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[mark at 10thumbs.org]

Gene --

generally agree with you here... a few comments:

- B.Wright --- just really nervous about him.  seems like a Marvin
Williams, Kwame Brown, Eddie Griffin type. I'd only take a freshman like
Oden, Durant or Iverson/Melo back in the day --- dominant types. Otherwise
i'd rther forgo the "tremendous upside potential" and go with a guy like
Horford who's shown what he can do AND how he's improved over a 3year
college career.

- backup PG --- one guy that might could be had for cheap (i.e. poss.
Telfair's contract, $2M (to pay for Telfairs contract) and a 2nd round
pick)
is Tyronn Lue.  They have a lot of $ tied up in Speedy Claxton and Lue's a
nice playoff-tested vet.

(the other) mark




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This is pretty vanilla:  We have three very strong players, but all need
backup strength.  Rondo may be capably backupt (from the very new
Collegiate dictionary) by West, but some on the list want a vet pg; I
agree.  That's something that cannot be settled by the draft, however,
unless it involves a trade.  It's a need but not our biggest need.

  Pierce (as a two guard) has several possible backups, including West,
Allen perhaps, Green, even Wally.  The good fortune of drafting Durant
would solve our 2/3 problems pretty well.  Otherwise, we can't really
expect to get a better backup through drafting at #3 or 4, and 31. 
That's not a major weakness, imo.

  Jefferson has several backups, none of which sparkle.  There's Scal,
Gomes, and, well, there's a major need that may be addressed through
drafting Horford at PF or B. Wright at PF.  Horford is Elton Brand lite
and Wright is an emerging master of the paint on both ends.  I would be
happy with either to back up our bigs.

  Beyond our three most important players, Perk is an able starter who
needs Ratliff to be healthy and contribute.  With no assurances there,
we need another big who can play 20 minutes as needed.  That may be our
most important need.  If not Oden, then one of the aforementioned PFs.

  Gomes is a top 7 or 8 player for us.  He may be developing into an
excellent spot up shooter.  Wally, if healthy, brings consistent scoring
and we don't get that from Green or West yet.  So, there's a weakness on
the wing.  I like Gomes to start, actually.  We usually pass the ball
well in the first quarter and he can score early.  Some have mentioned
that both Wally and Gomes will benefit from having Rondo zipping the
ball to the shooter.

  So, our needs are at whichever wing position Pierce is not playing (only
Durant would make that a strength) and at center.  Odds are that we will
pick at 3 or 4 and I will be happy with either PF that Ainge thinks will
blossom--and soon.  Should he go for Hibbert or Jianling, wow, I would
just be patient.  I haven't seen enough of these guys (Jianling not at
all) to know.  Well, there's nothing new in all this, but I won't be
suicidal if we have to pick at 3 or 4 because both PFs are very good and
also fill a major need for us.  We will be better in the Fall whomever
we draft.  Cheers, Gene