July 31, 200719 yr Exactly! Not long ago everyone was saying that Ainge was stupid and didn't know what he was doing. Now their contenders! As mentioned above, he gave no reason to trust him as he made many questionable moves. I don't think this is a terrible move for Boston, but their window just got a lot smaller. If they don't win within the next 2 years, it could get worse than it is now.
July 31, 200719 yr Am I the only one that thinks the T-wolves are robbing the Celtics blind? I must be. They are getting 5 decent players (immaterial) AND 2 first round draft picks AND cap flexibility down the road. Wow. The Celtics are going to have three 30+ guys who probably have, at best, a 2 or 3 year window. Not to mention, I can count the big wins in the post-season that Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and KG have combined on one hand. If McHale handles this right, and granted that is a BIG IF, this could be a great trade for Minnesota. Just not sure this is the slam dunk deal for Boston that everyone thinks.
July 31, 200719 yr Am I the only one that thinks the T-wolves are robbing the Celtics blind? I must be. They are getting 5 decent players (immaterial) AND 2 first round draft picks AND cap flexibility down the road. Wow. The Celtics are going to have three 30+ guys who probably have, at best, a 2 or 3 year window. Not to mention, I can count the big wins in the post-season that Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and KG have combined on one hand. If McHale handles this right, and granted that is a BIG IF, this could be a great trade for Minnesota. Just not sure this is the slam dunk deal for Boston that everyone thinks. I saw this trade on the scroll on ESPN this morning and just started laughing.
July 31, 200719 yr Am I the only one that thinks the T-wolves are robbing the Celtics blind? I must be. They are getting 5 decent players (immaterial) AND 2 first round draft picks AND cap flexibility down the road. Wow. The Celtics are going to have three 30+ guys who probably have, at best, a 2 or 3 year window. Not to mention, I can count the big wins in the post-season that Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and KG have combined on one hand. If McHale handles this right, and granted that is a BIG IF, this could be a great trade for Minnesota. Just not sure this is the slam dunk deal for Boston that everyone thinks. My first post in support of the trade was as they named the players and then later when I saw the 2 FIRST ROUND draft picks, I began to have second thoughts. This move seems to be an Ainge move to save his job rather than building for the future.
July 31, 200719 yr Okay, I'm not alone. You may have to be an ESPN Insider to read this; sorry. http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=garnettdealhollinger
July 31, 200719 yr I still like this trade for Boston. I think the Wolves did a good job of getting a nice return on a guy who it looked like they were going to have to trade, but no way are the Celtics getting robbed blind. They're getting a franchise talent for a bunch of projects. I think this trade is pretty good for both teams. Boston gets what they want...they've gone from one of the worst teams in the NBA to a strong contender for the Eastern Conference. Minnesota gets some pieces and a couple of picks to start their rebuilding process. What's the deal on the draft picks? If they're the next two years, then I don't see where the Wolves got a huge plus, because Boston is going to be very good, so those picks are likely going to be low first round picks. They're still valuable sure, but not enough to hesitate on pulling the trigger on this deal. Jefferson, Green, Telfair, Ratliff and Gomes...you have some potential there in Jefferson, Green and Telfair, but still, when you have the chance to add KG, I think you have to take it. Especially when you consider the shape Boston is in. For a simple analysis, look at it like this: 1) Suppose Boston didn't make the deal and kept the players and the picks...what are the odds the players and picks develop and the Celtics become a contender? Maybe they do, maybe they don't. 2) Add KG to Pierce and Allen, and what are the odds they're a contender? It's a virtual lock. When you have a chance to put a contender on the floor, you have to do it. If they were trading away guys that were a foregone conclusion to become stars and carry them to contender status, then I'd say they got burned. But, they're not.
July 31, 200719 yr Author I still support this deal. The T-wolves and the Celtics weren't going anywhere with the rosters they had. The Celtics had alot of great young talent, but more than likely most of those players would have bolted out of Boston in free agency. The T-Wolves get to start over fresh and they get to send KG to a team that stands a chance of making it out of the east. It looks good for both parties involved.
July 31, 200719 yr IMO, it gives them a real good chance to do more than just win the East.... I just don't see them being good enough to challenge for an NBA title.
July 31, 200719 yr Where are the Ainge haters now. In one month he turned the worst team in the league to a Conference contender. You could be right, but I would hold off on naming him as GM of the year until they win something.
July 31, 200719 yr I just don't see them being good enough to challenge for an NBA title. I don't either, but I think they'll be a contender to win the East...which doesn't make them a title contender.
July 31, 200719 yr The T-Wolves get Al Jefferson- 69 games, 16.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg, and a 51.4 field goal percentage. Theo Ratliff- 2 games, 2.5 ppg, career 49% field goal percentage, and 8.0 ppg. Gerald Green- 81 games, 10.4 ppg, and a 42 field goal percentage. Sebastian Telfair- 78 games, 6.1 ppg, 3.2 ast. Boston is getting a career 20 and 10 guy in Garnett and they will be better than last season. I see them winning around 38-44 games atleast and they SHOULD, make the playoffs. But the T-Wolves didnt get a pretty bad deal, and plus that 1st round draft pick could help out Minnesota a lot too.
July 31, 200719 yr Buzzer Beater, they get two first round draft picks, a slew of expiring contracts, and cap relief from KG. I agree with you, not a bad deal for them.
July 31, 200719 yr I think the deal works well for both teams...but no way Boston only wins 44 games...are you kidding me? Look at the eastern conference...no team in the conference will be able to match the trio of Allen, Pierce and Garnett. These guys aren't over the hill...they've still got some game left. Plus, you have to expect that the very real possibility of an NBA Finals berth will inspire them to play better than the hopeloss situations they were in last year. The Celtics should at least win 50 games and the Atlantic Division...and along with Detriot, Cleveland and maybe Miami (if Shaq can stay healthy and has anything left and Wade stays healthy) and Chicago (if they continue to mature), should be a legit threat to win the conference. Lebron basically carried the Cavs this year...Shaq and D-Wade two years ago...no reason to think KG, Pierce and Allen can't do it in the same weak conference. Bill Simmons - Page 2 Pretty good read...I like his articles.
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