Did we miss a golden opportunity?

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

This team's two glaring personnel needs are center and point guard. Did the
Celtics blow it in the draft with three picks, when starters at both need
positions were very much available?

We've talked about Tinsley and Parker at point guard, and it's really hard
to justify the Forte selection ahead of either of those guys. But what about
Brendan Haywood? This 7-footer has made Jahidi White very expendable in
Washington and has the look of a legitimate center. He certainly seems to
have made a difference with the Wizards.

The Wiz are 4-3 in the seven games since Haywood returned from the injured
list. He's played fewer than 22 minutes just once and is averaging about 9
points and 6 rebounds a game. He's picking up the pace recently, going for
18 points and 9 rebounds against Orlando and 19 and 7 against Dallas (a game
Washington won on the road). He's also averaging 1.5 blocks per game and
shooting 60 percent from the field. And he's 7-feet, 265 pounds. Doug
Collins can't stop raving about him.

The fact of the matter is he'd be starting ahead of any of our three
centers, just as Tinsley or Parker would be starting at point guard. Instead
we have Brown and Forte buried on the bench and Joe Johnson seeing his
minutes stolen by Eric Williams. But this isn't a criticism of Johnson or
Brown. I love the intelligence of Johnson and the potential of Brown. But
how good could the Celts be with Joe Johnson, Brendan Haywood and Jamaal
Tinsley?

Johnson, Brown and Forte may well turn out to be great players, but Haywood,
Tinsley and Parker are going to improve as well. It's tough to find centers
and point guards, but they were there for the taking in the draft and the
Celtics passed. But Duncan is a free agent in two years...

Mark