Author Topic: What If: Danny's Plan Worked?  (Read 1303 times)

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What If: Danny's Plan Worked?
« on: December 02, 2021, 11:15:42 AM »

Online Roy H.

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We all know that Danny's master plan of building a first-tier contender didn't work out, largely due to injuries and bad luck.  But what if it did?

Let's assume that Hayward stays healthy and happy.  Kyrie stays happy and buys in as the leader of his new team.  In the 2020 off-season, we pull the trigger on an Anthony Davis trade, sending out Brown, Smart, Langford and several draft picks.  Wyc opens up the checkbook and resigns Marcus Morris and Terry Rozier, promising him the starting SG role.

Our core would be:

Horford / Timelord / Theis
Davis / Morris
Tatum / (Hayward)
Rozier / (Hayward)
Kyrie

Does that core win a championship?  What if we had to include Tatum instead of Brown?  How would we have filled in the roster?
« Last Edit: December 02, 2021, 11:26:57 AM by Roy H. »


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Re: What If: Danny's Plan Worked?
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2021, 11:21:12 AM »

Offline Moranis

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We all know that Danny's master plan of building a first-tier contender didn't work out, largely due to injuries and bad luck.  But what if it did?

Let's assume that Hayward stays healthy and happy.  Kyrie stays happy and buys in as the leader of his new team.  In the 2020 off-season, we pull the trigger on an Anthony Davis trade, sending out Brown, Smart, Langford and several draft picks.  Wyc opens up the checkbook and resigns Marcus Morris and Terry Rozier, promising him the starting SG role.

Our core would be:

Horford / Timelord / Theis
Davis / Morris
Tatum
Rozier
Kyrie

Does that core win a championship?  What if we had to include Tatum instead of Brown?  How would we have filled in the roster?
You don't have Hayward in your rotation.

That team probably wins the title at some point if it was healthy for the playoffs.
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Re: What If: Danny's Plan Worked?
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2021, 01:08:47 PM »

Offline todd_days_41

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I have no problem with how Ainge took his shot.

He was fortunate in the Big Three era -- took his chance, and it worked.

He made good moves to reposition himself to take another shot leading up to the Kyrie deal (and in anticipation of a Davis deal). He took his crack, didn't have the same fortune the second time around.

But you have to take risks as a GM to reach the promise land.

Re: What If: Danny's Plan Worked?
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2021, 01:19:55 PM »

Offline JohnBoy65

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There is just no way you sign Hayward to a max contract and have him come off the bench. Rozier would have to agree to be the 6th man.

Or, in this alternate reality, maybe Tatum doesn't become the Tatum he is today. I think the forced exposure he had his first year due to injuries and having to be the alpha in the playoffs advanced him on a quicker pace. So is it possible that at least early on Tatum is the 6th man.

Re: What If: Danny's Plan Worked?
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2021, 01:27:01 PM »

Offline Jvalin

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In the spirit of the thread:

- What if Danny opted for Giannis instead of Olynyk in 2013?
- What if Danny drafted Jokic in 2014?
- What if we never acquired Kyrie and we traded up for Luka using our Nets 2018 pick + future picks (similarly to what Dallas did)?

PG: Luka
SG: Brown
SF: Tatum - Hayward
PF: Giannis
C: Jokic - Horford

How many rings would we have won with this team? ::) :P

Joking aside, if 1 out of these 3 scenarios were true, we would have created a dynasty. Chances are we would have already won at least one ring.
« Last Edit: December 02, 2021, 01:51:47 PM by Jvalin »

Re: What If: Danny's Plan Worked?
« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2021, 01:29:05 PM »

Offline Smartacus

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I think that team would have been capable of winning a championship. That Boston team would be a near ideal roster make up for AD. It wouldn't be a Davis, Lebron lets take turns situation, he'd be arguably the top member of a cohesive unit where anyone can go off on a given night in a way that's similar to Golden State.

The tragedy of Anthony Davis' career is that he's always been relegated to extremely top heavy teams. I think he's a bit miscast as a big 2-3 style player. If you put him on a team where opponents aren't constantly the box against him because who else do you need to guard, he could be an absolute menace scoring in the in-between moments of the game.

Right now he's being asked to be a high volume, Kevin Durant style iso player where he'd be better served as more of a Tim Duncan off ball juggernaut. With Kyrie, Tatum, Hayward, and Horford, AD could pick his spots when to dominate and let the rest of them fill in then primary scoring. Could have been a Dynasty.

Re: What If: Danny's Plan Worked?
« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2021, 01:55:13 PM »

Online Donoghus

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Healthy, that team is winning a title.


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Re: What If: Danny's Plan Worked?
« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2021, 02:16:07 PM »

Offline Big333223

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Hayward not breaking his leg... that alone probably means a Finals appearance in '18 and who knows what happens from there.
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Re: What If: Danny's Plan Worked?
« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2021, 02:17:24 PM »

Offline Birdman

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Danny wanted Anthony Davis & he didn’t..went downhill from there
C/PF-Horford, Baynes, Noel, Theis, Morris,
SF/SG- Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Smart, Semi, Clark
PG- Irving, Rozier, Larkin