Fixit

There was no way that Detroit was going to beat the Lakers a few years ago, either.

JoeSixPat

Sleeping on the trade there's no way not to like the trade - yes anything's possible including injuries to 31/32 year old veterans - and the possibility of Jefferson being an elite player (we'd have to pay him like one if he stayed with no guarantee he would be) and the loss of Gomes potentially (I hate giving up the Minn. draft pick back to them - but it was lottery protected anyway)

But the bottom line is that the Celts just leaped from being a last place contender to first place contender - and that's not bad. Also it looks like Pierce, Allen and Garnett have some existing chemistry - which is a good thing as well.

For the next 5 years this looks like a trade that benefits the Celts - for years 5-10 its anyone's guess but seems like it will be in the T-Wolves best interest then.

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JoeSixPat

Right - anything can happen in the Finals... Ainge has put the Celts in a position to have a relatively easy road to get to the Finals in the weak East...

He's also now created a situation where free agents over the next few years have gone from avoiding the Celtics like a plague, to wanting to play for a Championship contender. That counts for something too.

If I had any disposable income I might jump at season tickets right now while the prices are still decent and there's availabilty - I expect you'll see a big run on season tickets now too - not to mention the markeitng prospects for a once beloved team that has become irrelevant in this sports town over the last decade - though there still remains some memory of the glory years.

So while I couldn't care less how much salary and luxury tax the owners are paying, it seems to me its a worthwhile gamble for them that could still wind up making them more profit than had they stood pat.

All in all a good trade - definately short term for the celts - and potentially long term for them as well if they re-establish a championship organization - and potentially long-term for the T-Wolves as well.

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BradyManny

Why not? We just acquired one of the best players in the West, why can't we compete with the West, now?

This team has its sight set on a championship right now, and that's a pretty remarkable thing considering how bleak things were looking a couple months ago when the ping pong balls fell. People seem to be underestimating Garnett. He is one of the best five players in the NBA. He can dominate on both ends of the court.

JoeSixPat

Not to argue with a view that the glass is 1/10th empty - but keeping the status quo makes us more competitive with the Spurs - and other teams, exactly HOW?

Perhaps, IF the Celts continue to vye for last place on a consistent basis, and there's a big man in college or high school that we MIGHT be able to pick up in the lottery in the next 5 years (no doubt requiring the #1 pick and the ping pong balls to fall our way) or so that will make us a contender with the Spurs as you seem to suggest, then MAYBE its unwise to trade some chips to become an instant contender now.

But that's a helluva lot of IFs and MAYBEs for my taste... certainly there's few difference-making players who would want to come to a consistent last place team... and of course any of those players are going to cost a lot of money anyways - requiring that we overpay for them.

So is Garnett expensive in terms of trade value - yes - but its a much better gamble than waiting for the lottery or other players who might or might not develop - and it puts us in a position to attract other free agents down the road.

Like I said I don't care how much luxury tax the owners have to pay - I just wnat the best team we can have. I give Ainge credit - this obviously isn't part of his "master plan" but there's too much out of a GM's control to fully implement a master plan anyways.

Best thing you can do is put yourself in a position to make deals for proven players to improve your team - and say what you want about Ainge but he's done exactly that.

Now some talk will certainly turn to Doc as the longterm coach. It probably should - I think Doc's perfect for a young team - but that for a veteran team that needs the best X&O's guy, we might need a change. I suspect he'll be there next year given his contract extension but if they don't go deep in the playoffs, he's gone.

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Lifer

This is an amazing day for the Celtics. Basketball is not Football. Quantity does not equal quality. And when you add players like Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett without having to give up Paul Pierce you have done a fantastic job!!

In the NBA today one all-star changes your team completely. look at every NBA blockbuster where a star is traded for numbers and the team that gets the star wins every time. Jefferson was potential but Celtic fans have been banking on young players for 20 years. You go for it when you can and Danny Ainge recovered from the ping pong disappointment with flying colors.

55 wins. And with the heat off, Paul Pierce can be all-world.

DougGabriel2007

Agree with Lifer, you HAVE to make this deal and any GM would.

Surprised some guy called KG a SF..wow. Shows how little those in MA/Boston follow the NBA these days. KG is still one of the 10 best players in the world and PP/Allen are two of the 20 best.

My favorite logic I've heard is the whole "well we're gonna be terrible in the future", WHO CARES? We've been terrible for the past 15 years besides a couple good seasons, you have to roll the dice and make a move like this.

Jefferson is the only guy of any value we gave up, Green is just a raw athlete, the type of guy fans love but will probably never be more than a roleplayer in the league.

Pats726

It's a gamble..a good gamble to get fannies into the Garden..to save his job..and to get into contention in the east..NOT saying much there. It's a big gamble beacuse if there is no banner..the team will go down teh drain even faster...NOW is the time...or?? waiting another decade.
Not sure 3 players can do it all though..especially when they have never played together..and don't even compare to the Big Three of the past....please!! That team had OTHER players and was deep. This team will live or die on how strong the cast of players is. One can have a few all stars but a championship teams needs to have complimentary players and backups and play defense. Tony ALlen's return is a key as well....but with 3 over 30 players, I do wonder about who will pick up the slack minutes wise..especially since so many players are gone. Those are just the concerns one may have. It's a gamble that pieces will be found quickly for if the team does not make it quick..another decade will go by.

VJCPatriot

The New Big 3 is here!

Official Celtics announcement:
http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pres...7-garnett.html

Well who can help but get excited about this move?
It is risky going with older players, BUT the Celtics win big time in terms of getting proven veteran talent in here now.
Garnett brings so much to this team.
He has been the best rebounder in the league the past 4 years and he brings tough DEFENSE that has been sorely lacking.
C's become instant contenders with this move.
Now they just have to sign a couple of role players to round out the team and away we go!

This was a bold move Danny. I must admit that my faith was wavering, but now your plan has fully unfolded, and it's looking pretty darn good!

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JoeSixPat

Everyone seems to be making a big deal out of the 7-1 trade - 5 players and 1 picks for Garnett.

If you ask me that says more about the modern watered down NBA than anything else. Some might disagree but I think there are too many teams for the basketball talent out there - and that years of taking chances on high school kids giving them guaranteed contracts are clogging up rosters rather than giving more seasoned college players a chance to compete.

What can't be argued is that for the most part, anything aside from the Top 5 - sometimes the Top 3 in the NBA draft is a crapshoot - and that there's about 10 guys on any roster who might as well all be journeymen.

That's part of why there's so much mediocrity in the NBA - in particular the eastern conference, and why it makes sense to make this trade and take advantage of that.

THAT's the real story - not a 7 for 1 trade.

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