Mar 2, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Monta Ellis (11) shoots against Toronto Raptors forward Amir Johnson (15) during overtime at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 122-114. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Bucks have a shot at catching the Boston Celtics. They’re riding a four game winning streak that has them three games over .500 at 31-28 and they’re markedly better with J.J Redick on their team than they have been in quite some time.

The Boston Celtics are coming off of two straight wins against the slumping Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors, and they have a pretty easy schedule coming up. The Celtics have a pretty easy schedule coming up–the Celtics remaining oppenents have a .498 record. Their RPI is 15th in the league tied with the Lakers at .507. They’re expected to hover just above .500 at season’s end.

The Bucks, however, have an easier schedule than the Celtics. Their remaining opponents have a .494 record. Their RPI is still lower than the Celtics at .497–just below .500.

With their expectations so close in range the Celtics have very little margin for error. The Celtics absolutely do not want to have the 8th seed and end up facing the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. In order to make the Finals, they’d have to play them but they don’t want to do it so soon.

The Celtics can absolutley control their own destiny, but they’ve got to win enough to make sure that they Bucks don’t catch them. This is a battle tested team, so of course they can do it. But don’t be surprised if any curveballs were thrown and they ended up with the 8th seed when things are said and done.

Feb 19, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic shooting guard J.J. Redick (7) reacts during the first quarter against the Charlotte Bobcats at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports

With Redick prepared to walk out of the door if not compensated properly, the Orlando Magic chose to deal him for expiring contracts and rookie deals. The Orlando Magic are sending J.J Redick along with Gustavo Ayon and Ishmael Smith to Milwaukee for Tobias Harris, Doron Lamb, and Beno Udrih according to Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski.

It was expected that Orlando Magic were looking for a first round pick for Redick, but now the Magic will have enough cap space at the end of the season to go after multiple maximum contract players.

The Bucks will get a shooting guard who is efficient in his production shooting 39% from beyond the arch. Any minutes that he gets over Monta Ellis should be looked at as a plus for the Bucks.

It was widely thought that the Spurs were after Redick today, but it was reported that they didn’t have the assets to make the deal possible.

Jan 16, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard DeAndre Liggins (25) attempts a shot against Denver Nuggets Timofey Mozgov (25) during the second half at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

”That doesn’t make a lot of sense to radically change the team when you’re trying to compete to win it all.  We have been and will continue to look to upgrade our team, but I think it’s always more unlikely that that happens than likely.  You have to produce.  It’s my job to look at the bigger picture. We have to live in the moment and try to win and help our team have success, but at the same time, if it’s not happening on the court, than there has to be changes made, absolutely.”

–Danny Ainge via WEEI 

Is Danny Ainge right?

There’s a certain validity to the concept that major shakeups could disrupt team chemistry.  But let’s be honest:  The Celtics are not a team without holes.

The C’s currently rank near the bottom in the following statistical categories:

• Points in Paint 37.7 (25th in league)
• Three Point Production (28th, 16.5 ppg)
• Offensive Rebounding (29th, 8.3 per game)
• Rebound Rate:  47.8 (28th)
• Shot blocking (28th, 4.0 per game)
• Fouls per defensive play:  25th, 19.7 percent
• Free Throws Attempted per off play:  22.3 (23rd)
• Opponent three percentage (22nd) 36.6
• Fourth Quarter Offense 23rd (22.5 ppg)

A cursory glance of those weaknesses reveals a reoccurring theme:  lack of interior presence.

It may be obvious without analyzing those stats, but the C’s need an inside presence.  Ranking near the bottom in points in the paint, all rebounding categories and shot blocking clearly demonstrates that the C’s need a true center.

Fab Melo is still a couple seasons away from being the answer there, and Kevin Garnett is still a power forward pressed into duties at the 5 spot.

The thing is, Ainge has to be aware of these facts, and yet he isn’t seeking to change the team?

Let’s key in on two words from Ainge’s statement though: “radically” change.

Some minor tinkering is definitely in order, and it’s not as though there is a shortage of available bigs to help fill the glaring deficiencies.

The Heat have expressed interest in Timofey Mozgov.  Shouldn’t the Celtics, too?

Mozgov was praised by Nuggets coach George Karl, as he said he “belongs on the court.”  But Denver can’t accommodate that.  They already have Kosta Koufos and JaVale McGee usurping all the minutes at center.

That makes Mozgov, who only gets paid $2.6 million a year, entirely expendable.  And the C’s have the assets to move for him.  It would require a little bit of creativity on Ainge’s part, but a combination of lesser players could snag Mozgov, or even a second-round pick.

If the Nuggets wanted to take on Chris Wilcox to be a third big on their team and a second round pick, they may pull the trigger.

But Mozgov may not be the best big available.

Jan 11, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Samuel Dalembert (21) shoots a layup against Detroit Pistons forward Austin Daye (5) at the Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Samuel Dalembert is seldom used on the Bucks, a team with more bigs than they know what to do with.  They already have Joel Przybilla to fill his role as third center…making Dally a costly redundancy.

Dalembert receives $6.6 million per season, but it’s quite possible the Bucks buy out his contract.  That would make him available for a low price, even possibly the veteran minimum.

The best part about Dalembert is that he would go a long way towards shoring up the shot blocking weakness.  He still averages three blocks per-36 minutes, and can still play.  He’s 31 years old, but just two seasons ago in Philly, he averaged a double-double with blocks to boot.

Ainge said he is opposed to making major changes, but some minor tinkering is order, especially after Darko Milicic departed to take care of his ill mother in Serbia.

Now’s the time to work those wires, Danny, and bring the C’s a big man capable of helping in the paint!