Peter May; the details on the Omar Cook signing.

[JB <james.metz@verizon.net>]

From: JB <james.metz@verizon.net>
Reply-To: Celticsstuffgroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 07:16:18 -0400
To: Celtics Stuff <Celticsstuffgroup@Yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [Celtics' Stuff Boston Globe Online: Print it!


http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/107/sports/A_seasoned_Cook_is_in_the_mix_n
ext_yearP.shtml

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CELTICS NOTEBOOK
A seasoned Cook is in the mix next year


By Peter May, Globe Staff, 4/17/2002

The Celtics may be experiencing their most successful season in a decade, as
well as ending a long playoff drought. But there is next year as well, and
the team yesterday made a move that speaks to the forward-looking mentality
of the front office.

Omar Cook, the former St. John's point guard who came out too early for last
year's NBA draft and ended up a Fayetteville Patriot in the NBA's
developmental league, signed a deal with Boston yesterday. No, he won't play
tonight in the season finale against the Hawks, or in the playoffs.

But he will be front and center in the Shaw's Summer League, and if he plays
well, he might find his way onto the Boston roster next season. The Celtics'
signing of Cook - he was paid $75,000, which will count on this year's
payroll - means they have the rights to him over the summer. And, with no
first-round pick in the 2002 draft, the Celtics feel as if they covered
themselves in that area, given that Cook was an early second-rounder last
year and has a season of pro ball under his belt.

''He's a little more seasoned now, although he's still young at 20 years
old,'' Celtics general manager Chris Wallace said yesterday. ''He's been
around the block. He's ridden the buses in the developmental league. But he
played well for Fayetteville and he is a kid who is very good in the open
court. We thought he was worth a look.''

Cook had a little taste of the NBA life with Denver and Dallas, both of
which cut him. He caught on with Fayetteville and, in 35 games, averaged
12.2 points and a league-high 7.8 assists. Wallace was uncertain whether
Cook would practice with the team during the playoffs. As long as he is on
the roster, he is eligible to practice.

To make room for Cook, the Celtics placed Antoine Walker on the injured list
to rest his sore left thumb. The Celtics have to submit their 12-man playoff
roster to the league at 3 p.m. tomorrow and, barring injuries, it will be
the same roster that played Monday night. Once submitted, there can be no
changes. Walker will be eligible for all games in the postseason.

As for Cook, the Celtics will continue to pay him as long as he remains on
the roster. There is one payout date in August, after the Summer League, and
another during the season. Such deals are common; former Boston University
player Raja Bell had a similar arrangement with the 76ers.

The Celtics have only nine players under contract for next season and are
close to what they think will be the luxury-tax threshold. But they must
have 12 players at the minimum, so Cook could be a keeper provided he
doesn't bomb in the summer.

The Celtics had him in last year for a pre-draft workout and considered him
at No. 21 before going with Joseph Forte. Cook ended up going to Orlando at
No. 32. The Magic promptly dealt him to Denver to relieve themselves of a
No. 1 obligation they owed the Nuggets.

The Nuggets waived him before the start of the season. He then was picked up
by Dallas, which had him for a month, although he didn't play. He then went
to Fayetteville and finished the season there.

One and only

Walker will miss tonight's game, his first of the season. He also missed one
game last year to attend his grandmother's funeral. Paul Pierce will likely
be the only regular to go wire-to-wire ... The Celtics have shot 50 percent
or better in two straight games. That enabled them to leapfrog Denver and
move into 28th place in shooting accuracy, at 42.4 percent ... Vitaly
Potapenko's 21 minutes Monday against Minnesota was his longest stint since
he went 28 minutes as a starter March 15. He had not had a longer stint off
the bench since Jan. 23, when he played 24 minutes against Indiana ... Kenny
Anderson and Pierce are tied for the team steals lead with 1.88 per game.
Pierce has nine more thefts and has played six more games. Walker's 1.7
steals led the team last year. He and Pierce finished with identical totals
(138), but Walker had one fewer game ... Walker had a seven-game
shot-blocking streak snapped Monday. It looks as if Pierce will lead the
team in that category, no small feat for a 6-foot-7-inch swingman. He is
averaging 1.06 per game.


This story ran on page C7 of the Boston Globe on 4/17/2002.
) Copyright 2002 Globe Newspaper Company.



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