Re: Hold on to Blount...

[Kim <kimmalo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well, I was probably the first to speak of the new and improved Blount starting back last fall when people were still almost universally calling him a stiff. And while I would like to keep him, there are two issues I think you need to consider. 

One is the fact that his track record shows he need someone else to light a fire under him to get the best from him - he's not very well self-motivated. That may have changed, but it's not something that usually does change, because it's integral to the person's personality. Right now he's playing for a FA contract and the price goes up with each double double. Prior surges have occurred when Mihm and then Hunter started getting minutes because of things like rebounding and pushing him to compete with them. And while if we did re-sign him theoretically you could add Perkins pushing him for minutes next year as another motivator, I don't have a high comfort level about his maintaining the new plateau he's playing at vs continually going up and down. Not that it's a fluke, but the needing someone to motivate him factor. 

The other issue is the cost. This recent surge probably has sent his price up because it's made more teams interested in him, given the constant demand for bigmen with any kind of skills. How much do you pay for him, especially if you're expecting Perkins to take over as starting center in a year or two? Don't forget that money paid to Blount is money you can't use elsewhere because of cap/luxury tax consequences and we do have other needs.

Kim


-----Original Message-----
From: Jaims <jaimscastillo@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Mar 21, 2004 4:36 AM
To: Celtics <celtics@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: Hold on to Blount...

Was never a believer and a fan of Mark Blount ever since... always thought
this guy's a stiff and will never ever improve.  After watching several games
this season, I was happy to be proved so wrong as he has really improved so
much on scoring and rebounding especially toughness inside the paint. Though
most people in this list still believes Blount's good showing is a fluke and
will fade out soon.  I think otherwise.  He really looks good against solid
center counterparts and against Duncan/Nesterovic.  I was really impressed
bottomline.  Never in a longtime since Parish left, the celtics had a tough
rebounding center like Blount now.

It'll be sad to lose this player to free agency next year.  I'd take him over
Mihm and Lafrentz anytime.


Jaims