What the Celtics are getting:
The generously listed 5'9" Nate Robinson will step into the backup point guard role vacated by Eddie House. Coming off of another slam dunk championship (his third), Nate will provide instant offense in the second unit and the team hopes he can be a sparkplug off the bench. Over the past month Nate is averaging 13.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.4 3-pointers, and 27 minutes per game while shooting just 40.7% from the floor.
Nate ended up in Coach Mike D'Antoni's doghouse earlier this season in December due to questionable shot selection and decision making during games. Hopefully Doc Rivers and crew can get him on the right track and rolling along as the season continues.
Robinson also will help ease Rajon Rondo's workload (nearly 37 minutes per game) which will help Rondo in the long run. Rondo was forced to play so many minutes because the Celtics were lacking a true backup point guard. In other years the C's added aging veterans Sam Cassel and Stephon Marbury. The C's hope that the team's new direction at the backup PG spot will lead to greater success than the old strategy.
The C's also acquired F Marcus Landry in the deal. The 6'7" rookie out of Wisconsin will fit nicely sitting at the end of the Celtics' bench. Landry did average 13 points per game in his final year as a Badger.
The roster currently sits at 13 players. With two empty spots at the end of the bench, look for the Celtics to potentially be active for buyout candidates. Most notably the C's could use a rebounding big man like current Clipper Drew Gooden.
What the Celtics gave up:
Sayanara, Eddie House. Always the true professional, he never complained about his role and was always up off of the bench cheering on his teammates. Who could forget House's son on the sidelines during the 2007 playoff run? Most recently, House broke Danny Ainge's franchise record for 3-point field goal percentage in a season (44.4) last year.
The Celtics were never confident in House's ballhandling abilities as was evident by their preference to play him off the ball. His quick catch-and-shoot technique will be missed in the second unit, but the team hopes that the excitement of Nater-Tot will (more than) makeup for the loss.
J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker, who represent the Celtics' 2008 draft class, are going along with House to NY. Neither were close to cracking a role with the C's and their development has been slow. Both are young and could find some playing time for the Knicks this season, but neither player's career has started off with a bang.
What we think of the trade:
The Celtics have two problems right now: scoring and rebounding. With Nate Rob in the fold, they have successfully addressed one of their needs.
Their second unit of Nate, Tony Allen, Marquis Daniels, Glen Davis, and Rasheed Wallace will be a fierce squad for opposing teams' second units.
Ultimately we'll miss House, but Nate has the potential to go off for 20+ points any time, and the opportunity to acquire him was too sweet to bypass.
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