Chris Wallace On WEEI

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

Wallace on the Big Snooze with Glenn Ordway,
Larry Johnson, and Bill Burtt, all of whom questioned
him thoroughly:

- Pierce and Walker are two of the top 30 players in the NBA.
(Agreement by the panel).

- C's center core is in the top half of the NBA.
(Ordway mentions that the Celtics are paying $10 million
for those guys - Wallace says you pay for the inch for NBA
Big Men. Wallace says C's centers are alright until they
match up against elite big men.).

- Wallace very excited about the three draft choices/packaging
the picks for a veteran.

- Celtics may roll the Denver pick - big discussion over
the next two weeks about what to do.
(Wallace mentions Seattle getting a Payton; Duncan, etc,
re: using a high draft choice, which the Nuggets pick could be
in the future, because the West is really stacked.)

- Wallace likes the Phoenix 21 pick. They may deal that
pick (i.e. trade it to a team for a future draft choice.)

- The entire draft is a speculative crap shoot.

- Wallace says he and they are in it for the short term
and long term, so concerning the draft, they'd
consider a high school player.
(Wallace cites Tracy McGrady developing into the
best non Big Man. Also says, high schoolers start contributing
ususally during their second season. )

- Top level free agents sign with warm weather
teams and those contending for a title, which leaves the
Celtics out in the near future.

- Milt Palacio part of a puzzle at the point guard position.

- Mid Level exception will rise to $5 million soon.

- Celtics won't be big players in free agency
until they're perennially in the playoffs and can
attract free agents.

- Past Culpability: Pitino made the final decisions, but Wallace
and the rest of the gang hashed out the information for Pitino:
Presented him with the various scenarios: Cap wise, talent
considerations, etc.

- Wallace wouldn't criticize Pitino; reinterated that he left the
team in good shape.

- Wallace considers Walker and Pierce to be their equivalent
of free agent signings, and says that once the C's decided
to invest in those two (i.e build the team around those two),
there went their cap flexibility.
Ray