They’ll Take 5
He’s out like…It still didn’t feel real until maybe 15 minutes into the press conference. Watching not only Kevin Garnett sitting in front of a Boston Celtics (and Dunkin Donuts) backdrop, but also seeing him flanked by Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, an emotional Danny Ainge and a too-giddy-to-function Doc Rivers was an odd and memorable sight. Yesterday, the biggest deal of the summer — the biggest offseason move since the Shaq trade in ‘04 — was made official: KG to the C’s for Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair and two first-round picks. That’s seven players in exchange for one guy, the biggest such deal in NBA history; the Herschel Walker trade of the NBA … One of the first standout moments of the press conference — next to KG looking at his green #5 jersey like a brand-new Christmas present — was Ainge seemingly get choked up talking about how hard it was to let Jefferson, Gomes and Green go and at the same time never even mentioning Bassy and Theo. That was followed by KG just burying the Wolves organization, making it a point multiple times to talk about how amazing the Celtics have been with him and stopping just short of saying flat-out that the Wolves stopped being loyal to him … Some random thoughts from the press conference: Pierce was the most under-dressed guy in the room who wasn’t a reporter, but he does look like he’s lost weight … How many Boston sportswriters are already working on the introduction to a book about the ‘07-08 Celtics season? … We don’t care if Boston goes 82-0, Doc had better not get Coach of the Year in ‘08. He didn’t become any better at his job yesterday than he was on the final day of the regular season … And on the flip side, Executive of the Year is basically Ainge’s award to lose … Your ‘08 Eastern Conference All-Star starting five should look something like this: D-Wade, Arenas, LeBron, Garnett, Shaq. That’s nasty. And who gets the Western Conference starting forward spot that KG has had in his pocket for the last decade? It’ll be between Dirk and ‘Melo … The three superstars appear to genuinely get along with each other. In between questions you kept hearing them cracking inside jokes, and KG made one about Pierce not answering any of his four cell phones when he tried calling him. “I didn’t recognize the area code,” P-Double argued. “It was the same one on all four phones!” KG shot back … KG’s description of how he’s felt over the last few days: “Like being in a Lamborghini doing 200 with your head stuck out the window.” … Pierce’s threat to the rest of the League: “When teams see us on the schedule, they’ll get their rest the night before.” … How much has the Atlantic Division improved this summer? The Raptors (Kapono), Celtics (KG, Ray), Nets (Magloire, Sean Williams) and Knicks (Randolph and Wilson Chandler) all made moves to get significantly better. The Sixers? Yeah … What was NBA TV doing? Today would have been the perfect day to show some vintage Garnett games and they just kept replaying the same career retrospective special. What about KG’s first game as a rookie in ‘95? Or Ticket giving Tim Duncan 23 and 12 in their first playoff meeting? There’s also the triple-double (23-13-10) against the Blazers in the ‘00 playoffs, giving Shaq 35-20 in their first postseason meeting, the monstrous Game 7 against Sacramento in ‘04, his All-Star MVP game from ‘03, and any game that involves Kevin Harlan screaming “KEVIN GARNETT! WITH NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE!” Someone was asleep at the wheel … Troy Hudson (who, if you remember, went for a surreal 37 points and 10 dimes in that KG/Shaq game) might be following Ticket to Beantown. He was bought out of his Wolves contract yesterday, which makes sense with Telfair and Green joining a crowded backcourt. The C’s need to bolster the bench, so they should give T-Hud a look … Early on Tuesday we caught a “White Shadow” re-run with Bill Russell guest-starring. Russ played Coolidge 1-on-1 and later gave him some big-man advice: “When you’re a big guy, people expect big things out of you.” Not sure exactly what year that episode aired, but given the show’s three-year window (1978-81), Russell would have been somewhere between 44 and 47 years old. And he was still doing his thing on the court. He had the fadeaway going, the hook shots, the back-down game — who said Russell didn’t have it offensively? He was giving Coolidge savage buckets … Celebrity sighting yesterday: Bas Rutten at a GNC. If you don’t know, Bas will be forever famous in the Dime office as “The BONG Guy.” Check the videotape … We’re out like calling The Truth …
August 1st, 2007 at 1:46 am
Willis says:
Hudson would be a good pick up for the C’s. They need a PG anyway, but is Brevin Knight still available? If he DID sign with Denver, I bet he is wishing he didn’t. He’d start for the C’s AND drop about 15 dimes a night.
August 1st, 2007 at 2:43 am
Celtic17 says:
Hudson would not start over Rondo, Knight perhaps, but not Hudson. He was once one of the premier point guards in the L, however that was a long time ago. He fell well back in the Twolves rotation that was far from deep. While I would like to see him have a resurgence in Green, he still would have to prove that he even deserved a roster spot, let alone the starting position.
One thing is for sure, as much as I love Rondo, the C’s need an experienced 1. And a big for that matter. Although I can’t wait to see big baby on the hardwood.
August 1st, 2007 at 3:20 am
nick says:
hudson was never considered a premier pg. he was a prolific scoring guard off the bench in the last few mins of a quarter and starting guard at best.i hope t-hud sticks with the c’s his game would fit them perfect. someone who can knock down open shots when players are doubled.
August 1st, 2007 at 3:36 am
bron42 says:
the celtics need to just rape the D-league for some role players on the cheap $$$
August 1st, 2007 at 3:47 am
Steffen Herder says:
Gerald Green is finally free!!!
http://www.squidoo.com/GeraldGreen/
August 1st, 2007 at 3:56 am
not so says:
what will be ray’s jersey number?
August 1st, 2007 at 7:52 am
Gregg says:
Ray will have number 20
August 1st, 2007 at 8:13 am
Roger says:
I just got my jersey, I just got my jersey…my number 5 jersey!!! What what.
August 1st, 2007 at 8:56 am
Bust Jlaze says:
Rogers such a liar, hahahah!
August 1st, 2007 at 9:41 am
Dave says:
“That was followed by KG just burying the Wolves organization”
Wow you are full of crap. KG NEVER requested a trade, and was told the team was headed in a new direction, you moron. Get your facts straight.
August 1st, 2007 at 9:52 am
bliz289 says:
dave, he definitely subtly took shots at the wolves in the press conference. he made a point of saying how first-class the celts organization is, and it seemed obvious he meant in comparison to the wolves…question – anyone know why kg picked #5?
August 1st, 2007 at 9:53 am
Celts Fan says:
Dave, did you watch the press conference? Obviously not. No one said he requested anything. They’re talking about what he said (and almost said) during that press conference. Why don’t you get YOUR facts straight man before you start. Christ, reading comprehension. It’s tested for in 3rd grade. Did you make it that far???
August 1st, 2007 at 9:53 am
Dime Magazine says:
Dave –
Did you see the press conference yesterday? More than once, Garnett made a point of saying that his loyalty in Minnesota was not reciprocated and (multiple times) said there was no comparison between the professionalism between the two franchises.
Pat
August 1st, 2007 at 10:52 am
Eric says:
Pat knows all about the professionalism of the Celtic franchise, don’t u Pat?
Great press conference, great day to be a Celtics fan. Lets get some free agents, pronto!
August 1st, 2007 at 10:52 am
João says:
With my Miami Heat health, I still think that Shaq and Wade are the the team to beat. But, if we somehow could land Artest, than the Celtics would have nothing again us. Wade guard Allen, Artest guard Pierce, Haslem guard Garnett, and who would guard Shaq ? We just need Artest, do it Riley.
August 1st, 2007 at 11:21 am
Eric says:
Who cares if they got the big 3? Pierce and Ray Allen will inevitably get injured in December, leaving Boston with Garnett, Rondo, and a bunch of rookies / NBDL scrubs.
Good luck getting past Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Orlando (maybe) and even Cleveland. This team is overrated. 3 career underachievers
August 1st, 2007 at 11:23 am
AtTheCup says:
Dave. Even if you disagreed with a point those guys made calling them morons is a little extra.
August 1st, 2007 at 11:49 am
Smity says:
3 career underachievers?
thats laughable but i’m at work now so i’ll just grin at the stupidity of that statement. If the celtics don’t get it done this year, somebody else from the east will…(chicago, even without the low post scorer.) but i hope that the three of them have the most healthy and productive years of their careers together. it will be good for the game.
August 1st, 2007 at 11:52 am
Noah says:
3 career underachievers…Last time I checked Garnett was one of the most complete 4s in the league, carrer avgs of 20 points and 12 boards and 4 ast. Pierce is one of the most dynamic players in a rich Celtic history and Ray Allen has been stuck in abismal franchises which is not his fault.
But here is how I see the East shaking out:
1 Detroit
2 Miami
3 Boston
4 Cleveland
5 Toronto
6 Chicago
7 Orlando
8 New Jersey
August 1st, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Eric says:
That other “Eric” needs to sit the next few plays out on this board.
Underachievers? Are you that much of a Celtic hater or just a clueless basketball fan? Either way I am not going to give that statement anymore attention.
What is fun to think about for a moment is how teams are going to attempt to match up with the Celtics this season….
August 1st, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Celts Fan says:
It would be fair to call KG a career under achiever (bigs are supposed to be able to do it themself much easier than wings and pgs) but then you have to realize McHale SCREWED him hard w/ that Joe Smith deal, which only cost them 4 #1’s in KG’s prime. If this was in NY, he would have been dragged out and beaten to death, but cuz it’s in Minn., it’s largely under-reported. Either way, they’ll run sh*t this year…
Also, Ray Allen is still the best shooter alive, so how exactly is that under achieving?
August 1st, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Smity says:
chicago a 6 seed in the east? stop playin. they are arguably the second best team in the east (until the celtics prove themselves). they should have no problem beating out cleveland for second in the division this year (they damn near did it last year.) question, once again, does danny ainge now get love in boston? you boston and ny people are notorious for being beating up your gms. can danny get some love? what about isaiah?
at least neither one of them was ever responsible for breaking up the greatest team in nba history…(shout out to jerry krause)
August 1st, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Willis says:
Smitty-
Pierce has been an iron man in the league up until last season. I can’t remember him missing any extreme amount of time before last season. Rayray has had his health issues, but saying he’ll be gone in december is a bit much. Besides, he isn’t gonna draw all the defensive attention like he has in all of his NBA seasons, save maybe the Milwaukee years. KG? He’ll play through anything. This team is a lock for playoffs, probably their division, but they still have to worry about who is gonna guard Dwade and Shaq.
August 1st, 2007 at 1:55 pm
stanley says:
“hey, whattup kobe.”
“whattup, paul, how you chillin?”
“you hear about kupchak this morning?”
“naa, whattup?”
“we signed geoge karl’s son, his name’s coby. fresh!”
“haha, word? kobe and coby”
“yeah, i’m feelin pretty good. we needed a shooter. he’s from boise state. 14ppg in college”
“wow, yeah, not bad, i picked up a shooter too.”
“No shit!?”
“yeah, ray allen. 7 time all star. considered the purest shooter in the league since reggie miller. you know though, coby sounds pretty good. i heard he has a nice set shot.”
“i’m excited cause now i got sasha and coby to pass to when i get in a bind.”
“you sign anyone else, kobes?”
“naa, i’m feelin pretty good about coby karl. great pick up. you?”
“yeah, ainge just brought in kevin garnett, 12 time all star. top 25 player of all time. in his prime. hungry and angry.”
“uhh, really?”
“word. but yo, i gotta be out. you take care ok, boo.”
“alright paul, you take care.”
August 1st, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Eric says:
HaHa Kevin Harlan. “KEVIN GARNETT! WITH NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE!” Priceless. We should have seen some KG-Starbury old school games on NBA TV or ESPN Classic.
August 1st, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Ian says:
ray allen best shooter alive
lol
those three arent underachievers but they are overrated
August 1st, 2007 at 4:20 pm
Smity says:
if those three are overrated then everybody in the league is.
August 1st, 2007 at 4:44 pm
kudabeen says:
First Stanley,
What homo-erotic homeboy fantasy did you create that dialouge from?? Weird stuff. So paul pierce would say “you take care boo” to kobe? wow
But point taken. Guys like Kobe, Iverson (in philly), Jermaine O’neal, etc have to be looking at their GMs like, “WTF! Do something” Ainge gets hated on justly, but he did his thing and it’s clear Boston’s GMs are all about winning. People are foolish if they don’t think the ticket and product sell between those three legit stars won’t make up for the luxury tax hit. Also, if they mess around an win, that’s even more revenue.
Also “underachieving all-star” is oxymoronic… Despite what you learn from watching highlights and commercials ‘Other Eric’, Basketball is was and will always be a team sport. If a single players individual talent was the that great of a factor in winning. Wilt would have a lot more championships and jordan wouldn’t have needed 7 years to get a great team to win with and so on.
I hate the fact that I have to watch everyone EVERYONE in the east get better besides the sixers. Maybe next year. I still hold to the fact that I think we are talented enough to make the playoffs. Of course that is contingent upon Dalembert giving us 12 12 and 3, Iguodala should approach all-star mention (doable he avg 18 5 5 and 2 last year), someone outside of kyle kover has to be a consistent scorer (Willie, Carney, H.Hill on the block…This is a stretch), and Defense without a turnover advantage we will not be in many games come the fourth quarter.
I know it’sa dream, but it’s my dream while leaving with the sad reality the sixers did the least among teams that needed to do the most to improve. The bight-side is we are the underdogs and no one expects the Sixers to do much, but lose, so to even sniff 38-42 Ws would be astonishing…
August 1st, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Celts Fan says:
kudabeen, I’d say you could lose a lot, get some good draft picks, and make a trade like us, but Billy King’s your GM, so unfortunately, all hope is lost. Good luck winning more than 25 games this year. On a side note, I met Dalembert once in Philly. Great guy. Couldn’t be happier for him, and Iggy is nice. If you get a high pick and can somehow get Michael Beasley (can we call him a 1 and Done before he ever gets to K-State? …ya, I think we can) you guys should be set up to be nice. Just be patient and hope another losing season means the end of Billy King…
August 1st, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Rob says:
underachievers…overrated…?!? i’m a fan of the nba in general and i dont think these guys fall into either of those categories. KG plays hard every minute he is on the court and will give you 24-12 a night (far from overrated). Ray Allen just had the best year of his career last year!(far from underachieving) and the Truth i think shut it down last year because of the whole tanking issue. They all fit well together, and will be an entertaining team to watch.
August 1st, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Chris says:
Let’s at least get it straight.. first playoff meeting Duncan dropped 26 and 12 while kg did 21 and 8. game 2 is when kg dropped 23 and 12 vs TD 18 and 16
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:05 am
Eric says:
Yes, they are underachievers. No championships, two of them play no defense, and Garnett is a stat buffer.
No PG, No center, your 6th man is Brian Scalabrine. Eastern Finals? LOL
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:09 am
Ian says:
eric well said. forget championships they cant make the playoffs
and forget kg numbers vs timmy in the playoffs who won?
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Joe B says:
bliz289 – KG’s #5 jersey:
It might be linked to the Adidas commercials “It takes 5″. Just a guess.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
bill says:
we just added one of the best big men in the entire league to our team that already has two franchise players.
these are three guys that have all been top dog/led teams to 50+ win seasons, all 3 have took their teams to conference finals, all 3 are unselfish veterans, A+ all-nba superstars, all are ELITE at their position that have finished top 10 in mvp (kg won it!), all 3 team players, play the right way……… its amazing. all 3 are still in their prime and hungrier than ever for a ring, all are great leaders, love the game and give it their all. this team will be special for the next 4 or 5 years!!!!! I CANT WAIT!!!!! GO Celtics!!!!!!
in cbssports player rankings position by position to preview the season Ray Allen was ranked as the #3 shooting guard in the nba. Paul Pierce was ranked as the #3 small forward in the nba. and Kevin Garnett was ranked as the #2 power forward in the nba. now that is what you call special, my friend. CELTIC PRIDE!