Wallace and the 2001 draft

[Kestutis.Kveraga@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (Kestutis Kveraga)]

--- You wrote:
Yes 1 out of 3 players in a draft IS a success especially considering there 
weren't that many good players in that draft altogether. Getting the second 
best player with a tenth pick is a nice deal. Also - Pitino does deserve praise 
for drafting Pierce.

Such unrealistic standards as expecting EVERY draft pick to be a good one are 
par for the course for the fellowship of the miserable. 
--- end of quote ---

Now, Pete, I didn't say that EVERY draft pick has to be a good one. But out of
the 3 players Wallace selected, one is out of the league already, one will be
in a year or two, and one has recently acquired a pulse in his 3rd season and
on his 2nd team, which may flatline again after he gets a new contract. You
call that a good draft? I can't believe you can even argue this with a straight
face!

--- You wrote:
The 2001 draft was exceptionally weak, Joe could prove to be one of 
the best players out of that class.
--- end of quote ---

Pete, the 2001 draft included Gasol, Jason Richardson, Shane Battier, Richard
Jefferson, Troy Murphy, Zach Randolph, Samuel Dalembert, Tony Parker, Gilbert
Arenas, and Mehmet Okur. Most of the above have already shown at least as much
as Joe Johnson. And this is not including the guys that may still be coming on,
such as Chandler, Curry and Diop, or second-rate players that nonetheless have
already done more for their teams than Joe Johnson, such as Jason Collins,
Brendan Haywood, Trent Hassell, Tinsley, and Earl Watson.  Some of these guys
were unavailable where the Celtics were picking, but most were, and Wallace &
Co. totally blew it. And everybody but you knows it. Some people, including the
PR firm, were making noises that Wallace was so good, he had NBA teams lining
up to hire him. Well, where are those jobs? Why hasn't he been hired? Do you
believe for a second that he would remain in his current advance-scout role if
he had a chance at another GM position in the NBA? 
Kestas