few teams are willing to all but give away some
first-round draft picks. Orlando is planning to trade two away without
taking on salary (picks 10&13 for the rights to Pervis and Minor, whose
contracts are up?) Would Milwaukee entertain a Battie-for-15 swap? We need
an infusion of talent, and if you take a few shots, you might hit with one
or two of those picks. 

Also, it seems like Stromile Swift is a perfect fit in Vancouver, but if we
offered Vitaly, 11 and a future pick, and agreed to take on Big Country,
would they bite? The bait would be our willingness to get them out from
under Country's ugly contract.

Anyway, figures to be a long month...


Mark