...And with the 5th pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, Paul Pierce selects...

Ray Allen. University of Seattle Supersonics.

Consider the following timeline:

• Danny Ainge insists the C's are adamant about keeping the pick.
• There are "rumors" in the press that Pierce is demanding the Celts reverse six year youth movement and once and for all add a veteran for some reason other than his contract is about to expire.
• Ainge floats it out there that there's no truth to The Truth's "disgruntledness", and he and The Truth are on the same page, truthfully.
• The Celts draft a guy only to trade him.

What other logical assumption are we to jump to, other than Pierce guided this move? I'm not saying that's a good thing or a bad thing. Pierce has carried this team on his shoulders to the degree that he's been able, and he's sick of waiting while another kid who still hasn't taken off his high school mortar board is brought in, and, by the way, try to be patient while he works through his Sophomore Jinx...next season.

There's no other way to read this move. If the idea was to get a guy with down-the-road upside, the pick is Yi, who could have at least potentially given them the Al Jefferson-partner they need. If it's to placate the resident star, you get an established guy. Period. Why else would they pick up Allen, whose forte is the outside jumper, which they're already getting from Pierce and Gerald Green?

Anyway, at least we know they're kinda sorta trying to make a run for the near future, without committing the career suicide of giving up Jefferson or Green.