In case you’re just getting to the office or sitting down in front of your computer and you haven’t heard, there are rumors everywhere this morning that the Celtics and T-Wolves have agreed in principle to trade KG to Beantown for Al Jefferson, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green and picks. This - if it goes through - really is a tough one for me. I’m torn, actually, and here’s why:
In the grand scheme of things, this would be great for the NBA and for basketball in general. There is really no denying this. This deal, for a little while at least, would push the Tim Donaghy mess to wayside. It would make one of sports’ most storied franchises relevant again. It would make the entire Eastern Conference relevant again. LeBron took a squad featuring marginal-at-best NBA talent to the Finals. I’d be shocked if a team rocking Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and KG wasn’t an overwhelming favorite to represent the East in the Finals next season. That lineup would be no cakewalk for an opponent like the Spurs, Suns or Mavs, like it was in this past season’s Finals. And who wouldn’t want to watch three hungry NBA superstars, all on the back nine of their careers, put it all on the line for their last run at a chip? (Although, truth be told, these three would probably have a few years where they can all still play at an elite level to try and get it done … if KG re-signs after next season.)
This trade would be great for Garnett. I know he made it obvious earlier in the summer that he wanted no parts of Boston, but all reports describe him as “warming” to the idea this morning. No doubt he’s warming because he knows how quickly he could find himself with a legit shot at a ring. KG’s no fool. He saw what LeBron did this year. As for Kevin re-signing with Boston? At the end of the day, KG wants to win. If he gets a real taste of that running with P-Double and Ray, he wouldn’t be going anywhere.
Whether or not he he thinks he likes the city is another story. But you know what? I’m pretty sure that when he realized back in the day that he was headed to Minnesota, he wasn’t exactly jumping for joy either. Obviously, I understand the specter of social issues at work whenever Boston and non-white professional athletes are put together, but I will also say that there are idiots everywhere, not just in Boston. He will be loved in Beantown.
Now as to why I’m torn. I really, really wanted KG to land in the Bay. A few of my buddies and I, disgusted by our Sixers, kind of adopted the Warriors at the start of last season because of Nellie, because of Chris Mullin (my favorite player of all-time), because of Baron and because of they way they play. KG in a Warriors uni would have been amazing. We had our sources on the Left Coast digging every day. We were positive that as soon as Brandan Wright became eligible to be traded on August 6th, he was going to be packaged for Kevin Garnett. Last week we had someone swear that KG was in Oakland negotiating a potential contract extension. We even had someone outline the deal, a complicated 4-team trade that would have ended up with KG playing with this roster in Golden State: Baron, Marco Belinelli, Troy Hudson, Stephen Jackson, Kelenna Azubuike, Trenton Hassell, James Posey, Zarko Carbarkapa, Matt Barnes, Andris Biedrins, Mark Blount and two other minor pieces. Good enough to make it out of the West? Maybe, maybe not. But good enough to make it all real interesting? Most definitely.
Here’s another reason why I don’t want this to happen: The name of my column is “Pat’s Sixers Blog.” I hate the Celtics. I don’t care if it’s immature, it’s in my blood. I cheered like the Sixers landed the No. 1 pick this summer when we found out that Boston, well, didn’t. I find Celtics, Red Sox and Patriots fans to be painfully obnoxious and condescending. I wish nothing but bad things for Tom Brady and pretty much everyone on the Red Sox roster (it’s actually to the point where a big part of me really wants the Yankees to catch the Sox). It would be intensely painful for me to have to live through another period of Celtics dominance, even if it’s just for a year or two. Truth be told, back in the day, I was a little too young to really know or appreciate the Celtics Dynasty. I only became aware at the tail end, when I could understand just how great Reggie Lewis really was and to bid Larry Bird farewell. But I am my father’s son. He passed his stories (and angst) on to me, as I will do with my kids some day.
Is part of me jealous of Boston’s past success? Of course. Is part of me crazy jealous today knowing that Boston is about to land Kevin Garnett? Put it this way: My team’s starting power forward on opening night will most likely be Louis Amundson. You bet your ass I’m jealous.
July 30th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Iggy says:
Nice piece.
July 30th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Andrew says:
i vote for al.
July 30th, 2007 at 11:22 am
Eric says:
I can feel your pain my man, but I’ll instead choose to relish in the Resurrection of the Green and White. I hate your Sixers just like you hate my Celtics. Maybe you guys could get Andrew Toney back to play the 2 guard. Oh wait you have Korver, Derrick Byars, and Willie Green. Ah the days of Toney, Ron Anderson and Hersey Hawkins on the perimeter are so long ago.
I should stop as some how I feel like I am jinxing what could potentially be going down. Instead lets us remember the conference finals in 1981…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgut3_e5ynQ
July 30th, 2007 at 11:29 am
John Basedow FC says:
Surprised you were able to take Kobe’s balls out of your mouth long enough to write this piece.
July 30th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Dime Magazine says:
E -
50-something Andrew Toney would be a significant upgrade at this point.
we might not even have Byars. dude might not even make the squad. so we basically traded one of the best players of all-time for Andre Miller, Jason Smith and a guy who will probably be cut.
awesome.
- Cass
July 30th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Kay says:
Long live the Green and White! Ha!
Sincerely,
Fan of the 2002,2004,&2005 Superbowl Champs
Fan of the 2004 World Series Champs
Fan of the 16x NBA Champs- soon-to-be 2007 NBA Champs!
July 30th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Eric says:
Not a good sign for Byars when your jersey number on the roster reads #93.
Crazy to think that is what they got for Iverson.
Toney was so tough. So was Mo Cheeks, his matchups and battles with Tiny Archibald for those 3 years were awesome. We gotta dig up some film.
Garnett and Heinsohn playing and commentating on TV every game night for the Celtics, wow!!! Make it happen!
July 30th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Celts Fan says:
I hate Danny Ainge. Let’s trade our future for a few years of amazing ball (which I can’t wait to watch!) From an immediate standpoint, it’s a great deal, but unless we win a ring (which is entirely possible, but by no means a lock) we just traded away our future. So it looks like the ‘07 Celtics will look like:
Rondo
Allen
Pierce
KG
Perk
Pruitt, Powe, Big Baby, T. Allen, Scal, Brandon Wallace, and maybe grab Allan Ray back too (I love this kid, he’s got some Gerald Wallace in him and is 8th all time in blocks in SEC history - I think, either that or South Carolina)
I don’t get the long term reasoning behind this. If you must do this, you have to keep either Gerald or Big Al, YOU HAVE TO!
July 30th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Celts Fan says:
*I love Brandon Wallace, not Allan Ray, who, with a little work, may develop into a 3rd guy off the bench.
Can’t wait for next year, nervous as hell for 3-5 years from now…
July 30th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
garbageman33 says:
Wow, three guys who want the ball and not a single guy to get them the ball. Sounds like a great idea to me.
July 30th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Celts Fan says:
Rajon Rondo’s a nice PG who I think will be one of the best in the NBA very soon. EXTREMELY quick and long, great defender, good distributor, and his shooting weakness is covered up by being able to pass to Ray, Pierce, and KG.
I also forgot to mention Ryan Gomes in the list of our team. Love his versatility. But man, I don’t know if we’re deep enough to win a ring right away or young enough to be able to wait, gel, and build a bench to win one in a few years. If we don’t win a ring, this isn’t worth it at all. Also, Doc Rivers isn’t good enough to win a ring and we’ll be too good to justify firing him. Oh man…
July 30th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
*sigh*….
July 30th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
The First Lady says:
Pat,
I was just talking to Zoe about this. While I’m thrilled to have a truly great player in the east, I really wish he wasn’t going to be wearing green. I always tried to go to the Sixers game when the Timberwolves would come to town because I knew that I’d see KG playing like it was the most important game of the season (unlike the Sixers who rarely seem to play that way). It was never too painful to see the Sixers lose that game because KG seems like such a likable and passionate guy. But now, things have changed. No one’s likable while wearing a Celtics uniform.
Well, at least Eagles training camp has started.
July 30th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
kowtz says:
For those looking into long term building… Danny Ainge tried that, and he was crucified for over-rating young players…
Now that he’s put up a “DYNASTY” caliber team (most probably not because of their age), you still crucify him…
IMHO, I would rather see my team win a chip now and miss the playoffs for the next 5 years…
although, with Boston’s winning tradition… winning a chip might not be that big, unless they are gunning for another dynasty…
But then again… Danny Ainge, knows, if he does not pull this off, he would lose his job… so self preservation comes into play…
peace…
July 30th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
djKianoosh says:
great, now we get to see KG kick our butts 5 times a year.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:38 am
B... says:
Having gone to college in Philadelphia (Drexel) many years ago, I can appreciate the jealousy you feel with a normally also-ran in the Sixers. But, the C’s are finally due and Ainge has apparently finally put together some trades that just might bring another banner to the Garden. As for the other Boston teams, I can’t believe that you would be upset at the vaunted status of the C’s and then root for the Yankees to catch the Sox. There are no more obnoxious fans in the WORLD
July 31st, 2007 at 9:41 am
B... says:
Having gone to college in Philadelphia (Drexel) many years ago, I can appreciate the jealousy you feel with a normally also-ran in the Sixers. But, the C’s are finally due and Ainge has apparently finally put together some trades that just might bring another banner to the Garden. As for the other Boston teams, I can’t believe that you would be upset at the vaunted status of the C’s and then root for the Yankees to catch the Sox. There are no more obnoxious fans in the WORLD than the Yankee fan, and my comment comes from a born and bred New Yorker (Brooklyn) who has rooted for the Mets (and the Celtics), since the Mets’ inception, over 40 years ago. I look forward to another championship for the Sox, unless the Mets continue their momentum. Go Pats!
July 31st, 2007 at 11:04 am
kudabeen says:
Why do people make comments like “Boston is givng up it’s future”. Is Al Jefferson really Boston’s future? Really? A quality Big man, but is he better than elton brand? look at all his success… Is he Shaq?!? Please. Cut this argument out. The “Celts Fan” made the argument that they were giving up their future then went on to name 5 or 6 guys on their team that can play and are under 25…Rediculous. Make a better argument. Rondo and Pruitt have a lot of promise. Perkins may learn a thing or two from an allstar big man. Tony Allen, if healthy is lock donw defender and a reliable scoring option. Glen Davis and Powe are beast in the paint. If they make this trade they are not giving up their future. Al Jefferson is the guy that’s going to get you to the Championship level for the next 10 years? Really!!? Stop That.
My biggest gripe is the fact that so many teams are getting better and the Sixers just going to see what happens and try again next year. I’m not even confident they are going to handle the pending Iguadola signing wisely. I still believe Sixers are going to be a playoff team if we can stay healthy. Also I look forward to having a guy like Louis Admundson on the squad. We need toughness and he has that. I hope Willie is ready to ball and the Luis Williams isn’t just a Summer League baller.
July 31st, 2007 at 11:20 am
john says:
as a sixer fan in new york, the only thing that makes life tolerable is that isiah steals all the attention that billy king should be getting as the world’s leading authority on how to make terrible decisions, and yeah, it’s impossible to like the celtics (obviously), but don’t you just wish you could, just a little? i do. i mean, it’s The Big Ticket, The Truth and Jesus together on one team. holy crap, the sixers are doomed…
July 31st, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Matt says:
I always loved rooting for Bird and CO, but they have been gone sooooo long that I had to channel my energy somewhere else. I decided to watch this kid Garnett. Love him. He will eat the east for lunch and still have room for dinner. Now I can root for the C’s and my man KG! KG will have no ego problems, none of them will. We are not talking about players like Shaq and Kobe, these men are team players.
July 31st, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Freddy(Vega$) says:
Just wait one Second Pat. Are you hating on my man Lou A??? you should be happy this Guy is on your team, hes a Beast down low and I swear you will fall in love with him next season. GIVE this man a chance!! FH
PS I was so happy to see Lou A in a Blog!!!! =)
July 31st, 2007 at 4:43 pm
An Observer says:
The Celtics will not be winning any championships this year, or next year, or the year after.
This year they will likely grab the 7th or 8th seed in the play-offs, and then lose in the first round.
Chicago,Cleveland and Detroit are all easily better.
Orlando, Memphis, New Jersey are all just as good as the Celts with KG. Jersey will win the Atlantic
Toronto and Miami are wild-Cards that will either have very good seasons or will crumble.
Milwaukee,New York and Philly also can surprise and grab a play-off spot.
Celtic fans would be wise not to get their hopes too high…. else, it’ll be a long fall!
Celtics win 42-47 games this year.
August 1st, 2007 at 9:50 am
Dime Magazine says:
Freddy -
I actually have no problem with Amundson. In fact, I love how hard he plays. We need more guys like him in the mix (I even admire how hard Shav Randolph plays). But at the same time, other teams in or division are adding guys like Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and others. let’s be honest, there’s really no comparison.
PC
August 16th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
bobby says:
matt you are so right. they are team players. and they are absolute superstars……. it is amazing. it really is completely amazing. its perfect. this team is gonna be special for the next 4 or 5 years. definitely.
August 16th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
bobby says:
the celts are a powerhouse. they will easily win 2 of the next 4 championships.