Sportstalk: Celtics going hard for Gasol

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

Apparently the Celts and Rockets are in a bit of a bidding war for the
Grizzlies' No. 6 pick, and both teams want Pau Gasol. This story claims the
Celts are offering 10&11 and the Rockets are offering 13&18. It says the
Celts have the inside track (if those are the offers, then... duh!).

OK, here's my take on this: I'm sure there will be all kinds of crying about
trading two lottery picks for an unproven European. Understandable. But
would the trade be more appealing if it involved Jason Richardson, Shane
Battier or Rodney White? None of us really know anything about Gasol, so
let's take him out of the equation for a second. I applaud the strategy.
Identify the guy you want and go get him. The Celtics obviously believe this
guy is going to be special, and if that's what they believe, then they
should do whatever they can to get him. Just the fact that they're willing
to trade 10&11 for 6 tells you what they think about 10&11. I'm sure they
could get a couple of good players, but they obviously believe Gasol can be
a great player. I'd say his competition in Europe, including grown,
physically mature men, is stronger than most U.S. college competition, and
leaps and bounds better than high school. Wallace has done his homework.

It might be moot, anyway. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the Hawks,
Bulls or Warriors nab Gasol or work some deal to land Gasol in one of those
spots. If the Celts get this deal done, it will happen on draft night when
they are sure Gasol is there.



Here's the story:

Celtics, Rockets Duking It Out for Gasol. . .
With the draft now just two weeks away the Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets
are making a major push to get into the top six picks in the 2001 NBA Draft.
A league source told sportsTALK late last night that both teams are in the
hunt for F.C. Barcelona forward Pau Gasol.  The Rockets and the Celtics are
among several suitors that covet 7'1" forward from Barcelona despite the
fact that he has yet to work out for an NBA team.
 
Both the Rockets and the Celtics have offered the Vancouver Grizzlies
multiple first round picks to move up to number six, the source told
sportsTALK.  The Celtics have offered their 10th and 11th picks while the
Rockets are offering their 13th and 18th picks. The Grizzlies like Gasol as
well, but prefer Michigan State guard Jason Richardson.  The Grizzlies are
afraid that if they trade down they'll lose their chance to draft
Richardson. The Nets (7th) and the Cavs (8th) also have eyes for Richardson.
 
Boston has the inside track with the Grizzlies right now and Houston is also
talking with the New Jersey Nets about sending their 13th and 18th picks to
the Nets in return for the Nets 7th pick.  According to the same league
source, the Rockets also like Charlotte forward Rodney White and will pursue
him if they cannot land Gasol. If the Rockets cannot move their picks they
likely still land a foreign prospect.  Expect them to take Yugoslavian
forward Vladimir Radmanovic with their 18th pick if trade talks fall
through.
 
The Celtics originally tried to work out a deal with the Atlanta Hawks for
the third pick in the draft.  However, Atlanta is demanding a veteran, not
more draft picks, to get a deal done.