Boston Celtics News: Youth Movement Takes Shape As Team Lights Up Summer League, Trades For Courtney Lee

Only a few years ago, there seemed to be a trend in the NBA of organizations trying to build their teams around veterans.

It seemed that the older and more experienced players in the NBA were smarter and more skillful than the younger ones, and that the only way to win was to get a core of players with wisdom and a high basketball IQ.

The Celtics have been a prime example of this ideology. Recently, though, this trend has completely shifted.

In order to have a successful NBA franchise, the team needs to consist of fresh new talent, who are quicker and more agile than the veterans.

Following this new philosophy can ultimately bring some misconceptions. None of these misconceptions are greater than the idea that the Boston Celtics are an old, beat-up team.

When fans and analysts think of the Celtics, they are sometimes considered to be has-beens, old men, or too slow for the game. After an unexpected spark late last season that brought them one win shy of reaching the NBA Finals, age was proven to be just a number, yet was still used as an excuse.

Now, with the departure of all-time three-point leader Ray Allen, the numbers have dwindled on the Boston squad. However, Boston still has a chance to be very competitive over the next few years.

With the start of the regular season, contrary to many beliefs, the Celtics only have three players on their active roster over the age of 30.

Those players are Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Veteran guard Jason Terry, 34, has also joined the squad in what basically amounts to Allen's replacement.

Still, the Celtics are young. In fact the average age of a Celtic player, excluding that trio, is around 24 years old. If youth is the supposedly the key to victory, the Celtics are ahead in that department.

Having al young players, of course, is not the answer.

While there's no argument that can be made that justifies that older veterans are quicker and faster than their youthful counterparts, the game is not all about taking random shots and driving the lane whenever a player feels like it, although sometimes it definitely seems that way.

Basketball games are still won by smart plays, making wises decisions, and taking advantage of opportunities when made or presented.

In a recent trade, the Celtics were able to acquire a young, talented player, while also gaining some more experience.

Boston traded JaJuan Johnson, E'Twaun Moore and Sean Williams for Courtney Lee. Lee is just 26 years old and has only been in the league since 2008, but he brings some playoff experience. He was on the 2008-09 Magic team that faced the Lakers in the NBA Finals.

The shooting guard knows how to play in important situations, but is still young enough to keep pace with some of the league's quicker players. He averaged 11.4 points per game with the Rockets last year. He may not be as good as Ray Allen from three-point range, but his 40 percent shooting from behind the arc will certainly help Boston.

With Lee and Avery Bradley both on the team, Boston should be well equipped to deal with the loss off Allen to Miami.

The Celtics, throughout the summer, have seen one of their younger players progress tremendously, and has shown promising signs of a bright future in the NBA.

According to Celtics Summer League coach Tyronn Lue, the team uses its summer program to achieve the balance on the court that they don't necessarily have time for during the regular season.

Boston may have had a pair of steals in the 2012 NBA Draft when they landed big men Jared Sullinger of Ohio State, and Fab Melo from Syracuse. The talented duo were expected to be lottery picks but dropped to late in the first round as some teams felt they were risky selections.

The Celtics also have a pair of a talented young forward in Kris Joseph. Joseph appears to making a big push to be key reserves next season.