The Key to the KG Trade - Ryan Gomes?

On August 1, the Boston Celtics sent the Minnesota Timberwolves Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, two first-round draft picks, and cash considerations for Kevin Garnett. In this trade, Minnesota received four players under twenty-four years old, plus the draft picks, and Theo Ratliff, who's $11,666,666 contract will expire after this season.

This trade brings hope to both teams - Minnesota a chance to rebuild with promising, young players and Boston a chance to compete for a championship. Each player involved in this trade can be a major contributor for their team. In my opinion, Ryan Gomes may be the one to sway the winner of this trade one way or another.

Gomes is an undersized power forward, who is only twenty-four years old. He has a nose for the ball and excels at rebounding on the offensive end. He has quick hands and a great deal of strength. Being undersized, he gets in trouble when opponents post him up. Gomes scores plenty of points on hustle baskets. He has a quick release on his shot, but needs to improve his shot from mid-range and the perimeter. If he can improve his shot, then he will be able to stretch opposing defenses.

Gomes is a consistent player that would be beneficial to any team. He plays hard every night and plays at a high energy level. In Minnesota, he will be competing with Juwan Howard, Al Jefferson, and Craig Smith for minutes. With Howard on the decline and Jefferson the starters, Gomes could be the first reserve off the bench at the forward position. He should be able to provide the Timberwolves with the spark they will need as they look to rebuild.

Trading Gomes was surely difficult for Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics. Now with a depleted roster after the Garnett trade, Gomes would have been a perfect fit. Instead, the Celtics are very thin behind Garnett, with only Glen Davis, Kendrick Perkins, Scot Pollard, Leon Powe, and Brian Scalabrine. Gomes is more skilled than each one of these players, and he would have either competed for starting minutes or been the Celtics' sixth man.

The Celtics could hope to bring him back after this season when his $770,610 contract expires. Until then, Boston will struggle to find someone competent to play behind and next to Garnett.