Giddy

Amen, Jeff, Amen.

I read Peter May this morning, and even he sounded upbeat about this deal. I’m with you, this is exciting. It has been a long time coming.

Even moreso on a selfish level Jeff your site will be more popular than ever and rightly so. The last few years ive seen you try to make it a place to visit even when we hit rock bottom so now its time you reap the rewards of hard work with you and your staff.
For myself i could describe what im thinking about but i think the swear filter will cut me off.I cant wait.Ive always wanted to visit Boston and now i have a reason to.Hope to lord i can find myself a ticket 8)

Wyc just gave an interview on WEEI. He said the league office just put all the teams on notice: ALL GAME DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE! Their reconfiguring the whole freekin’ schedule to accomodate what is not the hottest team in all of basketball…your Boston Celtics. How good does THAT feel!

Not that I prefer national guys to good ole’ Mike and Tommy. But, I must admit that it’ll be fun listening to Hubie Brown dissect the intricacies of Ray Allen’s jump shooting form; not to mention Marv Albert shouting, Paul Pierce drives, spins, takes some contact…YES! And the foul!

and wait for the next few years when we’ve got time to add players…as Perk&Scal’s deals wind down S&T guys will line up…all stars will take the MLE…Ray’s ending contract in 2 summers etc etc..we can be a much better tean in 3-5 yrs…this is nuts….heck, we can get AL back

so basically getting the 5th pick was a blessing???? whatta country..btw-Thanks Red

Having KG is exciting and I admit that the team has a chance to be great with him. But I do think we gave up too much. Ainge stil has work to do. First to put a 2nd unit behind the big 3 to really have a chance to #17 in short term. And after replase all the youth he gave up to get KG and Ray.

Havlichekstoletheball—I’m speechless too. What a turnaround from Len Bias, losing Reggie, ML, Rick Pitino and last season right up through the ping pong balls.

Oh and one more thing. (Guess I’m not really speechless!) Danny didn’t give up too much if this is what it took to get it done and with what he has now ownership is opening their coffers to help him fill the team out around the edges. You can’t just look at the deal in an algebraic vacuum.

you have GOT to be ecstatic, Jeff…you’ve written on here MANY times of your dream of having Garnett in Green…and I have to admit, as much as Ive always loved the game of the Big Ticket too, I used to read some of your stuff about getting Garnett, shake my head, and think “never gonna happen”…LOL…. well, its HAPPENED, and GIDDY is the appropriate word to describe how I feel..

Once again, finding this site sometime in 2005 was a godsend for a Celtics fan like me, Jeff..you do an HALL OF FAME job, and I tell all Celtic fans I know about this site…in down times and now in EXTREMELY UP times, this is the place to go…..Id love to see your face opening night when KG is running out on that floor in the Green and White…lol

I could not agree with you more. It’s kind of like that moment when the Sox traded for Schilling. You knew something special was going to happen.

I like you spent most of my drive yesterday trading fist pumps with smiles.

I mentioned this once before, very late last night. So being a little giddy myself, please excuse me if I repeat it.

In the history of the NBA, prior to this Garnett trade, only eight league MVP’s have been traded. Garnett, who was MVP in 2004, is now the ninth. With the exception of Charles Barkley, every one of these former MVP’s went on to win titles with teams to which they were traded. The list includes, Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Kareem Jabbar, Bill Walton, Bob McAdoo, and Shaq. http://www.nba.com/features/mvptrade_040716.html

I share your enthusiasm (and giggles) over this very satisfying trade. I would have wanted Gomes on our roster but today Boston is the team to play with, which makes the search for 2 or 3 more players easier as everybody would want a ring. Somebody mentioned Chris Webber and I agree that we might be wanting him as a small role player chipping in with 10 min per game here and there. We still need more cover in the 1,2,3 and 5 positions, but the experience at the PG is what often wins you the rings. Rajon Rondo/Gabe Pruitt are going to be a VERY BIG factor in Celtic´s success next season. What I find very positive in having Rondo at the PG is the simple fact that he isn´t obsessed with scoring but more of a player who sets others up and today, Boston has 3 excellent scorers. NBA FINALS is nothing but what we aim for with these guys!

I was against trading Al, but I am loving this feeling. However, given the nature of this city I am sure we will all find something to bitch about sooner than later. Here’s hoping it’s later.

Very interesting stat posted by No Kidding.

Let’s go Danny get us a point guard!!

Its really too bad we didn’t get this done while Derek Fisher was still out there. It would be nice if we could find a veteran pg to start so that Rondo could give us some scoring punch with the second unit, where he can be really aggressive driving to the hoop. I think he’ll be great with the starters and can probably handle the pressure, but then there really isn’t anyone who can score coming off the bench until TA is really fully healthy. Maybe Pruitt goes above and beyond what you’d expect from a rookie, but it’s hard to count on that. Or maybe this doesn’t even matter since we’ll always have one of the 3 big guns on the floor. What’s the basis for Knights rep as a bad locker room guy?

Haha! I too shouted out ‘Kevin Garnett!’ in my car yesterday!

Enjoy it for the next 3-4 years!!! I said it yesterday, it’s a return to the glory years of what basketball use to feel like in the

Ahem!!! 60’s 70’s and to a great extent the 80’s

Yes we lost Jefferson, Gomes, Green, but you have to give up something to get someone like Garnett. Already the odds makers have us 5-2 to win the East… AMAZING!!

One other key note here to think about. If we didn’t make this trade and we go into the season with this team the way it was constituted, it would have taken us at least 3-4 years until we reach the finals.

Now with this trade we can be in the finals for possibly 3-4 years.

And another key thing that many of you disbelievers don’t understand is that once the contracts for these 3 are up in 3-4 years, we have SALARY CAP RELIEF again to go out and acquire more talent.

Also note we still have youth here in Rondo, Perkins, Allen, and unknowns in Pruitt, Wallace, Davis and with Danny’s drafting we may be able to pluck some else out.

Here is another key to this team’s success. I think mcpu40 mentioned it.

These guys are SUREAL and it will rub off on the rookies and raise there level of play.

When I coached you always wanted better talent because they tended to make everyone else around them better. The other players had to raise there game because they didn’t want to feel like they were letting them down.

So for the current rookies on our team this is huge to have Allen and Garnett and everyone keeps saying how this will impact Rondo.

I think that having Garnett here will impact Perkins more than anyone.

So am I giddy, no I’m just drinking the Champagne glass now before we host Championship Banner 17 next season.

That’s my prediction already!!! For the record!!!!!!

BANNER 17 WILL BE HOISTED NEXT SEASON.

I can’t stop thinking about KG. He’s been the best player in the NBA over the last 5 years. There’s no player on the planet that can do what he does. He’s the best all-around player I’ve ever seen. And now this revolutionary player in on the Celtics. I seriously can’t believe it.

I also think this could have gotten done without Gomes and the 2nd #1 but I’ve also made deals where others whispered that I paid too much and that is annoying.

So, congrats Danny, it wasn’t your fault that the youth movement got its ping ponged. But what you did since is good damn work. Character guys too. No AI or Zack Randolph, high priced talent but not stupid high price like Rashard Lewis, no more good guys/walking wounded (Raef, Wally, Vin Baker).The joint will be jumping this fall.

As for PG, Brevin Knight was more trouble for us than any of the others available. There won’t be locker room problems with the big 3 we have so I’d go for him. And I’d try out Navarro. Assuming T.Allen is a “maybe” we could use another 2. And Dikembe Mutombo should be better than Kandi, a good locker room guy, and a long pure 5. With Baby and Leon and Scal we have enough 4/5 hustlers.

I’m with all posters above. What an amazing turnaround! Now the negative droolers that hang around this blog will turn their attention to Doc.

The excitement is overwhelming. I have been wearing my Celtics hat for 14 straight hours now and can’t wait to see this team on the court.

I’d like to add another little piece to what Ancient Red had to say:

Don’t forget that Jefferson, Green, Gomes are all free agents at the end of this year and while we may not get them all back I am fairly confident Mr. Gomes will be back here to become 6th man of the year where he belongs. Good luck this year Ryan.

“giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle tee hee giggle giggle”

How sweet it is, oh how sweet it is!

For the record, I will miss greatly Al and Gerald.

I really enjoyed watching them grow up in Green.

That said, it is very hard not to be incredibly excited about KG and Ray Allen along side Paul.

It will be fascinating to watch the roster being filled out and to think players once again have Boston as their preferred option. Just amazing.

Congratulations Danny (and thanks Kevin Mc) on securing three All Stars on one team. That is quite an accomplishment.

I wish the team good health, good luck, fair refs and an inspired Doc.

It really is a head spin.

Also for the record, Big Al will be MVP of the league one day.

Cheers

Aussie

Jeff -

You are not alone! I find myself saying KG, like a lunatic. As soon as I heard the deal was official, I’ve been teaching my 2 year old son (who’s name is AJ – Alexander Jeferson after old #7) to say KG and Garnett. I have him screaming Go Celtics!

I can’t remember the last time I have been this happy. I hate to admit it, but my eyes got a little watery last night watching the press conference.

The Celtics are not “there” yet. But for once I can actually SEE “there”, just a few blocks away. It’s a heckuva feeling :)!

Gomes will be back!

Not to get too many of you excited but, I heard this morning that Gomes may be back if he is cut by the Timberwolves.

Currently the Wolves have 18 on their roster and need to cut down to the mandatory 15, so there is a chance that Gomes may be let go which may mean he’ll be coming back.

Don’t quote me on this, but someone I know mentioned it to me this morning. It’s almost a wink wink with the Wolves, similar situtation that happened a couple of years ago when we made the trade with Atlanta and Gary Payton was part of the deal and was cut immediately right after.

The Celtics need to plan for what happens three years down the road. They need to start replenishing their stock of young players and picks, a stock that was decimated by this trade.

They still need to find 2-3 more young players, and they are going to have to find them outside of the lottery. The need a young 7 footer, another point and a scorer. Otherwise, the Celtics become the Charlotte Bobcats in 4 years.

Look at what San Antonio is doing. They have four good young prospects stockpiled in Europe: Splitter, Mahinmi, Sanikidze and Karaukov (7 footer). They are going to let Spanoulis go back to Europe, but they will be developing Marcus Williams in the D league. Ainge needs to look to Europe and to the 19 year-olds (the next Amir Johnson would be nice) for players to put into the pipeline.

As an aside, if the plaan is to win now and luxury tax be damned, I don’t see why the Celtics aren’t going fill bore after Papaloukas. He is the best free agent available for a reasonable price (probably 3.5 million or thereabouts).

Brick,

Agreed on the spurs. But you miss the key part of the Spurs, which the Celtics need to be conscious of. If you look at the Spurs situation next year, if Duncan opted out and left/retired (which he won’t), the Spurs will only have Parker, Manu and Matt Bonner under contract. They would end being about 20 million under the cap.

The Celtics need to add more and be smart with their forthcoming picks and such. HOWEVER, they also need to be smart with their contract obligations. If they play their contracts properly, when Pierce’s deal is up, ONLY Garnett and the Celtics first round picks from 2008 and 2010 could be under contract. Put simply, the Celtics after this 3-4 year window runs out could end up being under the cap and have a chance to start another run, with the added credibility to free agents of a “team that wants to win”. They would be the Bobcats in terms of cap situation, and that is a GOOD thing.

Gomes is a 12 & 6 guy, there is no way they cut him.

As much as I would love to see Gomes come back, I can not picture a scenario in which he is released.

Players that I think that they will cut before Gomes: Hudson (already gone – bringing the # to 17) Telfair (down to 16), Mark Madsen (down to 15). Not to mention names like Bracey Wright and Chris Richard.

Here’s hoping I am 100% wrong and that there’s an inside game being played.

Well, the problem with the Bobcats is that what they have isn’t good enough to win even with the addition of an expensive player like JRich.

The Celtics need one or two more young players good enough to start or at least to be rotation players on a good team— guys who can step right in when the three stars begin to age. The only guy they have now who falls into that category is Tony Allen— assuming he comes back 100% from his injury. Glenn Davis and Brandon Wallace might develop, but those are awfully long shots.

I was at least happy to see that the 2009 pick that Ainge gave up is top 3 protected, so if there are injuries and they wind up in the lottery that year, the Garnett trade won’t cost them Ricky Rubio.

Brickowski, man you are a negative personality. Please think hard about the following…Mark Twain once said that he had lived through many terrible events in his life and some of them actually happened. Take a breather man, relax and have some fun for a few days, months, and years.

Jeff, I’m with you. We’re so used to analyzing, dissecting, second-guessing, hoping, wishing, dreaming, that sometimes it seems we don’t know how to react when we finally get what we’ve wanted. Wooooooooooooooooooooooooohooooooooooooooooo!

I think that Brick makes a good point though, even though he still seems reluctant to address the team’s possibilities over the next three seasons. I think that KG is going to be the type of player who can play for a long time at a high level, think Karl Malone. He’s also extremely loyal. In three years I think the C’s will be building around Rondo, TA, an aging KG, Perk, and other young players that we’ll be developing during that time span. Paul Pierce and/or Ray Allen may also be a part of this rebuild if they age well. As we know now Ainge has a knack for drafting valuable players and he also has a knack for anticipating the availability of star players in the trade market. I feel confident that the franchise is in very good hands.

Isn’t this what we wanted… some hope ….some light….

Were done with the DOG DAYS OF PITINO and COMPANY.

We have something now, something to build on……

At one time we use to breed ARROGANCE as basketball fans.

We need to get it back and shove down other teams throats again….

We use to walk on water around here.

Other teams use to bow down when they heard of Celtics, not step on us as they have the last 20 years.

We needed this, more than all you young guys in here can imagine. Now you’ll get a taste of what your fathers and grandfathers use to taste and walk with an edge and pride.

What can i add that hasn’t already been said? Our goal now is to compete for a championship in the 07-08 season and the following 2-3 years rather than “building” for the 2013-14 season. Feels pretty good that NBA basketball will be played in Boston over the next few seasons…..contending for a title only adds to the excitement.

Brick, you are incorrect. Ainge’s next move isn’t to worry about 2013-14 anymore…..he will actually be looking at players to help THIS team (i know, what a concept). Guys like a Charlie Bell, Eddie House or Troy Hudson to keep defenses honest and hit open jumpers…….Guys like Polland and PJ Brown for their tremendous ability to screen off the ball to free up Allen and Pierce…..someone like Michael Ruffin or Chuck Hayes to do the dirty work.

OTOH, how the hell would you like to be the T-Wolves today fielding a lineup full of Celtics circa 1006? Good times in Beantown!

IMHO, Kevin Garnett has been the best player in basketball over the past five years in terms of the combination of offense, defense, and overall productivity. We simply could not have done better.

I’ve been following the team for 30 years now, though, so I try to stay sober about these things. Do Garnett and Allen make us championship contenders? I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe this just makes us the New Jersey Nets, who also have three all-star caliber players in Kidd (who edged out Garnett as the most productive player LAST year), Carter, and Jefferson.

Because of the talent drop off, we need Garnett, Pierce, and Allen to stay healthy and play HUGE minutes for up to 100 games. That’s a lot of wear and tear on guys who already have a lot of miles.

We don’t have a center. (Motumbo could help, but he’d have to come of social security.) Rondo is lightning fast, but just in his second year. After him, then who? Pruitt? Brevin Knight? Payton redux? Again, I don’t know.

If Tony Allen could come back and be a player, that would really help. But ask the Pats’ Rodney Harrison what it takes to come back from the torn ACL injury Allen has been rehabbing. He’ll tell you you need two years to be the kind of player you were.

After Allen and Rondo, we’re looking at Powe, Davis, Pruitt, and Wallace. (Don’t ask me about Scabs.) I LOVE Powe and am intrigued by Wallace and Big Baby. But we’re talking about second round picks and an undrafted guy as a third of our roster. We need a Big Shot Bob, or a Mario Elie.

Finally, there’s Doc. If you need to win now, whay in the name of GOD would you hand the reins to a guy whose playoff record is one of unrelenting failure? What could Rick Carlisle, Larry Brown, or even Danny himself do with this team?

So we’re much better than last year. Thank God. If everyone stays healthy, Allen comes back, they get some vets (hello luxury tax!), and Rivers turns into Pat Riley, then yeah, put them down for 60 wins and at least a trip to the Finals. My gut says 50-55 wins, a second round playoff loss. Rivers gets the door next year and we (hopefully) get a coach who can take us all the way.

I didn’t get to see the press conference but all i can say is that I will take KG for 3-4 years instead of the celts sitting on their hands waiting for jefferson/allen/pierce to crumble.

More important note: Ray Allen needs to step up his Tie game…suit was nice, but his tie looked silly. Translation: Pierce ends up taking the final shots for this team.

The Cavs went all the way to the finals with one great player, a good team defense, an average coach, and a bunch of role players.

KG basically eclipses Lebron… with Lebron getting a slight edge. The C’s then add Pierce and Ray… That’s lights out fellas.

Rondo is going to superb, there’s really no doubt in my mind. People talk about defenses leaving Rondo open as if thats going to HURT his game. Whaaa? If anything being left open is the best thing that could happen to his offense. He just needs to be confident… I don’t see that being an issue.

Perkins is SOO underrated it’s really absurd at this point. If healthy he is basically the ideal garbage man. Picks, blocks, boards, box outs, hard fouls, passing, offensive put backs… Thats all we need from Perk and he will deliver. Ditto for a guy like Powe.

Tony Allen is the big X factor. If he comes back full speed by mid-season than the C’s add a whole new element to their game. I think he could bring that Ginobli-esque impact off the bench with Ray being an uber-Mike Finley.

DA has already stated he is going to get a couple of vets in free agency, so with that in mind I am basically assuming the C’s bench is going to be more of a strength than a weakness before the season starts.

Brick,

I agree that Tony Allen’s return to health is key for there to be solid rotation on the wing. Him being able to log serious minutes by midseason will be key to keeping Ray Allen healthy and productive.

I would add that, at least in the short term (until mid-season roster activity shakes out), I think Scals can contribute in a Mark Madsen type role alongside KG. With no need for him to score (or even shoot for that matter), Scals could be a valuable hustle guy in the rotation. At least he’s experienced.

just like everyone seemed way too down after the draft lottery, i think everyone seems way too high after cashing in everyone for two all-stars. doncha think nuggets fans felt something like this after the iverson deal? i’ll be giddy when the celtics have a bench that isn’t full of recent 2nd round picks.

IMO, a front court rotation of KG, Perk, Powe, Scals, and PJ Brown (for example) would definitely have a good mix of inside/outside, speed/size (though we wouldnt be all that tall), and experience/youth. As Rev said, Scal could definitely function as a facilitator of the offense running with KG. He knows his limitations and his strengths… that’s all you need from a 4-5 big off the bench.

Like the trade, am excited about this year, but we still need a point guard and a center. Hopefully Danny will follow through on these two items.

Knicks Knation Garnett puts damper on Knicks playoff plans

this was my favorite: We did it again to New York !!!!

Okay got to love it,

But reading everything that other teams and writers are saying puts us on top….why…….Arrogance….

Again, it feels good to have other teams wanting to be like us…. nice to read others misery….

Poor Knicks fans, Raptor fans, Philly fans

I would also comment that, if anyone remembers the 80’s playoff teams, KC Jones tended to play the starting 5 almost the whole game. The bench got very limited minutes, generally. So you don’t necesarilly have to have a deep bench. A couple of guys you can count on is probably all you need.

I’m actually more concerned about Rondo and Perk as starters than the guys on the bench.

Jeff, I concur!

I feel as good now about having both Allen/KG then if we had hit one of the top two in the lottery. I know long term the lottery was the better route; but I am impatient and this feels as good, finally we truly have the pieces now to make the run!

Master Po,

Yes, I do.

It’s not guarantee as I said that it will happen. They are wishing Minny does it because of he log jam of players they have on their roster.

i can’t imagine minnesota would cut gomes after trading for him. he wasn’t included just to make the salaries match up. seems like a guy who mchale actually wants on his team.

http://www.geocities.com/garnetttribute/garnettresources.html

great garnett link

TheRev — I agree 100 percent. They need a veteran presence at center and point guard. As for the comment about KC Jones playing mostly the starters, I think the game has changed. Look at Phoenix — weak bench means its top players are dead by the end of the year.

Last night after trying and failing to convince the gf to move to Boston for the next five years, she asked me, will you be spending even MORE time on celticsblog now? Answer: sort of. I’m spending a ton of time here anyway, but now I should contribute a bit more than I have been.

I’m beside myself with excitement. That press conference was twice as exciting as the NBA Finals. And by twice I mean a hundred times.

And a thanks to Jeff and everyone else that has made this place a daily stop over the last eight months or so for me.

PS – any other Toronto area Celtics fans here?

MN is most likely going to waive either headcase Eddie Griffin or Theo Ratliff. They have Blount, Howard and Madsen to go along with Jefferson in the frontcourt.

Brick – Why would they waive Theo instead of trying to trade his expiring contract later in the year?

The intangible here is that we’re no longer a black hole for talented players….Wallace went to the Pistons for a reason and Malone to LA for peanuts just for the chance for the finals.

I’m all for B Knight. Tough little guard, nice assists and good shooter. Never seen his bad attitude on the floor, he’s usually tearing it up against us.

Totally vexed on a big man. Think Kandi might be the best of them. Talk about the possible influence of having the big three around for a player’s attitude. Imagine if he got a little angry. The others sound too old.

I flip flopped when one pick became two and we lost our backup 3 (gomes) but I’m strapped to the train. Absolutely.

I think a veteran big man and pg are in order. We’re not going to win a championship with Rondo and Pruitt next year. It’s shame the Cs could not get Fisher.

WE gave a lot and got alot in the deal for Garnett. I am Happy as can be. The good news is Doc will be able to rotate the players to keep the big three fresh and give valabule experience to the recently drafted and signed young guys. Also we do have draft picks in 08 and 10 plus second rounder. Naturally they will be late in the draft just as all the playeres whom we just traded in acquirung Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. I am sure Anige will be planning for the future as we go along on our quest for Banner #17. Things are looking so………..o much better than they have in the past 20 years. My confience is up my hope is now a determination. we wil win. we will win. I believe that Just as strongly as I did for the first 16 Champingships. On top of it all we now have Celticblog. Thanks Jff for this piece today.

After a few years of torment, I actually think the fan base will embrace Scalabrine in the coming years. He is more or less, M.L. Carr redux.

Pass the Kool-Aid. Basketball is the type of game where one
extremely talented player can make a huge difference. On and off the court. Especially a big man with the intensity of a Garnett. If they stay healthy and they can build an NBA caliber bench, it is going to be a lot of fun for the short term at least.

Thank you God.

You really ARE a Celtic’s fan.

 ;D

I take back anything i said about not wanting this trade. Our Big 3 is the best in the league.

Okay, this may be a stupid question, but…

If the Celts are committed to winning, even if it means paying the luxury tax, why make the trade for Garnett now? Minnie’s going young and Garnett had the option to walk after this year. If the Celt’s young talent was as good as they claimed, they were only going to be in a stronger bargaining position as the players continued to develop this season. Just the opposite with the Wolves, because they’d be in danger of Garnett walking away and getting ZILCH in return. So maybe in a few months, the Celts do the deal without losing Big Al. Plus, there’s always the outside chance Minny can’t make a trade, things break down, and the Celts can sign Garnett on the open market and lose NO ONE.

Just a thought while contemplating 1/3 of our roster composed of second round draft picks and undrafted players…

Doc was just on ESPNEWS and when asked about what the team still has to do he said they “needed a back-up pg but think they had found one and a legitimate 5” Let the rumors fly about who their signing.