Mutombo?

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

OK, I know the season has started and it's not the time for crazy trade
talk, but Mutombo's trip to NY last night got the media tongues wagging.
Reports say the Hawks will listen to trade proposals for Mutombo, but the
Knicks don't seem to be a good fit. The Hawks have no interest in Camby.
Another report says the Nuggets may be offering Raef Lafrentz and Keon
Clark, along with others, and that might be a better fit.

My question is this: Would a package of Vitaly, Moiso, cap filler (Stith?)
and picks be enough to land the big guy? Vitaly gives them a serviceable
center, Moiso a talent to develop, and the picks can help in the rebuilding
effort. Vitaly and Moiso wouldn't seem to be as strong an offer as Lafrentz
and Clark, but the picks might make the difference.

The price is high, but you wouldn't be losing any essential players and
would be gaining the best center in the Eastern Conference and the only
center in the East who provides exactly what the Celts need. Now, if you
feel Dikembe's age and lack of mobility would cripple the team's efforts to
move to a running, pressing style, you may have no interest in the guy at
all. But if the price is so cheap... plus, if it doesn't work out, you have
to think there are teams who would make attractive offers for the guy. Allan
Houston and Marcus Camby don't interest the Hawks, but they probably would
interest the Celts. So would Jermaine O'Neal and one of those young pups in
Indy. Or Dale Davis and Bonzi Wells in Portland. Or Lafrentz (a Pitino
favorite) and Clark. Or Shawn Marion and Big Jake in Phoenix... 

The point is, it would seem the Celts could make an offer similar to
Denver's, add in a couple of draft picks, and have a chance at a legit
center and valuable NBA asset. Worth looking into, anyway.

Mark