Around the NBA Thread: 2015-16 (2.0)

[DK-All Day]

Warriors vs Spurs should be a good one. Is Pop resting his guys for this game?

[soxfan2003]

Nba.com lists 6 candidates for coach of the year. Brad Stevens not among them. Danny Ainge also didn't make the cut for GM of the year candidates despite acquiring Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and Amir Johnson over the past 18 months. I guess winning 47+ games, having every key player locked up with a team friendly contract, and still having a top 5 pick earns you nothing.

The problem with these gm of the year awards is they often need to be voted on around 3-5 years later.

Ainge did a better job during 2013-14 and 2014-15 then this past season.

I'd probably rate Ainge a B+, B+ and B- the past 3 years.

I am most disappointed with that first B+ since I believe he was well positioned after the PP/KG/Rivers trades to get an A/A+.

This past season, I am not that disappointed since Ainge hasn't made a bad move of big significance. David Lee was a bad signing but not a move of huge significance.

[soxfan2003]

Warriors vs Spurs should be a good one. Is Pop resting his guys for this game?

No. Popovich hasn't really been resting his really good players at home much against teams that he figures can beat SA.

IMHO he clearly wants to go 41-0 at home.

[galipeautim]

Nba.com lists 6 candidates for coach of the year. Brad Stevens not among them. Danny Ainge also didn't make the cut for GM of the year candidates despite acquiring Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and Amir Johnson over the past 18 months. I guess winning 47+ games, having every key player locked up with a team friendly contract, and still having a top 5 pick earns you nothing.

The problem with these gm of the year awards is they often need to be voted on around 3-5 years later.

Ainge did a better job during 2013-14 and 2014-15 then this past season.

I'd probably rate Ainge a B+, B+ and B- the past 3 years.

I am most disappointed with that first B+ since I believe he was well positioned after the PP/KG/Rivers trades to get an A/A+.

This past season, I am not that disappointed since Ainge hasn't made a bad move of big significance. David Lee was a bad signing but not a move of huge significance.

Reasons I would argue Ainge deserves an A this year:

1) He managed to snag Crowder, Thomas, and upgraded a first round pick in exchange for Rondo. Deserves credit for those moves this year because Rondo move didn't have to be made til last offseason (see Pao Gasol) and because we didn't have the knowledge last year that he had acquired two all star caliber players.

2) Coaching hire Brad Stevens had his first winning season. Many critics already consider Stevens to be best coaching hire of last decade.

3) All key players are locked up to long term deals that will look like coups with the salary cap increase. Including re-sign of Jae Crowder, which turns out to be possibly the best contract given out last offseason.

4) The Brooklyn picks are finally upon us and they couldn't be looking better.

5) The Amir Johnson signing was one of the best bargains this offseason. Salary structure gives us the option of retaining him next year or using that money on a star player. David Lee trade was a smart move as his contract was almost identical to Gerald Wallace and we knew we had dead weight in Wallace and David Lee was more of an unknown as far as contribution he could make to this team.

So the reason I give Ainge an A is because all these moves mentioned had not materialized to the point of awarding a grade until this year. As you mentioned, he should get credit at some point and to me this is the year because many unknowns have turned into knowns. Also, Ainge has refrained from making any bad moves (which goes underappreciated in an NBA where so many bad decisions are made).

[soxfan2003]

Nba.com lists 6 candidates for coach of the year. Brad Stevens not among them. Danny Ainge also didn't make the cut for GM of the year candidates despite acquiring Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and Amir Johnson over the past 18 months. I guess winning 47+ games, having every key player locked up with a team friendly contract, and still having a top 5 pick earns you nothing.

The problem with these gm of the year awards is they often need to be voted on around 3-5 years later.

Ainge did a better job during 2013-14 and 2014-15 then this past season.

I'd probably rate Ainge a B+, B+ and B- the past 3 years.

I am most disappointed with that first B+ since I believe he was well positioned after the PP/KG/Rivers trades to get an A/A+.

This past season, I am not that disappointed since Ainge hasn't made a bad move of big significance. David Lee was a bad signing but not a move of huge significance.

Reasons I would argue Ainge deserves an A this year:

1) He managed to snag Crowder, Thomas, and upgraded a first round pick in exchange for Rondo. Deserves credit for those moves this year because Rondo move didn't have to be made til last offseason (see Pao Gasol) and because we didn't have the knowledge last year that he had acquired two all star caliber players.

2) Coaching hire Brad Stevens had his first winning season. Many critics already consider Stevens to be best coaching hire of last decade.

3) All key players are locked up to long term deals that will look like coups with the salary cap increase. Including re-sign of Jae Crowder, which turns out to be possibly the best contract given out last offseason.

4) The Brooklyn picks are finally upon us and they couldn't be looking better.

5) The Amir Johnson signing was one of the best bargains this offseason. Salary structure gives us the option of retaining him next year or using that money on a star player. David Lee trade was a smart move as his contract was almost identical to Gerald Wallace and we knew we had dead weight in Wallace and David Lee was more of an unknown as far as contribution he could make to this team.

So the reason I give Ainge an A is because all these moves mentioned had not materialized to the point of awarding a grade until this year. As you mentioned, he should get credit at some point and to me this is the year because many unknowns have turned into knowns. Also, Ainge has refrained from making any bad moves (which goes underappreciated in an NBA where so many bad decisions are made).

Maybe it is just because I am on the west coast and only a few hours away from Sacramento but IT's play hasn't surprised me at all. It is the reason I supported the trade even though I think the Celtics should have still tanked harder last year so they could get a top 10 pick. The only difference really is he is on a better team and has a little more responsibility at times. The guy has been one of the most consistent players in the NBA for his age. His all star selection has much more to do with his team winning and being in the EC with less PG competition this year than someone who really has unexpectedly improved his game. I would give him credit for better defense at times but he has always given reasonable effort on D even though he has been abused at times on that end.

You convinced me to raise my grade to a B but the only point of yours I really agree with here and that I overlooked giving the timing of everything is the Crowder signing. I could be wrong but I would think in judging Ainge or any gm, it should be starting at last years draft until the end of this years playoffs. No exceptions to be fair to everyone.... Maybe writers don't always do that but I think that is the intent of the award. So under that scenario can't give him credit for the IT/Crowder trades and can't give him blame for not tanking harder last year and hurting the Celtics pick. You just have to just start at last years draft/FA which is where I think a new NBA season sort of starts.

I disagree on Amir who I still think was a decent signing just not a great one. I flat out think Lee was a very bad signing but just not one of significance.

I honestly don't think one can give him credit this year for moves in which he should have gotten credit for last year. I understand why you did and why others might as well but I don't think that is how the voting should work. And it is why I think these awards are a joke. They are voted on way too early. Like 5 years too early. How did Ainge do in last years draft? Who knows for sure?

This year I was expecting 48 wins since I saw the caliber of team that Celtics had last year with IT/Crowder/Smart et cetera. No surprise at all this year.

But I do think its fair to give him credit for the very good Crowder FA signing since that was after the season and the Celtics could have just offered him a shorter term contract for a little more money. I certainly was expecting Crowder to be signed after the way he played last season including the playoffs but it was a very good risk to try to sign him to 5 years given his age/injury history/level of play.

For the 2014-15 season if he had done a moderate tank after the trades to preserve a much better pick, I would have given him an A- or maybe even an A that year. The Rondo/Green trades were both too late and the Celtics held onto Bass too long but he did a very good job salvaging both deals. So in judging him in 2014-15, I can't penalize Ainge for some less than optimal moves he made the year before. But in analyzing Ainge this year, I can't credit him for good moves he made before this past season.

Nets trade I just think he should get credit for during the 2013-14 season. Not for this past year.

But I honestly understand different perspectives on the timing of these awards and that is why I am on board with Hinkie that it is a kind of a joke to be voting on gm of the year award with the way it is done.

The new 76ers gm got the award in a year in which he selected Bargnani with the #1 pick in the draft.

[Triple M]

Cha tanking for 6th???
Hopefully Mia follows suit

[shawn unkempt]

Can't believe we took Young over Capela.

[London2Boston]

Looks like it is the Heat. Got to secure home court now. I think Heat may well tank for 6th though. They match up best with Hawks and most of their fans want the Hawks.

[Marvel]

Cha tanking for 6th???
Hopefully Mia follows suit

I don't know why they would. They're 1-3 against them.

[Marvel]

Bring on Miami bitches. With HC....LEGGO!

[Triple M]

Cha tanking for 6th???
Hopefully Mia follows suit

I don't know why they would. They're 1-3 against them.

Avoiding the Cavs?

But your right that it doesn't matter if you can't make it out of the first

[Marvel]

Sorry, against ATL.

[klemen4]

DeAndre Jordan FT

[Cornbread]

Can't believe we took Young over Capela.

I mean, Cappella is a decent prospect, but he's not close to good enough to to be worth an "I can't believe we didn't draft him!!!!" whine.

[Marvel]

Mavs without their best player Barea. Don't see them winning this without him.

[FlatearthZorro]

Elfrid Peyton looks like the Weekend on crack....

[London2Boston]

Let's go Warriors! Make History...and prevent that home record while you are at it too

[Wes-J]

Can't believe we took Young over Capela.

I mean, Cappella is a decent prospect, but he's not close to good enough to to be worth an "I can't believe we didn't draft him!!!!" whine.

Anyone but Young smh.

[truth18]

Cavs getting destroyed by Atlanta.

Nvm. Bron gonna Bron.

[DK-All Day]

Damn Westbrook got a triple double in 18 minutes. 1 minute shy of the fastest one in NBA history.