Part 1 of 5 in the Pete Maravich Series
January 1980
Celtic general manager Red Auerbach met with Pete Maravich and his agent for about 85minutes before last night's Celtics' game, leading to speculation that the free-agent guard might be joining the Celtics. Auerbach and Maravich were to meet again after the game.
Maravich , 31, was placed on waivers by the Jazz last week and met Monday with the Philadelphia 76ers, who are looking for a guard to replace the injured Doug Collins. 76er general manager Pat Williams said Maravich wanted to talk with the Celtics before deciding which team to join.
Would Pete Maravich be good for the Boston Celtics?
As with any major issue, there are no easy answers. Signing a Pete Maravich would have ramifications, not only for this year but for several seasons to come.
Here are some positives:
- Maravich can score, and the Celtics at present are lacking in firepower off the bench, which is, presumably, where Maravich would be coming from.
- Maravich is experienced, and when Tiny Archibald is out of the game, the Celtics have nobody to run the team.
- Maravich should be motivated by playing on a winning team in front of enthusiastic fans and for a coach (Bill Fitch) he has known and liked for a long time.
- Maravich will come cheap. Maravich's contract settlement with Utah has removed the financial burden, and the Celtics would be making no serious financial commitment by signing him.
- By signing Maravich, the Celtics would keep him away from Philadelphia. Don't think this isn't a factor.
And here are some negatives:
- Maravich has sustained a major injury to his right knee, and there is no assurance he will hold up.
- By signing Maravich, the Celtics will raise fan expectations to new heights. The team needs more than just a Pete Maravich in order to be a champion. It still would need a frontcourt physical player along the lines of a Kermit Washington, Steve Mix or Paul Silas coming off the bench. But it will be difficult to convince fans that the signing of Maravich isn't a title guarantee.
- If Maravich comes, somebody must go, and this has been a closely knit team. That somebody would be either Eric Fernsten or Jeff Judkins, and it would most likely be the former. Much has been made of the chemistry on this team, and there is no question that the remaining players would feel bad about the plight of their fallen comrade.
- Maravich hasn't played in two months, and it would be anybody's guess when he would be able to help the team.
There is no question that Fitch would be delighted to have Maravich. Fitch has been seeking backcourt help all season, and he often has spoken fondly of Maravich. Nobody bothered to discuss the possibility of Maravich coming to Boston, however, as long as his contract with Utah remained unresolved. As coach, Fitch is prepared to accept the responsibility of having Maravich, which means blending him in with the rest of the team as well as standing up to the fan expectation, which is almost guaranteed to be unrealistically high.
The 76ers had Maravich's knee checked out at the Temple University Hospital by their team physician, and he declared that the knee had come along as any such knee possibly could. But because Maravich would be adding to the team and not taking away in any manner (i.e., nobody would be traded for him), his knee is considered an acceptable risk by the Celtics.
His very presence in Boston last evening indicates a strong desire to be a part of the latest Boston winning tradition. At least, that's the way the Celtics see it. The whole thing is fascinating.
Celtic general manager Red Auerbach met with Pete Maravich and his agent for about 85minutes before last night's Celtics' game, leading to speculation that the free-agent guard might be joining the Celtics. Auerbach and Maravich were to meet again after the game.
Maravich , 31, was placed on waivers by the Jazz last week and met Monday with the Philadelphia 76ers, who are looking for a guard to replace the injured Doug Collins. 76er general manager Pat Williams said Maravich wanted to talk with the Celtics before deciding which team to join.
Would Pete Maravich be good for the Boston Celtics?
As with any major issue, there are no easy answers. Signing a Pete Maravich would have ramifications, not only for this year but for several seasons to come.
Here are some positives:
- Maravich can score, and the Celtics at present are lacking in firepower off the bench, which is, presumably, where Maravich would be coming from.
- Maravich is experienced, and when Tiny Archibald is out of the game, the Celtics have nobody to run the team.
- Maravich should be motivated by playing on a winning team in front of enthusiastic fans and for a coach (Bill Fitch) he has known and liked for a long time.
- Maravich will come cheap. Maravich's contract settlement with Utah has removed the financial burden, and the Celtics would be making no serious financial commitment by signing him.
- By signing Maravich, the Celtics would keep him away from Philadelphia. Don't think this isn't a factor.
And here are some negatives:
- Maravich has sustained a major injury to his right knee, and there is no assurance he will hold up.
- By signing Maravich, the Celtics will raise fan expectations to new heights. The team needs more than just a Pete Maravich in order to be a champion. It still would need a frontcourt physical player along the lines of a Kermit Washington, Steve Mix or Paul Silas coming off the bench. But it will be difficult to convince fans that the signing of Maravich isn't a title guarantee.
- If Maravich comes, somebody must go, and this has been a closely knit team. That somebody would be either Eric Fernsten or Jeff Judkins, and it would most likely be the former. Much has been made of the chemistry on this team, and there is no question that the remaining players would feel bad about the plight of their fallen comrade.
- Maravich hasn't played in two months, and it would be anybody's guess when he would be able to help the team.
There is no question that Fitch would be delighted to have Maravich. Fitch has been seeking backcourt help all season, and he often has spoken fondly of Maravich. Nobody bothered to discuss the possibility of Maravich coming to Boston, however, as long as his contract with Utah remained unresolved. As coach, Fitch is prepared to accept the responsibility of having Maravich, which means blending him in with the rest of the team as well as standing up to the fan expectation, which is almost guaranteed to be unrealistically high.
The 76ers had Maravich's knee checked out at the Temple University Hospital by their team physician, and he declared that the knee had come along as any such knee possibly could. But because Maravich would be adding to the team and not taking away in any manner (i.e., nobody would be traded for him), his knee is considered an acceptable risk by the Celtics.
His very presence in Boston last evening indicates a strong desire to be a part of the latest Boston winning tradition. At least, that's the way the Celtics see it. The whole thing is fascinating.
5 comments:
I'd sign him ... he's got 3-4 years left and he'll kill us if he's a Sixer ... still the best guard in the game.
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