building a winner

["Ravi Singh" <kelticsfan@home.com>]

With all the posts concerning potential free agent big men available to
Boston, I wanted to add this.  I don't think any of the guys  mentioned
(Mohammed, Davis, Oakley, etc...), if signed to a long term deal, puts
Boston in position to play for a title 3-4 years from now.  Given Wallace's
supposed 4 year plan to rebuild Boston into a legitimate title contender, I
don't see Wallace adding one of these players using a long term contract
that would jeapordize cap flexibility for 2003/2004.  If Boston plays its
cards correctly, they could have $15-$17 million to spend on free agents
during the 2003/04 season all the while having their core of Walker, Pierce
(assuming they re-ink him), Battie, Potapenko, Forte, Brown, Joe Johnson and
possibly Jerome Moiso still under contract.  If Walker and Pierce continue
to develop and the three rookies and Moiso grow into their immense
potential, the addition of one upper echelon player like Garnett, Rasheed
Wallace (if he gets his head together over the next few years), Jermaine
O'Neal, maybe Stromile Swift, etc...puts Boston in a position to seriously
compete for a title in what most likely will be a Shaq-less league.  As
well, if the rooks develop, the stockpiling of talent may provide the hook
to land another big fish.

I think it best to utilize the three center rotation hoping either Battie or
Blount can develop into more of an interior presence over the next couple of
years with the understanding that Boston plays seriously in the free agent
market several years from now when the rookies, any future draft picks and
Pierce and Walker are ready to take the step into elite company.

The way I see it, adding even a Webber to the current team, doesn't get
Boston the 17th banner and that is the goal, isn't it?