T-Wolves trade Kevin Garnett to Celtics

[TheNewNo.2]

Apparently this trade is a done deal. Boston gets Garnett and Minnesota gets Al Jefferson, Theo Rafliff, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair and two 1st-round picks, with Jefferson & Ratliff (who has an expiring contract) being the big pieces for the T-Wolves. It looks like the Celtics have mortgaged their future to win now--Jefferson, Green, & Gomes were three of their main pieces in their rebuilding project--but a lineup of Garnett, Ray Allen, & Paul Pierce might be very scary in the Eastern Conference for the next couple of years. Plus, it wasn't like they were actually making any progress in that rebuilding project, anyway. I still don't know if they can compete with Phoenix, Dallas, and especially San Antonio out West, and I'm not sold on there being enough shots to go around for all three guys, but Boston's definitely made themselves a lot better in the short term and should be able to challenge Cleveland and Detroit for the Eastern Conference championship.

[darklighter1]

C-h-a-m-p-i-o-n-s-h-i-p!!!!!!!!:036: :036: :036:

[Creamy Goodness]

great to see a blockbuster trade happen

[darklighter1]

Ahhhh smell that? Relevance in Boston again. YeeHaaa!!!

[StormShadow]

Man, I think this blockbuster trade is without a doubt going to influence another blockbuster trade in a year or two. The next time a trade like this happens we'll be talking about Kobe going to Chicago or something. I don't see one damn thing that the Lakers fornt office/organization can do to keep Kobe, especially after doing nothing to even TRY and get Garnett or Jason Kidd...

[darklighter1]

Well i think they tried to get Garnett but LA doesn't have anything to offer in return for a player like a Garnett. Who can you offer? Luke Walton? The Celtics were like the equivalent to a double AA minor league baseball team, loaded with young talent but with no one to lead them or show how to play the game. I always figured if you took a few of these kids and put them on a more veteran lineup loaded team like Detroit or Phoenix they would develop much faster. Separately they're great but together as a team they sucked.

[StormShadow]

You gotta give it to the Celtics for having the balls to basically trade a whole team (5 players + 2 1st round draft picks) to get a player like Kevin Garnett. I think the Lakers offered Lamar Odom & Andrew Bynum as part of a proposed deal. They should have offered 5+ guys (Vujacic, Farmar, Radmanovic, Evans) like the Celtics did. The funny part about the Lakers is that all they've been doing since the season ended was sign or draft a bunch of point guards. They'll still have a player named Kobe in 2 years though - Coby Karl rofl

[darklighter1]

Yeah Kobe is REALLY gonna want out now. You a Lakers fan or live in LA SS? Kinda curious how the average fan feels about the Lakers nowadays.

[StormShadow]

Darklighter, I've lived in Southern California my whole life and I grew up watching the Showtime Lakers. I thought they made a lot of progress this past year until the injury bug crept up on the whole team and distractions like the "Mr. Coffee" Radmanovic incident came along. Kobe's all they got, so once (not if) he leaves, us Laker fans are gonna be in a world of hurt (Western Conference cellar dwellers) for a long time...

[darklighter1]

Wellll my brother welcome to Celticland. Population Boston. We been in the dark around here since 1987...when your boys trounced our ass out of the Finals so we are juuuuuuuust starting to finally see a little light at the end of the tunnel. But as long as Kobe is still around you never know what'll happen. He could get brought up on more false rape charges and forced to stay in LA or somethin more dastardly. Keep the faith!

[dwaynewade]

3 Superstars is not enough to win a championship. Remember the Lakers with Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone and Gary Payton. They almost got swept by the Pistons had it not been for a 2nd game squeeker. But don't get me wrong, this is definitely a great improvement for the Celtics and I would be really, really surprised if they don't make the play-offs this year. I just don't think that they are a championship team just yet. They need a decent center. Someone more hard working than Olawokandi.

[darklighter1]

Yeah but that Lakers team had a feuding Kobe and Shaq and they were coming offf a championship(s?) so I don't think they were as hungry. The Celtics have three very determined guys and a bunch of young guys who are pretty good and won't be asked to do as much but play some defense so I think they have a great shot.

[carlo_scute]

It's a better Celtic team..perhaps a couple of years to get acquainted with each other and the type of plays they'll execute.

[darklighter1]

They don't have a couple years! MUST WIN NOWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!

[allegro8]

Better players don't always equate to a better team. Time will tell, but my hunch is it will take much of the season to jell. I don't see a championship on the horizon for Boston though. Too much firepower out west.

[darklighter1]

That's what they said the years Miami and Detroit won too. ;)

[allegro8]

Well, U R much more optimistic than I. One question: Who is now, "the man?" Pierce or Garnett?

[lets_procreate]

Well, U R much more optimistic than I. One question: Who is now, "the man?" Pierce or Garnett?

Or Allen?

I agree that they may not work well together but give it a chance. I think the defining point will be after the All-Star game. I think it'll be a lot clearer how far they will go into the playoffs.

[darklighter1]

Yeah I am optimistic but can they get to the Finals? Yes. Will they? Maybe not. I think they still need more role players on the team but I think they have a three year window with this team to win and as long as they win in one of those three years I'm a happy man. It's definitely going to take time to mesh but I still believe Pierce will be the main option on the team and he's always been pretty clutch and should get better shots with more weapons on the floor. Not to slight Cleveland because I think King James is a special player but he basically brought that team to the Finals on his own. What can Pierce, Allan, and Garnett do?

[psychoegg]

They're going to be an interesting team to watch. They don't have any depth after the Big 3 and if history says anything about the players, a lot of them are injury prone... could be really good... or could be a really bad year.