jlp@inmet.UUCP (09/30/85)
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Several things to clear up as the Championship drive begins:
The racial division: Boston is coming to camp with:
Larry Bird Robert Parish David Thirdkill
Kevin McHale Dennis Johnson Tracy Mitchell
Danny Ainge Sam Vincent David DuPree
Scott Wedman Sly Williams
Bill Walton Carlos Clark
Greg Kite Andre Battle
Rick Carlisle Ronnie Williams
Rick Lamb
I don't know the backgrounds of the three in the right column. The Celtics
could conceivably field a roster of 8 white players. I expect that they will
definitely keep DJ, Parish, Vincent. Battle, Clark and Carlisle are in one
spot fight. Thirdkill and Sly Williams are in another. Kite appears to be
making the team in many eyes, but this reporter is not convinced. The final
roster slot goes to the winner of Mitchell, Lamb, and Williams. Dupree is
a reporter for USA Today doing the George Plimpton number during training
camp.
The Green have lost five from last year's team. All-Class Quinn Buckner has
been returned to Indiana for his pro sunset in exchange for a second round
pick between now and 1990. M.L. Carr has retired to the front office. Cedric
Maxwell was shipped west in exchange for Walton. Ray Williams joined him there
by signing an offer sheet with the Clippers on Thursday. The Celts have made
some serious moves for a team that was only two games away from being the
first repeat champions in 15 years.
Sly Williams is another "Red Coup". The Celtics quite literally have little to
lose. Atlanta will be paying him $450,000. this year. If he doesn't make it,
it cost the Green nothing. If he does, his salary is "only" $70,000. Given
his talent potential, that could be quite a steal.
This could be another strong rookie fight for those final slots. Carlos
Clark's stock went down when he failed to report to rookie camp. Andre
Battle established himself as the ossible dark horse candidate, with a
strong shooting touch and a good work ethic. Rick Lamb delighted the
coaches with his hustle. Ronnie Williams is improved over the man
who was the final cut last year. Tracey Mitchell has shown good speed in
preseason.
Journeyman David Thirdkill has the most to lose in the current camp
configuration. Jst signed by the Celtics two weeks ago, Thirdkill appears
to be working for the same small forward reserve slot tauted for Sly. This
reporter doesn't hold out much for his chances on the current roster.
One of my sources tells me that the Celtics will drop their pursuit of
Indiana Pacers' Guard Jerry Sichting. His theory is that they were after
Sichting to hedge their bets against a DJ departure. Not that Sichting
could have replced the one man that Bird describes as "the Best I've ever
played with". Without DJ, Sichting would have given the Celts some NBA
experience in the backcourt. With DJ, Sichting becomes an older, slow
fourth guard in the Ray Williams mold.
Given the current roster depth, and the factor that Jerry Sichting is still
not a Celtic, this reporter feels that Red is not done yet. Look for some
more minor moves to be made, with Red accumulating a number of draft choices
which he finally coalesces into some meaningful #1s. As I see it today:
SURE BET STRONG MONEY LACE'm UP CBA BOUND USA TODAY
Bird Wedman Thirdkill Mitchell DuPree
McHale Kite R. Williams Lamb
Parish S. Williams Carlisle
Johnson Clark
Walton Battle
Vincent
Ainge