May (TSN) on Clack and Sesar

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/teams/celtics/

Celtics Team Report
By Peter May/Boston Globe
Whither Clack? Swingman's status in preseason limbo
SEPTEMBER 14, 2000  Print it



You know it's a long summer when September arrives and the Celtics are
talking about what to do with their second round draft pick from the
year before.

Swingman Kris Clack impressed his bosses this summer with his play both
in free agent camps and in the summer league in Boston. There's only one
problem: there's no place for him on an already overloaded roster and
the team is hoping Clack will take his talents overseas.

Clack is pursuing options in Italy among other opportunities. He played
in the IBL last season and could do the same this year if he wants. He
will get playing time in either locale. In Boston, there will be a lot
of practice time but not a lot of real playing time.

If Clack accepts the team's pro forma qualifying offer (to keep his
rights) then the Celtics will be in a bind of sorts. They will lose his
rights if they have to cut him and that is something they'd rather not
have to do. Clack might be in a position to make them do something,
however. A decision on what Boston is going to will come soon. . . .

Meanwhile, the team also is keeping a close eye on their second round
pick from this June, Josip Sesar. He has one more year on his contract
in Croatia and the team feels Sesar, a sharpshooting guard who also can
play the point (at least on his club team) has NBA ability. Celtics fans
will likely get their first look at Sesar next summer at the earliest. .
. .

With training camp opening in three weeks, the Celtics are doing their
best to try and drum up interest in the team. The club has just opened a
new Web site and has had everyone from Red Auerbach to Chris Carr
available for live chats.

Most of these chats result in fans writing in to wonder how the team
will do or, in the case of Carr, how he feels he will do on yet another
NBA roster. The team even is trotting out Bill Russell this week to
participate.

The franchise will get a better idea of how much interest there is in
this year's team when tickets go on sale this weekend. Anyone who
purchases tickets on the first day will automatically be entered into a
contest to win lunch with Russell.

PLAYER ANALYSIS

Clack was projected as a first-round pick in the 1999 NBA draft, but
slipped all the way into the 50s before the Celtics selected him. What
happened? He was seen as a 'tweener (he's 6-5, 6-6) who might not be
able to make the adjustment from college, where he played inside, to the
pros, where he'd have to play outside.

There also were concerns about his weight and conditioning, which, given
Rick Pitino's strong views on such matters, made the choice a little
surprising. Clack did little in the summer of 1999 and both sides agreed
that he should play in the IBL.

There, he sharpened his game and his body. He always has been a good
ballhawk and rebounder for his size. The team is hoping that with
another year of seasoning, and with some roster spots opening next
season, that Clack might finally be ready by then.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Celtics don't have any exception slots left (Randy Brown and Carr
took care of that) and already have 16 players on their roster. Two of
them, Greg Minor and Hot Rod Williams, will be injured list occupants
all season.

Pitino likes to have a compact roster for camp, so, unless there's a
trade, the current roster is probably what we'll see when camp opens.