Re: some tidbits on a slow news day

["John Lyell" <johnlyell@hotmail.com>]

Anyone know if Dr. Jack is helping us out in any way?


----- Original Message -----
From: "Berry, Mark S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>
To: <celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2001 10:01 AM
Subject: some tidbits on a slow news day


> Andy Katz posted this update on ESPN.com's NBA draft site. He actually
seems
> pretty well connected and I thought his stuff leading up to last year's
> draft was among the best out there. The most interesting items are his
> confirmation that Jordan is shopping that No. 1 pick and that Troy Murphy
is
> rising (although I can't imagine he's in the Celts' plans).
>
> Here it is:
>
> Alabama freshman Gerald Wallace and Stanford sophomore Jason Collins are
> making a definitive statement that they'll likely stay in the draft by
> holding a joint private workout Thursday in Chicago. Neither underclassman
> wanted to be a part of the Chicago pre-draft camp and sources close to
both
> players said they have promises to go in the mid to late first round.
Having
> a private workout, literally down the street from the Moody Bible
Institute
> where the camp is being held, is a unique situation for Division I college
> players. Usually, only foreigners have private workouts outside of the
draft
> camp. Meanwhile, NBA sources said the Wizards are shopping the top pick
> hard; high school senior Tyson Chandler is dropping in the lottery;
> Charlotte's Rodney White, Arkansas' Joe Johnson and Notre Dame's Troy
Murphy
> are soaring after impressive individual workouts.
>
>
> Also, here's today's Celtics news from SportsTalk. It references the
Herald
> story, which wasn't especially revealing at all. The most interesting
tidbit
> is the continued connection of the Celts and Omar Cook. He must have
really
> wowed them in his workout. I hope they don't reach for him, but if the
buzz
> keeps building on this kid (like Jamal Crawford last year), I wouldn't be
> surprised to see the Celts take him at 11.
>
> Here it is:
>
> Two weeks after seeming delusionally happy with the depth in the draft,
> Celtics GM Chris Wallace now sounds like a guy ready to deal.  The Celtics
> will likely have three picks in the first round of the draft and it sounds
> like Wallace is ready to move at least one of them.
> ``I definitely think there is some interest in those picks
> <http://www.bostonherald.com/sport/basketball/celts06062001.htm> ,''
Wallace
> told the Boston Herald. ``We're in a good position with all three, but the
> Denver pick (11) may be even more attractive, because that pick can
travel.
> You can put it off over three more years if you want. So let's say you're
> looking down the line and you're an older team. That three-year window may
> coincide with your rebuilding plan.'' Boston has until June 12th to let
> Denver know whether they are exercising their option this year.
> A league source told sportsTALK that the Celtics are trying to package
their
> top two picks together to move up in the draft.  They have a keen interest
> in F.C. Barcelona star Pau Gasol and no longer believe he'll be available
> when they draft at 10.  Furthermore, if the Celtics can move into the top
5,
> Gasol will be making enough money to buy out the rest of his contract with
> his old team -- meaning the Celtics wouldn't have to wait a year to get
the
> player they covet.
> With the Celtics 21st pick, look for them to take a look at St. John's
guard
> Omar Cook, if they don't grab Iowa State's Jamaal Tinsley earlier in the
> draft. The buzz around Chicago is that the Celtics are high on the St.
> John's freshman <http://newyorkpost.com/sports/41156.htm> . "He's
definitely
> not a project," Celtics coach Jim O'Brien said. "I think he'll be in the
> first round, but I don't know what we'll do at 21. He's a guy who can come
> in and be real comfortable playing in the NBA immediately. He's got
> tremendous confidence that almost borders on cockiness. He's got quickness
> to stay in front of people."
>
>