Howard trade GREAT for Celtics.

[Jon]

This is not a great trade for us.  Orlando wasn't really a threat anymore, Dwight or no Dwight.  Philly might now be more dangerous with Bynum, who we arguably have more trouble with than Howard.  And LA just got really good. 

The only hope I really have for things falling apart in LA is with age and injuries.  Kobe has been fairly lucky over the years, avoiding major problems (he hasn't had a KG '09 moment).  Given that he's been in the league since 1996, he could be due for one.  Pair that with the fact that he and Gasol played basketball all summer and that Nash is even older than our old guys (by a few years at that), and things may not work out in LA as well as everyone thinks even this year. 

Another potential issue may be the Nash dynamic.  Payton was a total disaster with Kobe and Shaq back in '04.  Perhaps things won't work out so well with Nash either.  However, I think even if Kobe dominates the ball, Nash will still likely be a good spot up shooter, something he's far better at than Payton ever was. 

[LilRip]

D12 staying in Orl would've been great for the Celtics. The trade now just disgusts me because of how lopsided it is. NBA 2k12 on easy mode wouldn't allow it.

i think the Celtic equivalent of this would be if we could trade Jeff Green for Josh Smith. Not to say Jeff Green is bad, he's alright. But Josh Smith is a legit starter and can play like an all-star. Kinda like how Bynum is a legit starter and all-star but Dwight is an MVP candidate-level type of player.

[footey]

How is this a bad thing?

1.  The Lakers got better.  That's always a bad thing, especially when they only trail us by [one title]*;

2.  The Sixers got better.  Iguodala is a great player, but this now opens up more time for Evan Turner, and more opportunities for Jrue Holiday.  Plus, they're adding the second best center in the NBA to their team;

3.  There's another "superteam" in the NBA now.  If we somehow get out of the East, we're likely to run into LA in the Finals.

*Dude!!

[jsingh1699]

how did orlando agree to do this? they got a bunch of crap.

also, as much as i hate to say it, but if lakers/heat are in the finals, it would be time to support lebron...

[footey]

What I can't figure is how the 3 1st round picks are all protected first round picks.  Orlando GM, are you serious??? You couldn't at least negotiate to have them unprotected?  Pathetic.

[702Celtics]

Let all the casual fans and media hype up the AARP Lakers. They aren't doing anything this year; Nash, Kobe, Jamison, Gasol and O'Neal's careers are about done. They have a horrible coach in Mike Brown, who Bynum didn't respect. Nash will not play more than 65 games this year, he won't be able to withstand a full season at his age.

Boston is in a much better position than LA to win a title, not only this year, but years to follow.

[LilRip]

What I can't figure is how the 3 1st round picks are all protected first round picks.  Orlando GM, are you serious??? You couldn't at least negotiate to have them unprotected?  Pathetic.

TP for this. Add to that, he's still carrying the horrid Turkoglu contract and added some big non-expiring contracts in Harrington and Afflalo and ended up with the worst players in the entire trade (no Iggy or Bynum). That GM needs to be fired on the spot.

[mctyson]

I'll just quote myself:  "I imagine a lot of my fellow Celtics fans will be in denial about this... seeing as we have Courtney Lee and Jason Terry and all... but honestly this is nothing short of a total disaster for Celtic fans.  Steve Nash is the greatest shooter in the NBA and arguably still the best playmaker in the game... he's now the 4th best player on the Lakers.  That's sickening."

While I admire your self quotation, let me first say that I am not in denial about the Lakers improving with this deal.  Let me also say that I am fine with it.

I know the Lakers are to the Celtics as the Yankees are to the Red Sox, but there is a massive distinction between the two rivalries here.  I won't clue you in to what it is.

Here's how I look at the whole Dwight Howard saga:

1) He's gone from the Magic, and the Magic are no longer a threat.

2) He did not go to Brooklyn, so the Nets are no more than  middling playoff team.

3) His trade required the removal of Andre Iguodala from the 76ers who, as I mentioned earlier, really killed us in the playoffs last year.

4) Bynum and his myriad of injuries comes to the Eastern Conference.

I'll grant that #4 could work out against us.  But again, how is any of this bad for the Celtics?

[mctyson]

76ers are a top 4 team in the East next season -

Jrue Holiday
Evan Turner, Nick Young
Thad. Young, Dorrell Wright
Spences Hawes?
Andrew Bynum


Scary Team.

With Iggy gone, that team has even less outside scoring than it did last year, when it had virtually none.

[mctyson]

You cannot be serious with this thread, OP.

Completely serious. 

As late as a few months ago, we were looking at Howard and Williams in the Atlantic Division.  That's a team that could beat us in 2nd round of the playoffs.

The only reason I would dislike this trade is if we faced the Lakers in the NBA Finals.  And if that day comes, I will more than happy to bring up this thread again.

[footey]

What I can't figure is how the 3 1st round picks are all protected first round picks.  Orlando GM, are you serious??? You couldn't at least negotiate to have them unprotected?  Pathetic.

TP for this. Add to that, he's still carrying the horrid Turkoglu contract and added some big non-expiring contracts in Harrington and Afflalo and ended up with the worst players in the entire trade (no Iggy or Bynum). That GM needs to be fired on the spot.

TP right back at you!

[mctyson]

This is not a great trade for us.  Orlando wasn't really a threat anymore, Dwight or no Dwight.  Philly might now be more dangerous with Bynum, who we arguably have more trouble with than Howard.  And LA just got really good. 

Orlando was not a threat, you are correct.  But the team that acquired Howard is.  That team now resides in a conference we do not have to play against until we reach the NBA Finals.

Last time I checked, an Iggy-lead Philly team took us to 4th quarter of Game 7.  Do you remember how many clutch shots Iggy hit against us?  Do you remember how badly he bothered Pierce all series?  That's all gone now. 

This doesn't even touch on the fact that Bynum is a walking time-bomb of injuries.

[Lucky17]

76ers are a top 4 team in the East next season -

Jrue Holiday
Evan Turner, Nick Young
Thad. Young, Dorrell Wright
Spences Hawes?
Andrew Bynum


Scary Team.

More likely:

Holiday
Jason Richardson, Nick Young
Evan Turner, Dorell Wright
Spencer Hawes, Thad Young, Lavoy Allen
Bynum, Hawes, Kwame Brown

3rd best in the Atlantic, perhaps?

[Big Rondo]

If our best hope is relying on injuries to other teams get us to number 18, we're already out of the running.

[SHAQATTACK]

Lots of Questions about the Lakers?

Mixed feelings.  On paper it all looks good for LA.... but Nash is all but gone. This maybe Kobe's last year as a dominator , Howard has serious back injury ..look at what Amarie ...Larry Bird .. SIr Charles and others its a NBA career killer.  Pau is getting some age/mileage on him too.  They have little or no bench worth mentioning. ....
can these four play the whole season and not get hurt.

Has HOWARD AGREED to a extension?

I predict , Howards back will never be perfect again and let him be the player he was.

Question...can Howard , nASh and this complete change of the guard other than Kobe/Pau be whipped into a WORKING functioning team.  Is the chemistry RIGHT?

KObe is a ball hog , attention hog , and openly complains to and about his teamates ...will this wash with Nash and Howard. ?

All coached by a mediocre coach at best WITHOUT the backup power of PAT RILEY ridding herd on the likes of the stars of the Lakers. Spo gets what gets wants becasue of RIley, Brown has no such help .

In other words the LAkers have about TWO years with Nash and Kobe left before they go to the old folks home. Can Mike Brown put the whole thing together before Kobe gets too old That is the question.

AS some else mentioned , Kobe is playing on borrowed time injury wise.... 80+ games comming, and they WILL NOT win most with out him playing.  Can he stay healthy ...or will lady luck finally screw the Lakers?