What Kawhi Leonard and Paul George say to Clippers means for the Celtics

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Only in the NBA can an absolute bananaland evolve in this direction. As most people already know, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski dropped one of his patented bombs on the world of basketball while many of us were sleeping at 1:45 on the East Coast, but he this was the next level. Because Kawhi Leonard not only leaves the Raptors for the Clippers, Paul George is also sent to Los Angeles from Oklahoma City.

Of course, this means that the title of the Eastern Conference is to be won even more than in 2018-19. The Celtics do not have quite the lineup of last season, but the rest of the East is also very different.

Obviously, the stock of Raptors decreases significantly. They still form a good team with Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakim, but they are far from being like Leonard.

Milwaukee is now the big favorite with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, Brook Lopez and George Hill still present. However, the Bucks lost Malcolm Brogdon to the Pacers.

And for some reason, all the "experts" seem to think that Brodgon plus Victor Oladipo in 2019-2020 equates to a legitimate candidate. Oladipo is an excellent player and has the potential to continue his growth, but this guy is getting out of a broken quad tendon. Did people forget that it took George some time to regain form after his lower body injury? I know that everyone in basketball is aware of what Gordon Hayward experienced in 2018-2019, his first year without his serious lower-body injury. But of course, people do not learn anything and will probably say that the first two seasons of Oladipo in Indiana are a mirage once they find that it does not play at the same level in 2019-20 as in 2018 -19. (I think he will regain his form, but not in his first year.)

Whatever it is, let's get back to the Celtics position. I now have them clearly behind Milwaukee. That's all.

They may have lost Al Horford to the 76ers, but Boston has real estate in the heads of other players. Aside from a mass redesign of training or repeated success against Boston, nothing can convince me that Philly has the advantage over the Celtics yet.

Then there is Brooklyn. If Kevin Durant was healthy, it's not close. They win East. But a team led by Kyrie Irving and composed of young men? I feel we have seen how this story ends.

Do not bet on Boston to win the East, but do not be so quick to let some of these talking heads make you sell them as short. In addition, everyone seems to assume that Jayson Tatum will not grow since last year or Jaylen Brown. Tatum took a step back, so I understand a little bit of doubt – but the same people who doubted him were submerging him this year, a year ago. And Brown made a breakthrough in the second half of 2018-19.

In addition to the change of power in the East, Danny Ainge was right to abstain in his pursuit of George, Leonard and Anthony Davis.

Leonard had a ring, which was worth it for the Raptors. But does everyone have enough for Boston?

George has been engaged in long-term thunder last year. However, Leonard persuaded him so easily when he made his way into George's life, met him in Los Angeles and convinced him to reconsider his homecoming.

So, having seen what these two did and experienced the Irving Fiasco, how could Davis be a valid risk? All the more so as there is no history of victory and that his acquisition would have decimated the Celtics' alignment.

That said, Boston is not in a pretty position. A big part of this is the way the NBA is rolling now. But considering that the Thunder and Raptors have gone from suitors to a rebuilder and an average team, respectfully, Ainge could have the Celtics at the best place they could be right now.

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