Gary Payton Traded to the Celtics

The Boston Celtics today acquired Future Hall of Famer Gary Payton, former Boston Celtic Rick Fox and a conditional number 1 draft choice from the Lakers. The Celtics sent Chris Mihm, Chucky Atkins, Marcus Banks and their second round 2005 draft pick to Los Angeles in return.

Bill Simmons has an excellent analysis of the trade already up on his ESPN.com Page 2 site. ESPN.com even had earlier credited Simmons with breaking the story (it is strange to see Simmons so out front on a story).

The Sports Guy does a great job breaking down the trade but let me add some thoughts:

- How can ESPN.com justify the headline Lakers Acquire Mihm in Five Player Deal? When did ESPN become the official public relations firm for the Lakers? Does anyone actually think that Mihm was the best player or most noteworthy player in this deal? That would be Gary Payton - hands down. This headline would be like using the headline Rangers Acquire Soriano to describe the trade that send A-Rod to the Yankees (not that Payton is in the same class of superstar as A-Rod). Mihm averaged 6.3 points and 5.4 rebounds last year - yeah he's the headliner.

- Can Ainge get some love from Celtics fans for screwing the Lakers twice now within 6-months? Taking on Chucky Atkins allowed Detroit to complete the Rasheed Wallace trade and thus paved the way for a steamrolling of the Lakers in the finals. A victory that had to be especially sweet for Celtics fans who were spared watching Phil Jackson break Red Auerbach's record for titles. Now Ainge helps the Lakers further descent into chaos with this trade.

- How far the Lakers have plummeted can be gauged by the fact that the 2005 pick has be conditional just in case the Lakers become a lottery team. Finals this year and lottery next? Yup - it's a definite possibility.

- How come nobody is playing up the Rick Fox prodigal son angle to this trade? Rick Fox played six years in Boston before playing the last seven for the Lakers. Fox has the potential to be a real solid veteran coming off the bench. A real crowd favorite. I might have even made a Rick Fox for Chris Mihm deal straight up just for the ticket selling potential (on any given night the Celtics may now have Vanessa Williams in the stands cheering on her hubby).

- The one thing that worries me about this deal is the idea of years from now thinking of Marcus Banks the way I now think of Chauncy Billups.

- The Celtics can now go small with a line-up that would have Payton at PG, Ricky Davis at SG, Jeri Welsh at SF, Paul Pierce at PF and Marcus Blount at C. That has to have Doc Rivers pretty excited. I know I will find it at least interesting to watch.