Ainge Says Celtics Can't Build Around Walker

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Damn I'm good....

From: Way Of The Ray (wayray@ix.netcom.com)
Subject: Ainge Says Think Walker Trade
Newsgroups: alt.sports.basketball.nba.boston-celtics
Date: 2001-01-09 22:22:29 PST


http://www.bostonherald.com/sport/basketball/baker01102001.htm

Ainge: It's personnel: Says Celts can't build around Walker
by Jim Baker
Wednesday, January 10, 2001

Danny Ainge yesterday blamed Rick Pitino's demise as Celtics president
and coach on ``bad personnel decisions'' and said he'd explore trading
Antoine Walker.

``Walker and Paul Pierce are perceived to be franchise players and
they're not,'' said Ainge before working last night's Spurs-Magic game
for TBS.

The ex-Celtics star of a much happier era, indicating he might have
interest in a C's front-office post (but not coaching), said he'd place
a priority on ``finding someone to build the team around.''

``Walker is a nice player,'' Ainge said, ``but if he's expected to take
you to the promised land, you're in a lot of trouble.

``I'd explore what I could get for him, but that's a huge decision.
Making a bad trade would just set the Celtics back further. I've heard
rumors about what they'd have received in (Walker) trades and thought,
`No!' ''

Ainge said he had similar reactions over the 3-year Pitino regime's
moves. ``Almost every time a decision was made, because of my attachment

with the Celtics, I'd say, `What?' I never understood the things they
did,'' he said. ``The team that's there can't win. They haven't put the
right chemistry together and there's no quick fix.''

Ainge said he has much respect for Pitino's coaching ability and thought

he was a good hire, ``but a lot of players were miscalculated. I thought

the Travis Knight trade was bad and couldn't understand giving up a
lottery pick for (Vitaly) Potapenko and then paying him $30 million.''

But Ainge's bewilderment goes right back to Pitino's first draftees -
Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer.

``I couldn't understand those choices,'' he said.

Ainge expressed happiness with his Turner role, joining Kevin Harlan and

John Thompson on Tuesday nights. ``I'm enjoying the lifestyle,'' he
said, alluding to quitting as Suns coach for a good family life. So he
can relate to the relaxed smile on Pitino's face now.

But would he return here - perhaps with ex-teammate Larry Bird? ``Larry
would be a great choice, but I'd be shocked if he went back into
coaching,'' Ainge said. And what about an Ainge front-office role - GM
perhaps? ``I'm not familiar with the ownership, but I'd be interested in

listening,'' he said.

CBS college hoop guru Billy Packer said Pitino's exit and 76ers coach
Larry Brown ``taking a rest in midseason'' are two examples of ``what's
become glaringly obvious to everyone - even (commissioner) David Stern -

that major changes need to be made in the NBA.''

``You have to say pro basketball is the problem, not Pitino. Seton
Hall's Eddie Griffin got in a skirmish and was told to sit down. In
college, the coach doesn't have to go to the owner, agent, etc. It's a
whole different circumstance.''

Told that Walker said he isn't ``getting enough touches,'' Packer
reacted: ``That's where the game is now. A relative of a player I won't
mention came to me after the Stanford-Arizona game and said, `My man has

to get more touches.' It just keeps on going, down to even the high
school level.''

Packer said if Pitino joins CBS' NCAA tourney team, ``that would be a
nice way to get back into the college game. The college and pro game are

two entirely different sports.''