Re: Paul M and Pitino

[mberry@journalink.com (Mark Berry)]

          I've been lurking for a while, but all the Walker activity
          has me a little stirred up.

          I'm not going to debate Walker's abilities. That's a
          subjective issue. The real issue here is market value. It's
          the same thing that got Garnett his big contract. If the
          T-Wolves hadn't anted up, someone would have. If the Celtics
          don't ante up for Walker, someone will.

          It's not as if the $100 million number was pulled out of a
          hat. Walker and his agent look at Juwan Howard, Alonzo
          Mourning and Kevin Garnett -- all $100 million players --
          and they rightfully believe that Walker is in the same class
          as those three. The market has been set -- not by Walker or
          David Falk or the Celtics, but by Pat Riley, the Miami Heat
          and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

          The market has been set, rightly or wrongly, fairly or
          unfairly.  If the Celtics refuse to accept that they will be
          doomed to years of mediocrity. They can stand firm on
          salaries, be proud of their fiscal responsibility and
          principles, and finish in the middle of the pack forever. Or
          they can accept the world they now live in and commit to
          being successful in it.

          Should they sign Walker? If not him, then who? Mercer next
          summer? Pierce later? The market isn't going to change. At
          some point, you're going to have to start paying market
          value for players, like it or not. They might as well start
          now, with the team's best player.

          Opinions?

          Mark