The old shell game.

[Kim Malo]

At 01:39 PM 6/12/2006, Berry, Mark  S wrote:
>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.

Yup, agree. Same with a number of likely picks for the Cs, part of 
why I wish they could trade down and do a two for one, like maybe a 
double S curve - Sergio and Sene (I drool at the thought of that 
wingspan on the boards and protecting the paint).

>What are everyone's thoughts on Peter Vecsey's bombshell that the
>Celtics are shopping Pierce?

That it's Vescey being Vescey. Do I believe everyone could be traded? 
Yes. Do I believe they are actively shopping Pierce, unless Pierce 
himself has expressed a renewed, behind closed doors wish to play 
where he has a better chance of winning a championship while still at 
his peak? No. Especially not in this particularl draft if part of the 
aim is looking to trade up. Even Danny admits that we really don't 
need to get any younger (which would be a key reason you trade an 
allstar after a career year, particularly one that has just made a 
more co-operative attitude adjustment) and there's no home run pick 
in this draft. Guys who may end up being much better than we think, 
no question, but no clear gotta get him franchise player. Also no 
matter how good the guy we draft, I think trading Pierce means a step 
back in overall record for at least the current year (I don't see us 
getting a better player in return) and there are also signs that 
management understands the fandom is becoming more than a tad 
restless with continually being urged to look to the future, no 
matter how talented the kiddie corps is.

>Before you bash
>Vecsey, remember he seems to have a source with the Celts.

No necessarily direct source with Cs. Could have been Portland. Or a 
source of a source of a source. And who knows, given his attitude at 
the time, it could even have been Pierce or his agent trying to force 
something.

Kim