Atlantic division: Can Celtics return Boston to glory in East?

Coming off an embarrassing 24-58 season for the most storied franchise in NBA history, Boston Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge felt it was time for a major shake-up in personnel.

So Ainge, in a sense, mortgaged the future in order to make the Celtics an immediate contender with a pair of blockbuster trades.

First, Ainge landed pure-shooting guard Ray Allen from Seattle in a draft-day swap and then got former teammate Kevin McHale, now a Timberwolves exec, to give up former league MVP and perennial All-Star Kevin Garnett. Sure, it cost the Celtics almost all of the rest of their roster — including up-and-coming forward-center Al Jefferson, veteran shooter Wally Szczerbiak and the No. 5 pick in the draft — but it made the Celtics relevant once again.

One player the Celtics didn't have to give up was All-Star forward Paul Pierce. That means the Celtics have a trio of stars on their team unlike any on a single NBA roster since Houston boasted Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler more than a decade ago. But while Boston now has the star power, its depth is suspect.

The Celtics will no doubt be better this season which makes them a major threat to win the division. Last season Toronto, at 47-35, was the only team in the Atlantic to finish with a winning record. Toronto's success wasn't a fluke, either. The Raptors have a solid foundation and should battle the Celtics and Nets for the division crown this season.

1. TORONTO RAPTORS

2006-07 RECORD: 47-35

DIVISION FINISH: first, lost to New Jersey 4-2 in the first round

COACH: Sam Mitchell, fourth season

TOP ROOKIE: None

KEY ADDITIONS: F Jason Kapono, G Carlos Delfino

KEY LOSSES: F Morris Peterson

STRENGTHS: F Chris Bosh is one of the top young players in the league. He averaged 22.6 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. PG T.J. Ford (14.0 ppg, 7.9 apg) is lightning quick and getting better. F Andrea Bargnani, the overall pick two years ago from Italy, had a solid rookie season and should be even better the second time around. F Jason Kapono is a great outside shooter who made 51.4 percent of his 3-point attempts as a member of the Heat last season.