With Rick Pitino gone, who can we pick on? I won't go over the sorry state of the Celtics. Pitino was a terrible GM. He still can coach, but style just doesn't work in the NBA. He'll be a great college coach again, but not a great NBA coach. He did well with the Knicks way back, but that was with a young Patrick Ewing, and that helps.

First, he won't go to UCLA. Steve Lavin is doing a good job there. He won't go to Indiana or Michigan, because they are small towns and he want to be close to a big market. UNLV seems like a good fit because it's a big city and he'll be the only game in town. He'll get the money, prestige, power and control. But he said he won't speak to UNLV until the season is over. I think Kentucky will pressure Tubby Smith to leave. With his son, Saul, graduating, and possible NBA openings, look for Smith to move to the NBA, leave for another coaching vacancy in college or just get fired. Kentucky fits in Lexington. He loves Kentucky and Kentucky loves him. In one year, he can turn the team around. In two years, he can get them back into the Sweet 16 or maybe the Final Four.

But what of the Celtics? What will they do? Will Paul Gaston sell? No. Will Larry Bird take over as GM? No. Not with Gaston as owner. Look for Danny Ainge to become GM. I don't know why, but it's a feeling. And I think Dennis Johnson will become head coach. He's an assistant with the Clippers, so he knows about losing. The whole idea of Celtic price will renewed, at least in minds of Bostonians.