The old shell game.

[Berry, Mark S]

I'm not turned off by Sergio's comparisons to Jason Williams. I still
remember the impact Williams had on the Kings when he first joined them.
If you can get a guy who really loves to pass and is great at it, it is
contagious. Everyone starts passing and as a result everyone starts
moving -- if you move, you get the ball. So if his comp is Jason
Williams, and he comes without the baggage that Williams carries, I
wouldn't object.

But I just don't see him as No. 7 pick material. If they trade down,
maybe. I'm becoming more optimistic that there will be a slider. If
Tyrus Thomas or LaMarcus Aldridge or Brandon Roy falls in their laps,
they have to take him. Even if it's Roy, you have to take him and see
what you can sort out. Yes, I'm sick of drafting swingmen. But if all
the impact bigs are gone, then you take him and see if you can't work
out a trade. Easier said than done, but that's the approach you have to
take.

What are everyone's thoughts on Peter Vecsey's bombshell that the
Celtics are shopping Pierce? That one caught me completely off guard. I
thought he was pretty much untouchable at this point. Before you bash
Vecsey, remember he seems to have a source with the Celts. He knew about
the Pierce-to-Portland talks before anyone last year.

You have to figure the teams they'd be talking to are Toronto and
Chicago, with names like Hinrich and Villanueva -- and their picks -- in
the discussion. At least that's what I think should be in the
discussion. I can't imagine any other teams at the top of the draft
being a fit. Portland obviously likes Pierce, but there isn't a fit
there. The Bobcats don't have a fit. Neither do the Hawks. It has to be
the Bulls or Raptors.

Thoughts?

Mark