Gorman: Ainge Dealt KG & Pierce At The Right Time
BOSTON (CBS) - Celtics TV announcer Mike Gorman came on the Toucher & Rich show Tuesday morning to talk Celtics, but he also weighed in on the mega-deal that sent aging veterans Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for three first-round picks.
It's working out pretty bad for the Nets so far as Brooklyn is a putrid 5-12 on the season. And despite all their collective talent, Mike Gorman is starting to think maybe the Nets won't turn their season around.
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Rich pointed to some stats comparing Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to this year versus last, and both players are top five in the league in declining play.
Did Celtics VP of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge deal them at the right time?
"You would think so right now," said Gorman.
"I'm really surprised with Paul [Pierce] that the dropoff has been as much as it is. I'm not as surprised with Kevin because there's a lot of miles on that truck. Paul surprised me that the dropout is as precipitous as it is."
It's still too early to give a final assessment of the trade, but right now everything is coming up Celtics.
"Through the first six, seven games you thought 'Okay the Nets will turn this around.' Now you're starting to say maybe they won't turn this around. Maybe this is going to turn out to be the deal of the century for Danny in terms of the Nets draft picks."
Gorman went on to say that the majority of the blame does not lie with Nets head coach Jason Kidd, and general manager Billy King is most at fault.
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On the Celtics front, Gorman is pleased with the remarks Jared Sullinger made yesterday railing against tanking.
In case you missed it the second-year pro said, "We just want to win and show everybody that they can kiss our butts about that tanking stuff."
On Sullinger, the Celtics are +44 with him on the court and a -113 with him off the court this season. Those are "Kevin Garnett-like" plus/minus numbers and Gorman said Sully has been "the best Celtic for awhile now."
Listen to the full discussion below and hear Gorman's take on the weak Eastern Conference and tonight's game against the Bucks:
Gorman: Ainge Dealt KG, Pierce At The Right Time
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