NBA : nuovi assetti
Inviato: 28/06/2013 - 12:13
NEW YORK – Danny Ainge once told Boston Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach he should have traded Larry Bird while the Hall of Fame forward still had value at the end of his career. Years later, Ainge listened to his own advice.
The Celtics general manager broke up the remaining core pieces of the franchise's most recent championship team by agreeing in principle to a blockbuster trade that will send Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets.
Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are headed to Brooklyn after a blockbuster trade. (NBAE/Getty Images)
In return, the Celtics will acquire valuable draft picks and millions of dollars in payroll flexibility to begin their rebuilding process. Earlier in the week, Ainge acquired the Los Angeles Clippers' 2015 pick in return for releasing Doc Rivers from his coaching contract.
That was enough to make the Celtics one of draft night's biggest winners. The Garnett-Pierce trade, which also will send Jason Terry to the Nets, will land the Celtics three first-round picks (2014, '16 and '18) and the right to swap first-round picks with the Nets in 2017 – along with Gerald Wallace, Kris Joseph and the expiring deal of Kris Humphries.
Boston now has two first-round picks, including its own, in a stellar 2014 draft that will possibly be led by coveted Kansas guard Andrew Wiggins.
Rajon Rondo is now clearly the Celtics' franchise player, but Boston won't have much reason to rush him back from knee surgery in what will be a rebuilding year. Armed with more draft picks and eventual cap room, Boston now hopes the rebuilding process won't take as long.
Among the biggest losers on draft night? One could make a case for the other team in the evening's big trade.
Yes, the Nets added Garnett and Pierce to play with guards Deron Williams and Joe Johnson and center Brook Lopez. But Garnett and Pierce are at the end of their careers, which puts heavy pressure on rookie NBA head coach Jason Kidd to produce a title contender immediately. Brooklyn faces a luxury-tax bill of nearly $80 million and will have a payroll close to $100 million.
Even with the upgrades, Brooklyn isn't a lock to be a top-three team in the Eastern Conference. The Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers and the Chicago Bulls (with a healthy Derrick Rose) should all be formidable.
The Nets did win by temporarily stealing some of the NBA spotlight from the New York Knicks.
The trade won't be official until July 10
The Celtics general manager broke up the remaining core pieces of the franchise's most recent championship team by agreeing in principle to a blockbuster trade that will send Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets.
Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are headed to Brooklyn after a blockbuster trade. (NBAE/Getty Images)
In return, the Celtics will acquire valuable draft picks and millions of dollars in payroll flexibility to begin their rebuilding process. Earlier in the week, Ainge acquired the Los Angeles Clippers' 2015 pick in return for releasing Doc Rivers from his coaching contract.
That was enough to make the Celtics one of draft night's biggest winners. The Garnett-Pierce trade, which also will send Jason Terry to the Nets, will land the Celtics three first-round picks (2014, '16 and '18) and the right to swap first-round picks with the Nets in 2017 – along with Gerald Wallace, Kris Joseph and the expiring deal of Kris Humphries.
Boston now has two first-round picks, including its own, in a stellar 2014 draft that will possibly be led by coveted Kansas guard Andrew Wiggins.
Rajon Rondo is now clearly the Celtics' franchise player, but Boston won't have much reason to rush him back from knee surgery in what will be a rebuilding year. Armed with more draft picks and eventual cap room, Boston now hopes the rebuilding process won't take as long.
Among the biggest losers on draft night? One could make a case for the other team in the evening's big trade.
Yes, the Nets added Garnett and Pierce to play with guards Deron Williams and Joe Johnson and center Brook Lopez. But Garnett and Pierce are at the end of their careers, which puts heavy pressure on rookie NBA head coach Jason Kidd to produce a title contender immediately. Brooklyn faces a luxury-tax bill of nearly $80 million and will have a payroll close to $100 million.
Even with the upgrades, Brooklyn isn't a lock to be a top-three team in the Eastern Conference. The Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers and the Chicago Bulls (with a healthy Derrick Rose) should all be formidable.
The Nets did win by temporarily stealing some of the NBA spotlight from the New York Knicks.
The trade won't be official until July 10
)
Che bello, ora, in piena maturità, "Il Mago" dovrà dare il meglio con una squadra che vuole a tutti i costi emergere nei piani alti della nba.
