Re: Something BIG is in the Air!!
posted at 2/22/2013 5:02 AM EST
In response to Fierce34's comment:
In response to 003323344's comment:
Spurs look amazing. if only the balls bounced the Celtics way the day the Spurs drafted Duncan. instead we got Chauncey whom Pitino let go the next year i think and ron mercer. thanks Rick!
Rick Pitino traded Billups at the trade deadline, during Billups' rookie season. In other words, Billups didn't even play one full season with the Celts.
Yup, traded midway thru his 1st season to Toronto for Kenny Anderson after Pitino proclaimed Billups and Mercer to be the backcourt of the future, the dream backcourt!
http://www.sandlotshrink.com/bkbcollege.htm
3. Chauncey Billups, Boston, point guard, 6-3, 207, Colorado. Scouts like his size for the point and as a shooting guard-- sort of like a young Joe Dumars. He can run, shoot and penetrate. He's expected to team with #6 Ron Mercer as the Celtics' backcourt of the future. "I feel the Celtics will have a dream backcourt," Rick Pitino said. Pitino also said he would not trade Billups and Mercer for Scottie Pippen and Luc Longley even if Chicago changed its mind and didn't want another player. "We are not going to trade Antoine Walker either."
Pitino described Billups as "one of the future dynamic point guards in basketball. He has all the instincts of a great point. When he gets the outlet, he immediately advances the ball. He's a big assist man. He's extremely intelligent, is a hard worker and he communicates. He fits this system to a T." He played only two seasons for Colorado and averaged 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 55 games while shooting 41%. He said he welcomes the chance to play Pitino's running, pressing, attacking style.
http://www.igtc.com/archives/celtics/1999/Sep/msg00064.html
Two years ago (6/97') Ron Mercer and Chauncy Billups were the backcourt
of the future for the Celtics. Along with Anoine Walker, the
three were the rock solid foundation for a new Celtics dynasty.
Today, Mercer and Billups are with the Denver Nuggets and word is
that Pitino is shopping Walker all over the league, less than one
year after giving the unproven and very unpolished 22-year-old a
$71 million contract. Two years ago Travis Knight was a great
young player who would blossom under Pitino's system. One year
later Rick dumped him and the ridiculous $22 million dollar
salary he gave him. The list goes on and on with players with
whom Rick falls in and out of love very quickly. Where's the
genius?
