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Jeff Van Gundy analyzed the trade that will send Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to Brooklyn.

"I do think they're a championship-caliber team," Van Gundy said. "If they play well and remain healthy, which is always a challenge for an older team, I think they have the best starting unit talent in basketball."

Pierce and Garnett will presumably join Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson in the Nets starting lineup.

Van Gundy believes Garnett, 37, has at least two good seasons left.

"Last year he played very effective basketball," Van Gundy said. "He's certainly better than what they had by a long shot. And he brings a different edge and a different seriousness for every team he's ever touched. People rave about what he did for a loose Celtics' locker room. Immediately upon his arrival, he turned it into a serious locker room. That wasn't Paul Pierce and that wasn't Ray Allen; it was Kevin Garnett.

"I think he has two effective years left. And I hope for his sake, because he's been such a credit to the game, that it's a great experience for him there."

Via Ian Begley/ESPNNewYork

I'm happy for the Nets and all the Heat haters! Next year's finals will be epic Spurs/Nets, battle of the 30 somethings!!! The Nets ought to stay on top just long enough for the young squad the Magic are building to mature and be ready to take over!

A BETTER DJ wrote:I'm happy for the Nets and all the Heat haters! Next year's finals will be epic Spurs/Nets, battle of the 30 somethings!!! The Nets ought to stay on top just long enough for the young squad the Magic are building to mature and be ready to take over!

Yea go magic!!

A BETTER DJ wrote:I'm happy for the Nets and all the Heat haters! Next year's finals will be epic Spurs/Nets, battle of the 30 somethings!!! The Nets ought to stay on top just long enough for the young squad the Magic are building to mature and be ready to take over!

No way the spurs make it again.

pierce - winner
kg - winner
williams - loser
johnson - loser

tough call, but kg + lopez is an ass-kicking pair

Recent teams comprised of past and present all stars haven't worked out well. In 2004, the Lakers got to the Finals despite the dysfunction between Shaq, Kobe, Peyton and Malone. In the FInals, they were no match for a younger balanced Pistons team. This past year, the Lakers had Kobe, Dwight, Nash and Gasol. Someone was always injured, which is to be expected with an older team, and there were major issues merging different playing and coaching styles.

The Nets new lineup would be great if this were 2009, but it isn't. It will be interesting to see how the Boston school works with the underachievers (like Williams and Johnson and that Behemoth of the Boards, Lopez).