The Times They Are a-Changin': An analysis of Danny Ainge's stupidity.

     The NBA Trade Deadline has arrived and it's safe to say this has been a crazy couple of days. Everyone saw the deal trading Carmelo Anthony to any team coming a mile away, but the deals done by Mr. Danny Ainge today just kind of make you sit back and say "what?".

     Things got a little bit odd after the Nets failed to land Carmelo Anthony. Since they couldn't land him for their superstar they decided they would go with the next best thing and point guard Deron Williams as I addressed in my last article. Now, this makes sense to an extent because Williams did want out of Utah, but it was surely a "what?" moment when I saw this news pop up on my Twitter feed. It was a evenly matched trade and there was no clear winner, but there is no greater highlight in the trade talk than today's trade with the Celtics. Danny Ainge, you're an idiot good sir.

The "What the hell, Ainge?" trade. 
    Celtics trade Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson to Thunder for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic.

     Celtics trade rookie Luke Harangody and rookie Semih Erden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a second-round draft pick.

The Celtic's newly recovered Kendrick Perkins

was traded to the Thunder.

     Okay Danny Ainge, once again what the HELL are you doing? What are you doing to the Celts? I am baffled at these deals. I know the Cavaliers are horrible and that will be a high second round draft pick, but why give up two rookies for that? Erden is a seven footer, which aren't nearly as easy to come by as you would like to think, and Harangody who can actually play. So Mr. Ainge, unless you have some prospect hidden amongst the woodwork I find this to be an absolutely horrible trade.

     That's not even the worse of the worse though, Ainge then decided it would be a fantastic idea to trade Perkins, the final piece of that starting puzzle. The man worked incredibly hard to get back in shape only be dealt off as if he were a red-headed stepchild. KG is my defensive player of the year candidate, but the man can't do everything on his own. The Celtics need a big inside presence and I'm sorry undersized power forwards named Jeff Green and weak centers named Nenad Krstic aren't going to cut it.

     Green's may score more than Perkins but keep in mind these two things:

• A) Jeff Green plays 37 minutes per game on a team that doesn't have three HOF's in their starting roster. Jeff Green WAS the third scoring option of the Thunder. Now he won't even start.

• B) Jeff Green isn't going to impact this team the way Perkins did: offensively, defensively, and with chemistry.
• Offense: Jeff Green couldn't back down yo' momma. He has atrocious post ability and elsewhere he doesn't have anywhere near the offensive ability to get a look at subbing in for Pierce at the Small Forward slot.
• Defense: He sucks at defense, all I'm going to say. Actually no, I'll elaborate. He cannot clog the lane the way Perkins did and he never will. That's all I'm going to say.
• Chemistry: This Celtics team is built around their brotherhood and losing such a big member of that brotherhood in Perkins is a bad, bad deal. When a kid who can't contribute offensively, defensively (on a defense first team), and shoots a lot more than he should comes in then he probably isn't going to be KG's new best buddy. 

     So, its obvious that Jeff Green fits no role on this team whatsoever, but what about Krstic? He's got to have something worthwhile right? Wrong. 

Will Green and Krstic help out the Celtics, probably not.
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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     Krstic is the new "bulk" for the Celtics, but he's doesn't have near the frame (or near the toughness) that Perkins has. The three centers for this Celtics team are Krstic, Shaquille O'Neal, and Jermaine O'Neal. Let that sink in for a second. Danny Ainge, if you have any hope whatsoever of getting past Joakim Noah, Roy Hibbert, or worst of all Dwight Howard, then why-oh-why would you trade your second best post defender? You can't expect a bad, thin framed center to join your brotherhood of a team and become the next Olajuwon. It's just not going to happen. God help you if you happen to make the finals and face the Lakers (if they make the finals) because I can tell you what Odom, Bynum, and Gasol are going to give you one helluva time. 

The Celtics are losing Nate Robinson's bench play
and chemistry for nothing.

     So, that's the end of this rant, right? Again, wrong. Why was Nate Robinson shipped off? This makes just as little sense as dealing out Perkins. Nate, with his "playful" attitiude was part of that brotherhood the Celtics have built. Why ruin that Ainge? Not only that but the guy was part of the deep second unit the Celtics had, one of the reasons they are top in the East. He chipped in a couple of buckets per night, defended his heart out after learning the ways of being a Celtic, and was part of the "family". I understand Delonte West is getting back to full strength, but the Celtics don't have a lot of depth at guard and getting rid of a guard without one in return hurts. Not to mention that the Celtics gained a more expensive contract in Krstic, so they technically lost money.

    The Celtics are only percentage points above the Heat (whom they have beaten every time this year), and remain the top team in the Eastern Conference. They lost two key players, two role players, and gained two players that did not fit this team whatsoever and a second-round draft pick. Woo. So go ahead Celtics fans, shake your head in disapproval, facepalm, or do whatever it is you need to do to show the distaste you have for this trade. Danny Ainge, you my friend may have orchestrated one of the greatest trades of all time, but at this moment in time you have failed horribly.

     Do you agree with everything I said? Or do you call balderdash on my statements? Leave your opnions in the comment box below and don't forget to subscribe or follow me on twitter.com/travisbrockett

     Thank you very much for reading!

Can the Nets finally start winning?

     If you haven't heard by now the New Jersey Nets have finally gained the star power they so desperately lacked by acquiring Deron Williams. Yes, Nets fans, the star power they lacked. No, Devin Harris is not a star, and don't even get me started on Brook Lopez...

     In the deal the Nets acquired Deron Williams for the price of:

• Devin Harris
• Derrick Favors
• Two first round draft picks (2011, 2012) and
• $3 million smack-a-roos.

     So there is the layout of what the Nets went through to acquire ONE player, but to me there is no clear winner here. You may say "Well Deron Williams is one of the top point's in the league, how are the Nets not the winners?!" This is my reasoning behind this. 

       Nets Trade Analysis

     Deron Williams is without a doubt one of the best point guards in the league, but as the Jazz started struggling he began to become extremely frustrated. Hey Deron, the Nets suck... like a lot. Who in the world is Deron going to back him up? He has no ying to his yang, jelly to his peanut butter? Don't tell me "OH YEAH BROOK LOPEZ AND DWILL LIGHTING IT UP!". Brook Lopez plays at a snails pace and last time I checked when you average under 6 rebounds a game as a 7-footer you are classified as worthless. 

     I really want to see things work out for Williams because I truly am a supporter of him, but the man can only do so much. Maybe (not likely) I will be wrong, but unless the Nets acquire some more talent they can kiss Deron Williams buh-bye when his contract expires. Fingers crossed that you can land Dwight, Nets fans. 

Deron Williams looks to turn the Nets team around,
 but the road will be tough.
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     Of course though there is the always looming possibility this COULD work. The only way I can see this working well for the Nets is the sole fact that Williams makes his entire team better and so he may develop the young talent around him such as Kris Humphries, Anthony Morrow, or hell even Brook Lopez. I mean Williams averages 4 rebounds per game as a guard, maybe he can teach Lopez a thing or six.

     Nets fans, go ahead and get your Williams jersey now because it might not be in stock much longer. As much as I really would like to see him turn this team around I'm just not quite sure how it will work out. My final opinion is this: Williams will benefit the struggling Nets team and if, keyword IF, they can keep him there then the new owners of the Nets just trumped the Knicks by acquiring a cheap superstar. Williams can change this team into championship contenders if he gets the right people around him.

       Jazz Trade Analysis

     With the departure of Williams the Jazz just lost their franchise player and they already lost their other big name in Boozer, but the Jazz aren't depleted. This team has tremendous depth if injuries weren't such a persistant problem. Paul Millsap, Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, Raja Bell, Gordon Hayward, and most importantly Al Jefferson. They have lost their leaders in Williams and Sloan though and that will be the killer. Williams improves players on the court with his abilities, Sloan improves players by developing talent. It's rough losing those big names, but it seems they are heading in the right direction after losing them.

Al Jefferson is the key player as the Jazz look to start
 anew without Williams.
(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
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     They have now acquired Devin Harris, who of course is in no way a Deron Williams, but the kid isn't a horrible point. Granted he's having a poor statistical season (except averaging career-high's in assists) but keep into consideration he was on the Nets... the Nets. Now that he has all of this depth around the Jazz hope that he can develop into a stronger point capable of leading this team.

     The Jazz also acquired Derrick Favors, the long, athletic forward who I believe is going to do absolutely nothing for this team so I am not going to waste my time here. He could either blossom into the dynamic player he was in college, but at a professional level or he could just fizzle out into a nothing. It depends how the Jazz want to use him, he could develop but he in no way favors (get it?) Millsap or Jefferson on the interior. Either potential trade bait, or a future talent. Nothing to rave about.

     Lastly we have the two first round draft picks the Jazz got. Two first-rounders is more young talent to add around their young talent. Also consider once again the Nets are terrible so the draft pick for this upcoming season is a top 10 guaranteed. The Jazz have the fountain of youth right now and this team looks to be heading in the right direction. My final opinion though is that they ultimately lost their superstar and that is going to be the biggest killer. The Jazz will still be .500%, but it's hard to tell if they will go any further than that.

     In other news, Joakim "Sasquatch was my dad" Noah returns to stomp the Raptors tonight, and we finally get to see the trio that is Billups, 'Melo, and A'mare.

Bigfoot is tired of seeing Derrick Rose highlights on ESPN.
 (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
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It's been an exciting day in the NBA ladies and gents! Thank you for reading, The Technical Foul, now feel free to tell me how much of an idiot I am.