05.18.97

[slightly biased bias fan]

If the NBA draft lottery had gone a little differently, imagine the consequences.

If the Celtics pick had held up as the best odds and the Mavs pick had fallen to 8 or 9th pick, the Celtics could easily have picked up Tim Duncan & Tracy McGrady in the same draft.

Duncan
Walker
Fox
McGrady
Wesley

Barros, Brown

***

If the Celtics had gotten Duncan, Rick Fox would never have been traded for a centre & McGrady would have fit perfectly next to a defensive minded Wesley.

A nice little roster to start the 1997-98 season.

[Birdman]

And Rick Pitino may had last longer here?

[johnnygreen]

I completely agree on Duncan. However, McGrady is more of a hindsight pick here. I don't think Pitino would have had the patience to pick a high school kid, with his win now mentality at the time.

[Donoghus]

McGrady tanked his workout for Boston. He didn't want to play for Pitino.  I'm not sure McGrady ending up on the Celtics was ever really in the cards.

[johnnygreen]

McGrady tanked his workout for Boston. He didn't want to play for Pitino.  I'm not sure McGrady ending up on the Celtics was ever really in the cards.

Would McGrady still tank his workout if Boston also had the #1 pick? Not getting that first pick changed a lot of things for the Celtics, and McGrady tanking his workout could have also been one of them too.

[Who]

Man, Duncan and Toine ...

I remember watching that 1998 All-Star Game and seeing those two on the court together and getting lost in thoughts wondering what could have been.

Toine was so exciting at that point in his career. So versatile. So skilled.

Duncan was the man from Day One. Top 5 player in the league as a rookie.

[Birdman]

Ron Mercer I thought was the next big thing & got his jersey, boy I was wrong

[aefgogreen]

Ron Mercer I thought was the next big thing & got his jersey, boy I was wrong

Nice size and a good shot. Easy to be wrong about him.

[perks-a-beast]

How many times has the team with best odds actually ended up winning in the 40 year history of the lottery? My guess is 5 or less.

[Roy H.]

Ron Mercer I thought was the next big thing & got his jersey, boy I was wrong

Nice size and a good shot. Easy to be wrong about him.

Yep, I thought he was going to be awesome.