Report: Celtics 2nd biggest winner in free agency

According to our most recent poll, 94% of Celtics fans are pleased with the team’s roster acquisitions this off-season. We’re not the only ones. Moke Hamilton of Sheridan Hoops ranks the Celtics the 2nd biggest winner in free agency:

Danny Ainge has done a masterful job this offseason. His first move was agreeing to an extension with Kevin Garnett the day before Garnett would have hit the open market. And though he failed at re-signing Ray Allen, the acquisition of Jason Terry will take the sting away. That’s especially true since Terry is comfortable in a sixth man role (Allen wasn’t) and is probably better at creating his own shot off the dribble than Allen is.

Ainge also managed to acquire Courtney Lee from the Houston Rockets in a sign-and-trade deal, so they’re set at the two-guard spot.

…

By re-signing Garnett, Green and Brandon Bass, snagging Terry off of the open market, executing a sign-and-trade for Lee, and drafting both Sullinger and Fab, the Celtics are a deeper, younger, and stronger group. Their losses hurt, but if Avery Bradley is able to return at 100 percent this season, the Celtics—if healthy—will almost certainly win the NBA’s Atlantic division once again. Whether they can accomplish more remains to be seen, but credit Ainge for upgrading the Celtics roster and ensuring that Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett will not end their careers playing in vain.

With this crew, it seems highly likely that the Celtics will have another crack at the Miami Heat in the playoffs.

I love the moves made by Ainge, but this is one helluva rosy write-up. Is Hamilton a closet green-teamer? Absolutely no concerns about Jason Terry’s age, Jeff Green’s rust or Jared Sullinger’s back. And labeling Fab Melo a steal is a huge stretch.

Hamilton’s list falls like this: (1) Clippers, (2) Boston, (3) Lakers, (4) Heat, (5) Knicks and (5) Nets.

Here’s my version: (1) Lakers (2) Boston, (3) Wolves, (4) Nets and (5) Clippers

Nash is going to have a huge impact for the Lakers. And you have to like what Minnesota accomplished. They added Brandon Roy, Andrei Kirilenko, Chase Buddinger and Greg Stiemsma while dumping Michael Beasley. As for the Knicks, I think their back court is in worse shape.