Yeah, but can Gary Payton play shortstop?

Yeah, I know...another sports post. At least it's not another Gulag post.

In a move that screams "Hey! Don't forget there is a basketball team in Boston!!", The Celtics got Gary Payton and Rick Fox from the Lakers plus a first round pick for 3 guys that not even the team owners can name if you put a gun to their heads.

For the Celtics this season this gonna be a good thing or a very bad thing that only lasts one season, depending on while Gary Payton shows up this season. If GP wants prove that he is still one of the best guards in the NBA and not the 4th option on the Kobe and Shaq show, this team might go places and be a force in the East. If not, he'll show up at camp weighing more than yours truly and be so miserable he'll make pre-trade Nomar look like, well, post-trade Nomar which will make great fodder for the media and talk shows. Either way it's not gonna be boring. Plus it'll be nice to see Rick Fox in green again (provided he doesn't retire to resume his film career).

Another nice thing about this trade is because GP and Fox have only one year left on their deal, the Celts will actually be under the salary cap after this season for the first time since New Coke came out, unless of course they trade for another overpaid injured guy for 5 years left on his contract. (Don't laugh, it happened last year, didn't it?)

If GP can regain his offence, we are looking at a 3 or 4 seed in the playoffs. I guess I'm gonna have to buy more than a couple of $10 seats this season.