I am not absolutely averse to everything we did. And I am not 100% on board. That's ambivalent and unsexy, but there is nothing more annoying than when the experts fume and fulminate immediately after either the NBA or NFL draft. We actually have no idea what the outcome of all of this will be. Everyone should take a deep breath and admit that this is all guesswork.
On the negative side: The reality is that simply acquiring Ray Allen is not a long-term fix. As several sportswriters have pointed out, shooting guards tend to start their decline at 32 or so, (Allen's 31) and it can be a pretty quick slide. But something I have not seen anyone write but that is equally important is that outside of the four guys chosen at the top of the draft -- guys we had no shot at from the 5 slot, obviously, there are going to be anywhere from 2-5 superstars who will emerge. At least one will probably end up as being better than one of the ballyhooed top 2 of Oden and Durant. And likely one of those future stars will come from a list of guys the Celtics considered in the lead-up to yesterday. In other words, we will be dealing with a "we could have had him" situation that won't have anything to do with ping-pong balls or coke habits.
On the plus side: Allen improves us right away. This should placate Paul Pierce if we can find a way to have them play together --- and Pierce's unselfishness in recent years coupled with the fact that Allen is a 2 and Pierce a 3 means that they ought to be able to share the court. Plus, as both have had injury issues in recent years, one guy can carry the load if the other cannot. Pierce-Allen-Jefferson is pretty formidable, especially in the enervated East. And the reality is that we do not need to get younger. We need to get better. There was no way a draft choice, no matter how good he ends up being, was going to help us enough for next year, and in the meantime Pierce's prime is fading. If all works out well, we now have a shot at winning in the east while the young guys grow. In 2-3 years when Allen is on his way out, we should have a nucleus of guys ready to take over -- Jefferson, Allen, Gomes, Rondo etc. Are we ready for an NBA title? No. But who in the East is? And it has been 21 years and counting, so let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let's see what happens when we are healthy. Let's see what happens with a mix of vets and young guys who are growing.
And also, let's not forget that it appears that we may have won the second round. Gabe Pruitt is a good player with lots of promise and a steal in the second round, especially if he does not have to come in right away and fill it up. And I love-love-love the Big Baby (Glen Davis) pick and cannot believe he was available at 35. Keep in mind he carried LSU toward the Final Four two years ago. It was not his fault that team stunk last year. And he will be under no burden to score or star next year or anytime soon. His role will be to rebound. To play D. To get some putback points. To free Jefferson up from double teams down low. (And to avoid takeout menus and all-you-can-eat buffets). I think he is going to be one of the big sleepers in this draft, not as a Baby Shaq but as a Baby Barkley.
The Celtics will be much-improved in a horribly weak conference next year. The pieces are in place both for some moderate short-term success as well as for a transition that should bear fruit in the long range. I do not see that elusive 17th title banner hanging from the rafters anytime soon. But I do see the playoffs from here. Ainge and Doc have their imprint stamped on this team. Let's assess it all a year from now, and as importantly, two years from now. No need either to pop champagne or the gnash teeth right now.
