There was green everywhere you looked.
The lower bowl of TD Banknorth Garden was bathed in green last night -- draft party green with green and white balloons.
Celtics special guests who pay a lot of green ($900 per game) to watch bad basketball were green with envy as they ate jumbo shrimp and watched Greg Oden and Kevin Durant go to Portland and Seattle, respectively.
And then the Celtics drafted 6-foot-9-inch forward Jeff Green of Georgetown with the fifth pick. But when Green was seen above on the big board, sitting in the green room in New York with Stuart Scott, he was talking about playing for another green, the green of the Seattle SuperSonics. ESPN already had report ed that the Celtics traded their pick along with Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak for Ray Allen and the No. 35 pick.
So, there it was. After losing to win in February, March, and April . . . after drawing the shortest of straws May 22 in Secaucus, N.J. . . . after lying for weeks about going young and using the No. 5 for a flossy young colt . . . the Celtics caved to Paul Pierce and the howling masses.
At the end of the night, Danny Ainge's lyin' eyes were neither blue nor green. And there was no vision.
"We couldn't be more thrilled," insisted Ainge. "This is a fantastic addition to our team. This gives us a chance to compete in the Eastern Conference.
"This team, they have no excuses."
Of course, there is the distinct possibility that the Celtics are not yet done. Makes sense. Maybe they still can get Kevin Garnett and storm the Eastern Conference with fossils Pierce, Allen, and Garnett. Maybe we'd all be OK with that. But it flies in the face of "the plan" they've pitched. And it strikes one as a major gamble.
Because if they don't get Garnett, if this really is it . . . the Celtics look ridiculous.
"We're always looking to make deals," said Ainge. "But I can't comment on Garnett . . . I'm not commenting on trade rumors."
A couple of hours before the Celtics traded their pick, owner Wyc Grousbeck stood on the floor of the Garden and said, "Fans have connected with this team despite 24 wins. People want these kids to succeed. The reason Danny's phone has been ringing is not for our veterans, but for our kids."
What about losing patience? What about results?
"The only results that count are championship banners and rings," said Grousbeck. "If it takes extra time, we'll try to support that. Getting a lot better may take some time."
Two hours later, the Celtics dumped the No. 5 pick and 23-year-old West and brought 31-year-old Allen on board. They said no thanks to the likes of Yi Jianlian, Corey Brewer, Joakim Noah, and Brandan Wright. No need for Green or Sean Williams.
