dropkickmeltinjohns

Myself, I would say no even for the long term. For the long term technically yes it is worth it but all you'll be getting is a disgruntled star on a losing team seeing McHale can't draft. When hes in his prime he will be good nonetheless. His d will always be average tho or below average as your seeing BUT better than Zach Randolph for damn sure!
All this trade will end up being is Big Al for KG seeing Green blows ( I am glad hes not a future piece to build around in Boston), Gomes is solid but cant play one lick of d, good if your team needs offense and only that like the bulls, Telfair, need we say more? The picks, well IF McHale drafts right, it should pay BUT I doubt he will.
And Theo all of a sudden has heart! LOL. He wants that damn contract.

luther

We're not going to get a KG out of the trade, so in that sense, it wasn't worth it.

On the other hand, we were going to lose the KG we had regardless, so it was necessary. KG is playing brilliantly now, of course, but that is in part because he's surrounded by two all-star type players and a bunch of role players, not just a bunch of role players (as he had here). And realistically, he isn't going to get better, considering he's 31 or so; he's only going to get worse. That matters less with the Celtics, where he can (as a still athletic for now, energetic and smart player) lead the team. But as a sole option on a bad team--i.e., here--it would just get worse and worse.

What's more, we had NO flexibility as long as he was here. $20 million a year on him alone, and no other legitimate options to use in trade for building blocks.

I am not confident in the Taylor/McHale regime in terms of what they'll do with the flexibility, youth and cap space they got, but I am confident they had to make a move like the one they did.

On the positive side of the trade, Al Jefferson is an all-star type player. Yes, he's getting those numbers on a terrible team, but it's actually impressive that he's doing it on a team woefully lacking in passers and ball-handlers. His defense will improve because he's athletic for his size, has great footwork and works hard. His passing will improve, too. (He's what, 21? 22? I mean, please, he's barely begun, much less finished, his development.)

The second most important part of the trade, I think, is that the giant $20+ million is broken down into smaller slots. Ratliff, when healthy, is very valuable, and might be worth re-signing to a more reasonable contract. Gomes is worth having. Green and Telfair could be worth having. And the pick might turn out to be a good player. But each of those things is less important than the fact that it is a number of smaller pieces that can be packaged or moved separately--we're far more flexible now than then.

The most important thing going forward is that the leadership has to make good decisions, and their history with that is pretty sketchy. But it isn't as bad regarding draft picks as you might want to suggest. Remember, we lost a lot of picks (thanks, McHale, Taylor and Joe Smith). But the higher picks we've had have been pretty solid in the McHale era. KG, Marbury, Wally, Rasho, McCants and Foye all seem to be decent picks for their spots in the draft. Paul Grant, Ndudi Ebi and Will Avery were awful picks, but two of those three were relatively late firsts. That draft record isn't all that much worse than most teams'.

Worse than their drafting has been their management of the cap through trades and free agent signings. And that has to change. But fiscal responsibility is what this trade was all about, so if that mindset continues, things could still go well. (If they re-sign Gomes and Telfair to five-year, $35 million contracts, well of course then this was all for naught.)

All that said, I'm not saying that the trade they made was the best trade they could have made. I believe KG had to be dealt, but some of the rumored offers seem better than the one they took. (Odom, Bynum, Farmer, picks; Biedrins, Ellis, the pick that became Wright, etc.; a Josh Smith and Al Horford package; etc.) However, it's also impossible to put too much stock in speculation. We don't know for a fact what was offered; only what has been reported as rumored...

dropkickmeltinjohns

Telfair and Green will not be good. Cut both of them and take Theo with them lol. Theo is only trying for a contract. Ask blazer fans about that one too.
Al could get better defensively but its one of his weakpoints and always will be.
As far as Gomes, keep him only if you can use more offense which it looks like you might unless you pick up say Rose or Gordon in the draft then Gomes doesn't serve a big purpose. Big liability on d, undersized and too slow for sf altho he can shoot long 2's like a small forward can. If McHale takes Hibbert, D, Jordan or Thabeet, he should keep Gomes tho.

luther

Gomes is and always will be a role player, which is fine for the right price. As for Telfair and Green, you seem awfully quick to give up on 21-year-olds, but considering how much better many players get well after that, i'd call you hasty. Ratliff is a proven commodity when healthy.

And by the way, virtually everyone on earth is playing for a contract. Do you go to work for free, or do you accept the paychecks?

dropkickmeltinjohns

Still, Theo does nothing once he gets his pay. Thats the issue I have with players. Look at MARK BLOUNT! Only with a few you get the constant hustle after their pay.
Telfair, dont gimme the fact hes still young. He blows chunks. Green can only win a slam dunk competition (like Miner).

luther

Your Ratliff comment alone shows you've either never watched a game this year or are just clueless: Ratliff's hustle has been among the most impressive things about this season. When he's been healthy, he's been surprisingly active, almost rejuvenated. And Telfair IS young, so why shouldn't I point it out? Same with Green. They're both extremely talented. Neither has reached his potential, most likely, although the jury is still admittedly out on how good they'll become. That's what this season, in part, is for--evaluation.

Avalanche

Anyone saying telfair "blows chunks" hasnt seen a wolves game this year

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dropkickmeltinjohns

Clueless Clueles Clueless!
I seen enough of these guys in Boston. Theo is only playing for a contract DO NOT BE FOOLED. Ask portland about Theo.
Telfair, seen all I had to see. Hes a damn fool who makes stupid decisions and your team sucks so he might put up an ok game here and there. He was horrible tho for Boston. Out in Minny, the water must have some sort of chemicals in it because it seems something is embedded in those membranes.

jokeaward

I will play devil's advocate and say every non-AJ player means nothing.

KG would fit any style we chose and he isn't old, so as a player it didn't make sense to trade him for Big Al. But as an employee KG, though honestly he might've re-upped out of loyalty if we would've finally gotten a pick higher than 7 but I also heard he didn't want to be the old guy leading the youth movement, but ANYWAY let's assume he was leaving as a free agent when that time came. That would be awful. Jefferson is younger and is getting better, Garnett isn't getting worse, though. KG could be more of a banger inside and is in Boston but we made him an 82 game, 41 MPG Atlas and also made him a passer so he wasn't going to be always within 7 ft of the rim.

The KG Era as an NFL possession
1st down: Paired him with Marbs, Googs, Flip, first winning seasons, smilez! It's a run play for KG... and WR Stephon yells "Gimme the damn ball! I was open!"
2nd down: Marbury subbed out for Terrell Brandon, the West defense subs in Tim Duncan, Shaq, and Kobe. The East is tough too but come on, are you serious? Garnett fakes to Wally and hits TB! Completion! Then he's simltaneously gang-tackled by Duncan, David Robinson, and 6 Trailblazers and he tears his ACL. Uh oh, a penalty. "Holding, Joe Smith. That's a loss of all second downs for the next five possessions."
3rd down: Okay, 3rd and 8. Not looking good, but KG does. TB is carted off and in come Spree and Cassell! Hell, Kandi man as well. Looking good. KG puts on a show scrambling and it's complete near the marker!
4th down: Dang, the measurement came up short. No problem, just run another play, right? "False start, no. 8" SPREEEEEE! Oh, and Sammy sprained his hip so he's out for Jaric. Jaric? Umm... umm... Wally subbed for Ricky Davis... looks shaky, this is gonna run the West's defense? It's 6 yards now...bring in Foye?... McHale calls timeout.
After timeout: KG subbed for special teams. It's a punt. At least it looks like a good one for field position but long with hangtime...

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When Big Ben struck
and split like Lithuania, from Russia with Love
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Avalanche

lol im clueless huh? and your making assumptions on players who you have seen play previously.... shutting out any possible idea of a 22 year old PG drafted out of high school (in the lottery at that) ever becoming a good player?
Theo i dont really care either way hes obviously not in the future plans, he was playing well though... it wont be us that over pays him if he is just playing for a contract.

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dropkickmeltinjohns

Are you sure McHale won't pay Theo? Not many dumb gm's out there besides him.
Dude your the example of a fan who uses youth as an excuse for players and how they can get better.
Telfair was later lottery and drafted over many other good guys. He was the bust in that trade where the celtics could have had Brandon Roy. Nothing is good when you mention the name Telfair. Sounds like Welfare. Green is just a dunker. Expect no more from him and hes a **** passer. Q Woods #2. Youth is not always on a players side. It is with Al but Telfair, hell no. Hes burned his bridges all over the league and hes also related to his ******* cousin there whats his name? I think he wore #3 in Minny too.

Avalanche

sorry expert
I dont use youth as an excuse for poor play previously so your blatently wrong, its not an excuse for anything.... but now that he is actually improving on the court (which you would see if you watched the wolves) how can it possibly be absurd to think he has/will improve? dude is still almost at rookie age, there have been countless players who have turned out very well and they started producing at a much later age than telfair is.

oh but thats right hes related to marbury.... he couldnt possibly be good right? course not.

oh KG's cousin is shammond williams, so he must be a scrub too

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