SECAUCUS, NJ, July 31, 2007 -- When the Kevin Garnett to the Celtics trade was made official, we put in a phone call to TNT's Doug Collins. The former No. 1 overall pick and current analyst for TNT's NBA telecasts, Collins gave us his thoughts on what this deal means for Boston's storied franchise.

NBA.com: Does the addition of Kevin Garnett to a core of Paul Pierce and Ray Allen immediately make Boston a contender in the East?
Collins: "Yes. When you look back on draft night, there was a lot of speculation on a trade involving Garnett. With Garnett initially vetoing the trade, that gave Boston the chance to get Ray Allen. With Allen and Paul Pierce, it made Boston an interesting place for Garnett to consider. Garnett sees the East as his best chance to make a run during the playoffs."

NBA.com: How will Pierce, Allen and Garnett work together in the Celtics offense?
Collins: "First of all, you have three guys capable of working off the ball. Garnett doesn't have to be the guy always scoring. He will get his rebounds, and he is a great facilitator of the ball.

"Boston can run a lot of offense through the high post. With Garnett being the passer he is, Boston may not need to have a great point guard running the floor."

NBA.com: What needs/positions must the Celtics now address most to contend for a title?
Collins: "I like Rondo, but Boston would like to add a veteran point guard for playoff situations. And they need role players off the bench like Cleveland had to assist LeBron in their run to the Finals. With three terrific players, Boston just needs to have everyone stay healthy."

NBA.com: Is it a win-now situation for the Celtics, considering their three stars have only a few years in their prime left (and likely will command prohibitively large salaries in future years)?
Collins: "Yes, it is a win now situation for Boston. Danny Ainge knows that. He experimented with the youth movement and now is drawing on veteran players.

"Boston is a very proud franchise. The NBA misses them when they are not in the mix. They, along with teams like the Knicks and 76ers are a big part of the heart, soul and history of the league."

NBA.com: Have you ever seen a team go from one of the worst in the league to generating this much buzz in such a short time?
Collins: "This will certainly generate plenty of buzz, but a couple of other situations that immediately come to mind are when Lew Alcindor joined Milwaukee and when Larry Bird came to the Celtics."