Been thinking of the Celtics recently but have held off saying anything (until today). It bugs me that some in Boston won't be happy with Danny Ainge even if he lands Kevin Durant (he won't) but the fact is next year's team will be better than this year's version. And this year's version was on the cusp of being a real contender in the Eastern Conference.
The Celtics have essentially lost Evan Turner and Jared Sullinger (soon) but have upgraded those players with Jaylen Brown and Al Horford. This new roster is a 50-win capable team with Danny still having the assets and cap space to make another impactful move. The Celtics right now are probably the second best team in the East and a LeBron James hamstring injury away from being the best.
I've been stewing about how the media treats the Celtics since the NBA Draft when Boston took Jaylen Brown with the 3rd overall pick. That announcement was met by boos from yahoos who wanted the Celtics to mortgage that pick and half the roster for Jimmy Butler or at least to pick a guy like Dunn or Heild that the watch college ball only during March Madness yahoos knew of. I had not seen a single minute of Brown in college and did not have him in for private workouts but you know who did see lots of film on Brown and who did have him in for private workouts? Danny Ainge. And you know who is really excited to have Jaylen Brown? Danny Ainge. Do you know who's basketball judgement I trust more than a bunch of braying yahoos? Danny Ainge.
Some compared the yahoos booing the Jaylen Brown pick to the Knicks fans booing the Porzingis pick last year. To me it brought back memories of Paul Pierce getting picked 10th in the 1998 Draft. That pick was made by Red Aeurbach which I guess puts Ainge into some good company for getting booed by know-nothing yahoos.
Three years ago yesterday Boston signed Brad Stevens to be their coach and this offseason the Celtics signed him to an extension. This young Celtics team has been built for long term success and Danny Ainge is the architect of that success.
As a Cubs fan enjoying the tenure of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer, the success of any franchise starts with the front office. A coherent plan carried out in a consistent manner with competent personnel is a thing of beauty, and builds on its own success.
ReplyDeleteContrast the current version of the Cubs franchise with the Jim Frey era club, which sacrificed young talent for questionable players in a win now scenario.
Kudos to the Celtics for putting their franchise in good hands. Ainge was still one of the most annoying players ever; he had an eminently punchable face.