Re: Get Oakley!

["pmaurice" <damekmo@teleport.com>]

While I agree Wallace has to come up with something, God forgive me, I'm not
sure about Oakley. I say "God forgive me" because beggars shouldn't be
choosers, but Oakley might be a big mistake. Two things. I'm not convinced
that Oakley is effective anymore. I think he's blaming his teammates for his
lack of productivity when it could just be that he's old and had it. Then
there's this: > "I'm probably best suited for a veteran team." Even if you
believe that Oakley can still be effective, does he bring enough to
guarantee this team gets past the first round? If not, if this team still
struggles with Charles, and I don't think he gives enough at the offensive
end to make up for the "Miserable 10," - and let me just say before I read
the, "Well if Walker and Pierce passed more, " comments, that I'd love
Battie and Pots to be wide open under the basket so that they'd have a 50-50
chance of hitting their shots but that's not always possible - then he's
going to do nothing but whine, complain and moan. This guy could give up
quicker than the Celtics did last night, and an unhappy Oakley is a bigger
cancer than Coleman. At least Coleman can still play. But Wallace has to do
something.

Paul M.


----- Original Message -----
From: Berry, Mark S <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>
To: <celtics@igtc.com>; <celticsstuffgroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2002 6:09 AM
Subject: Get Oakley!


> The Chicago Tribune says Oakley is very much available. His contract
expires
> after this season.
>
> For Pete's sake, Wallace, do something...
>
> Here's the summary, from RealGM:
>
> While the Chicago  <http://bulls.realgm.com>  <http://bulls.realgm.com>
> Bulls <http://bulls.realgm.com>  celebrated their season sweep of the
World
> Champion Los Angeles  <http://lakers.realgm.com>
<http://lakers.realgm.com>
> Lakers <http://lakers.realgm.com>  at the Staple Center yesterday, there
was
> one player that stood, wondering where his future lies in the NBA. Charles
> Oakley <http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile.php?playerid=488> , the
> workhorse role model brought in during the offseason by number one fan
Jerry
> Krause has seen his minutes dwindle before being oust from the starting
> lineup by rookie high schooler Tyson Chandler
> <http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile.php?playerid=101> , who has not only
> given the  <http://bulls.realgm.com> Bulls <http://bulls.realgm.com>
energy
> they so sorely needed but has also given them the defensive spark they
were
> lacking.
>
> "I'm probably best suited for a veteran team," Oakley said, sitting out
his
> third game in succession a wrist injury.
>
> Krause has told Oakley that he has tried to trade him after Oakley has
made
> it clear that he does not fit in this  <http://bulls.realgm.com> Bulls
> <http://bulls.realgm.com>  team, but he stated that his salary of $7.3
> million this season makes that a difficult task.
>
> Oakley may still get his opportunity to move on, perhaps even into the
> playoffs, the Chicago Tribune reporting that management have discussed the
> possibility of releasing Oakley outright and eating, according to a team
> source. This would have to be completed before March 1 or Chicago will
face
> a similar scenario they had with John Starks
> <http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile.php?playerid=336> . Starks was
> released on his will by the  <http://bulls.realgm.com> Bulls
> <http://bulls.realgm.com>  three weeks after the deadline, which meant he
> could not qualify for playoff action.