RE: Did we miss a golden opportunity?

["Hastings, David" <David.Hastings@BellSouth.com>]

As the old saying goes "Hindsight gives you 20-20 vision"

-----Original Message-----
From: jason david jones [mailto:jdjones1@midway.uchicago.edu]
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2001 1:50 PM
To: Berry, Mark S
Cc: 'celtics@igtc.com'; 'celticsstuffgroup@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: Re: Did we miss a golden opportunity?


Was Jordan the number one draft pick when he came into the
league? Drafting is an inexact science that can be very difficult to
predict.  It is almost impossible to always make the right choice.  Look
at how many teams passed on Paul.  YOu think that they are asking for a
"do-over"?  

Jason David Jones


On Mon, 10 Dec 2001, Berry, Mark  S wrote:

> 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