The Celtics draft day deal for former Sonic Ray Allen put the team on the doorstep of the playoffs in the weak Eastern Conference.

The July 31 deal for Kevin Garnett, which netted the Minnesota Timberwolves five players and two draft picks, puts the team firmly into the playoffs, but not as high as some people would like you to believe.

Yes, TD Banknorth Garden will be sold out for the next fine years -- Garnett signed a three-year extension on top of the two years left on his deal that will keep him in Beantown through the 2011-12 season.

Yes, the Celtics will be relevant for at least three of those five campaigns.

And, yes, the most storied franchise in the League, which hasn't raised a banner since "The Simpsons" was just a skit on "The Tracey Ullman Show," will be on opposing team's radars each time they play.

What they won't be, though, is title contenders.

The 31-year-old Garnett, 32-year-old Allen and Paul Pierce, 29, do make for an imposing trio. But what else is there after those three?

The Celtics acquired Garnett, a 10-time All-Star and the NBA MVP in 2004, from Minnesota in exchange for Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, a 2009 first-round draft pick and a return of Minnesota's conditional first-round pick previously obtained in the Ricky Davis-Wally Sczerbiak  swap.

The Timberwolves also receive cash considerations in the deal. The 2009 pick Boston is sending to Minnesota is top-three protected.

Let's see: five players and two draft picks, which will admittedly be in the 16-21 range, for one guy. That's the largest deal for one player in League history.

Here's Boston's depth chart after the trade:

PG: Rajon Rondo, Allan Ray

SG: Ray Allen, Tony Allen

SF: Paul Pierce

PF: Kevin Garnett, Brian Scalabrine, Leon Powe

C: Kendrick Perkins, Michael Olowokandi

No depth. The Big Three makes the squad more than just a blip on the NBA radar, but nothing more.

Of the five players traded away, one averaged 33 minutes a night (Jefferson), and Gomes put in 31 minutes a game. Green and Telfair got more than 20 minutes of burn each night, and Ratliff played for than 20 minutes in the two games he suited up for. Delonte West and Sczerbiak, who were sent to Seattle in the Allen deal, averaged 30 minutes a game between them.

You'd think this would help the squad, what with head coach Doc Rivers' inability to magane playing time for a group, but now they have another problem.

Their top two point guards are gone. Danny Ainge traded away a promising front court player in Jefferson. And Boston will have to rely on Perkins and OlowoBusti to provide something in the post.

Unless Boston brass has some more deals up their sleeves -- maybe bringing in Brevin Knight to play the role he played in Charlotte behind Ray Felton until Rondo can be let loose, and/or bringing in Chris Webber, Anderson Varejao or Earl Boykins -- this is just a deal to make headlines.

Even though they were knocked out of the first round of the '07 playoffs, Toronto is still the class of the Atlantic Division. Bosh is a young Garnett, the Raptors have depth in the post and two capable quarterbacks in T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon.

The Pistons and Bulls are deeper and light years ahead of Boston on defense.

Oh, and there are those two guys who aren't going anywhere for a while: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

That's five teams I put ahead of Boston in the East. The other two East playoff teams are Milwaukee and Washington, and that all hinges on health.

So that puts Boston, after all its wheeling and dealing, sixth in the Eastern Conference.

I know big moves are the ones that garner the print and air time, but subtle tweaks bring home trophies.

So don't stitch that 17th banner just yet.

Several people have said they'll wait until some point midway through the '07 season to decide what the Wolverines are, but that's not necessary.

Heading into last season, all the talk in Columbus centered around the Buckeyes losing almost all of their defensive starters from a team that walloped Notre Dame in the '06 Fiesta Bowl. Well, for 12 games, at least, that group of no-named Buckeye defenders played well enough to help their team secure a spot in the 2007 National Title Game.

Michigan is in the same boat. The team's four best defensive players-Leon Hall, Alan Branch, LaMarr Woodley and David Harris-were among the first 50 players chosen during April's NFL Draft. Five of the seven UM players taken in the draft play on the defensive side of the ball. In total, the Wolverines lost 10 defensive standouts to either graduation or the NFL.

A group of unfamiliar names will be asked to step up this fall. It'd be easy to say they'll tak their lumps throughout the campaign, if it weren't for a few key items.

The schedule

I won't discuss Michigan opening with Appalachian State or the Wolverines scheduling Eastern Michigan halfway through the season. Even though I don't like either of those teams being on a top team's schedule, you have to play what you're given.

That's two Ws right there, with both games set to be played at the Big House. Six of the Wolverines other 10 games are in Ann Arbor, too, meaning Michigan only has to travel outside the Ann Arbor city limits four times this season-at Northwestern Sept. 29, at Illinois Oct. 20, at Michigan State Nov. 3, and at Wisconsin Nov. 10.

That's three road tilts against teams that will most likely finish at the bottom of the Big Ten and a tussle at Camp Randle that could have conference championship implications.

I'd say a rivalry game in East Lansing late in the season could be tough, but can you name me five starters for the Spartans? And the game at Wisconsin would be a question mark, as well, if it were played earlier in the season-like when the Wolverines lost a heartbreaker in Madison in 2005.

Home games against Oregon (Sept. 8), Penn State (Sept. 22), and Purdue (Oct. 13) should test Michigan's mettle; as will the season finale Nov. 17 against the hated Buckeyes. However, homefield advantage should play a role in the Wolverines coming out of those games unscathed.

The offense

At the beginning of each college basketball season, there's a list put out of the 50 players who could win the Player of the Year award. If there were a college football equivalent of that, three Michigan players-Michael Hart, Chad Henne, and Mario Manningham-would make the top 15 of that list.

The Wolverines are loaded on the offensive side of the ball, returning almost every major cog on a team that outscored opponents 29-16 in 2006. Imagine what that margin would be if head coach Lloyd Carr would open up the playbook every once in a while!

It'd be extremely difficult for Hart to outdo his 1562 yards, 14 scores and 4.9 yards per carry from a year ago; but, with Michigan turning out offensive linemen like a factory, it's possible.

Henne will look to end his career in Ann Arbor with a ####, and his first bowl win. The signal caller also has a good shot at improving on his 2,508 yards, 22 TD, eight pick performance from '06, too.

Manningham, who only appeared in 10 games last season, is sure to best his 703 yards, nine TD performance from last season. And sophomore-to-be Greg Matthews should make his name known this season, making for a potent 1-2 punch on the outside.

Those two things alone make it extremely possible that Michigan could mark the 10-year anniversary of its last national title with another trip to a title game.

If Hart or Henne sustain injury, however, all bets are off. Huge improvements need to be made in the secondary, as well, since the squad was out gained by an average of 225-195 through the air in 2006 and yielded 132 first downs through the air to its 118.

So, Wolverine fans can start making plans to migrate to the Bayou this holiday season. But, as a Spartan alum, if none of the things mentioned above happen, I'll be FAR from upset.

With the NBA Playoffs down to just two teams (why does it seem like the playoffs started ages ago), it's time to see what the other half of the NBA's Final Four need to do this offseason so they can remain in contention for the crown next season.

Detroit Pistons

Everything that can be said about this group has been said in the last 72 hours.

They imploded.

They're sick of each other after a five-year run.

Flip Saunders is an ####.

I do not think Detroit imploded during the Eastern Conference finals. The Cavaliers just wanted it more. If the Pistons looked close enough, they'd see themselves, circa 2002-03, when they were an up-and-coming group trying to break the wall down.

Detroit played the "no respect" card up until and following their 2004 NBA Title win. A veteran group, made up of cast-offs and a late first-rounder, got it in their head that nobody thought they were good enough or deserved to win a championship. But once they got that title, Detroit continued to claim they got no love.

But it seemed like the more admiration they received, including having four all-stars at the 2006 midseason classic, the Pistons got "full." Hunger subsided, and other teams starved for success took the reins from Detroit.

In the Detroit area, this team will be seen as one that got to five straight ECFs and played in back-to-back Finals. Nationally, it could be seen as a flash in the pan, one that benefitted from playing in a weak conference that caught a team (the Lakers) at the right moment.

Yes, this is the franchise's third title, but the group, despite an impressive run, could only grab one 'ship. It's possible they could have two, had Rasheed Wallace not opted to double Manu Ginobili, leaving the real Mr. Big Shot wide open near the finish of game five of the '05 Finals. It could also be said that Detroit could only have one Finals appearance, had Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O'Neal been 100 percent healthy in that year's ECF.

Changes need to be made in Motown. And although his game six coaching job was deplorable, Flip Saunders is not the problem. People who complain about him resting Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton in favor of Lindsey Hunter and Flip Murray at the start of the fourth quarter of Saturday night's loss in Cleveland are the same people who said the starters were worn out in '05 and '06. If you replace Flip Murray with Mike James, who was with the team during its '04 title run, does that justify the sub pattern?

Doubling LeBron James sooner could have solved the Pistons woes, too. If you double him before he gets the pill, a quick decision has to be made by someone (Daniel Gibson?) who may not be equipped to make that choice.

The changes need to come in the personnel department. Billups, a free agent this offseason, needs to be re-signed. He could still command top dollar on the market, even with his subpar performance against Cleveland, but if you've seen Detroit play at all without Billups the last few seasons, you know decision maker Joe Dumars needs to do everything to retain Billups.

The only other starter who should return is Tayshaun Prince. He's the team's youngest starter and its designated defensive stopper. Make no mistake about it, all the damage James did over the final four games of the series came at Prince's expense. But Prince is much better than his performance (24 percent in FGs) showed.

That leaves the other 60 percent of the Pistons' starting lineup.

I believe Chris Webber will retire after seeing his performance over the team's last 10 playoff games, including going two straight during the semifinals against Chicago without a single point. His knees are shot. It looks like it's a chore whenever he has to jump.

Dumars should take a hard look at replacing Wallace and Hamilton.

Yes, Hamilton made some tweaks in his game--trying to score off the dribble--but I believe he has become a defensive liability. Most of the guys Prince guards night in and night out play Hamilton's position. And when Detroit switched and attempted to sick Hamilton on Lebron, it was an unmitigated disaster. If Dumars could pair Prince with a solid perimeter defender who can give Detroit 15-18 points a night and ahndle the ball a bit, that would be an upgrade over Hamilton. It would also give the Pistons the option of having a ballhandler/scorer/defensive guru on the floor at all times, sort of like how Chicago would keep either Michael Jordan or Scottie Pippen on the court for almost the entire game.

The scene of coaches attempting to hold Wallace back after he was thrown out of Detroit's 98-82 loss should be the last of him in a Pistons uniform. Since he arrived in Detroit, it's been said that he is one of the top power forwards in the game. When he wants to be. I've also heard it said that Wallace doesn't think he has to take on the role of "The Man" on any team he's on. That translates into a couple of things to me: not wanting to put in the effort to be great, and not wanting to take the blame when things go awry.

There were a little less than eight minutes to play in the team's final game Saturday night. Detroit was down 12 at the time. Wallace exploded and was tossed from the proceedings. He gave up. The Pistons could have come back and forced a Game 7. Wallace wouldn't have even been around for it since he picked up his sixth and seventh techs of the playoffs that night. His act has worn thin, and I think it's time he and the team parted ways.

As far as its bench goes, Detroit has decisions to make there, as well.

Hunter isn't getting any younger. Murray will probably test the free agent waters after receiving sporadic playing time in Detroit. Free agent Antonio McDyess could return or retire. Detroit will most likely look to dump the bloated salary of Nazr Mohammed. Those changes mean more playing time for the likes of Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson--of NBDL fame, if there is such a thing.

Expect Dumars to make just enough changes to have fans bugeyed this summer.

Utah Jazz

Deron Williams, who should probably skip the World Games this August due to his foot injury, and Carlos Boozer give Utah a solid core for years to come. Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko are solid compliments to those guys, too.

In all honesty, the Jazz are one move away from becming perennial title contenders. The Jazz need a two-guard who can score. Simple as that. You think Gordan Giricek strikes fear in the hearts of opposing teams and coaches? You think Ronnie Brewer is ready for prime time? How many good years does Derek Fisher, a career back-up POINT guard, have left?

If I were Larry Miller, I'd do what I had to to pry 24-year-old Gerald Wallace away from the Bobcats. Wallace, who averaged 18 points, seven boards and two steals a night, could be the missing piece to Utah's championship puzzle.

Check my archives for the first two installments of the Offseason changes series.

1. LeBron James finally has his sidekick.

At one point during Cleveland's series-clinching game six vs. Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron James was barking at Daniel Gibson. But it wasn't for a mistake the Texas rookie made. It was because he caught fire in the last quarter and a half of the game on his way to 31 points on nine shots.

Gibson doesn't have to dominate the ball a la Larry Hughes or Lamar Odom. His performance the last three games of the ECF should help keep LeBron in Cleveland for the remainder of his career. Once injured rookie Shannon Brown gets healthy, Cleveland could have the League's scariest perimeter trio.

Either Brown, Gibson or James can handle the ball on a break. Either of the three could spot up anywhere on the floor and drain a shot. And any of the three can finish at the cup.

2. A shakeup is needed in Detroit.

There is a way for the Pistons to rebound from this loss and remain contenders for the next five, six years.

What Detroit needs to do is sign "that guy." That guy is a player who can get a team on the brink over the hump.

The Pistons have been defeated by a "that guy" prototype the past two playoff runs. Dwayne Wade and LeBron James both took over close games vs. Detroit and helped their teams advance to the finals.

Here's what Joe Dumars must do to keep his team on the map and in the title hunt:

Seriously look into a deal that would send Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace to the Lakers for Kobe Bryant. No matter how much ESPN and NBA analysts want to give the League to Wade and James, those in the know recognize Bryant as the League's best player.

Dumars should also draft Texas point guard Acie Law IV and Pitt big man Aaron Gray with the 15th and 27th picks, respectively, in this month's draft. Billups, who did not earn a max deal with his performance in the Cleveland series, could serve as Law's mentor and you can't teach Gray's 7'2" frame.

Pairing Bryant with Tayshaun Prince, a great perimeter defender in his own right, would give Detroit something similar to what the Bulls used to employ with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen: one of the two would be on the floor at all times, to guard the opposing team's best perimeter player, and for the offense to run through either of them. I fully give Prince a pass for shooting under 30 percent during the Cleveland series since he had to put so much of his energy into defending James. But if you could switch Bryant and Prince off of James, and Wade, for example, neither would be so tuckered out on the other end of the floor that they couldn't get their points.

3. Leave Flip alone.

I still don't understand why Jason Maxiell barely saw action in five of the six games this series after scoring 15 points in game two. And I have no idea why Billups and Hamilton were put at the point of the zone Detroit employed. But I do believe that the Pistons' performance this series was not entirely the fault of their head coach.

Saunders could have called for quicker double teams of James at times, where the double could have came before James received the ball, but Saunders wasn't the one on the court looking for foul calls late in games. Neither was he the one pointing the finger at teammates at times.

If this were college, the brunt of the blame would be reserved for Flip. But this is the NBA. "A player's league," where the coach doesn't matter as much. Give Flip "that guy," and a core that doesn't play when it feels up to it, especially in the playoffs, and Saunders already has two finals appearances under his belt.

4. Spurs in five.

'Nuff said.

NBA Commissioner David Stern no longer has to worry about rating for the '07 Finals.

Cleveland's 109-107 win in game five of the Eastern Conference Finals pretty much punches the Cavs' ticket to San Antonio for next week's NBA Finals series.

LeBron James' performance through the fourth quarter and overtime punches his ticket into what some writers call "The Pantheon."

The Pantheon is that level that only great players reach. You know when it happens, too.

Magic's 42, 15 and 7 in game six of the 1980 Finals.

Michael's 69 and 18 boards in Cleveland in March 1989.

Dwyane Wade's 42 and 13 rips in game three of last year's Finals.

Add LeBron's 48 in 51 minutes of Cleveland's doubl-overtime win in game five to that list.

James had everything working Thursday night at the Palace. Deep stepback Js. Fadeaways. Drives to the cup. Everything was everything as the old guys say.

All NBA greats live by the same motto when it comes to the playoffs. "Get me to the fourth quarter and I'll bring it home."

James was Mariano Rivera circa 2001 Thursday. Through the fourth quarter and overtime, LeBron scored 29 of Cleveland's 30 points during that stretch. He went 11 of 14 from the field and hit 25 straight at one point.

But how does that happen? How does a team like the Pistons let one guy beat them?

Isn't Tayshaun Prince's rep based on stopping wing guys like Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady? Wasn't the zone D Flip Saunders employed to stop James from driving to the hoop, which is exactly what James did to get the winning bucket?

Don't get it twisted. Changes need to be made after this series by both teams. Win or lose.

Mike Brown needs to be replaced. He uses timeouts like Herman Edwards. His substitution patterns make no sense.

Phil Jackson's first year as head coach in Chicago came the fall after Jordan hit the winning shot in the first round of the 1989 playoffs against Cleveland. I could hear Brown channeling his inner Doug Collins after Thursday's game at the podium.

"That was get the ball to LeBron and everybody else get the $^&* outta the way." 

Collins, Jordan's coach before Jackson, was gone by Labor Day.

Saunders is not the problem in Detroit. There needs to be some major roster shake-ups with this Pistons group. Chauncey Billups has played valiantly the last two games, but he has cost himself millions during this series. He's a bad match for LeBron, I know, but Rip Hamilton has been exposed as an on-the-ball defender. Rasheed Wallace floats in and out during games, and Chris Webber has given almost nothing.

Neither team stands a chance against the Spurs. I could be wrong, though. Nobody thought Detroit had a shot against L.A. in 2004, either.

San Antonio is businesslike on the court. The Spurs play their game and don't worry about their opponents. Cleveland could get one game, if James has a performance a la Allen Iverson in 2001, and the Pistons could possibly push the series to six games, if their heads are in all six.

But let's focus on the present.

James lived up to all the hype tonight.

Pantheon guys will their teams to victory. James might have just willed his squad to the NBA Finals.