Fix the Celtics, part 1

With all the complaining I've been doing the last 12-18 months, you'd think I would step up at some point and propose what ought to be done differently. Consider this a post towards that end.

This scenario presumes that Kevin Garnett has already picked this summer to force his way out of Minnesota, and that the Lakers are finally motivated enough by Kobe to close the deal. In this case, the Celtics help facilitate the trade and come away with some improvements that hold less value to the other teams.

BOS gives - #5, #31, MN's future first-round pick, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, Veal, Powe
BOS gets - #19, Lamar Odom, Trenton Hassell

LAL gives - #19, '08 #1, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Kwame Brown
LAL gets - #31, Kevin Garnett, Mike James, Delonte West, Leon Powe

MN gives - Kevin Garnett, Mike James, Trenton Hassell
MN gets - #5, LA 08#1, MN pick, Andrew Bynum, Wally Szczerbiak, Kwame Brown, Veal

According to the ESPN trade machine, the salaries work.

Why for MN: If they're trading KG then the TWolves presumptive motivation will be to move some of their other long-term contracts, pick up picks to rebuild with, and retain some positive angle they can sell to ticket holders. In this deal MN manages to ditch two contracts (Mike James, Trenton Hassell) they've already decided to replace with younger players already on the roster (Foye, McCants). In return they get back a young lottery-talent big (Bynum), the #5 for their rumored binky Yi Jianlian, and three other draft picks. By many accounts Wally remains incredibly popular with casual basketball fans in the twin cities, providing the team with a marketing tool on a short contract. Kwame expires at the end of the year.

Why for LA: KG and Mike James help Kobe win now. Delonte is an outside-shooting guard, in the Steve Kerr mold, well suited for the triangle offense. Leon Powe provides some throw-in front-court bench depth. They can use the #31 to try and get another backup PF/C or use it in a package for someone like Nazr Mohammed. With Kobe and KG the Lakers are instant contenders out West and will have a long line of veterans willing to take short money to fill in the gaps in the roster.

Why for the Celtics: The only thing of real value the Celtic give up is the #5 pick. In return, Lamar Odom provides a great high-post complement to Jefferson on the front line and gives the Celtics someone other than Pierce to run our half-court offense through. He takes pressure off Rondo by drawing his defender away from the basket and playing the role of top-of-the-key decision-maker that that Blount and Raef filled rather ably while here. Trenton Hassell increases from zero to one the number of athletic veterans on the team who can defend multiple wing positions. He immediately relieves Pierce from spending the whole game carrying our offense while also chasing the other team's best scorer around the perimeter. With the #19 pick we take the best player available, potentially a PG prospect like Javaris Crittendon or a wing slider like Thad Young.

New Celtics lineup

starters
1 - Rondo
2/3 - Pierce, Hassell
4/5 - Jefferson, Odom

bench
1 -
2/3 - Allen, Green
4/5 - Gomes, Perk

add a vet PG signing with the LLE to spell Rondo (Chucky Atkins?) plus with the #19: Crittenton? Young?

With Pierce/Odom/Jefferson the Celtics have a front line that should be able to score consistently on anyone in the East. Rondo/Hassell/Allen/Perk should complement them with enough defense to slow down all but the best of opponents. In the East that doesn't take much. That looks to me like a 45-50 win team likely good for second-round of the playoffs