Peter May on Pau Gasol; Mark Cofman Advocates A Trade

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

(Gasol very intriguing, but will Wallace, Papile, and O'Brien,
all of whom have to win now, do the right thing and
use a pick (#11 most likely) and build a stronger
team for the future or opt for the quick fix
via Cofman's trade suggestion, so they can
keep their jobs? Or is there a compromise like
trading 10 & 21 for a veteran and taking Gasol
with 11.  Hmmmmmm....)

Peter May
Boston Globe - 5/13/01
An eye on Europe


Celtics general manager Chris Wallace and some other NBA talent scouts
have been in Europe this past week for the European Final Four. Wallace
et al hope to get a look at the latest European hot shot, 20-year-old
Pau Gasol, who plays for F.C. Barcelona. Gasol has been described as
another Toni Kukoc; he's a slim 7-footer who is versatile with the
basketball and has the range of Dirk Nowitzki. ''Actually,'' said
European scout Mike Cound, who also handles some international players,
''he's much more like Kevin Garnett. This kid is legit. He's every bit
7-1 or even 7-2 and he can shoot the three. But he's also real thin, a
lot like Garnett was a few years ago.'' Cound said F.C. Barcelona's
general manager told him Gasol, still under contract, will not be
allowed to bolt for the NBA next season. (There apparently is a stiff
escape-clause payment.) Thus, any team that picks him would likely have
to wait at least a year, as the Celtics once did with Larry Bird. ''If
you are a team with a few first-round picks, or if you're a team which
can afford to wait, he's an excellent choice,'' Cound said. Gasol
announced Friday he would submit his name to the NBA for the June 27
draft, adding he might withdraw by the legal date (June 20) if he is not
assured he will be a high pick. Cound said that should not be a problem.
''If everybody knows what they should know, he is a lottery pick,''
Cound said. One European spy reports Gasol and 20-year-old Antonis
Fotsis of Panathinaikos, arguably the two best forwards on the
continent, are both coming out. Fotsis declared early for the NBA draft
last season, but then withdrew his name. He is expected to declare again
this season and not withdraw. In other words, look for him in an NBA
uniform next season


http://www2.bostonherald.com/sport/basketball/nbanotes05132001.htm

Celts in good spot to deal
NBA Notes/by Mark Cofman
Sunday, May 13, 2001

The Celtics will know after today which college underclassmen and high
school players are available in the June draft. In other words, they
will know for certain whether this is a worthwhile crop, or one over
which they would be better-served playing a diminished role come draft
night.

As it stands right now, the Celtics have two first-round picks and
possibly a third. But unless there's a player out there who can help
immediately, or one whose future is so bright he warrants the use of a
lottery pick to ensure the franchise's welfare down the road, the best
bet might be to dangle at least one of the picks and possibly two as
trade bait. Seek veteran help for a legitimate playoff push instead.

Unless the Denver Nuggets hit the jackpot in the lottery next Sunday and
win one of the first three draft slots, the Celtics have the option of
taking their pick. Denver would have the 11th overall selection, the
pick immediately following the Celtics' slot (assuming the C's don't win
a 1-2-3 position in the lottery). Combined with their other first-round
pick, No. 21 overall via Phoenix, the Celtics unquestionably have
interesting leverage and options if they choose to wheel and deal.

In a hypothetical scenario, let's assume the Celtics decide to exercise
Denver's pick this season, giving them the 10th, 11th and 21st
selections in the first round. If I'm Celtics general manager Chris
Wallace, perhaps I take the No. 21 pick and either the No. 10 or 11 pick
and create a trade package that also includes an unwanted veteran with
an inhibiting contract (Kenny Anderson comes to mind, among others).

In return, Wallace presumably would get a veteran who might help coach
Jim O'Brien get the franchise over the playoff hump for the first time
since 1995. At the same time, the Celtics would still have one lottery
pick left to exercise, allowing Wallace and director of player personnel
Leo Papile to take their best shot at securing a future talent out of
the college/high school ranks.

Another hypothetical scenario, while not serving immediate
gratification, would be to roll the Denver pick over and hope the
Nuggets fall on their collective faces within the next few years.
Despite the fact it does absolutely nothing for the Celtics' immediate
future, the big-picture approach is an option Wallace must seriously
consider to be true to his job. Unlike coaches, general managers are
paid to look ahead.

``It's a significant gamble,'' Wallace said of the idea of rolling over
the Denver pick to one of the next three years under conditions of the
deal. ``You're gambling that one year the proverbial moon and stars
could be in the right alignment and that Denver experiences some
problems. Then, all of a sudden, you end up with one of the best picks
in the draft.''

Wallace is fully aware the Nuggets have improved steadily from their
nightmarish 11-win season in 1997-98, increasing their victory totals in
the subsequent three years to 14 (lockout-shortened season), 35 and 40.
They are also lottery-protected through the first three picks again next
year.

But Wallace is also aware the Nuggets are resigned to life in the more
competitive Western Conference, meaning they could be a lottery regular
for years to come. And lest we forget, the Nuggets were not exactly the
most stable 40-win cast of characters in NBA history this past season,
coming dangerously close to a mutiny of head coach/president Dan Issel
the day after they visited Boston.

The Nuggets recently announced Issel would return in his dual role next
season. But other than Antonio McDyess, does he really have that much to
get worked up over on that roster? With that thought in mind, one might
be inclined to let the pick slide for another season or two and see
where the chips fall.

``There's a lot to consider if you roll over the pick,'' said Wallace,
who has obviously kicked the idea around more than once in recent weeks.
``Yes, under the right circumstances, your gamble could pay dividends
and you could get a better player down the road because the pick ends up
higher or that particular draft turns out to be deeper.

``But there's the downside to consider in going that route. First off,
obviously Denver could improve and the pick you eventually get turns out
to be later in the round. Secondly, there's so much uncertainty as to
what kind of talent a draft will bring on a given year, and it could
turn out you're drafting from a lesser pool.

``Also, if you take the pick this year, you have a player on your roster
who could make an impact in a year or two, if not right away. If you get
the same-caliber talent out of the draft, say, two years down the road,
he's that many years behind the pick you'd have made this season in
terms of development. There are pros and cons to consider either way.''

True, but given the Celtics' situation, this is not exactly the best
time to feature a roster with three rookies (four, for all practical
purposes if you include Jerome Moiso, whose rookie year was a
throwaway).

The Celtics need veteran help if they hope to reach the postseason next
year, and can only do so much through free agency because of salary-cap
constraints. Other than Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce, the Celtics'
draft picks are their only true bargaining chips. This might be the
right time to cash them in.