Kevin Garnett Trade Caps Danny Ainge's Wild Ride

The Danny Ainge Era reminds me of that ride at Disneyworld—Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. There's a new sight to behold around every corner. All you have to do is strap yourself in and keep your eyes open.

It's had ups. It's had downs. It's been fun, disappointing, and a little bit scary—sometimes all at once.

 

Look—there's Celtic manchild Antoine Walker! Now he's being traded away. Oh look! He's being brought back. Goodness gracious, look a third time! He's being traded away again.

 

What sights are around some other corners? Aging HOFer Gary Payton was brought to Boston more or less kicking and screaming. He was traded away. He was brought back. He was let go. And he wasn't the only one.

 

From pouting Mark Blount and slick Ricky Davis to quiet Orien Greene and shaggy Dan Dickau...from petulant Marcus Banks to diminutive Will Bynum...from multi-tattooed, biker-looking Kevin Pittsnogle to D-leaguer Kevin Pinkney...from clever, crazy, hustling Delonte West to tough guy Tony Allen to current resident character Glen "Big Baby" Davis...Ainge's Celtics have seen their share of bad basketball and underperforming squads.

 

And yet apparently Danny and Doc's Celtic University prepared the young players enough to send a slew of them (and a draft pick or two) to Minnesota for the sweet music of Kevin Garnett—after sending a few (and a top draft pick) to Seattle for sharp-shooting Ray Allen.

 

It has been Ainge's goal to acquire enough talent to trade for at least one marquee player. Four years of patient and intuitive drafting appear to have landed a fish no other team could catch. 

 

Phoenix wouldn't do what was necessary. Neither would the Lakers—namely put together a package that would convince Glen Taylor and Kevin McHale to give up on Garnett in exchange for whatever's behind Doors Number One through Five.

 

The waiting game hasn't been boring, that's for sure.

 

Doc Rivers must be ecstatic. He's the one who's been wanting to trade for veterans.

 

Rivers has learned what a team of very inexperienced players can—and more importantly cannot do. In the meantime, he's had a star player in Paul Pierce who hasn't been getting any younger.

 

I'm quite sure Pierce is also ecstatic. There's even a revealing incident which indicates that Pierce, Allen, and Garnett may have brokered the deal at the ESPY's on July 11th.

 

This is from Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald:

 

Pierce, Garnett and Allen all attended the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles on July 11, and a potential deal reportedly was discussed. Garnett, previously unmoved by joining a Celtics team with such dour prospects, suddenly liked what he saw with the addition of Allen.

 

Rajon Rondo must also be thrilled. Look at who he'll be distributing the ball to—it's an over 30 version of NBA LIVE. (Pierce turns 30 in October).

 

In a league where veterans get every call and the reigning champs are the oldest team in the league, youth is rarely served in meaningful games. The Celtics now have three of the most expensive and most talented players to play on the same squad in a long while. You could argue that the Shaq/Kobe/Malone/Payton Lakers had more, but Malone and Payton were well on the downside of their careers.

 

The new Big Three will be surrounded by a pass-first defensive wizard in PG Rondo and a serviceable center in Kendrick Perkins—who's better than any center Garnett has ever played with.

 

Add a wild card in Tony Allen, some young, energetic forwards in Davis, Brandon Wallace, and Leon Powe, and a wily veteran in Brian Scalabrine...and that's where the Celtics stand at the moment.

 

Boston can add another piece through the midlevel exception, and they should go for it regardless of their new salary cap situation. A veteran point guard, outside shooter, or defensive-minded big would be a welcome addition.

 

Don't stop now Danny. We're talking chump change from here on out.

 

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