Sports Guy Redux

Just win, Maybe

Sure Ray Allen’s ankles are more fragile than the leg lamp in “A Christmas Story.” But when, in the past 20 years, has this franchise inherited a guy that scored 26.4 points per game the previous season?
When have they, in that period, had a guy that could shoot a basketball like this?
Danny Ainge’s plan from Day 1 was to acquire as many “chips” as possible in an attempt to get a legitimate All-Star.
He finally did that on Draft Day 2007.
His plan from Day 1 was also to have the Celtics not bow out in the semi-finals each year (like they did in 2003 when he took over) and instead be a team that would make at least two trips to the NBA Finals.
He certainly hasn’t assembled a team that can do that…yet.
Paul Pierce’s much-heralded “window” will be closing for good in about three years. They obviously made the decision to try and win now when they acquired Senor Shuttlesworth, so why not go for it all right now?
I propose two routes in which the Baby Faced Assassin should go about doing this:

1. Trade Theo Ratliffe’s contract, Gerald Green and next year’s No. 1 pick to Indiana in exchange for Jermaine O’Neal.

- This is the route I think all Celtics fans would prefer, considering Al Jefferson would be here to stay and would provide Boston with one devastating front court. The future franchise star would remain, all while giving the Celtics a chance to blow through a horrid Eastern Conference the next few years. Would this ultimately result in the C’s beating a team from the West and winning a championship? Probably not, barring Al Jefferson becoming even better than we all foresee and Rajon Rondo becoming a top-flight point guard.
However, it would keep Jefferson around for when the Celtics transition away from the Pierce era.

2. Trade Al Jefferson and Theo Ratliffe’s contract in exchange for Kevin Garnett.

- Is it a short-sighted move? Without question. But it would give the Celtics their best shot at banner No. 17 since 1987. They could definitely compete against any team from the West with Pierce, Allen and Garnett on the floor at the same time. Is it a guarantee? No way. But nothing is guaranteed. It’s not guaranteed that Jefferson’s 2006-07 output was a sign that he will be an All-Star player for the next 12 years. At the end of the day, he was the best player on a 24-win team. This is not the NFL, where smart teams like the Patriots can keep plugging in parts at free will and maintaining dominance for a 10-year period. The NBA is all about maximizing supposed “windows.” What’s going to happen when Duncan’s window closes? I guarantee the Spurs won’t look as smart as they do today. Most franchises don’t have the fortune of landing a once-in-a-lifetime player. That window closed for the Celtics on 5/22.

Either way, the Celtics can’t just stand pat and keep treading their wheels. I also believe, there’s really no scenario that they can or should keep both Jefferson and Gerald Green. One of them has to go.
Right now it looks as though, Jefferson is the guy to keep. But who’s to say Gerald won’t make a “Jefferson-like” leap as well?
Interesting times are to follow.
But here’s a prediction: Two years from now, Danny Ainge will be regarded as one of the top executives in the game.
And no, I’m not high.


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