Re: Bird's record as talent evaluator

["Lance Jacobson" <lancejacob@xxxxxxxxx>]

Larry's a pretty good evaluator of talent.  Josh's arguments are all legit, except
that he gives him a pass on Montross, and the reasons are somewhat suspect, but who
knows what could have happened with EM had he stayed and worked with some good big men
instead of the parade of wannabes that were brought in here?

Besides, nobody bats 1.000, and picking apart Bird's imperfect but laudable success at
both playing and coaching doesn't really push him down the ladder of prospects.  I'd
agree that Bostonians have trouble accepting outsiders and looking for a phoenix to
rise from old sports team legends, but Bird would be the ideal guy to round out the
owners group if he wasn't otherwise committed.

This promises to be an intriguing season, and Gaston's tied a lot of hands with the
Baker trade.  Nonetheless, putting new people up front and closer to the players has
to be handled with some degree of restraint, as the team wasn't blown up over the
summer, and most of the core is still here.