He has a very strong point. Look at the pre-trade roster and the current one.
Pre-
Perkins/Shaq/Erden
KG/Big Baby/J.O.
Pierce/Daniels
Allen/Robinson/Wafer
Rondo/West/Bradley
Current-
Shaq/Krstic/Johnson
KG/Big Baby/Murphy/J.O.
Pierce/Green/Pavlovic
Allen/Wafer
Rondo/West/Bradley
We upgraded on every position except center and point guard which evens out well. I think Doc got more options and it will be exciting to see how this team does in the playoffs.
I see two upgrades from all of the moves, with the biggest being at small forward. The other upgrade is at power forward. I believe Center is weaker due to the lack of defense, and there is no change at Ray's and Rpndo's position, although I guess your point is that Nate being gone is an upgrade.
On paper, May is right. We shall see how that paper works in the playoffs and we shall see whether Shaq and JO can get healthy. Before the trade, I believed 100 percent that if healthy the Celtics will win the championship.
Now, having to integrate 4 new players into the system, plus Delonte, and seeing Doc speak publicly how difficult that is going to be, I am not so sure at all they can win it even if Shaw is healthy.