The Great NBA Conspiracy: The Celtics, Lakers, Grizzlies and Timberwolves?

    Let me get some things straight before I launch into what is admittedly a crazy theory:

1) I am not discrediting the play of any players in the NBA playoffs

2) I have no factual backing for this

The NBA is back.  The deep and interesting draft confirmed it.  The NBA Finals were certainly the first sign.  A healthy and thriving NBA means business for every team in the league.  People are watching the NBA.  A year ago, when Kevin Garnett was on the Timbs and Memphis was treading water with Pau Gasol, people were not.  It is as simple as that in a year the NBA revived its two dormant giants and reignited interest in the league.  I could not understand how it all happened until the recent trade between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies.  Suddenly I looked at the rosters of the Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Lakers, and Celtics and it would be no exaggeration to say that all 4 had vastly improved their status relative to a year ago.

Celtics- There is no question an invisible hand was involved in guiding these proceedings.  The Allen trade was preparing to make the Sonics as incompetent as possible to smooth a transition to Oklahoma City that is made all the more easy by having an incompetent team with low attendance, instead of having a potential playoff team with a Kevin Durant and Ray Allen duo.  The second trade for KG is where the NBA realized the potential they had on their hands.  Whether that was Stern seeing the potential for a stacked Celtics team or Kevin McHale helping out his buddy Danny Ainge, who had been pathetic as Celts GM up to that point, there is no way to construe what Minnesota got for KG as fair.  The Celtics conveniently drop a crap load of salary and most importantly, numbers. 

    The offseason suddenly becomes an interesting proposition as the Celtics have manuevering room in order to fill out the roster.  They make cheap pickups like James Posey and Eddie House who can replace ineffective dead weight that used to be there.  And then suddenly, Sam Cassell and PJ Brown fall in their lap as veteran players who can help them at a ridiculously cheap price IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON.  Too many cards fell in the Celts lap.  I smell conspiracy.  Not to undercut the heroic effort of Pierce in carrying this exceptional group of players to the Finals, but my issue is rather with how that exceptional group was assembled.

LA Lakers- Well the Lakers would not have contended for a championship without Pau Gasol's arrival.  Look at their record before his arrival, it simply doesn't compare.  This is one of the all-time great fleecings and any non-partisan observer has to agree.  Simply put, an average Western Conference playoff team (impressive nonetheless) is transformed into an immediate powerhouse.  How could Chris Wallace agree to this trade, not that he isn't an idiot, without getting some guarantee from the NBA?  How about a guarantee of a charismatic and highly skilled player who will put fans in the seats and guarantee a face for the franchise at a cheap price that gives the team an infusion of star power?  Bringing me of course to the...

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