Random Thoughts (July 9, 2010)

While LeBron James was busy tarnishing his legacy yesterday, Danny Ainge was at work building a team to dethrone the two-time champion Lakers. Jermaine O'Neal is now officially a member of the Celtics, coming to an agreement on a two-year contract for the Mid-Level Exception. He will earn $5.7 million this season and about $6 million in 2011-2012. O'Neal provides the Celtics with a veteran center who can fill-in for the injured Kendrick Perkins. The Celtics also look like they will be bringing back swingman Tony Allen and perhaps point guard Nate Robinson. Ainge told reporters yesterday that the team has interest in both players and Greg Dickerson reported last night on Comcast Sports Network that Allen will be back with the team this season. This basically finishes the Celtics offseason. The last remaining orders of business for the Celtics are to make a decision on what to do with Rasheed Wallace - trade his contract for another bench piece or have him return to the fold for another shot at a ring - and find a replacement on the bench for Tom Thibedeau, who left to become head coach of the Bulls. Former Nets head coach Lawrence Frank has been rumored to be a target of the C's to fill this void. The Eastern Conference will certainly be tough to predict with the Celtics and Magic - the last three winners of the conference - returning the majority of their teams and the emerging superpower in Miami. I still believe that a healthy Celtics team will be a legitimate contender to take the East for a third time in four years and make a serious run at a second NBA championship within that same time period... Josh Beckett has become something of an afterthought in 2010. The projected ace of the Red Sox starting rotation had a miserable start to the year (1-1, 7.29 ERA) and has been on the disabled list with back problems since May 19. His absence has been relatively ignored due to the success of starters Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, and John Lackey. That trio of starters have kept the Sox in the A.L. East hunt along with the Yankees and Rays. Beckett is expected to return after the All-Star break and if the news this morning is accurate, he better come back pitching like the ace he is expected - and paid - to be. The increase of pressure on Beckett is due to the talk that the Yankees are on the verge of trading for Mariners ace Cliff Lee. Lee would give the Yankees an awesome looking rotation, joining CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte, and Phil Hughes. A healthy and productive Beckett keeps the Sox competitive with the Yankees pitching. The pressure is on and Red Sox Nation can only cross their fingers that he is up to the challenge... Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has zero chance of coming through on his promise to Cleveland fans that the team will win an NBA championship before LeBron. Northeast Ohio was not a popular destination for marquee free agents before the departure of LeBron and the rip job Gilbert pulled on him was in poor taste (although it was also comedy gold) and his passioned letter is not going to attract the necessary pieces to build a winner in Cleveland. If people are already to add "The Decision" to such Cleveland sports nightmares like "The Drive," "The Fumble," and "The Shot," please be quick to add "The Letter" to the list... Is it just me or does anyone else wish that the Media Apocolypse occurs now that LeBron is in Florida and that he dups his wife for the loving embrace of Elin Woods? With the change in uniform number, Elin could call her new man the "Six Iron"... Enjoy Jon Lester tonight...