Trades!
Finally, finally reason to get excited about basketball in Boston again. When the Ray Allen deal was made there were constant references by Danny Ainge that he wasn't done making moves. This move is the big one. If healthy, they should be the favorites in the East. The extention signed by Garnett really makes the deal and these guys should provide a chance to see success over the next 2-4 years.
The division leading RedSox added a second closer. This will make every close game a lot easier. Gagne will close some games when Papelbon has worked a few days in a row but will primarily set up Papelbon. Looking ahead this could be a way to get Papelbon into the rotation in future years if the Sox were able to sign Gagne long term. With Schilling saying he is ready to make it back to the rotation, Lester showing he is ready to contribute and Beckett, DiceK and Wake, the staff looks fully loaded for the stretch run. Now if last night (small sample size) is an indicator, Ortiz could be back on track...
The biggest winner during the trade deadline deals in baseball is the Atlanta Braves. They traded for Teixeira from Texas and Dotel from Kasas City. Both will help they grab the wildcard or challenge the Mets for the division title. This team is loaded with bats and although I keep hearing that Teixeira will be put in the cleanup spot I would rather he go in the 5 hole to protect Andruw Jones. Lost in the hype on his bat is that he is a gold glover first baseman. That is a secondary pickup but important too. He is under contract for next season and played college ball at Georgia Tech, look for a deal to be made this offseason to lock him up for long term.
In response to: Trades!
ReplyDeleteComment from: bosfan [Visitor]
See the 6/29 posts. This is Ainge's shot his one chance to bring the glory back, also I feel it will give the NBA a little needed juice having Boston back as a contender sparking up some old rivalries. The landscape has changed overnight.
As far as snagging Gange, all I can say is teams better have a lead after 6, if they don't good luck trying to come back! "Great addition"
Boy the Sox are going to scary in the next round.
In response to: Trades!
ReplyDeleteComment from: Rob Burnham [Visitor]
Great Ryan column this morning. When they started speculating on the Garnett deal early in the week, it was for Jefferson, Green, Telfair, Ratliff and a 1st round pick. OK… you hate seeing Big Al go, but hey, it’s Garnett. Then the deal starts to change. Throw in Gomes… or is it another 1st rounder? Ok both! Too late to think about it now. The fans of the Green are already lining up to buy season tickets. Garnett is coming!
As this was developing (and the folks on WEEI were drooling) … I was thinking … wait, who else is on the team? Your number 4 guy is Rondo. Nice player… but Rondo? Perkins? an ACL’d Allen? The “New Three” (I didn’t say Big) better not get hurt. I can picture McHale with three voodoo dolls now. Sitting in a dark room watching Celtics games even though the Wolves are playing. “So you think you’re a better GM than me Danny? I’ll show you!”
Yes they are going to be fun to watch again. Yes they will be able to compete with anyone on any given night…. but all season? If one of them goes down they are a 42-40 ball club. Yes, I know.. if James goes down what does Cleveland have? But James ain’t 30+.
In response to: Trades!
ReplyDeleteComment from: blmeanie [Visitor]
overpaid, eh? I watched Ryan talk that one on a clip of his tv show. Perhaps. Is it overpaying if this works?
The fallacy is that #1 picks are too valuable. Go through the history of Celtic #1 picks. How many have had good/great careers. My guess without looking - less than 33%. Sure they often were picking in the bottom of the round. So, take the drafts from 1990 and forward only, take a look at their first rounders. Maybe that percentage eeks up to 50% had good careers.
Point is, Garnett is still somewhere in his prime and Pierce has been disinterested for a while and will apparently be motivated now. Allen is the wildcard with his ankles.
Paid to much? Perhaps. Time will tell. For the first time in 10-15 years I will keep more than a passing interest on the C's (don't feed me the Antoine/Pierce years, that was still crap despite making the conference finals).
Having Garnett validates the criticism I have been laying at the feet of Pierce. To call Pierce a superstar has always rubbed me the wrong way. He has always been a want-a-be superstar in my eyes. Now with a main man, read:Garnett, he can be a very good supporting player. Have no doubt. Garnett will be the focus of this team. I know, "you are not in Boston, you don't see them day in and day out", I get that. The loyalty for Pierce is amazing, right there behind Nomar in my eyes. There are very good players in sports that get elevated to superstar status by fans because they have nothing better. That is the unfortunate side of the Celtics in the past 15 years. Nothing better. Pierce has always been the kind of player that would have been the incredible second fiddle to a superstar...now he will have his chance.
In response to: Trades!
ReplyDeleteComment from: bosfan [Visitor]
We (The Celtics) have a one, two, three, a top 25 one, two, three, who in NBA can claim that? And who can name any team's 3rd or 4th best player. Maybe Steve could!
I'm just glad they went for it, I know they gave up a lot for Garnett, it sounds like all some people want to do is look towards the future, well good luck winning anything with that constant philosophy, this is there shot and I hope it works! It should be fun watching.
In response to: Trades!
ReplyDeleteComment from: blmeanie [Visitor]
the Hawks have been playing the "lets play for the future" game for 10 years. Losing is all it gets ya.