Think back to the reign of former Celtics owner Paul Gaston for a moment.

In the name of the bottom line, he let Rodney Rogers sign a free agent contract with New Jersey mere months after the Celtics reached the 2002 Eastern Conference finals.

The following season, despite injuries, Gaston refused to let the team exceed the NBA roster minimum of 12 players. The reason? He was selling the team and didn?t want the additional expense, however much another body was needed.

In comparison, current Celtics ownership has gone on a spree. As a result of Tuesday?s trade for Kevin Garnett and the three-year extension that will pay the 10-time All-Star $60 million after he earns $46 million over the next two seasons, the Celtics will pay at least $6 million in luxury taxes on a payroll that currently stands at $69,446,087 - fourth highest in the NBA.

This impending investment marks a significant - and continued - leap of faith in the Celtics? oft-maligned director of basketball operations, Danny Ainge.