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Matt Geagan is a sports producer at WBZ-TV… which means he’s not just into basketball. You can catch MattyG’s thoughts on all things sports on his FoxSports.com blog. You can email him at MattyG@RedsArmy.com |
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The only thing that can follow an eventful draft night like last night is a draft hangover. The morning that you grab your head, and really try to put together everything that happened the night before. With Steven A. Smith’s shouting still ringing in your ears, it’s hard to comprehend that not only was Joakim Noah wearing a ridiculously crazy bowtie, Isaiah Thomas traded for someone that will most likely get killed in New York, and Danny Ainge actually pulled off a pretty decent trade for an All-Star. As a bonus, Danny did it without giving up Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, and even that $11 Million contract that expires at the end of the season, better known as Theo Ratliff. Paul Pierce will finally have a name for that veteran help he has been asking for, and that name is Ray Allen. |
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Welcome Jesus |
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Ray Allen is a solid player. Not a great player (anymore), but an 11 year veteran that knows how to score. A 20 point a game scorer throughout his career, Allen has one thing most of the Celtics cannot be taught; he is older than 23. A seven time All Star, Allen has played most of his career in the Western Conference, going up against the likes of Kobe, KG and Spurs Dynasty. Coming to the Eastern Conference, and having Paul Pierce by his side, should be a nice move for Allen. There is some worry, considering Allen is turning 32 next month and has just come off surgery on both ankles. Despite ending the season in March to have bone spurts removed, Allen had his best scoring average (26.4 ppg) and scored a career high 54 against Utah in January, one of 16 games he score 30 or more points. So it’s a solid player that Danny Ainge has added, but the real bonus is who he didn’t have to give up. Ray Allen for Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak and Jeff Green (who was the fifth overall pick) isn’t that bad. Al Jefferson gets to stick around and be the low threat for Pierce and Allen. Gerald Green is still around, and can either develop or get dealt for someone else. Danny also kept a nice bargaining chip in Theo Ratliff and his expiring contract. With the rest of the young talent on the team, the Celtics may not be done before the season begins, or they will have a nice hand to deal with come the trading deadline. As for who is no longer wearing Celtic green (and now wearing that nasty green/yellow jersey out in Seattle), no big time player or potential left town. Delonte West a great player. He played with a lot of heart, and most of his injuries came from playing as hard as he could. He was just a man without a position on the team. One night he was a point guard, the next the two off the bench. He would even change up during the game. Delonte may have been too short to be a true NBA shooting guard and not experienced enough to be point, but he sure convinced everyone he could play. The Seattle fans will love him, because everyone in Boston did. Also departed are Wally Szczerbiak and his bum knees. When Danny traded for Wally two years ago, he wanted to get a 20 point a night guy (sound familiar?). Instead he got an injury prone $13 Million contract. In essence, he got a shorter Raef LaFrentz, a guy that can shoot threes but won’t be able to move by the time his final year comes up. Allen does make more than Wally (a lot more, here are the next three years: $16 mill, $17.3 mill, $19.7 mill) but minus last season, Allen has been relatively healthy. If Ainge wants to pay someone that much, at least make it someone that will play. And the final piece of the trade was Jeff Green, or the fifth pick in the draft. The Celtics could have kept it, picked someone successful in college like Corey Brewer or Joakim Noah, or taken a chance on Yi (pronounced EE) Jianlian. Instead they went out and got someone they know can play in the NBA. Yes, he may be 11 years or more older than anyone they could have drafted, but did the team need to get younger this season? The Celtics had a chance to grab a veteran who can score, teach some of the young guys, and still keep their big name (Big Al). One has to wonder is this the same Danny that gave up the 7th pick last year for Sebastian Telfair and Theo? This is a good trade for the Celtics. Along with Allen came Seattle’s 35th pick in the Draft which turned into Glen Davis, better known as LSU’s Big Baby. Here is another young big (and we mean BIG) man that can help with rebounds off the bench. If nothing else, he and Kendrick Perkins can have eating contests on the side. Big Baby just makes the trade better. Allen is the real excitement, a class act senior the team of Celtic youngins can use. Seattle fans booed the deal when it was announced (this is only a few minutes after they drafted Kevin Durant. Some people are never happy). The face of the Sonics was just a casualty of rebuilding. It could have happened to Pierce here, but instead Danny pulled off what could be his best trade with the team (although that doesn’t really say too much). The trade gives Pierce someone he can apply for his AARP card with when the time comes, and more importantly another legitimate scoring threat. Should there be concern that both Pierce and Allen (an Al too!) need the ball? Only watching a game will tell, but it shouldn’t be a concern. Yet. It’s funny that after weeks of Kevin Garnett trade rumors, the deal that gets done is one that didn’t get publicity until a few hours before the draft. On paper, it’s obvious the Celtics got stronger by adding Ray Allen. In the Eastern Conference this team should be able to make it to the playoffs, maybe as high as a five or six seed. By adding another vet, especially one that can shoot, there is now no rush on Gerald Green to become a star, Rajon Rondo to get a jumper, and Tony Allen to rush back from his rehab. Ray Allen has a few years left in the tank, and it will be fun to watch him do it in a Celtics uniform. · Just a few random thoughts on the draft. Props to Chuck, who was all over this trade. I left for the Garden at 4:30pm, and Chuck said this is the one that would get done. It’s a shame the rest of us at Reds Army (and WBZ) aren’t on top of things like that. Atta Boy Chuck. · The Celtics also drafted Gabe Pruitt, a 6-3 point guard from USC, in the second round 32nd overall. After dealing Delonte and Sebastian Telfair’s future unknown, the team needed another guy at the point. Pruitt proved he can score at USC, but with Pierce, Allen and Ray on the same team, he’ll need to learn how to pass the ball more. · Ray Allen. Allen Ray. Both on the same team, along with Tony Allen. Good Luck next year Tommy Heinsohn. · Isaiah has struck again! He traded Steve Francis’ huge head and huge contract with Channing Frye (one of the Knicks only young stars) to the Blazers for Fred Jones, Dan Dickau (on his 6th team in six year), the rights to Demetris Nichols and Zach Randolph. Randolph has a slot of potential at 25, but he also has the potential of getting shot when he isn’t playing basketball (maybe even when he is playing basketball). Let’s take a troubled young guy, and bring him to New York. I originally made a Matty G guarantee that Randolph wouldn’t live through the year in New York, but now I’ll change that to five run-ins with the law. Death is still possible, but seems a little extreme… · One final Isaiah note. How great would it have been had he traded David Lee, who was at the draft? Lee’s reaction would have been priceless, and the New York crowd may have turned into an angry Frankenstein-style mob. · The Bulls selected Joakim Noah 9th. Should they just be awarded the Eastern Conference Title now? Noah showed up with the most ridiculous looking bow tie, and the most ridiculous looking hair. He is the personality the Bulls need to lighten up and play team ball. Noah is going to be a lot of fun to watch, both on and off the court. |