Stoudamire?

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

Interesting speculation from bskball.com today (geez, I need training camp
to start). He (whoever "he" is) says the Celts aren't actively shopping
anyone, but that some sources around the league say Vitaly could be had.
That, in itself, isn't a surprise. The Celts would like a skilled big man,
but he says he continues to hear Vitaly in Portland. And putting 2&2
together, he speculates that talk could be ongoing involving Vitaly for
Damon Stoudamire. Pure speculation, but Damon wants out, Vitaly would give
the Blazers a true backup center... Probably nonsense, but you never know.
The catch, I'm sure, would be finding a taker for Kenny, unless Portland was
willing to take him back (unlikely).

Probably a waste of time, but it's completely dead around here, so why not
speculate? Personally, short of a major trade involving Pierce or Toine, I
think this would be the best possible move for the Celts. I'm not the
biggest Stoudamire fan in the world, but he's leaps and bounds better than
Kenny. He actually pushes the ball up the floor. I know Pitino has had a lot
of nice things to say about him in the past. He certainly isn't the perfect
point guard for the Celts, but unfortunately Jason Kidd isn't available.

One more piece of idle speculation.... If the Celts really are shopping
Vitaly, I wouldn't be shocked to hear Keon Clark's name come up. He's on the
outs in Denver, and the Nuggets want a big body. They had interest in Vitaly
during the Tariq Abdul-Wahad talks. I'm not advocating the trade
necessarily, because Clark might be one skinny 7-footer too many (and the
skinniest of the lot), but it wouldn't shock me.

Mark