News Flash: The Red Sox finally complete the long anticipated trade with the Indians for Coco Crisp.

Teddy’s Take: It’s the best Boston’s Boys of Summer could do after Johnny Damon took his glove and matinee idol looks to the Yankees. This close to spring training, the Sox are lucky to get a player of Crisp’s caliber. The cost is high. Experts peg Marte as a future All-Star, but unless you wanted Jeremy Reed, Adam Stern or some other question mark roaming the centerfield lawn at Fenway, there was really no other choice. The rest of the players included in the swap constitute a wash in my eyes. Riske had a very nice 2005, though middle relievers are notoriously tough to count on year to year.

News Flash: The Celtics acquire Wally Szczerbiak from the Timberwolves in a 7-player trade.

Teddy’s Take: After initial skepticism, I like it. Just getting Mark Blount off the books is victory enough, but in Szczerbiak the C’s now have a legitimate outside threat, something sorely lacking beforehand. Ricky Davis’ game is just too similar to Paul Pierce’s, and with Gerald Green on the way eventually, there’s not enough room on the court for three mid-range shooting slashers. Check out the Indiana playoff series or the Pistons game a few weeks back when Davis was shutout in over 40-minutes of action to see how he can be taken off his game by good defensive teams. With “Wally World� and his 40-percent 3-point shooting on the perimeter, Pierce may find more open space on his way to the hoop, as will Al Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins in the paint.

News Flash: Ricky Davis thanks the Celtics organization, the city and his teammates on the way out the door.

Teddy’s Take: Wow! Amazing in this day and age of spoiled, disruptive athletes, which Davis once was. Rather than pout, threaten to not report to his new team, or take parting shots on the way out the door, Davis exits with class. The reputed “coach killer� grew up in Boston, playing hard and becoming one of the most popular players in town. It was actually fun watching his maturation right before our eyes, and he’s one guy I will root for in every game except those against Boston. His graceful exit ensures I won’t be the only one.