As many have suggested, it ended more the way Brad wanted it to, which was by design.
Let's see if it stays that way. I think it will.
The Cs seem fully committed to Brad's Butler paradigm wherein the system is the star. The Big Three model is passe, a relic of a bygone era that unfortunately arrived and departed far too quickly for everyone. Any future star will emerge from the system, will be grown in-house, much like Hayward was at Butler.
Everyone is betting that a finely-tuned and exceptionally well-coached up group of high character-and-value and supremely versatile players who "play the right way" can win it all. That remains to be seen. Regardless, as a process, it's fascinating and much more enjoyable to watch, as far as I'm concerned.
Danny will acquire someone like George only on terms that essentially constitute a bargain for the Celts and then only if the player has Stevens' imprimatur insofar as coachability, unselfishness and versatility, i.e., being fundamentally a positionless player. This apparently wasn't the case with Butler or, for that matter, Jackson.
Hayward ticks off every box, as did Tatum. George, not so much.