and, yet

[gene kirkpatrick]

We traded for an ace of a scoring guard for maybe three or four years.  He fills a weak spot, turning it into a strong plus.  He brings a 25 point average, that's the average night after night after night--find that in your #5 pick, plus oodles of professionalism to a young squad, and takes us 2/3s of the way to a championship calibre team--no one's saying he's the final piece.  If he diminishes after three years, as we should expect, he will leave in his wake Gerald Green at 23, Tony Allen at 27?, and Paul Pierce at 32, not to mention a corps including Al at 25, Perk at 25, Rondo at 23 and Gomes at 26.  Come on, he helps these guys grow up while taking us into the playoffs where the youngsters just might take over.  

Anyone sitting around musing about Delonte's jersey hanging from the rafters?  No, but Rondo and Al have legitimate shots at being all-timers around here.  I don't see this trade as jetisoning the youth movement.  I'm a full-fledged plan B guy (let the youth develop and create a contender for a decade), but trading one of the least of the group (Delonte) and giving up the unknown of #5 is not a radical departure.  We're building around Al and Rondo and Perk and Gomes and Tony, plus new draftees and Green--whoever blossoms.  Pierce and Ray Allen are the short termers in this quest, but they're awfully significant to getting us there or almost there.  I think it's helpful to have a Moses or two around, even if they don't see the promised land.  Some think adhering to plan B totally would mire us in Egypt land forever.  They could be right.

So, I like the trade very much.  The second rounders are gravy.  The deal was for Allen, and I don't think we changed course or gave up too much to get the spurt he will give us.  

After some questionable moves and moves where the jury will be out for a few years, Ainge just may have re-asserted himself via this trade.  Hang in there.  One good PF and PG will make us a very solid contender in the East.  Glass 60% full, Gene

       
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