Better end of the deal

Sporting News, The, Nov 29, 1999 by Chris Tomasson

During the second half of Cleveland's November 17 loss at Boston, a fan on the baseline of the Fleet Center looked at Cavaliers center Andrew DeClercq and bellowed, "Traitor."

But the fan should have turned to Boston president and coach Rick Pitino and hollered, "Trader."

It was Pitino who dealt DeClercq and a first-round draft choice to the Cavs for center Vitaly Potapenko. Pitino still thinks it was a good move, but he doesn't have a lot of company.

So far, DeClercq (9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game) is outperforming Potapenko (8.1 points and 7.1 rebounds). Throw in the fact that Cavs rookie point guard Andre Miller--taken with the draft pick--is averaging 11.2 points and 4.9 assists and give the advantage to the Cavs.

"Andrew has the ability to run and beat almost any center down the floor," coach Randy Wittman says.

DeClercq, listed at 6-10, 234, has added several pounds of muscle since last season. He went to a special camp during the offseason to work on his skills, and he also played with the Cavs' summer-league team.

"I wanted to experience the summer league and be able to try out some of my new moves in game situations," DeClercq says.

He also wanted to get more comfortable playing center. With the Celtics, he talked about his dislike for the position, and when he showed up with the Cavs, he declared he really is a power forward.

But with regular center Zydrunas Ilgauskas out with a foot injury--the same injury that forced him to miss nearly all of last season--DeClercq is the closest thing the team has to a starting center.

Even if Ilgauskas returns to the lineup in the next month as planned, DeClercq's role likely will be as the first big man off the bench. He should thrive. After getting so much starting time, he won't be overmatched physically by other teams' second-stringers.