I know it has become a cliche to say "Ainge is keeping his flexibility for a year from now", but please consider:
- By next offseason, the Pelicans will have had 1.5 years of Demarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis playing together. Most people agree the Pelicans at the minimum will give it another year with this pairing before blowing it up and even considering trading Davis. They could be really bad next year, especially if they lose Jrue Holiday. (And if keep him, they'll be capped out and incapable of improving the team via free agency.) Ainge targeted a potential Kevin Garnett trade for years and his patience paid off. I'm certain he's taking the same patient approach to Davis.
- The Cavs will probably be dismantled after one more season. There's lots of reports that Lebron has interest in moving out West when his contract is up in a year. I personally think this is now the most likely scenario, especially given the Cavs' dire lack of flexibility and assets to improve their roster beyond next year. In that case, it could leave the Celtics to the rule the East, assuming they can hold off young teams like Milwaukee and Philadelphia. Next year (2017/18) you can compete, but in 2018/19 the path to a title could be much clearer.
- The Celtics will have a chance to re-make their roster in a year. It's going to be decision time with IT next off-season, when he's a free agent. Same goes with Avery Bradley, and Marcus Smart will be a restricted free agent too. This could be the major pivot point between past and future for the C's.
What do you all think? I think this helps explain Ainge's comfort in trading back from #1 to gain another future asset. The Celtics, hopefully by that point with Gordon Hayward or some other big FA in tow, will have a boatload of goodies to throw at Davis or whoever else they choose to target, just at the right time in terms of when to realistically challenge for a title.