Celtics Roster goes KA-BOOM, Diaper Changes Coming for the Big Four

Life is a funny thing, we are born and we wear diapers and need help with everything. Then we grow up and become adults and spend a third (or more) of our life working on something most of us don’t enjoy. And then that great retirement day comes and everything is good…. Until you’re in a retirement home wearing dippers and needing help with everything AGAIN!! That’s till god puts you out of our… crap! I mean your misery.

Five years ago the Boston Celtics created the original big three by trading for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett and pairing them with Paul Pierce. The Celtics gave away many young players and picks to do so. But soon after it became the big three plus one (Rajon Rondo) and now it’s the big four. Now it’s time for the Celtics to get the young players and picks back for the veterans.

Well the oldest three members of the big four age combined is 105. With the team out of championship contention this year and looking more and more like it’s time to rebuild, the team should blow up the big four and look towards future drafts and young players.

Allen and Garnett both have contracts that expire at the end of this season while Peirce and Rondo have contracts that last for two and three more years after this season respectively. The team’s original plan was to start to rebuild around Rondo and the veteran Peirce (34 years old) and see what happens.

Well if the Celtics do that they will go nowhere. Now yes that team will be in the playoffs as a seven or eight seed, maybe a sixth seed on a bad year but if you’re not in contention for the NBA title you should be in the lottery trying to add young superstar potential prospects.

So the Celtics should not just wait for the season to be over and start to rebuild from the middle of the first round of the draft and in free agency but instead blow up the team like the Wizards did during the 2009-2010 season and the Thunder (then Seattle Super Sonics) did after the 2006-2007 season. Both the Wizards and Thunder have started or have turned into a NBA Championship contender.

The Wizards removed all their “big three” players (even though Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison were never superstar players but more like very good role players) and hit gold in the 2010 NBA lottery and drafted John Wall and have started to add young players around Wall.

2010 Number One Overall Pick John Wall is the Corner Stone
 to the Wizards Rebuilding Process.

The Super Sonics traded, guess who? Ray Allen to the Celtics for young players, expiring contracts and the fifth overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft; which turned out to be Jeff Green. Not only did the Super Sonics trade Allen for a young player but the expiring contracts that will lead to cap relief, which is key.

So now it’s time for the Celtics to do the same thing, below I’ve given trades on how to get the best value for each member of the big four. The players’ contract details are included.

UFA: Unrestricted Free Agent

RFA: Restricted Free Agent

First I’ll start with Rondo and Peirce

In a three team deal with the Lakers and Timberwolves:

Celtics get Michael Beasley (RFA) Wes Johnson (1year plus two team options) Luke Ridnour (3years) Anthony Randolph (RFA) from the Timberwolves, two first round picks from Lakers (theirs and Mavericks) and a first round pick from the Timberwolves (originally from the Jazz).

Lakers get Paul Pierce (3years), Rajon Rondo (4years), and Brandon Bass (player option) from Celtics.

Timberwolves get Pau Gasol (3 years) and Matt Barnes (UFA) from Lakers.

The Celtics do this trade to remove Rondo who has been reportedly a headache to coach but Kobe Bryant would allow that to happen and he will keep Rondo in check. They remove Pierce’s three years left on his contract creating more cap room, the Celtics also add two players with expiring contacts plus the young talented Wes Johnson who needs a change of scenery and the team can decide to keep Beasley and Randolph as both of them are still young players. Ridnour gives them a good solid point guard to replace Rondo. The three first round picks are the real value in this trade.

The Lakers do this trade to get what they really need, more offensive firepower. Rondo gives them a huge upgrade at point guard; Rondo is a defensive and passing play maker which helps the Celtics a lot. Pierce gives them an upgrade at the small forward spot and another perimeter scoring option besides Kobe. Bass gives the Lakers a replacement at power forward.

The Timberwolves do this trade because they have been trying to pull Gasol away from the Lakers for months. The Lakers think adding Gasol to their roster will make Ricky Rubio even better. To get Gasol is worth the young talent and the draft pick.

Gasol and Rubio Both Play for the Spanish National Team.

Next it’s time to get rid of Ray Allen

In a four team deal with the Bucks, Bulls and Timberwolves:

The Celtics get Beno Udrih (player option) from Bucks and Wayne Ellington (2 years) from Timberwolves and the Bulls first round pick.

The Bucks get Ronnie Brewer (2 years) from Bulls, Anthony Tolliver (UFA) and Malcolm Lee (1 year plus 2 team options) from Timberwolves.

The Bulls get Ray Allen (UFA) from Celtics.

The Timberwolves get Rip Hamilton (2 years plus team option) from Bulls.

The Celtics are going to let Allen walk in free agency so this way they get Wayne Ellington (a young prospect who can shoot) and Udrih who will either decline his player option this year or will be a trade chip next year because of his expiring contract. Plus to get yet another first round pick is another chip towards the future.

The Bucks head coach Scott Skiles and Stephen Jackson can’t get along so he is likely to be traded or released at some point soon. So Brewer can bring a defensive presence to the Bucks, Tolliver can bring some outside shooting for a big man and Lee is a rookie that has some talent.

The Bulls get Ray Allen, which spreads the floor for Derrick Rose and gives the Bulls a number two scoring at the end of games.

The Timberwolves are going to need a new starting shooting guard after trading Wes Johnson away in the last trade so to add the veteran Hamilton gives the Timberwolves an outside scoring option and some veteran leadership.

Now time to give Garnett up

In a three team deal with the Blazers and Cavaliers:

The Celtics get Marcus Camby (UFA), Raymond Felton (UFA) and a future first round pick from Blazers and Omri Casspi (2 years) from the Cavaliers.

The Blazers get Kevin Garnett (UFA) from Celtics and Ramon Sessions (player option) from Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers get Gerald Wallace (player option) from Blazers.

The Celtics are going to let Garnett walk like Allen so to get back a future first round pick from the Blazers is good, plus IF Felton turns his act around he could get a long term deal in Boston (which mean Ridnour will be traded).

The Blazers get a defensive post player who can rebound and spread the court with his jump shot, the Blazers are trying to get rid of Felton and get another point guard, insert Sessions.

The Cavaliers have talent at the power forward and point guard spot but have zero talent at the shooting guard and small forward. Wallace is expendable since Nicolas Batum is ready to take over a starting role and replace Wallace. Wallace gives the Cavaliers some perimeter defensive and some veteran leadership.

Batum, left, Looks Ready to Replace Wallace, right, as the Blazers Starting Small Foward.

The Celtics should take their roster and go

KA-BOOM!!!

The reality is that if you’re not in contention to win it all, you should be fighting for the lottery and the number one overall pick, because in the middle is just not worth it.

If these three trades don’t happen here’s a bonus trade for my followers to consider.

In a three team deal with the Lakers and Magic:

The Celtics get Ryan Anderson (RFA) and Daniel Orton (UFA) from Magic.

The Lakers get Kevin Garnett (UFA) from Celtics and Dwight Howard (pending he signs a contract extension) and Jameer Nelson (player option) from Magic.

The Magic get Andrew Bynum (team option) and Pau Gasol (3 years) and two first round picks in 2012 (theirs and Lakers) and a 2014 and 2016 first round picks from Lakers.

The Celtics basically give up Garnett for the up and coming Anderson, pretty simple deal to me.

The Lakers get Garnett and Howard; both are upgrades defensively over Gasol and Bynum. Nelson is an upgrade at point guard and fits in the Lakers trade exception.

The Magic get a young big man (Bynum) and the veteran Gasol, who they could turn around and trade to the Timberwolves for Michael Beasley (RFA) Wes Johnson (1year plus two team options) Luke Ridnour (3years) Anthony Randolph (RFA) and another 2012 first round pick. If they send Gasol on his merry way the Magic can get Bynum, three-four young players and a total of five first round picks for Howard. Sounds like they won this trade big time!!!

Will Dwight Howard End Up in LA? We Will See.

Snub? A Word Used in Sports? Only in the NBA

The dictionary definition for Snub: to treat with disdain or contempt, especially by ignoring. What does the word have to do with sports you ask? Just ask four NBA players who got cheated.

The NBA All-star game is in 10 days and a week ago the teams were announced. I have to admit for once the NBA coaches and GM’s did a good job, but that doesn’t mean they made all the correct choices.

Below is a chart of the All-star teams (East and West). Both rosters are made up of four guards (two starters, two reserves), four forwards (two starters, two reserves), two centers (one starter, one reserve), and two wild card players meaning they can play any position (both reserves).

Position	East	West
Starting Guard	Derrick Rose	Chris Paul
Starting Guard	Dwayne Wade	Kobe Bryant
Starting Forward	LeBron James	Kevin Durant
Starting Forward	Carmelo Anthony	Blake Griffin
Starting Center	Dwight Howard	Andrew Bynum
Reserve Guard	Paul Pierce	Russell Westbrook
Reserve Guard	Joe Johnson	Tony Parker
Reserve Forward	Chris Bosh	Dirk Nowitzki
Reserve Forward	Andre Iguodala	Kevin Love
Reserve Center	Roy Hibbert	Marc Gasol
Wild Card	Deron Williams	Steve Nash
Wild Card	Luol Deng	LaMarcus Aldridge

Now again you ask what does “snub” have to do with anything? Well ask Hawks Forward Josh Smith, Celtics Guard Rajon Rondo, Jazz Forward Paul Millsap, and Golden State Guard Monta Ellis. They are as pissed as this guy.

Now the NBA doesn’t just add roster spots for the players who are snubs but players are only snubs when there is a player on the roster that hasn’t had as good of a season as the snub guy.

Now you can’t just look at stats and say “oh he averages more points a game so he should be in the game” because it’s an All-star game of the best players this season, not those who score the most points. You also have to consider the team the player plays for record. But like everything in life, there’s an exception or an excuse. Take into note the team records are affective as of Thursday February 9th at 7pm eastern time.

So who do I remove to add the snub guys? Well in the East I’d take out Hawks Guard Joe Johnson and add Celtics Guard Rajon Rondo. First let’s look at the team’s record. The Hawks are 17-9 and the Celtics are 14-10. So the Hawks are one game ahead of the Celtics in the standings (you just look at losses because not every team has played the same number of games so far this season). Rondo is averaging 13.6 ppg (points per games), 4.8 rpg (rebounds per game), 9.8 apg (assist per game), 1.69 spg (steals per game) and a 19.3 PER (player efficiency rating). Compared to Johnson’s 18.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.7 apg, 0.85 spg, and a 18.2 PER, Rondo has a better overall stats and with the Celtics one game behind the Hawks in the standings Rondo got SNUBBED!!

SNUBBED Celtics Guard Rajon Rondo

Next in the East I’d take out Nets Guard Deron Williams for Hawks Forward Josh Smith. Because Williams was selected as a Wild Card Player I can remove the Guard Williams and add the Forward Smith. Williams Nets are 8-19 and out of the playoff picture compared to Smith’s Hawks team that is 17-9. Williams’ stats are 20.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 8.6 apg, 1spg, and 20 PER compared to Smith’s 15.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.45 spg, 2 bpg (blocks per game), and 19.7 PER. While Williams’ stats aren’t overall much better than Smith’s they are slightly better but Smith gives much on the defensive end than Williams. Plus the Nets have 10 more losses than the Hawks just puts icing on the cake for Smith’s All-star SNUB!!

Now the West, I’d take out Mavericks Forward Dirk Nowitzki for Jazz Forward Paul Millsap. Nowitzki’s NBA Champion Mavericks are 15-11 but Nowitzki’s numbers are all down from last year. His stats this year are 17.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 0.77 spg , 0.55 bpg, and 19.3 PER. All those stats are lower than they were last year. Millsap’s Jazz team is 13-11 and his stats are 16.5 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.42 spg, 0.75 bpg, and a 24.3 PER. The teams have the same number of losses (eleven) but besides Nowitzki averaging 1.1 ppg more than Millsap, Millsap’s stats are much better than Nowitzki’s. The reason why Nowitzki was on the team is cause he is a future Hall of Fame Player and a former MVP. Despite the down year the coaches and GMs gave him the nod over the more deserving Millsap…. SNUBBED!!

Last snub is a much close controversial one. I’d take Suns Guard Steve Nash off for Warriors Guard Monta Ellis. Now remember before when I stated “You also have to consider the team the player plays for record. But like everything in life, there’s an exception or an excuse.” Now do you remember that? Well I’m going to make an exception for Ellis.

Ellis’ Warriors record is 8-14 compared to Nash’s Suns record of 11-14 so they have the same number of losses but the stats are closer than the other three snubs. Ellis’ stats are 22.6 ppg, 6.3apg, 1.76 spg, and a 19.2 PER. Nash’s stats are 15.1 ppg, 10 apg, 0.57 spg, and a 24 PER. Ellis scores more and steals the ball more but his assist are lower and his PER is almost five less than Nash’s. So you say less assist per game and a much lower PER why is Ellis a snub? Because Nash’s team has been has been mostly healthy minus a few games he missed (which less games means better stats/per game) compared to Ellis’ team where his side kick and back court teammate Guard Stephen Curry missed eight games due to an ankle injury. Ellis is putting up those stats despite being the main offensive threat on the perimeter when Curry was out injured.

Warriors Guard Stephen Curry injuries ankle, causes him to miss eight games this season.

Whether you agree with me or not, the stats clearly prove that four players will be playing in the game in Orlando on February 26^th when four other players should be.

Wednesday Worst Day of the Week? I Need More Z's? Last Second Shot Makes it All Worth It!!

For most people Wednesdays are the worst day of the week. You have three days left till you hit the all-important weekend when you can sleep in (I'm one for sleeping in and catching those extra Z’s). But yet you are tired as ever and you just HATE Wednesdays… well last night wasn't just any ole Wednesday.

Last night marked probably the best night in college basketball so far this season. Two of the best teams in the NCAA faced off with loads of talent ready to make the jump into the NBA next year.

Last night the GREATEST RIVALRY in college basketball, North Carolina and Duke, added another great chapter to the history book. In case you didn’t watch the game or the highlights on ESPN yet, Duke won 85-84 on a last second 3-pointer by Duke Guard Austin Rivers, son of former NBA player and current Boston Celtics’ Coach Doc Rivers.

Doc Rivers, father of Austin, played for the Atlanta Hawks and now coaches the Boston Celtics.

Austin Rivers started his freshman season at Duke with high expectations, higher than he should have been expected to reach. Rivers entering the college basketball season was looked at as a top 10 pick in the 2012 NBA draft but his stock has dropped to the point where some believe it would be better for him to stay at Duke for his sophomore year.

Well after last night’s performance people hopefully will change their mind on Austin and his draft stock. I have watched highlights and YouTube videos of Austin since he was a junior in high school. I am not Duke fan so when River changed his mind from attending his home town Florida Gators to going to play for Coach K at Duke I was pissed. But Rivers made the right choice for himself. Below you will see highlights of Austin Rivers on his AAU basketball team.

Austin had his best game of his college career against UNC last night with 29 point on 6-10 3-pointers including the game winner for UNC Center Tyler Zeller at the buzzer. Shown below.

Rivers has the potential to be great; I’ll go out and say this: With the proper coaching and the correct system, Rivers can one day become a top 10 player in the NBA. He would be best going to a team with a ton of veteran experience where he can be the first guard off the bench and then take over at the starting shooting guard in year two. The ideal team would be the team his father coaches, the Boston Celtics. He can play behind Ray Allen for a year then take over as the starter the following year. A starting backcourt of Rivers and Rajon Rondo would be a dangerous backcourt for the next 6-8 years.

Rivers doesn’t give you much on defense but he can score from wherever he wants and when forced can be a high volume scorer in the NBA. Offensively he reminds me of Heat Guard Dwayne Wade but unlike Wade, Rivers doesn’t bring much on the defensive end.

Who's the Best in the NBA? I'll Explain Why 20-12 Says it ALL

What does the end of the world and the NBA Allstar game have in common? Well they both have to do with the number 12. No I'm not going to sit here and tell you the world is going to end on 12/21/12 but the year is 2012 and the NBA Allstar weekend is coming up at the end of the month, which we all should know the Allstar game which takes the 12 best players from each conference who face off in a high flying no defense game.

So now assuming you are still reading, I am NOT giving out my NBA Allstar teams, no that will come later on this week. But instead I'm giving you all the top 12 players in the game TODAY!

Now this list is based on talent overall this season ONLY. Their positions and the team they play for have nothing to do with the results. Remember this is of today and not the last few years or in the years to come.

Let’s start out with the three players who didn’t make the list. Starting in reverse order.

3) Amare Stoudemire (F/C Knicks): First off I want to give my respects to Stoudemire for the recent loss of his brother who died in a car accident. But the reason why Stoudemire didn’t make the cut is because of his injury concern. Stoudemire has had knee, back, and eye issues during his time during the NBA. When healthy and playing with a good pick-n-roll point guard, Stoudemire can be a top 12 player in the NBA.

2) Blake Griffin (F Clippers): Before you send the mob to my house, Griffin is not on this list because he doesn’t have a great offensive game and he isn’t anything more than solid on defense. Yes Griffin’s game has gotten better with Chris Paul in LA but still he scores most his points thanks to his athleticism. Once he develops a better jump shot and a go to move in the post he will be a top 12 player.

1) Rajon Rondo (G Celtics): I’ll go ahead a give a hint, the top 12 have four point guards on it and it was real hard keeping Rondo from being the fifth. If he had a more consistent jump shot and hadn’t gotten hurt earlier this year he would be on my list instead of the 12^th man on my list.

Now it’s time for my 12 man list. Again in reverse order starting at 12.

12) Carmelo Anthony (F Knicks): If Rondo hadn’t gotten hurt he be here instead of Melo but Anthony has been the only scoring the Knicks have had this season (whether that’s Melo’s fault or not is debatable). But he is hurt now with a groin injury which he will be out 1-2 weeks. Anthony has been asked to play some point forward and start the offense this year which he can’t do and it has hurt his rank on this list.

11) Deron Williams (G Nets): Williams has had a solid season so far but his team has struggled because of the loss of Center Brook Lopez. IF (and yes that’s a huge IF) the Nets can land Dwight Howard and keep Williams the Nets become a top four team in the East just like that.

10) Chris Bosh (F/C Heat): The big two plus one…. Well the one is Bosh and that one is the underrated part of the big three. When Dwayne Wade went down with injuries Bosh stepped up big increasing his scoring and in the game against the Hawks when Lebron James and Wade were both out with injuries Bosh led the Heat to a double overtime win against the Hawks in Atlanta making big shot after big shot. He should be an Allstar starter instead of Melo.

9) Kevin Love (F/C Timberwolves): Love has his own way of playing the game. He can bang inside with the biggest forwards and centers as he is averaging over 13 rebounds a game. But yet he is averaging five three-pointers attempted a game. He has an all-around game and if the Timberwolves trade Michael Beasley for an actual good starting center the Timberwolves could make a run at the playoffs.

8) Russell Westbrook (G Thunder): Westbrook has turned out to be a better player than even I thought he would be coming out of UCLA four years ago. The one-two punch of him and Kevin Durant is the best in the NBA and he is a ball hawk on defense just itching for steals. Another bonus he rebounds better than a lot of forwards do. The real downside with Westbrook, he doesn’t dish the ball much and his overall bad decision making and his high turnover numbers keep him from climbing up the list.

7) Dwayne Wade (G Heat): SURPRISE!!! Yes this is correct, Wade is the seventh best player in the NBA today, he is 30 (the oldest of the big three) and has had injury concerns over his career, including missing nine games this year. Am I saying Wade is starting to slow down? No but I'm saying the Heat is his team but LeBron is clearly the better player now.

6) Dwight Howard (C Magic): Well he is a Magic player right now but that is likely to change before the season is over. Because of all the trade questions and rumors and acceptable team trade list has caused him and the Magic to play like crap. Howard’s biggest (on the court) weakness is his free throw shooting; he is a career 59% shooter but he is shooting 48% this year. He took 39 free throws against the Warriors earlier in the season making 21… that’s 54% for you folks who can’t do math.

5) Derrick Rose (G Bulls): No your eyes aren’t playing games on you; yes I have the MVP fifth on my list. He has had injuries missing a few games here and there but he has led the Bulls to the best record in the East. Rose is the best SCORING point guard in the NBA but not the best overall. Rose doesn’t play that great of defense and doesn’t dish out that many assists, all though his assist numbers are up this year.

4) Chris Paul (G Clippers): Yes I still think Chris Paul is the best point guard in the NBA. The reason is his defense and passing. This year Paul averages 2.4 steals per game while Rose averages 0.9 steals and Paul averages 8.9 assists per game while Rose averages 7.9 assists. But for their careers Paul averages 9.9 assists a game compared to Roses 6.8 assists. Paul has turned the Clippers into a top four team in the West despite not having a great bench like the Bulls do.

3) Kobe Bryant (G Lakers): Yes Kobe is third on my list. Now if this was a career list he would be first by a mile but Kobe has played for 15 seasons now and despite being only 33 years old he just passed his former teammate Shaquille O’Neal to become fifth on the all-time scoring list. He is keeping his Laker team afloat in the playoff picture but he still isn’t getting any younger. Scoring is Kobe’s game but that’s about all he can bring at this point to the game without having much help.

2) Kevin Durant (F Thunder): Durant is the BEST scorer in the game today. He can shoot the three-ball and drive to the rim and hit a shot from just about anywhere on the floor once he passes half court. He rebounds and defenses above average for his position and height. His scoring average is down from last year but he is looking to be the first three peat scoring champion since a guy named Michael Jordan. If Durant could dish the ball better he would be number one on the list but then again it is his job to score and score some more.

1) LeBron James (F Heat): LeBron has been scoring like crazy this year and is on his way to his third MVP award. LeBron is not as clutch as Kobe and Durant but he does everything. This year he is averaging 29 points, 7 assist, 9 rebounds, just less than one block and just under two steals a game. He brings everything to the court, both on offense and defense. Only if he was more clutch in the fourth quarter.

These top 12 players all have strengthens and weakness and a team made of these 12 would never work but you now have my list of the best 12 players in the NBA today.