The Boston Celtics

I have loved team green since 1987. That year I saw them lose to the Lakers in the NBA finals. Since then, I have witnessed many ups and many........and I mean many bizzare downs. That is Why i like to take time in early July to take stock in the current state of the organitzation. This is post-playoffs, and post- draft, enabling me to recognize the disparity between the have's and have nots across the NBA. As the Prez, I must declare...Today the state of the Boston Celtics is promising.This doesn't mean that I feel Danny Ainge is going to win GM of the year, or that Doc Rivers suddenly began to understand that playing 13 dudes a night is not good.

On draft night the C's traded the pick to be made at number 7 in the first round, Raef Lafrenz, and Dan Dickau for Sebastian Telfair and Theo Ratliff. Knowing that all season the organizaton and media felt the team needed a point guard, I felt this deal was a great idea. Personally, I felt that the point guard situation would eventually develop naturally as Delonte West became a team leader, as his polished offensive and defensive play sparked many a C's victory this season. On an episode of "Quite Frankly" the night before the draft, Paul Pierce said that an experienced guard was needed. Telfair is a dynamic pass-first point guard whose speed makes him a threat. Now, when asked by Stephen A. Smith about the possibibility of a Telfair deal, the Truth didn't feel that Seabass was enough experience in the short term. I think that Telfair could mix well, as long as Doc is willing to give Delonte West the time at shooting guard that he deserves. The fact the Telfair is not known for his defense only matters if you consider that the C's were 26th in total D according to NBA .com. I think that passing to The Truth will help Seabass, as giving the ball to Darius Miles just doesn't have the same effect.
Giving Up Raef is cost effective. as the team will save some money. It was also nice to see that Ainge could trade two white dudes without needing to bring any back. It bodes well, as the possibility of five white dudes on the court at once was a punch line before it was ever accomplished.

With the 21st pick the Suns selected Rajon Rondo, and then traded him to the C's for cash. Now reports following the draft made it clear that Ainge felt that Rondo was the best point guard in the draft. I would have wanted Marcus Williams, but the organization saw Rondo as Vince Young to William's Matt Linert, more athletic and thus more potential upside despite less actual technical ability. Rondo can't shoot, a fact that left every Kentucky fan happy that Rondo is now gone. This kid did very little in college, but he didn't steal anything either.... that we know of.
The C's later picked up Leon Powe from Cal in a trade in the second round. This guy was a 20/10 guy in his short stay at Berkley. Also, the C;' will be inviting talented Allen Ray to join their team in the Las Vegas Summer League. Ray was one of the most feared players in the Big East the past few years. If he makes the club, Tony Allen's days are numbered.....

Which leads me to the reason why the C's are relevent this summer and why the state of the team is promising. With a stockpile of potential talent, a deal for a superstar that does not include The Truth is on the horizon, something we couldn't have done last year. All the talk recently has been about Allen Iverson possibly heading north. Iverson plays hard, and is the greatest small player of this generation. However, he has been beaten down the last few years in philly. While A.I still is putting up huge stats, I would rather see the C's get a big man, especially if Al Jefferson is included in any deal. A force down low to go along with Kendrick Perkins would allow the C's to potentially be a factor in the Eastern conference next year.

IDeal: Al, Tony Allen, and one of our 'o7 picks and cash to the Pacers for Jermaine O'Neal or the Wolves for KG. One of the Big Three helping to return the C's to the top.

more on this in the future......