Overview

The fans of Boston finally got what they wanted. No not a title or even a playoff birth, but rid of Rick Pitino. Pitino Four years ago inherited a team with one young star, two lottery picks and cap space. The draft picks were spent on players no longer with the team. The cap space quickly evaporated, bringing in and shipping out such players as Tony Messenburg and Travis Knight. Pitino quit in January leaving behind a young team with two stars, three first round draft picks and no cap space for the foreseeable future.

Assistant coach Jim O'Brien was promoted to head coach and Chris Wallace remained with the team as General Manager. Although they will not say so publicly, it is now their job to fix Pitino's mistakes. The team played better under O'Brien who simplified the defense and gave players more free reign on offense. Under O'Brien the team play had an even 21-21 record. Had they played .500 ball all season they would have made the playoffs. They would then have been eliminated in the first round by Philadelphia, and moved back four places in the draft.

Draft History

2000: Jerome Moiso, UCLA - In the draft that produced no notable players he was among the more mundane. He, along with Stromile Swift, became the example of inexperience kids riding the pine. Morris Peterson and Courtney Alexander were taken later. Celtic management is still high on him. Grade D (with a chance to improve).

1999: Kris Clack, Texas - Kris was invited to training camp, but failed to make the team. He was a second round pick so it is not that surprising. Of course, the reason they had no first round pick is because Pitino traded it to Cleveland for Vitaly Potapenko.

1998: Paul Pierce, Kansas - To the delight of Celtic fans Paul Pierce fell and fell all the way to number 10. This past March he posted three 40+ point games and was named player of the month. He still needs to learn to pass out of double and triple teams but he is rounding into a very nice player. Although the pick was a no brainier I will still give the brain trust high marks. Grade: A

1997: Chauncey Billups, Colorado and Ron Mercer, Kentucky -- Pitino took the Celtics thinking he was getting Tim Duncan or perhaps Keith Van Horn. As bad luck had it he got picks three and six over all. He wanted a big point guard so he drafted a 6' 3" shooting guard, Chauncey Billups, and tried to convert him to the point. He lasted only a half a season then trader Rick sent him to Toronto for Kenny Anderson. With the sixth pick Pitino selected a player he had coach while at Kentucky, Ron Mercer. Mercer proved to be a capable scorer but Rick (as usual) over valued Mercer worth on the market and traded him. All that remains of the Mercer selection and trade is the 11 and 21 overall picks in this years draft. Grade: D

1996: Antoine Walker, Kentucky - The Celtics were happy to get Walker at No. 6. He has become the corner stone of the team. He has already made one all-star team and displays skills possessed by few other power forwards. Grade: B

1995: Eric Williams, Providence -- This was a good pick at the time, No. 14 Williams quickly became a starter and a dogged defender who showed a great ability to get to the line. Pitino signed him to a long contract, then traded him to Denver and later traded to get him back. Grade: B

Player Salaries

Player Statistics

Team Needs

Although the team would still like to find a dominate center, and which team wouldn't, as well as a tall defensive point guard that can create for himself and his teammate, the focus has now turned to finding a third scorer. The team is aware they need someone that can take the scoring burden off Walker and Pierce. With three picks the team in theory (and theory only) could fill all three voids. If the team successfully fills one or two of these needs the draft will have been a success. Because Pierce can play small forward or shooting guard and Walker can play either of the power forward or small forward there is great flexibility in where the new recruit can play.

Team Needs: Answer, McCarty (twice) Stith (once). Question, who other than Pierce and Walker lead the team in scoring last season. That statistic alone should be evidence enough that the team is in dire need of a third scorer. A fourth and fifth scorer would be nice as well. If that third option were a point who can create or a center who can defend and rebound all the better. Must likely it will come in the form of a shooting guard or small forward. The Celtics roster is flexible enough that the can choose a player at any position. If they get a nice small forward Pierce moves to the big guard. If they get a power forward, Walker moves to the three and Pierce to the two. A center or point guard could slide right into place. For this reason, I think with each pick the Celtics will go with the best player available.

Team and the Current Roster

Point Guard:

Kenny Anderson when healthy is the started. That was only 33 mostly ineffective games last season. Anderson is perceived by most fans as one of the biggest problems with the team. He came over in 1998 when he refused to play for Toronto. The Celtics gave up first round (third over all) pick Chauncy Billups and fan favorite Dee Brown to acquire Anderson. He has never played as well as he did in Portland (would they like him back?). Backing up Anderson is the two-headed monster of Randy Brown and Milt Palacio.

Randy Brown is an aging defense specialist. He was brought in for his experience, but also wound up playing the majority of minutes at the point.

Milt Palacio hit an off balanced buzzer beating shot against New Jersey that earned him the nickname "Miracle Milt".

Chris Herran played some, but he spent much of the season injuried.

Summary: The Celtics are looking to trade Anderson and improve to the position. Palacio and Herran are both free agents who can probably be resigned for the minimum.

Shooting Guard:

Bryant Stith got the majority of starts as the big guard. He came to Boston (along with Herran) from Denver for Calbert Chaney and Robert Pack. That was perhaps the best trade of the Pitino era. Stith has played quite well for the C's. His outside shooting has been a plus.

Chris Carr was used very sparingly. He excepted the million dollar exception to play for Boston who liked his experience.

Summary: Stith was a very nice pick up and the fans of Boston have wormed to him. He is a free agent. The Celtics could use more scoring from the position.

Small Forward:

Paul Pierce returned from being the victim of an off season knife attack to cement himself as the team's star. He led the team in scoring and is hitting the outside shot. He is a very good defensive player racking up steals and blocks. He can and does play shooting guard also.

Eric Williams is a nice backup. He is a good defensive player and is capable of going on a scoring rampage. How could probably start on some teams. He is also able to play power forward quite well.

Walt McCarty is tall and strong. He can play all three forward positions. He is a very good defender. The last time the Celtics played the Lakers McCarty did a good job of boxing out Shag.

Adrian Griffin, the darling of the 99-2000 season was rarely used.

Summary: Griffen is a free agent and may be resigned at the minimum. McCarty and more so Williams are trade bait. If the Celtics bring in a quality small forward Pierce will move to shooting guard where he has played some of his best games.

Power Forward:

Antione Walker is the team's MVP. He is a close second to Pierce in points scored and is the team leader in rebounds, assists, minutes played, and three point shots. Once the team starts winning he will be a star in the league. One of the knocks on Antione is that he is not aggressive enough in drawing contact and thus does not take a lot of free throws. Also, his shot selection could be better.

Tony Battie is the primary backup. He is tall and athletic. He plays some at center as well. He is a nice player to have around, but he does have a long contract.

Jerome Moiso was last summers first round draft pick, eleventh overall. Although Moiso is the poster boy for lack of experience by the early entrants, the coaching staff is still high on him and say we will see great improvement next season. Because

Summary: Walker plays so many minutes no one gets a lot a backup minutes behind him. Walker is an exception player he is very athletic and is starting "to get it". The one thing the Celtics lack at the position is a big strong bruiser, though at times Potapenko can play at the position.

Center:

Vitaly Potapenko received the bulk of the minutes at the center position. He is muscular and the closest thing the time has to an enforcer. He shoots well when close to the basket and displays some offensive moves. He is only 6' 10" and does not block a lot of shots.

Mark Blount was usually the starter and was the Celtic's rookie of the year candidate. He was drafted three years ago after leaving college early. He never stuck with a team until this year.

Summary: The Celtics have some serviceable players at the center position, but no all-star candidates. Both Blount and Potapenko are better suited for reserve rolls. The team holds an option on Blount and will exercise it.

Free Agents

Bryant Stith is the most important Celtic Free agent. The team is over the cap so they will have to use their mid-class exception if the hope to retain his services. He probably stays.

Eric Williams has a player's option. He has a ridiculous contract and would be foolish to opt out. He stays.

Mark Blount will return as the team will exercise the option to retain him.

Milt Palacio and Chris Herren will be the biggest decisions the Celtics have to make. They will probably try to retain both but will only be able to offer minimum salaries.

The selection

Omar Cook 6’ 1" PG St. John’s University (freshman)

The luck of the Irish strikes again, as the player the Celtics need drops to them again (can we make this the real draft and forgo with June 27^th?). Cook is a point guard with a point guards mentality. He is comfortable creating scoring opportunities for his teammates or creating his own shot. He is not the tall floor leader the Celtics have been in search of but does have an NBA body. He is not short, just not tall for the position. He continues to climb up the draft chart following a stellar performance in the Chicago Predraft Camp. His freshman year at St. John’s was not bad either leading the team in scoring with 15.3 ppg and finishing second in the nation in assists with 8.7 per game. Some college basketball writers voted for Cook over Griffen for Freshman of the Year.

Others considered

When the draft recessed for the weekend there were five teams to pick prior to Boston at 21. I had five players targeted with the pick. I hoped at least one would still be available at 21. As it turned out only one was still on the board. This made the pick easy to make. The others considered were:

Jaamal Tinsley, Iowa - 6-3 Point Guard. He is the best point guard in a draft week at the position. He is the only point expected to go in the lottery. He is a senior thus reducing the rookie impact. He sees the floor well. 

Joseph Forte North Carolina - 6' 4" Shooting Guard. He is a little small and possibly not as athletic as some other 2's in the league. But he is a tremendous scorer and shooter. His shooting will be an asset in the new-zoned league.

Troy Murphy, Notre Dame - 6' 11" Power Forward. He is a junior who was worried if he stayed another year in school he'd be too old. He may be right. He is big and strong. What you need in a four. I believe his addition would enable Antoine to be moved the small forward, his natural position and Pierce to move to shooting guard. Murphy like Walker and Pierce is also a very competent outside shooter. He is a two time All-American.

Vladimir Radmanovic Yugoslavia - 6’ 10" Small Forward.  Vlad really impressed in a workout in Chicago and GM’s are drooling. He is a great outside shooter and can create his own shot. The Celtics may even consider him at eleven, especially if they miss out on the Pau Gasol. sweepstakes. His coach at the Nike Hoop Summit, who also coached Gasol and Nowitzki says Radmanovic is more NBA ready then either Gasol or Nowitzki at this stage in his development.

Moves in the offseason

With three new players joining the team through the draft team won’t have much need/room to pursue free agents. The Celtics will probably try to resign their own free agents and then waive Palacio, Herran and Blount if the rookies work out. They could even skip resigning Stith if they were really to get Battier at ten. If they get Cook or Tinsley, Palacio or Herran would not be resigned. Most likely Palacio would be ask to return since he played so many minutes last season.

There are a lot of players with bad contract that the team would like to move. Pitino gave out generous contracts like candy and then said he had no money to resign the player he so needed to keep, Ron Mercer. The players the team would like to move individually or packaged together include Anderson, Battie Potepenko and to a lesser degree McCarty. McCarty is a free agent after nest season so teams looking to clear cap space may be interested.

The only trade other than picks that has been floated around town is Anderson to Charlotte for Derrick Coleman. This might not be a bad trade for the Celtics IF Coleman shows up in shape and on his medicine. Who the Celtics get in the draft may determine if this trade gets made. If they get a Power Forward or Center they may feel Coleman is not necessary but if the get a point guard Anderson could be expendable.

One trade I would propose would correct a Pitino faux pas. It would send Potapenko back to Cleveland along with Eric Williams for Zadranus Ilgauskas. Cleveland must be getting tired of Ilgauskas' injuries. He has a huge contract with several more years remaining. With Potapenko they would have a reliable backup while they groom Chris Mihm. The Celtics would be getting a player who, when health is one of the best at his position. Plus, my hypothesis is that if he, Ilguaskas, has two more injury plagued season he would retire. This trade of course would be dependent on Z passing a physical.

The Celtics could also look at some players in the second round or rookie free agents. The players I would look at in the second round (Boston has no pick but could easily get one) include:

Antonis Fotsis, Panathinaikos (Greece) 6' 9" Shooting Guard He is only twenty years old and staring on one of the best teams in Europe. He has great size for an off-guard and has dead-on range from deep. As a European his defense will be suspect. He should however thrive in the new zone defense. Maybe Don Nelson has been a bad influence on me but after missing out on Gasol and Radmanovic I considered Fotsis at #21. His shooting percentage is better than either of the previously taken Euro’s.

Rashad Phillips, Detroit 5' 9" Point Guard. This diminutive floor general does it all, shoots, dishes and rebounds. He has impressed scouts in the predraft camps.

Jeryl Sasser SMU 6' 6" Shooting Guard. He could be moved to point guard where he would have a great size advantage. He shoots well from outside. Craig Miller, of 1310 am The Ticket (Dallas), describes him as "The best local college player I've ever seen".

Terrence Morris Maryland 6' 9" Small Forward. At one time was considered the top prospect in college. The physical skills are all there but he has a rep of being aloof and unmotivated. I think he will be this year’s Chris Porter. Porter last year went from being the top ranked player in the country to being drafted at #55 by Golden State. He was a key contributor until injury derailed his season. Morris definitely has talent.

Horace Jenkins William Patterson 6' 1" Point Guard. Horace is a 26 - year old senior. He is lightning quick, with a crossover that will brake ankles. He has a 44-inch vertical leap and has NBA range. He did not shine in Chicago however.

Eric Chenowith Kansas 7’ 1" Center He has great size at 270 lbs and can hit the 18 foot jumper. Athleticism and toughness is questioned. Paul Pierce was a former teammate.

The future of the team is a little uncertain. Paul Gaston insists the team is not for sale; yet rumors continue to circulate that Larry Bird will put a management team together and buy the team. Just from a morale stand point a sale could benefit the team especially if the new owner(s) have deep pockets. If a new owner is found and a change of coaching staff is desired my recommendation for head coach would be Donnie Nelson, son of former Celtic Great Don Nelson. He was my choice if O’Brien was not retained. He has a lot of years experience as an assistant and last summer nearly coached the Lithuanian team to an upset win over the American "Dream Team" for the Olympic Gold Medal.