Assets vs. liabilities: McCarty vs. Hunter/Mihm

[Eggcentric@xxxxxxx]

<  But that's what he is - a #9 or #10 guy, NOT A FREAKING SIXTH 
MAN PLAYING 40 MINUTES PER GAME!!!!! > - Doug

Exactly, Walter is merely a handy reserve placed in the precarious 
position of logging long minutes out of position due to the absence 
of LaFrentz and Baker.

His versatile 9th-man salary seems fair enough at:
$1,200,000 ('03-'04)
$1,350,563 ('04 -'05)
$1,500,563 ('05-'06 - player option) 

As for Hunter, far as I know, Ainge always had reservations over 
his "shortcomings" and pretty much signed him to cheap bucks to
pacify the growing number of fans who had joined the Hunter 
bandwagon.  Good PR.

Hunter was inserted into the starting lineup on Feb. 25th and
had two terrific games followed by two decent games. Three 
of those four games were against Toronto missing three starters 
and 29th ranked Orlando.  He remained in the starting lineup for 
an additional eight more games before gradually playing himself 
out of the rotation (points: 4,2,6,3,0,2,0,2; rebounds: 5,6,4,2,
4,2,1,0).  

As a reaction to all the flack Ainge received over his ill-advised 
lottery comments and as our team began to win a few games, 
it was a unanimous decision that the rotation be shortened in an 
attempt to actually make the playoffs.   

The McCarty vs. Hunter debate is all about ASSETS (rebounding) 
vs. LIABILITIES. If either Ainge or Carroll felt that the team was 
stronger with Hunter and Mihm in there instead of McCarty, they 
would be in there just as if Banks continues to look better than 
Chucky, he will be in there.  No conspiracy, no showcasing, no 
idiot coach.  

Perhaps a page of history is worth a volume of emotional lister 
logic.  This list begged for more playing time for Moiso.  This 
list cried out for more playing time for Kedrick.  And now these 
plaintive wails for more playing time for the overrated Hunter 
and Mihm.  Both players will be gone by next season.  McCarty,
the lone survivor of the Pitino/Obie years after Blount walks 
and Pierce is unfortunately traded for a PF, will still be here ... 
just not in a starting role.

Egg