Davis-for-Bass trade paying dividends for Boston

In sports, there are usually three types of trades: blockbusters, the eyebrow-raisers, and the forgettables. The early December trade that sent forward Glen Davis to Orlando in exchange for forward Brandon Bass was one of those middling eyebrow-raisers, and we're beginning to see what each player has meant to their new team.

So far this season, Bass has been the better addition, putting up 11.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Davis has averaged 8.1 points and 5.5 rebounds. In Monday's win over Orlando in Boston, Bass (19 points, eight rebounds) also had the upper hand against Davis (six points, 11 boards).

Both players were traded after their best statistical seasons with their previous teams. Davis averaged 11.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for the Celtics, and Bass averaged 11.2 points and 5.6 rebounds as part of the Magic. Those are surprisingly similar stat lines considering how much the two have in common. The two players are both 26-year-old Baton Rouge, La. natives who played their college ball at LSU and came into the league as second-round picks (Bass in 2005, Davis in 2007).

There are two things that set Davis apart from Bass, however, and both of them could be construed negatively. First, Davis's maturity has been an issue throughout his time in the NBA. Though his funny antics made him a fan favorite, the player known as "Big Baby" had many run-ins with head coach Doc Rivers over his four seasons with the team about his behavior and effort. In 2009, Davis broke his thumb in an offseason fight with a childhood friend and missed almost two months of the season. This season, Davis has already had his mentality questioned by his new coach, Stan Van Gundy.

Second, the bottom line will always matter. Big Baby is in the first year of a four-year, $25.7 million contract. Bass, on the other hand, is in the first year of a two-year contract worth $8.5 million that has a player option for the second year. Basically, if Bass likes it in Boston, he can stay another year at a cheaper price than Davis would have commanded, then the Celtics can get him off the books.

The Celtics are getting better production off the bench from Bass and at a lower price. They're also creating cap space for the future, a commodity for any team. Sure, the Magic have played much better so far this season, but if Monday's game was any indication, the Celtics may be turning their season around, and Bass could be a big part of the revival. This trade was and is an eyebrow raiser, but it may turn out to be one that makes Celtics fans nod their heads in agreement.

(Bass photo credit: AP/Elise Amendola)