The Celtics drafted Chauncey Billups but hold onto him for about five minutes just 51 games before trading him during his rookie year. Given the player that he’s become, I imagine some Celtics fans feel a little bitter for letting him go, right? Well, in a curious twist of fate, it seems that Billups managed to help deliver the Celtics to salvation.
As spotted on TrueHoop, here’s an interesting account from the Boston Globe about how Kevin Garnett consulted with close friends Tyronn Lue and Billups about his future:
“I talked to KG and it was tough at first because he’s so loyal to Minnesota, his family, friends, and the fans,” said Lue, who was spotted at an LA tennis tournament with Garnett July 20. “All he knew was Minnesota for the last 12 years. I thought Boston would be a great situation, a perfect situation with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. I thought automatically they’d be in the Eastern Conference finals with KG. He thought about it and asked, ‘You think so?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’
“Then, Chauncey came out and said, ‘You have to take the best thing for you and that’s playing in Boston, even though we’d be in the same conference and play four times a year.’ We definitely convinced him to choose Boston because two great players were already in place. Adding KG and being in the Eastern Conference, it’d be easier to win. […]
Back in Los Angeles a few days later, Garnett sought the counsel of his best friends, Detroit’s Chauncey Billups and Atlanta’s Tyronn Lue. Garnett has an offseason home in Malibu, Calif., Billups was in LA for an Adidas photo shoot with Garnett. Lue spends about a month with Garnett in Malibu every summer, though he was in the city to have his right knee scoped July 17 by the Lakers’ team doctor.
The trio discussed the teams interested in Garnett — Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, the Lakers, and Phoenix — and which presented the best scenario for the 10-time All-Star. Billups and Lue helped convince Garnett that Boston would be a good place to play, recognizing what the power forward could add to a mix that already included Pierce and Allen.
If the Pistons end up meeting the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, we know who to blame.
In loosely related news, Keith Langlois revealed on Pistons.com that Joe Dumars knew of the deal before it went public — Andy Miller, the agent who represents both Billups, Antonio McDyess and KG, was in town recently for Billups’ benefit golf outing and let Dumars know the rumors were true.
In the article, Langlois mentioned that Miller also represents Sammy Mejia, the second-round pick who most people figured would be spending next year in Europe instead of getting a contract to sit at the end of the bench. Kind of makes you wonder: did Dumars throw Miller a bone after the Chauncey and McDyess deals by signing Mejia? Without having seen Mejia play, I honestly don’t have a clue, but I couldn’t help but wonder after seeing the connection.
It seems the Pistons have a track record of taking a flyer on second-round picks. As for Billups helping the Garnett trade go through, it sure beats Garnett to Chicago.
I’m not sweating it about KG going to Boston. The last time CB was involved in a trade deal by convincing someone going to another team that team didn’t go to the Finals (i.e. like Chris Weber signed with Detroit last year)
If the Celtic don’t go to the Finals or reaches the Conference Finals. We will all know that CB is not a good match maker.
Detroit matches up well with Boston.
Sheed vs. KG
Rip vs. Ray Allen
Tay vs. Pierce
Billups runs wild. Pistons win.
joejoejoe, Sheed, Rip and Prince are all good players but none of them is as good as the guy you have them matched up against. I am waiting for the season to start before I make any predictions via a blog.
hey just wanted to comment, I think the Celtics will be great, IMHO. They have the best trio in the league, unarguably. If they don’t win the Finals though, the trades were useless.
You are right about them matching up well. However, KG would RUIN Sheed. That is if he even stays on the court.
Rondo is better than anybody thinks. Those who got a chance to watch him play all his games last season will agree that he is for real. Sure he is unexperienced, but he has that something special many players lack.
That would be a great series to watch. Celtics vs Pistons…
Can’t wait for this season!
Tay (age 27) vs. Pierce (age 30)
Rip (age 29) vs. Ray Allen (age 32)
‘Sheed (age 33, 29,700 career mins.) vs. KG (age 32, 35,500 career mins.)
Your resume doesn’t help you move your feet on defense when you are playing your 90th game in May. I still like the Pistons matchups come playoff time.
I’ll stipulate that Detroit didn’t move their feet very well against Mr. LeBron James last Spring. I’m hoping that was an aberration but if it was not then the Celtics look a bit better as SG,SF,PF than the Pistons. It should be a fun season either way and I’m excited to see all the new players in the East and young players on the Pistons.
Im not sweating any team this up-coming Season…I wasnt even sweating Cleveland (until they had us up 3-2), I think if the Pistons play to their REAL potenital they can beat anyone.
Celtics are going to have a lot of trouble pushing against a solid interior defense.
So, if no championship = failure for Boston, then we can already chalk failure for the next indefinite number of years with that roster.
We learned as fans about how defense (solid interior and perimeter D) usually wins championships, and if one has enough to form a solid bench, that also makes for a greater probability. Having a true superstar (solid O, solid D) on the team usually helps it to be a done deal for the rings.
3 superstars, little bench, mediocre defense, and weak spots at the 1 and 5 make this Celtics club clearly short of the mark. All the talk comes from have-not clubs wishing great misfortune on better clubs to allow a Cleveland Cavs-like-run for their team come May . . . meaning, they want that easy path from the 2nd seed.
It’s still much more possible for two teams from the Central to continue to take the 1st and 2nd seed in comparison to Boston winning the division, having the most wins, and taking one of those spots.
HAHAHAH love how you began comparing rayallen and PP’s ages to rip and prince, but when you found out sheed was older than kg, you switched to minutes. Do you think sheed wasn;t playing basketball when kg was in the pros? He was playing college, fool. ANd even if he wasn’t he was probably smoking weed and ruining his athleticism. You sir, are an idiot joejoejoe. Kindly shut up and never post again.
Thanks
Ummm … just so the regulars know, this post got some play on a couple of Celtics blogs. No use taking the bait from the guy above, because I doubt he’ll be coming back to read it.
First of all, what the hell? JoeisaRetard, don’t jump over my fellow Detroitbadboys bloggers. I didn’t the comment had any sense, but joejoejoe had a valid point. Second, I think the East just got a whole lot more competitive. its gonna be fun to watch it in winter and on into the spring (hopefully into June for the Pistons). Third I think the Pistons would beat the Celtics in a 7-game series, but that’s just my biased opinion. The Pistons have more playoff experience, but the here’s what that has done for us lately:
2005: Lost to a, at the time, mentaly weaker team and handing them Game 5, which would basically guarentee a championship.
2006: Going 7 games with a weaker team in the conference semifinals and losing to a underdog and the eventually NBA Champions in the conference finals, in what was supposed to be the year.
2007: Lost to a weaker team in what was a very easy path to the finals called the Eastern Conference (which, by the way, just got a whole lot more competitive).
In conclusion, JoeisaRetard don’t jump all over my boy joejoejoe, or any other Detroitbadboy blogger like that. Also, I think the Pistons would beat the Celtics in a 7-game series, especially if it occured during the first two rounds of the playoffs (no particular reason). Peace.
Joeisaretard has a point. If you count of Rasheed’s playoff minutes he’s probably played a lot more basketball in the NBA than KG seeing how KG rarely advances past the first round (when he manages to make the playoffs) and ‘Sheed has been to 5 Conference finals and played in 2 League finals. It was unfair to compare the two players without pointing that out so I appreciate the opportunity to clear things up.
I just have 1 question for all of the celtics fans that are now marching around to the different blogs and websites throughout this fine internet world of ours… it’s fine and great that finally, the Celtics actually have a fighting chance after years of mediocrity… but the question is: “Who’s going to play defense?”
To the guy that said that the Celts 3 were unarguably better than the Pistons’ 3 they’d matchup against, I guess my only response is that yeah their names sound pretty and look pretty on a marquee somewhere or on your roster in NBA Live 2008, but all 3 Detroit guys will cause matchup problems for your “big 3″. KG cannot guard Sheed, Ray Allen cannot chase around Rip all night (and you now have no depth at SG), and Pierce can’t guard Prince’s length… all 3 of Detroit’s men can put bodies and can d up on the Celt’s 3.
Add on top of that, whatever deadbeat you drag out at center will be inferior to even Nazr Mohammed, and let’s not forget that Rondo isn’t some spectacular talent no matter how much you want to pump him up. The best option would have been to keep Delonte West…
Oh wow…. to all of Boston… “I’m soo sorry”. To all of Detroit….”I’m soo ashamed”. These fine young boys come all the way over to our blog to talk with us about why the 2007-2008 season is already over and this is how we treat them? Please, we’re lucky that sophisticated sports town like Boston has one merciful soul blogging about the Celtics that in his GOOD NATURE saw it fit to link the knowledgeable fans from Boston to our dirt creek D-Town blog here. I’m appalled that we’d fly the flag this poorly in the face of such greatness. Especially since these guys are obviously 100% right. Sure we may have watched the Piston’s go to 5 consecutive Eastern Conference finals, but these guys have been watching videotape of the greatest mustachioed white man to wear short shorts EVER (remember Richard Simmons didn’t have a moustache) for that entire time. OBVIOUSLY nobody on the current Piston’s roster is better than Basketball Jesus, therefore it follows that Boston fans would AUTOMATICALLY know more about what it takes to win the Eastern conference today in 2007-08 than we would. Experience means nothing in the face of green short shorts.
I like the Celtics, I’m intrigued to see how the trio works out under the guidance of a marvelous coach like Doc Rivers. Obviously the haters on this blog don’t have the foresight to see how adding KG will instantly make Ray Allen and Paul Pierce become elite defenders, even though they’re average at best now. Clearly Rivers will set up the perfect game plan every night to ensure this. Nope Boston doesn’t have to worry about anything like “sharing the ball between 3 superstars” because Doc is so credible and such a game planning GENIUS that whenever things get out of hand he’ll DEMAND his three all stars behave and do what’s best for the team.
That Perkins kid at the 5 as a full time starter will definately work out. I mean, hell if he tries really hard he might one day score as many points per game as Nazr… wouldn’t that be special? Between him and that second year point guard you guys have everything should be find. You know the one with the funny name who took half a season to finally suplant a supreme talent like Bassy Telfair. Some people might be scared by the tendancy for point guards to regress slightly in their second season before blossoming in their third, but again… with a coach like Rivers and an obvious all world talent like Rambowhatever there.. that’s just not a posibility. I just don’t understand why people are saying you don’t have anything but the big 3 when I wouldn’t trade the OTHER two starters for the starting C and PG on at least 4 other Eastern Conference teams. Besides, even when Allen and KG have to sit who’s to say that Eddie House, Brian Scalbrine and Scott Pollard aren’t going to match up with guys like Dyees, Gooden or Nocioni? People talk alot about needing a 9 man rotation to win a championship, but dude I’ll take the 8 actual NBA players (No really the NBA.com website says they’ve all played in the NBA before) the Celtics have on the roster now ANY day and twice during offseason days where everything looks so amazing on paper.
And I mean depth? What does that matter? So long as nobody gets hurt I’m sure your ace GM will pull a sweet deal at the deadline to obtain all the clutch rotation mins you guys still need. Your starters are strong, they won’t burn out before the deadline and then Danny Ainge will make another one of his patented “I rip you off and you like it” trades, like he has so many times before to save the day. Everyone makes it sound like the guy only made the KG/Allen deals because he stupidly was counting on getting a #1 or #2 lottery pick and when the C’s fell to #5 desperately feared for his career. Thats bullsh*t, the man is a damn GENIUS with a long history of grabbing the right player at the right time for absolutely NOTHING. I mean Vin Baker anyone? PLEASE… Danny is a saint, scholar and an amazing NBA GM. I mean all it takes is an expiring contract or some young backups with promise and ANYONE can go out and add a worthy 6th man. I’m sure Danny will find a way to aquire those things before the deadline so he can trade them for one of the super cheap assets he’ll need to legitimately contend for a championship.
I’m so sorry nobody else on this blog has the courage to admitt all this guys but you’re right. The season is pretty much over already, we should just hand the Eastern Conference to Boston now and make the West play a season/playoffs to see who they’re going to masacre in the Finals. I mean think about it, if Boston didn’t have to play ANY games before the finals and whoever came out of the West had to play at least 94 that’d make sure they didn’t lose the championship that they’ve already earned (just by making two trades this offseason) to something irrelvant like say: injuries, fatigue, a newly aquired star ODing on heroin before he ever plays a game for the Celtics, or burnout. Afterall thats what both the Celtics and the city of Boston deserve after the effort they put in last season.
Now if you’ll excuse me I have to go start a new NBA live season from last year’s game just to remember a time when the Boston Celtics weren’t the best basketball team to ever not have played a single game together. I’ll try not cry as I do it.
With some cleanup, the PG4L screed would be the ultimate rebuttal to any Celtics fan with high hopes.
This article is worthless. The Celtics made a huge error in trading Billups so soon, it is only a coincidence that Billups was a friend of Garnett and advised him to join the Celtics.
This article is akin to this: I throw a half-empty soda can out of my car window, it is recycled by a highway-cleanup-crew, the aluminum from that can is used to make a jaws-of-life, and said jaws-of-life is used to open up my car and pull me to safety after a car-accident.
I didn’t do shit. In fact, I was wrong to litter; but I was eventually saved by the can - it doesn’t make me a genius, it just shows that I was saved by really dumb and stupid luck.
You can now see why Joe Dumars threw CB under the bus because His goals did not line up with the team’s goals of multiple championships. When you have the ear of the best player of the NBA you are suppose to put on your devil’s horns and cut a deal for your own selfish motives such as winning titles by getting Joe Dumars involved. And winning titles includes stopping your opponent on and off the court in free agent deals. Just like chicago snatched up Ben wallace to weaken the Pistons. Hey do you see Lebron James or KG telling McDyess to go back to Detroit? Hell No! because they are not stupid like some people. Instead they are dangling every temptation in the book to snatch him away so that Detroit can be further weakened and their chances stronger because duh? they want to win championships. Billups has successfully helped Sabotage and undermined Detroit chances of ever winning another championship because he acted as an agent for Boston and not an agent for Detroit. Therefore Dumars has no other choice but to start all over. So Bye Bye Billups who betrayed the organiztion and let us all enjoy Pistons Basketball for what its worth for they have been compromised first by Larry Brown and now by CB.
Is there any loyalty left in sports?
EZ