What Could Have Been, What Might Be....

Chauncey Billups. Joe Johnson. What do these two All-Stars have in common? Both of them were drafted by my beloved celtics in the Lottery, and both were traded away way to soon. Let us begin with Chauncey Billups, the 3rd pick in the 1997 NBA draft. Chauncey was a victim of the Rick Pitino era in Boston, an era that I believe set the C's back roughly 6 years, and we are still feeling it. Billups never even had the opportunity to shine in Bosotn, or play for the matter. He left Colorado after his Freshman season, making him a 19 year old rookie. Of course he was going to need time to develop, but Pitino (a GREAT college coach) traded him away BEFORE the all-star break of his rookie season!! It's save to say that had he been given a chance to play significant minutes, he probably wouldn't have been traded so early. But Bosotn was looking for that quick fix, something to happen fast and speed up the re-building process, and it didn't work, and we lost a a very good point Guard early in his career. Now let's move to the Ultra-Smooth Joe Johnson. Johnson was drafted 10th overall in the 2001 NBA draft (right before the C's 11th selection Kedrick Brown, wow). Johnson, like Billups, was never given the proper time in Boston, and he too was traded before the completion of his rookie season. Johnson played sparingly in his time in Boston before he moved on to Phoenix and now to Atlanta where he is dominating for the hawks, who, by the way have a better record than the C's!! Think of how good Bean-Town's guard play would be if they had PP, JJ and Chauncey... thats a backcourt that is contending for east supremecy every year!!