James Posey and Ryan Gomes

Yesterday the Boston Celtics lost free agent James Posey to the New Orleans Hornets. This has been greeted in some circles around New England with a "woe is us - what a mistake!" attitude. It should be noted that many of the same people who are bemoaning the loss of Posey are the very same people who were saying that the Celtics bench was awful before the season started.

I am comforted in the fact that Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers have proven that they know what they are doing. Sure Posey was an important component to their championship run this year but championship teams often lose important components. The Patriots weren't any less of a team after losing players like Adam Vinatieri. The Red Sox won the World Series in 2007 despite losing Perdo Martinez after their 2004 chamionship. Was Posey more important to the Celtics than Vinatieri or Pedro were to the Patriots or Red Sox?

This year the Celtics are expecting improved contributions from PG Gabe Pruitt and from this year's draft picks JR Giddens and Bill Walker. Of course the roster is going to look different from last season. Losing Posey is perhaps the biggest manifestation of these changes.

I would never presume to think I know better than Danny Ainge but I will admit that Ryan Gomes is one of my favorite players. I'd love to see Ainge use the mid-level exception to try and get Gomes back to Boston. Would that be rubbing Kevin McHale's nose in it though?