Danny Ainge - one of the best GMs in Sports

stretch · Post #1 » by **stretch** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:40 pm

Danny Ainge's plan of success had Karl Malone convinced back in 03 that Ainge would really be successful. It was just to keep accumulating assets, keep making moves to improve the team, get more unique assets... and ultimately there will be an opportunity, where a team with young assets and cap space can really capitalize. And that opportunity is there every summer (like Iverson, Shaq). Just so happens that last summer, we really benefited. The perfect players.

To many, primarily non-Celtics fans, this idea about Ainge's plan/strategy/hard work sounds crazy. Those are the people who think Ainge just got lucky. That he was part of some old-boy's network with McHale, but nothing more. They don't realize that young unstoppable Al Jefferson was the best offer (along with cap space) for KG. That the Suns and Lakers did not offer any package nearly as good.

They aren't aware that Danny has consistently drafted so well with what he has had to work with that he is arguably one of the best drafters in the NBA since Red Auerbach...

The amazing collection of good players he's drafted, like Delonte West, Tony Allen (who played like Wade without a jump shot his rookie year that Baron Davis marveled at how good he was), Leon Powe and Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins at low draft picks. Not considering Gerald Green (who he took because the guy slipped) and Banks (his first draft, attitude problem), or the picks he traded/missed (to Portland and Seattle).

All the players he's drafted have drawn attention from teams at some point. They were all assets, all used to get something better.

Danny Ainge was apparently the only guy outside of the San Antonio Spurs organization that went after Rajon Rondo (the most underrated PG in the league) in the draft.

They don't understand that Ainge had to accumulate these assets, use them, keep making moves, keeping building towards something, trying things out... They didn't understand the problems the Celtics faced internally, whether it was with Ricky Davis or what not.

but this article puts it best
http://thelivefeed.net/index.php/2008/0 ... incarnate/

stretch · Post #2 » by **stretch** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:44 pm

Just the Rajon Rondo and Al Jefferson draft picks alone are proof enough

But the fact that he actively went after Chris Paul and Van Exel (for Pierce) before Paul played his rookie season (came in the Boston Globe)

and the fact that he got Allen Iverson to love the Celtics organization

and the fact that he wanted to tank his first full season primarily for Dwight Howard

all of these are proof enough.. we've got the best GM we could possibly have. And if he's fine with the coach, and he's stuck with that coach, then I'm fine with that coach

And if he says it's not Tom T as much as it is Doc's own defense, then it's not Tom T as much as it is Tom's tremendous teaching of Doc's own defense (from Pat Riley)

GreenGrizz · Post #3 » by **GreenGrizz** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:09 pm

I wonder what Karl Malone is thinking right now? LoL

Fencer reregistered · Post #4 » by **Fencer reregistered** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:14 pm

GreenGrizz wrote:I wonder what Karl Malone is thinking right now? LoL

Karl Malone seems to know he's one of the luckiest dudes alive, and not be too concerned that a few of his acquaintances were luckier yet than he was.

Vinsane15 · Post #5 » by **Vinsane15** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:34 pm

If y'all don't win an NBA title, then that Al Jefferson trade would favor Minni by a lot, Ainge might look like an idiot in a few years ...

Scrub Sura · Post #6 » by **Scrub Sura** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:59 pm

vinsanity11 wrote:If y'all don't win an NBA title, then that Al Jefferson trade would favor Minni by a lot, Ainge might look like an idiot in a few years ...

He was an idiot before the KG trade :lol:

But I'll say no more and leave before the quick trigger police stop by

Not quick enough I see. Warning for trolling.

Joyeuse · Post #7 » by **Joyeuse** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:17 am

vinsanity11 wrote:If y'all don't win an NBA title, then that Al Jefferson trade would favor Minni by a lot, Ainge might look like an idiot in a few years ...

I disagree. Even if we don't win a championship, we've obviously been put into a position to win a championship, which would not necessarily have been the case without the Garnett trade. Therefore, it was a worthwhile risk to take whether or not it actually does pay off with a championship. I really doubt the Celtics would have ever had a team this good without trading Jefferson at any point in Jefferson's career.