Re: Damon Jones

["hironaka@xxxxxxxxx"<hironaka@xxxxxxxxx>]

>tell me, without Rodney Rogers and Vitaly (out the first 
half of the season), are the Celtics really ready to go 
with a frontcourt rotation of Walker, Battie and Sundov? 

---

Well the answer is so obviously no. But do you believe 
that's what is going to happen? 

I tend to worry about these things A LOT, but I feel 
pretty serene about the prospects of re-signing Rodney 
Rogers, based on the same stories and anecdotes we've all 
read.

If the Celtics brass said anything different to the 
papers these past few weeks, I would worry that they are 
horrible negotiators.  

But what has emerged is that Rogers' agent has 
essentially pledged Boston the right to match the best 
offer. That's precisely the ideal assurance Boston needs 
when playing in this buyer's market, focusing on the one 
player they most want to sign. 

Everyone from top to bottom on the Celtics staff knows 
that Roger is priority number one. Wallace knows it (his 
job deservedly depends on it), Obie knows it, Pond Scum 
knows it (see the ticket price rise), the press and fans 
rightfully demand it too.

Thankfully, Pond and Wallace haven't blurted out "DON'T 
WORRY, we will sign Rogers!" The way the deal with the 
agent works, this may require some extra time and 
patience to fix his price.

Meanwhile, I don't think anyone in the Celtics 
organization links Sundov to the Rodney Rogers situation. 
Sundov is half-a-season insurance for Potapenko. He's the 
first choice 3rd center ahead of Blount. 

Rogers will:

1) either sign a matched offer from Boston.
2) sign a one-year wink-wink deal to re-sign with Boston 
in 2003 after Kenny takes a pay cut or leaves.
3) leave Boston if the agent backstabs Chris Wallace or 
he gets an offer too high (above 4.6 million) to match 
from a division rival. 

How likely is that third scenario? We haven't reached the 
stage where its something to even worry about yet, if you 
ask me. 

"Thanks Dad" had the 22nd highest payroll last year, 
nearly 30 million less than the New Jersey Nets and a lot 
of other teams according to Patricia Bender's Web site. 

Not to exaggerate, but every team with more than a five 
players under contract is already over the cap. That's 
just the way it is.

Moreover, Gaston's equation changes when they've reached 
a Conference finals. 

Its clear to me that Gaston can and will re-sign Rodgers. 
He is in a buyer's market, that's all. 

There's always a small chance that Chris Wallace will 
screw up the deal through miscommunication and whatnot.

But let's not already make a big deal about the third 
backup center (Sundov) and other fringe signings that 
really have absolutely nothing to do with the Rogers 
situation.

If they lose Rogers, the Sundov signing will still have 
nothing to do with anything. We are reading way too much 
into this, way too early to be worth troubling ourselves 
over. Wait until you see all the bargain basement deals 
by the end of the summer. It is the players, not fans or 
owners, who should be worrying.

As long as Wallace can maintain goodwill and open 
channels of communication with Rogers' agent, he will be 
back in uniform weeks in time for the start of training 
camp.

***



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