Celtics & Draft News

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

Comments, Comments, Comments, before the information flows in:

Why are the Celtics never mentioned as a team
likely to trade up in the draft? Very strange,
as they're probably in one of the better positions to
do so.

What will Vancouver do in the next day to
satisfy Detroit's stipulation for a draft pick 18
or above? Could they work out a deal with the Celtics:
10 & 11 for 6? I believe that non-playoff teams can
actually start trading, once the playoffs begin.

Nice shot at Moiso via Wallace's comments.

Are the C's bad-mouthing Zack hoping he'll drop to 21?

Could Forte be available at 21?

If Cowens doesn't like the draft, would the Warriors
be interested in trading down?

http://www2.bostonherald.com/sport/basketball/celts05302001.htm

O'Brien wants three shots
by Steve Bulpett
Wednesday, May 30, 2001

The first key decision of the Celtics draft is coming into view. While
general manager Chris Wallace is still saying there is a chance the club
will pass for now on Denver's pick (No. 11 overall), Jim O'Brien isn't
hiding his preference.

``Yes, if it was my call, I would take the Denver pick - absolutely,''
the coach said yesterday after working out six players at The Sports
Authority Center in Waltham. The club has until 15 days before the June
27 draft to inform the Nuggets of their decision.

The reason behind O'Brien's outlook is the number of potential draftees
he has examined who project well to the NBA. He got an eyeful at last
week's Los Angeles ``minicamps'' run by three agents, and with picks 10,
21 and possibly 11 in tow, O'Brien is leaning away from dealing the
choices.

``I would definitely like to take all three,'' he said after putting big
men Brendan Haywood, Loren Woods and Zach Randolph and guards Joe Forte,
Omar Cook and Will Solomon through their paces (he seemed to like the
backcourt types more). ``I think that the depth and the quality of the
players that are out there are very exciting for me to see. Out in LA,
we may have seen nine or 10 of the top 20 draft picks, so we have a
pretty good indication, and we'll study, study, study up until draft
night about the level that's there. I'm impressed with the level of
talent that's going to be there in the first round.

``It's particularly exciting that we have 10, 11 and 21, and we think
that we're going to be able to get, as an example, a pretty darn good
player at 21. So you can imagine what we think at 10 or 11. This is a
deep draft, and there's no two ways about that. It's deep. A lot of
times in the past, we have maybe said that it's only deep to this
number. I think the teams that really study it and know what their needs
are are going to be able to get some good players out of this draft.''

All six of yesterday's prospects are more likely to be picked at 21
rather than earlier, though O'Brien said, ``The guards are all very
capable players with a lot of skills. They all fulfill needs that we
have. It's just a matter of deciding what we need most and who has the
most talent at the spots we draft.''

Wallace estimates that 15 or more hopefuls could be tested by the club.
All go through strength and agility tests, an on-court session and an
exam and discussion to measure personal issues.

``It's just like interviewing for a real job,'' said Woods. ``You're
just hoping that they don't think you're an idiot - that you can fit
into the program and the organization. We're all mostly good people, so
it's not anything too hard. Basically they just want to know are you a
raging alcoholic? Did you abuse anybody before you came to Boston?
Things like that.''

Wallace, meanwhile, doesn't want to abuse this process. He's trying to
keep a sense of perspective as he, personnel director Leo Papile and the
coaches evaluate the future millionaires.

``The workouts can sort of just overshadow the body of work that a
player has compiled over his career,'' the GM said. ``You've got to just
constantly stay on top of that, make sure you don't do that, because
there are going to be some players out of this draft as with every draft
who are what we call workout wonders. They come in and ace the workouts,
but once you get them into real basketball competition later on down the
line they don't do as well.''


A Concise and Detailed Look At Gasol
http://pub61.ezboard.com/fthemeangreenfrm1.showMessage?topicID=114.topic



Gasol
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've seen him play several times as I live in Spain. Here are my
thoughts for those of you who haven't and might be interested...

7-1, I've read in some newspapers here that he might still be growing...
He's not strong enough to bang around yet but he's already added some
muscle during the past months, I don't think he could play PF right away
in the NBA, so he'd principaly be getting minutes at SF first, althoug
his natural position is PF!!!, not SF like you might read on some
reports... Fact is, his coach here in Spain started him playing SF but
now he's a starter for Barcelona at PF on a roster with a some good
quality PF's!
His defense is limited yet but he's a good blocker (8th in the Spanish
league). In my opinion he should improve his lateral movement a little,
he needs some more foot-speed (or however you call it) on D.
Concerning his offensive game, he's a decent 3-point shooter (32%), he's
got a good touch around the basket (58% in FG's), he takes the ball
strong to the rack (dunks whenever he gets the chance, 2,07 dunks per
game) and due to his extremely long arms and his height he's almost
unstoppable when close to the basket. His FT % could be better (just
58%), he's expressed his angry with himself because he shoots so bad
from the line but it's gotten better during the last part of the season
and in the final game of the Spanish cup, where he went to the line
quite a few times, he made l2/14 in a close game (80-77 win)!
Another possitive thing about him is that he's got a winner character
and he expresses it on the court, it's not like he's a cold player, he
shows emotions which I think is important for a young player, cause it
shows that the ambition is there!
The ballhandling is ok but his low post moves could be better... He's
gonna improve here as soon as he works on them and gets stronger!!
Season averages: 1,34 steals; 5,17 boards per game; 11,3 points and 1,1
blokcs in 23,79 minutes per game.
One last thing, he told the press that he'd just join the NBA if he was
assured he'd be getting some minutes, [he doesn't want to get drafted by
a team where he's gonna be just the 12 player and considering that from
#15 on all are playoff teams picking, here's the reason why he said he
would withdraw his name from the draft list if he saw he wasn't gonna be
a top pick (in the 1-12 or 14 range)] and that's one thing I'm not sold
about if he joins the Celtics, considering we have Toine and Paul at the
PF and SF spots...
If there's something I forgot and you'd like to know just ask me!

Bye,

Marco

(Marco was talking about Gasol's stats in the Spanish league games -
During the tougher Euroleague games, Gasol averaged a near Jordanesque
18.5 points in 25 minutes of playing time.)


http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/150/sports/Celtics_gush_as_they_see_deep_well_of_draft_talent+.shtml

Celtics gush as they see deep well of draft talent


By Peter May, Globe Staff, 5/30/2001


ALTHAM - You're going to get widely disparate views about this year's
NBA draft. Dick Van Arsdale, the Phoenix Suns' personnel director, isn't
at all enthused about the Class of 2001. Dave Cowens, the coach of the
Golden State Warriors, is similarly unimpressed.


On the other end of the scale are the Celtics. They don't like this
draft; they love this draft. They feel like epicureans about to sit down
to a gourmet feast and can't wait for the meal to begin.


That feeling has been apparent for weeks. Personnel chief Leo Papile
said he thought there were as many as 35 real first-rounders in the
draft. The brain trust went to California to see some of the projected
studs work out and came home drooling.


There was a similar sense of awe and expectation yesterday when six
potential draftees - all of whom could be available when Boston makes
its first selection at No. 10 - came through for workouts and
interviews. The Celtics also have the right to take Denver's pick at No.
11, and will have the 21st pick, which originally belonged to the Suns.


After the workouts, coach Jim O'Brien said he would push hard to have
the team take Denver's pick (a lock at this juncture) and then added,
''We think we're going to get a good player at No. 21. You can imagine
what we think about the 10th and 11th picks.''


It's very early in the sorting-out process. General manager Chris
Wallace said yesterday's sextet could all be first-round picks, although
one, guard Will Solomon of Clemson, has not retained an agent and can
withdraw his name by June 20. The others who worked out were centers
Brendan Haywood of North Carolina and Loren Woods of Arizona, power
forward Zach Randolph of Michigan State, and guards Joseph Forte of
North Carolina and Omar Cook of St. John's. Woods and Haywood are true
seniors.


''These guys are all first-rounders,'' Wallace said. ''Probably none of
them will go before us. But not all of them will be there when we pick
at 21.''


Added O'Brien, ''It was a very impressive group. They all fulfill needs
that we have.''


This is just the first wave that will come through. Many players also
will be on display next week at the annual predraft camp in Chicago.
Wallace said he expects another 15 players to be individually evaluated
prior to the June 27 draft.


The players also were interviewed yesterday and hopefully saved their
best answers for the Celtics' bosses. All are chasing a dream, eager to
play in the NBA, knowledgeable about the Celtics' great tradition and so
forth. There were a couple of zingers, however.


Asked about the importance of his interview, Haywood said, ''No one
wants to draft a dummy.'' Added Woods, ''They want to be sure you aren't
a raging alcoholic or haven't abused anyone. I understand. They're
looking for good, clean guys.''


They also want good players. The centers would seem to be excess baggage
at this point, but Forte (shooting guard) and Cook (point guard) fill
obvious needs. Forte spoke about the Celtics' needing help at shooting
guard and said he would be more than happy to provide it.


''I'd love to be drafted by anybody,'' he said. ''But at the same time,
you realize that it might be better to go to a place where you can play.
The Celtics do have a need at 2-guard. I could help take some of the
double-teams off Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce.''


Clearly, he has done his homework. Chances are he's saying the same
thing (with different names, of course) in Orlando, Houston, and
wherever else he goes. They all know the drill, and it's only the
beginning. The real payoff comes four weeks from tonight, when they
finally get a team and, at long last, a dream is fulfilled.


This story ran on page F3 of the Boston Globe on 5/30/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.


Mark Berman
NY Post - 5/30/01
The Knicks want to package their tweo second rounders: 39 and 43
and pick up a first round pick. Says teams may be willing to do it,
if the talent level between 15 and 43 is viewed as being similar.