The Boston Celtics have acquired 25-year old SG/PG Nate Robinson and 24-year old forward Marcus Landry from the Knicks for 31-year old SG Eddie House, 25-year old SG J.R. Giddens and 22-year old SG/SF Bill Walker. Robinson has played in 30 games (2 starts) for the Knicks this season and he is averaging 24.4 minutes, 13.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He has now played in 312 games (61 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 24.8 minutes, 12.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Marcus Landry is in his rookie year in the NBA and he has played in 17 games (0 starts) for the Knicks this season and he is averaging 6.4 minutes, 2.6 points and 1.1 rebounds per game.

Eddie House played in 50 games (0 starts) for the Celtics this season and he averaged 16.9 minutes, 7.2 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. House played in 209 games (2 starts) in his three years with the Celtics and he has averaged 18.2 minutes, 7.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Giddens played in 21 games (1 start) for the Celtics this season and he was averaging 4.7 minutes, 1.1 points, 1.0 rebound and 0.3 assists per game. Walker played in 8 games (0 starts) for the Celtics this season and he was averaging 3.6 minutes, 1.0 point, 0.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.

I like this trade for the Celtics who have improved the bench with the addition of the very exciting Nate Robinson.

The Celtics want a decent backup for Rajon Rondo but the cost is likely going to be someone that they don’t want to give up. For instance the Bobcats are dangling former first round pick D.J. Augustin to the Celtics but they want either Glen Davis or Rasheed Wallace for him. The Celtics are a old team so they don’t want to move Davis. Davis has played in 22 games (0 starts) for the Celtics this season and he is averaging 16.7 minutes, 5.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Rasheed Wallace is giving the Celtics exactly what they wanted out of him when they signed him as a free agent. Wallace has played in 47 games (8 starts) for the Celtics this season and he is averaging 23.7 minutes, 10.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game. I think the Celtics are going to find the trade market to be a tough one for them because they don’t seem to be willing to trade any talent.

Paul Pierce, who has missed some games recently with a sprained foot, says his injury is not as bad as initially reported and that he is fine.  Pierce plans to play tonight against the New Orleans Hornets and says that he wants to participate in the All-Star game.  Pierce is also scheduled to be a part of the All-Star 3-Point Contest.  The Celtics really need Pierce to stay healthy, as he is their leading and most consistent scorer, and their best all-around player.  He is also lighting it up from outside, which is the reason why he was selected to participate in the 3-Point Contest.  This season he has played in 42 games (all starts) and is averaging 18.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 35.6 minutes.  He is shooting 47% from the field and 46% from three.  The Celtics’ staff pulled him out of practice on Monday since he was apparently hobbling around.  Pierce should not be worrying about the All-Star festivities and should put getting healthy a main priority.  The Celtics are hurting right now with Kevin Garnett not playing like his old self due to knee problems, so Pierce is that much more important to the Celtics.  In my opinion I think Pierce should sit out of at least the All-Star game itself, and maybe participate in just the 3-point Contest.  Without Paul Pierce the Celtics season would be pretty much over.

Rajon Rondo has been getting a lot of credit ever since the Boston Celtics won the 2008 NBA Championship.  A lot of it was deserved, with Rondo putting up some great stat lines as the starting point guard for an NBA championship team, along with his continued improvement since 2008.  The only problem I have is that Rondo has been doing this with three future Hall-of-Famers in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen.  Now with Paul Pierce not at 100% and missing some games recently, an ailing KG, and an aging Allen, will Rondo continue to put up his near triple-double stat lines?  I’m not so sure he will, and I’m also not so sure that is what the Celtics need out of him.  Without Pierce and KG scoring like they used to, Rondo needs to put some more points on the board.  He is young and healthy, and the Celtics really need a boost when it comes to scoring, especially without Pierce.  Rondo is averaging a career-high 14.4 points this season, but in his last 5 games he is averaging 18.8 points.   He deserves a lot of credit for this, as he still has been dishing the ball well.  He has even been extending his shooting range a bit, going 2-3 from three against Miami last Wednesday and 2-2 last night against Orlando.  The Celtics need him to continue to score like this until Pierce and KG get back to their old form (if they can).  If Rondo can not continue to score at this pace, the Celtics may be in big trouble.

Tony Allen is replacing Paul Pierce in the starting lineup while he is out of action. Allen has played in 26 games (6 starts) for the Celtics this season and he is averaging 19.5 minutes, 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Allen is a outstanding shooter from the floor hitting 51.7% of his shots from the floor but he is not a good three point shooter as he hasn’t many any this season. The bottom line is no matter how well Allen plays the Celtics will still miss Paul Pierce.