(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The Celtics landed former Detroit Pistons' forward Rasheed Wallace, who while volatile by nature, is a big addition to Gang Green. He has one of the longest double-figures streaks in terms of points, experience, and is a proven winner.
He also fills two potential voids in the event forwards Leon Powe, that is assuming the Celtics do not offer him a contract even after his ACL is fully healed, and Glen "Big Baby" Davis are gone from the team.
On the western side of things, the San Antonio Spurs added Richard Jefferson to the already awesome lineup that still consists of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobli. Sure, the Spurs had to give up defensive players Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas to get him, but it was well worth it.
The Spurs needed another scorer and most importantly, they desperately need youth, which Jefferson provides along with recently drafted college standout DeJuan Blair. Now, the question remains whether Duncan, Parker, Jefferson, and especially Ginobli can stay healthy enough for a long playoff run.
Perhaps, signing a a free agent such as Grant Hill might help their cause even more. Although, Phoenix Suns fans may have something to say about that one.
If Manu Ginobli and Kevin Garnett are healthy when it counts next season, then my money is on a Celtics-Spurs match-up in the NBA Finals.
Until the Cavs show me that someone other than LeBron and even Shaq can make a consistent contribution offensively in big moments, they are just behind Orlando in the East.
Speaking of Orlando, the Magic are second behind the Celtics in the Eastern Conference. With Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Rasheed Wallace, and a healthy (that's the keyword of the day) Kevin Garnett, Boston is poised to, at the very least, make it to the Conference Finals.
Throw in the rumors of possibly securing the services of Grant Hill and you have a Celtics team that may be older, but certainly wiser and most importantly—better. And until Dwight Howard shows off some of that post game that assistant coach Patrick Ewing apparently taught him, my money is on Boston to win the East.
Of course, as we saw this past season, that can all change. Players can get injured, trades can happen, and teams that were an afterthought (think the 2007 No. 8-seeded Golden State Warriors upsetting the No. 1 Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs) can surprise everyone.
I mean even the Memphis Grizzlies might be able to make such a big run that we'll all forget how bad of a general manager Chris Wallace is for trading Pau Gasol to the Lakers for Kwame Brown.....
JUST KIDDING.
Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is an actor and writer for BleacherReport.com and 411Mania.com, and has been featured on ProWrestlingTorch.com, LayUpDrill.com, 1Wrestling.com, GOOGLE News, and CBSSportsline.com. He is also the host of his own web series FRIDAY NIGHT F-Bomb (Youtube.com/CaddyCads). He currently resides in Freehold, NJ with his family and cat Bella.
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