Welcome to the K & G Superstore

[mark at 10thumbs.org]

I'm surprised that given the fan base's opinion on moving Big Al that we
would do the KG-for-Jefferson deal now espcially given that KG is rumored
to want a 5yr/$125M extension which would put us in lux tax land for 3-4
years. And i can't see how we're going to resign Gomes and possibly Tony
Allen now next summer.

I'm kind of numb and sad but also a little surprise at myself. I long
dreamed of getting KG -- i think he's a fantastic competitor and the
thought of him and PP playing together used to carry me through the dark
days of 30 win seasons. But now i'm sad about missing out on Jefferson's
career.... even though a 50-win season now seems possible.

I've been struggling to find a silver lining (again, shocking that a deal
for one of the game's best players would need a silver lining) but Danny
clearly does an above average job of finding talent later in the draft.
That's the key difference between losing JJ or Billups -- the feeling like
we'd not get good young talent again. But we'll be giving up a first
rounder or 2 just to get KG.

And i'll say it -- even though i don't really believe it -- I guess we
don't know how good Al will be.  I think we all believe he'll be a terror
in this league for a long time. But we're looking at 3-5 years of
Pierce/Allen/KG

That said it'll take quite some time -- probably until the first 8 game
winning streak next season -- to warm up to this deal. We've traded 2 of
my favorite guys in West and Jefferson. For much better players, but
still...



(the other sorta-sad) Mark

-----------------
They better win a title. That's the bottom line. If they don't, just add
Al Jefferson's name to Shawn Marion, Chauncey Billups, Joe Johnson and
Brandon Roy as guys who should have been Celtics for a long time.

Personally, I don't think they're anywhere near a title team. They might
contend in the East -- but the best team in the East is still no better
than the eighth-best team in the league. And they'll get a little worse
every year from here on.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: celtics-bounces at igtc.com [mailto:celtics-bounces at igtc.com] On
Behalf Of Patrick.Ryan at westover.af.mil
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2007 7:52 AM
To: celtics at igtc.com
Subject: Welcome to the K & G Superstore

Good morning everyone, your friendly neighborhood fascist (or fool - I
forget which) here to remark on the latest and greatest trade rumors...

So the KG deal is back on (in numerous incarnations)? Wow. I didn't
think we had the "stuff" to get it done anymore, but then I never
thought Rondo would be part of the deal either.

My thoughts haven't really changed all that much - it's a complete
instant gratification move, which if it nets a championship is totally
worth it, but if it doesn't then it may just completely hamstring the
future of the franchise for another twenty years.

The key remains the contract status of Garnett. If they don't "win it
all" or at the very least get to the Finals his "win" or "keep getting
paid" thought process is the linchpin, as unless we hear otherwise, he
still has opt out rights. Would he value $23 million or so more then a
small deal to go to Phoenix or LA after that first year? Could his
experience here woo him to stay regardless of outcome?

Difficult questions, and the very crux of the success or failure of this
trade.  I'll be the first to admit if this happens that I was wrong - I
never in a million years thought this deal could still get done. Guess
we'll find out in 48 hours.