What if Danny Ainge were the Wizards GM?

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We're all seeing what Danny Ainge is up to in Utah. We've still got a few quiet days before TC begins, so feel free to go nuts & speculate what Danny would be doing now if he were our GM?

For that matter, if you'd rather look at it a little differently: what would Danny have done if he'd become Wizards GM in 2019 instead of Tommy Sheppard? Where would we be now...?

[verbal8]

I am pretty sure Ainge would have traded Beal. He traded 2 players better than Beal, because he didn't feel he would have had a good shot at a championship.

[nate33]

I am pretty sure Ainge would have traded Beal. He traded 2 players better than Beal, because he didn't feel he would have had a good shot at a championship.

Yup. He would have traded Beal and probably Kuzma too. Ainge has a history of trading non-essential players going into their contract year. He'd prefer long term value in the form of picks/prospects instead of having to resign an impending free agent to a market value contract. He did it with Terry Rozier.

It's what we should have done with Bertans too.

He definitely would have looked to trade Beal. The only thing I don't know is whether he could have gotten any value for him last summer while Beal has his player option. He might have resigned him with the intent to trade him in December. I'm sure he would have negotiated much better than Sheppard/Leonsis did. Beal would probably be on a 4-year deal that pays him $35M a year with no raises.

[AFM]

He would resign after Ted vetos all of his ideas

[badinage]

He would’ve traded Beal, Kuzma, The Zinger, and talked up a storm on background to every reporter in the country about what he did and how great he is and what he learned from Red, and how other teams didn’t tempt him enough and how he has other players who could go too, that that’s always a possibility, and if a great deal should come along …, but that they won’t because he’s not gonna do that, the Washington Ainges, er, Wizards are gonna build this the right way.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

WWJD? My instant thought...I am sure Jesus has great plans for all. ( See Jeremiah 29:11.)

What would Danny do?

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[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Watch on YouTube

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

He would resign after Ted vetos all of his ideas

This.



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[verbal8]

He would resign after Ted vetos all of his ideas

Yeah I can't think of a more diametrically opposed owner/GM combination.

[dckingsfan]

He would resign after Ted vetos all of his ideas

Yeah I can't think of a more diametrically opposed owner/GM combination.

Maybe the better question is ?!?, "if we had an owner that was willing to rebuild?..."

[WallToWall]

…every current player would have been traded, and somehow we would have 42 first round picks.
The coach would be gone and some young upstart that we’ve never though about would be hired.

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He would resign after Ted vetos all of his ideas

Thing is... if Ted had had a chance to hire Ainge, total control would have been the terms of the deal. So, no need to resign.

&, if he'd been successful (as one would expect he would have been!) no worries about being fired either.

[payitforward]

I am pretty sure Ainge would have traded Beal. He traded 2 players better than Beal, because he didn't feel he would have had a good shot at a championship.

Yup. He would have traded Beal and probably Kuzma too. Ainge has a history of trading non-essential players going into their contract year. He'd prefer long term value in the form of picks/prospects instead of having to resign an impending free agent to a market value contract. He did it with Terry Rozier.

It's what we should have done with Bertans too.

He definitely would have looked to trade Beal. The only thing I don't know is whether he could have gotten any value for him last summer while Beal has his player option. He might have resigned him with the intent to trade him in December. I'm sure he would have negotiated much better than Sheppard/Leonsis did. Beal would probably be on a 4-year deal that pays him $35M a year with no raises.

So, if he'd come on when Tommy did, we can assume he'd have taken a R1 pick for Bertans when it was offered. Of course, this is a little science fiction-ey, since it was Boston (i.e. Ainge) who offered that R1 pick!

He wouldn't have picked Rui in 2019, I'm pretty sure. He'd have traded down with Boston (oh no... trading with himself again! ) & come away with Clarke, Keldon Johnson, Gafford & 1 of the Martin twins.

I wonder what he'd have done in the '20 draft? Maybe Halliburton, Desmond Bane (w/ the pick from trading Bertans) & Tre Jones? Maybe get KMart Jr. too...?

How about the '21 draft? I'm pretty sure he'd have used that #22 pick...

Or '22?

[penbeast0]

What, he can't trade with himself in 20 and 21 as long as he's on a roll? We could have Aaron Nesmith and Juhann Begarin and maybe Payton Pritchard too! Clearly he liked them.

[AFM]

Yeah I think the more interesting question is "what if Ted completely clocked out and let Tommy do whatever he wanted?"

[badinage]

Let’s not romanticize him. He’s been mostly terrible in the draft.

Here and there, a good get. But by and large, a slew of misses.

But the wheeling and dealing gives the impression of large and in-charge, the impression that the team is going places … and gets the Bill Simmonseseses all hot and lathered: look at the ASSets; look at what he’s DONE (when of course we all know that acquiring picks is not achievement; achievement is achievement.)

(I actually like Ainge. Sort of. His moxie. But what a pisser. As a gm and as a player both. Member? The way he bit Tree Rollins. The way he threw the ball at Barkley’s nuts. …)

[gambitx777]

I think that he wouldn't even take the job. Ted wouldn't be as ruthless as ainge. Teds a sappy big hearted teddy bear. He loves these guys. He doesn't want to treat them like action figures. Danny doesn't give a ****.

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[nate33]

Let’s not romanticize him. He’s been mostly terrible in the draft.

Here and there, a good get. But by and large, a slew of misses.

But the wheeling and dealing gives the impression of large and in-charge, the impression that the team is going places … and gets the Bill Simmonseseses all hot and lathered: look at the ASSets; look at what he’s DONE (when of course we all know that acquiring picks is not achievement; achievement is achievement.)

(I actually like Ainge. Sort of. His moxie. But what a pisser. As a gm and as a player both. Member? The way he bit Tree Rollins. The way he threw the ball at Barkley’s nuts. …)

He is solid in the draft, but not elite like the San Antonio and Memphis guys.

What Ainge does best is he never wastes an asset. If he is not in position to compete, he will trade vets to other teams who value them more. If Ainge has a soon-to-be free agent that he doesn't really want to resign, he'll trade him the year before and get back assets.

[Kanyewest]

Ainge's best pick on the top of my head- Tatum, Brown, Smart, Robert Williams, and Terry Rozier. Also drafted Al Jefferson, Delonte West, and Joe Johnson - although he clearly gave up on West and Johnson too soon.

Also has had some duds (Lester Hudson, Fab Melo, Romeo Langford)

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Yeah I think the more interesting question is "what if Ted completely clocked out and let Tommy do whatever he wanted?"

Dream on!