Wallace Intrigued By.....

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

Pau Gasol of course. And as an added bonus, I'll tell
you, that one of the reasons NBA personnel guys are so
gaga over Gasol is that he has a freakish Kevin McHale
type wingspan; and said to have the same reach as
Shawn Bradley.

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

Celtics Team Report
By Shira Springer/Boston Globe
GM Wallace intrigued by Spaniard Gasol
JUNE 7, 2001

With all indications that the Celtics will claim the No. 11 pick from
Denver and hold three first round selections after June 12, the question
becomes whether three is a crowd or three is company. Could three
first-round picks provide the leverage the Celtics need to select the
player they really want?

League sources are now saying that Boston would like to package the
picks to move up in the draft and get Pau Gasol. The seven-footer is now
playing in Barcelona. General manager Chris Wallace traveled to Europe
to watch Gasol workout last month. Since then, Gasol's stock has only
improved. He should be gone by No. 10, which is the first selection the
Celtics hold. Possible trading partners include Vancouver (6th pick),
Chicago (4th) and Golden State (5th), who also holds the No. 14.

But there's one catch to drafting Gasol. He might not be able to join
the team. Gasol is under contract for next season with his team in
Barcelona. There is a $2.5 million buyout option. Coach Jim O'Brien has
said the Celtics wouldn't mind passing on a player who could be a top 3
pick next year, even if they have to wait a year for his services.

Still, other options are there for the Celtics. O'Brien is not ruling
anything out, including moving up and getting a pick and a player. If
the team acquires a veteran, O'Brien has stated a definite preference
for someone who will make both an "immediate" and "long-term" impact. In
other words, he does want a player who has passed his peak.

The No. 11 pick could be nice trade bait because of the flexibility it
offers. If another team were to receive the pick in a deal, it could
choose when it would want to exercise it. The No. 11 selection remains
available until 2004, when it becomes unprotected.

Meanwhile, the Celtics are continuing their intense scouting efforts
across the country. Wallace is spending this week in Chicago at the NBA
Pre-Draft Camp being held at Moody Bible College. Boston is seeing a lot
of familiar faces such as Kenny Satterfield, Gilbert Arenas and Omar
Cook, who have attended other workout sessions where the Celtics were
present. For Wallace, it's a chance to see draft candidates play games
and not just go through individual workouts.