four players and three second round picks?

[BudweiserCeltic]

It's a good trade for all three teams.

Portland gets a free player and two seconds, one of which could end up having some value.

Houston gets what is likely to be the 31st pick in the draft (sometimes a very valuable pick, if the right international player is available).

Boston gets a MLE-level player, who they couldn't have acquired otherwise, and gives up assets that aren't likely to help them win now.

Assets that won't help win now, and are easily replaceable.

[Jeff]

at least once Ainge has bought a 2nd round pick (to get Leon Powe I believe)

if we want 2nd rounders, we can get them

[Roy H.]

at least once Ainge has bought a 2nd round pick (to get Leon Powe I believe)

if we want 2nd rounders, we can get them

We bought the pick Bill Walker, too, I believe.
 
The Charlotte pick is obviously more valuable than the average 2nd rounder, but whoever is drafted there isn't likely to be as valuable as Lee.

[Q_FBE]

I think it is pretty darn cheap considering that we more than replaced what Ray Allen was capable of giving us. We are the second best team in the East and perhaps the NBA.

[lightspeed5]

courtney lee is tall.

[nickagneta]

Completely excellent trade. Bill Simmons called it a hijacking and he's not far wrong. We gave up absolutely no long term NBA rotational talent for a borderline starter/definite high quality 6th man type who is 26 years old, a plus defender at his position and a very good shooter.

Master stroke for Ainge.

[Neurotic Guy]

There is (or should be) an  NBA adage that goes somehting like this: A '10' is worth a lot more than two 5's.
In fact, in the NBA a 10 is worth more than a dozen 5's, and I would argue that a 10 is worth a lot more than two 8's.  Who wouldn't gladly trade Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo for Kevin Durant or Lebron James?

Lee is not a 10, but I'll stretch the aforementioned adage to read: A '6/7' is worth a lot more than a bunch of 4's. And these 4's are potential 4's -- not proven yet to be even that good.

A GREAT deal for the C's.

I am also loving the good value contracts we are getting signed that can be valuable assets in trades as needed over the next couple of years.  DA has a very manageable (in fact, advantageous) salary situation despite not being under the cap for a couple years.
 

[SHAQATTACK]

Sorry Miami ... you suck

Lee plus Terry is much GREATER than 38 year old crippled RAY ALLEN.