Re: Potential Vitaly trade? (long)

["Troy Hash" <troyhash@kih.net>]

This is a NO BRAINER DEAL!!!  Get Wahad who can help us defensely and Keon Clark for Potastenko and his boulder of a contract.  Do it, do it now Pitego before you get the chance to mess it up.  Troy


 >I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet...but in today's edition of 
>the rumor mill at Bskball.com, Bskball reports that the Celtics pursuit of 
>Tariq abdul-Wahad may not be finished yet. The Nuggets are interested in 
>unloading Wahad after he is eligible on Dec. 16. They feel he is not the 
>answer at their 2 guard position. Bskball suggests that the Celtics may be 
>the possible destination for Wahad, and a deal might already be completed 
>or in the works.
>
>He claims the Nugs would unload Wahad and PF Keon Clark for a serious front 
>court prospect... and he mentions Vitaly Potapenko? I think this is 
>definitely a potential deal, and would explain a lot.
>
>1)The Celtics and Nuggets had extensive discussions trying to move Wahad 
>through a 3 team deal earlier this summer. They talked around the clock for 
>a couple of weeks before abruptly calling off discussions. It is possible 
>they could not broker a 3 team deal, so the Nugs decided to resign Wahad 
>and make a secret agreement with the Celtics to trade Wahad at a future date.
>
>2) Bskball.com suggests that the Herren/Sith for Pack/Cheaney deal might be 
>pre-payment for the Vitaly/Wahad deal already consummated under the table.
>
>3) Pitino has been talking up Blount, trying to convince the press, fans, 
>....someone that this kid is a viable center prospect. Then he points out 
>that Vitaly is kicking his butt everyday in practice? Sounds hypocricital 
>like Rick was trying to build up Blount, then remembered that he didn't 
>want to knock down Vitaly's value for trade.
>
>Wahad would fill the current hole we have at the 2-guard position. He is 
>big, athletic, physical, and a hard-nosed defender. He could shut down guys 
>like Ray Allen, Chris Carrawell, and Derek Anderson would have hurt us in 
>the preseason so far. He does not shoot the ball well, but would be an 
>asset in transition offense. He was also a member of that overachieving 
>Magic team of a year ago winning with hustle, effort, and defense. He could 
>step into the starting lineup, moving Paul to the 3. Paul has an easier 
>time defending small forwards, where he can roam for steals and rebounds.
>
>Of course, this would open up a big hole at the center position. I don't 
>think anyone believes Mark Blount is a starting center in this league, or 
>will ever be a starting center in this league. With Blount and the skinny 
>trio of Battie, Moiso and Clark, we would be regressing towards the Banana 
>Boy era. Vitaly may have stone hands and doesn't fit into the press, but he 
>is our only physical frontcourt defender. He provides the team with 
>toughness and an enforcer, and is our only decent post defender.
>
>So if this trade hasn't been completed secretly yet, the question the 
>Celtics have to answer is which position is more important to our team? 
>With the center position at an all time low in the Eastern Conference and 
>Pitino implementing the press again, this maybe the time to pull off this 
>deal. There also is a possibility of four center prospects in this year's 
>lottery (Loren Woods, Brenden Haywood, and high schoolers Eddy Curry and 
>Tyson Chandler) that could ease the loss of Potapenko.
>
>Personally, I'd do the trade and kiss Vitaly and his stone hands goodbye!
>
>