catching up on everything

[Berry, Mark S]

Spent most of last week away from email and aching for info on the
Celts. What a terrible time to be on vacation.

 

Anyway, I know this is late and everything has been said, but I wanted
to chime in on everything from draft night:

 

1.	Telfair ... I'm lukewarm on this move. I don't think dumping the
extra year of Raef's deal is enough to counter the fact that Danny
traded the No. 7 pick for a guy who was picked 13th two years ago and
has been nothing but a disappointment. I know all the arguments for
Telfair and agree with many of them. In fact, I like Telfair as a player
(at least his potential). I just think Danny may have overpaid. Of
course, if he turns out to be as good as Danny thinks he is, it's a
bargain. I wasn't enamored with anyone at 7 anyway. 

 

Telfair is a great passer. But he has developed some really bad habits.
He's a ball-pounder right now, and he has that nasty NY point guard
tendency to want to put on a show instead of winning the game. That's
more than a small problem. I've been assured that this doesn't indicate
they're unhappy with Delonte, only that they want to use him in both
roles. I hope that's true. I think a backcourt of Telfair and West could
be very similar to Dallas' of Terry and Harris. Anyway, I'm OK with it,
but not ready to buy in completely.

 

2.	Rondo ... I'm even less enthused with this. I don't see it. He
finishes better at the rim, but other than that does Rondo give you
anything Orien Greene doesn't? I honestly don't know. I just don't see
anything there other than a good defender and rebounder. I know the
Cleveland pick wouldn't have been very high, but it was in a much better
draft. I would have held onto it. I'm hoping I'm wrong about Rondo,
though.

 

3.	Iverson ... I hate, hate, HATE the idea of trading for Iverson.
I don't care if he comes cheap. If he doesn't fit (and Iverson
definitely doesn't), he doesn't fit. I'll be sick if Danny makes this
move. Absolutely sick. I'm all for packaging some young guys for a
big-timer, but not Iverson. Garnett or O'Neal? Sure. Marion? Absolutely?
Richard Jefferson or Rashard Lewis? Count me in. Iverson? Never. No. 

 

So that's about it. As you can tell, I'm not exactly doing cartwheels
over what's going on right now. I need some spectacular summer league
play to warm the cockles of my heart until October ... or until an
Iverson trade. At which point, I'm planning something dramatic and self
destructive ... I just haven't decided what it will be yet.

 

Mark