safe to say now that Ainge made the right choice with the trade?

[saltlover]

As others have pointed out, it's still entirely premature to make definitive statements about this deal.  As was overlooked by some when the trade went down, the only valuable parts of the deal were the first round picks from Brooklyn and the higher draft pick that we'll get this year.  We actually lose cap flexibility since Pierce and the Humphries/Bogans expiring deals are a wash and Wallace has a year more on his contract than KG does.  If those picks don't pan out, the deal is pretty insignificant.  If anything, you can argue that not giving the youngsters the chance to learn from KG and PP is potentially a detriment to them. 

Still, I agree with the general sentiment that with the C's looking at a pretty good pick this year and Brooklyn's future not looking so hot, the deal is looking better by the minute.  But I'd add that while Brooklyn is clearly not a contender, the East is so bad that it won't be hard for them to stay a playoff team for the foreseeable future.  And the fact that the C's have three of their picks over the next five years will deter them from blowing it up entirely.  But, as others have said, if Danny can make good use of their high pick this year and their fairly good picks from Brooklyn, the deal ultimately should be a good one.

This is not completely true.  We lose cap flexibility in 2015-2016, yes.  But the Celtics were able to get near moving under the luxury tax last year (and then make some other small moves to get under it afterwards) which can enable future flexibility.  This year, while they will owe Wallace $10.1 million, they would have owed Garnett and JET $17.5 million combined, so they saved over $7 million for the 2014-2015 season.  We more shifted flexibility between years, rather than solely gave it up.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I don't know. KG's 18 minutes a game really could've put us over the top. 

[MISSERY]

i can see the nets winning this in a 7 game series or 6
this game tomorrow would be a sign that they need to focus on winning tomorrow
because it will only show that, next years same line-up
playoffs team, but 4-0 or 1st round exit next year depending on injuries and kg still on the team or not, or someone is traded

unless, the heat faces other team via 1st round and loss, maybe allen is gone or wade injured etc;
bringing it to game 7 means they can still contend, lopez is just out who is a rim protector difference maker

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

It was safe to say that about a month into the season when it became apparent KG and PP were not what they once were.

  That was pretty apparent in last year's playoffs.

2012 was the last stand and DA knew it. prolly shoulda traded them then but no we waited another year.

[Finkelskyhook]

It was safe to say when he made the trade.

[Boris Badenov]

I don't understand the "too early to tell" thinking. To me, it's pretty easy to see that as of now the value of those picks - which of course incorporates the possibilities that they might be high or low picks, or steals/busts given draft position - easily outstrips what the Nets got in return, even considering unloading Wallace and the other assets going in both directions (e.g., getting out from under the Jason Terry disaster which is IMO an under-appreciated aspect of the trade).

Suppose you turn back the clock to July 2013, but everyone knows how washed up KG and Pierce would end up being this year. Would the Nets give up the same value, more, or less? I think the answer is pretty clearly "less." So, as of now we're the winners.

Things could change of course. Maybe the picks will stink. Maybe Pierce will be MVP next year. All kinds of crazy things could happen, who knows. But with the best information we have today, I think we are winners.

[celtsfanforlife]

With all due respect to everyone on this board, anyone who thinks that the trade was a bad one for Boston should have their head examined.  PERIOD.  Ainge should have won Executive of the year.

I say this as a huge KG and PP fan.