(About the expectations for 1998-99)
"I expected progress based on control of our basketball team. When the lockout started we were not allowed to speak to our players, train our players, or do anything, and because we are one of the younger teams in the NBA (if not the youngest), we were locked out mentally as well as physically and did not take care of our bodies the correct way. So we were not ready to play basketball.

"It is surprising to see the players come out in the shape they are in, and I know some of the players think, "well, when we start playing, we can play ourselves into shape." This was not a normal camp, you just didn't have the time. I think some of the players thought that the lockout would last all season and we would not have a season."

(About the 1997 lottery)
"A big reason I took the job, I look at how you rebuild, I look at your contracts and we could not go into the free agent market because we were over cap. We had two picks in the lottery -- we were either going to get Duncan and Van Horn or, Duncan or Van Horn in worst case picture.

As luck would have it, things did not go our way, which meant Chauncey Billips and Ron Mercer; they are both quality basketball players, but there is a big difference not getting Duncan. We would have a six-year plan (which is the length of my contract), by the third or fourth season we would be in the playoffs, fifth or sixth season we would be at the championship level based on having Duncan or Van Horn with the other players. Now, I've stuck to that plan. Now we have to build excitement with the Boston market and our basketball team. We are just as close to the top the Eastern Division as we are to the bottom of the Eastern Division.

(Vin Baker rumors)
"We would have great interest in Vin Baker... If Vin wants to play for the Boston Celtics we always want great players who were on the Dream Team, and certainly Seattle wants to keep him as well.. If Vin would like to play for us, we hope it comes true."

(Kenny Anderson trade rumors)
"He needs to get his body in great shape, not from a weight-lifting standpoint.. That's the new thing in the NBA, guys don't play ball anymore, they just go to Gold's Gym. They need to play basketball, I was kidding him the other day, 'Kenny, you need to keep running and running' to get in the best shape because he has tremendous talent.... He's NEVER involved in trade talk.... People don't understand the trade rumor mill.. Kenny never comes up because he makes too much money.. People are not going to assume his salary; one of the reasons we assumed it was because the first two years were paid by Portland. They're still paying a portion of his salary..."

(On Charlotte Observer report that Pitino might accept a buyout)
"My owner right now is checking all my FedEx charges, and he's concerned aboiut that, so buying out my contract is obsolete, so that's not going to happen..... He's certainly not buying out my contract, we're very close, we talk all the time.. That's not the issue..... I'm certainly not looking to leave, he's not looking to buy me out... That is probably the most ludicrous article since I've been a coach, in 26 years in coaching."

(His Kentucky guys -- Mercer, Walker)
"Walker is a very complex young man, spirited fighter, a competitor, wants to win badly, now he has to understand the principles of how to win.. Mercer does his thing: he's quiet, stays in great shape, causes no problems.... We (with Mercer and Walker) don't have any problems, we have differences in philosophy; I'm more from the Bill Russell philosophy in terms of team and discipline. They're just young, they have to learn.... Being from Kentucky is no advantage; it's an advantage in terms of understanding the press... It's not an advantage coaching them because I'm their college coach; they may think I'm too hard on them at times. What I'd like to do is send them down for a two-week practice in Miami, they'd come back with a different attitude."