Monday, July 30, 2007
Are The Celtics Back?
After trading for Ray Allen on draft night I assumed it wasn't a matter of if but instead when Danny Ainge would be fired. However, it appears that Ainge is on the verge of making the best trade of his tenure as GM of the Celts, Garnett for Al Jefferson, Rajon Rondo and the expiring contract of Theo Ratliff (and most likely a few first round draft picks). I still question how the T-Wolves don't demand Gerald Green in place of Rondo, but that is a different issue entirely.
If such a deal transpires it would certainly jeopardize the Boston Celtics say five years from now, but I think Ainge already did that when he traded Jeff Green, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West for Ray Allen, so why the hell not try to pry Garnett away from Minny while conceding even more of the future? At least this way the Celtics would become a legit NBA contender and wouldn't find themselves in nowhere land, somewhere in between playing for the future and trying to win now. Hold my horses please, did I just say the Celts are legit NBA contenders? Yes I did, and I believe it! If you win the Easy Eastern Conference you're in the NBA title game and anything can happen once you're there. I think a team of Allen, Pierce, and Garnett certainly elevates the Celtics into a class with the Heat, Bulls, Pistons and Cavs, no matter how bad of a supporting cast the team in green would have. In fact let's look at the likely starting lineup assuming the Garnett deal goes down...
PG Sebastian Telfair
SG Ray Allen
SF Paul Pierce
PF Kevin Garnett
C Kendrick Perkins
Top Reserve Players: Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine, and Big Baby
The Big 3 of Pierce, Allen and Garnett is a frightening thought, and a trio that could compete with any of the other teams in the East. Although the reserves aren't anything worth writing home about, Garnett in the Eastern Conference is a scary, scary thought.
In the end, not only would a trade of this magnitude bring hope and enthusiasm to a dejected fan base, but it would honestly replace a team stuck in mediocrity with a new team possessing a 2-3 year window in which they would have a realistic chance of winning an NBA Championship...What a swing it would be.
5 Comments:
I agree, let's get this trade done. I'll miss Al, but here's a bit of reality for those overestimated Big Al's value. He's never played more than 71 games. Garnett's been averaging around 78 games a year for the last 8 years. Big Al is foul prone. Garnett is an elite player who gets more than his fair share of calls. With three top tier players on the same team, the C's should be able to manage the minutes of Pierce, Allen and Garnett effectively during the season so that they do not wear down during the year.
I'm actually more concerned with giving up Rondo in this deal. Then again, the C's will be a half court team with the trio of Pierce, Allen and Garnett, so Rondo's effectiveness would be limited.
All this said, the C's should not do this if Garnett doesn't agree to a team-friendly extension. Say 2 or 3 more years at the most. This way, the C's would have three aged veterans with significant trade value after 2 more seasons to begin the rebuilding process after winning the championship.
Now it looks like the deal might be for Jefferson, Green, Bassy, and Gomes... I think they'll be contenders, but I have some concerns about their [lack of] depth... who starts at PG? C? Who will come off the bench?
Agree. I have much concerns about their lack of depth and lack of PG. They will need to sign a crafty veteran a la Chucky Atkins. But with that trio there is a buzz about this team. It is exciting to be a Celtics fan again!
Did you really think Telfair was going to start if he wasn't dealt. You clearly haven't seen a Celtic game. Rondo was the starting point guard for the second half of the season.
My mistake, I didn't realize Rondo was in the original rumors.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home