The Boston Celtics and the Brooklyn Nets appear to be sitting at different ends of the Eastern Conference. The Boston Celtics are entering a rebuilding year while the Brooklyn Nets are armed with the fire power to compete with the best. After acquiring Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce from the Celtics, the Nets look poised for the playoffs and Danny Ainge agrees.
The general manager of the Celtics is certainly not feeling sorry for how much the Nets paid to get the two future Hall of Fame players. While taking on large salaries and giving up unprotected first-round draft picks, Ainge is confident that both players were worth the price for Brookyln.
"They've got a lot left in the tank, especially because of the fact that they don't have to do it every night. If Paul and Garnett had to go out there and be player A and B every night and score 20 and 10 every night, yeah, there'd be some concern," Ainge told media while at a press conference.
Ainge understands what each player is capable of, noting Garnet totaled 17 rebounds three games in a row during the postseason, which begs the question of why did he let them go in the first place. Ainge said he would have been completely comfortable keeping Pierce and Garnett on the roster and giving them another season, but the Nets came along with an offer he could not refuse.
"If there we no good offers, which there hadn't been over the last couple of years, it would have been very easy to bring them back and try to fill the roster," Ainge said. "They were under contract-KG for two more years and Paul for another-and we would have kept everyone together."
After Ray Allen departed for the Miami Heat, Ainge knew it was only a matter of time before the Celtics would reach this point. Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov's offer was perfect to build a new Big 3 in Boston in due time. Ainge always thought interest would be high on both Pierce and Garnett. He believes they are the perfect fit for the team Brooklyn already has in place.
The Nets assumed starting lineup will be made up of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. On paper they look perfect and Ainge is confident that the team will compete.
"The fact they've been able to go together to a team will be an ideal fit for them," Ainge said. "They won't have to carry a heavy load with three other All-Stars on the team. They'll have a great deal of depth. It's pretty ideal for them."