When people bash Ainge for missing Giannis

[Ed Monix]

I am not sure if you’re aware but the youngest and supposedly most talented (according to Giannis) Antetokounmpo, Alex went undrafted the other week. After several workouts and playing a season in Spain, now Alex is on the Sacramento Kings summer league squad and was a dnp yesterday.

To say Ainge was an idiot for not picking Giannis in 2013 is in itself idiotic.

Since Giannis was selected, his older brother Thanasis and younger brother Kostas have been drafted in the second round and used as a free agency ploy. Now Giannis has signed long term with the Bucks, Alex has since been let go by the Lakers and plays in France, while Thanasis remains unsigned.

To retroactively look at Giannis now is foolish, he was 3-4 inches shorter, much, much skinnier while playing in a reserve league of Greece against high school level talent. His agent refused to work out with any team and only released Giannis’ medical to a select few teams (Celtics weren’t one).

Just because Giannis was selected 15th in 2013 doesn’t mean he was widely valued there, the Bucks selected Thon Maker in 2016 with the 10th pick and he’s now out of the league.

I’d wager there was a likelier chance that Nikola Jokic became a top player then Giannis.

[Roy H.]

I don't think his brothers are particularly relevant.  NBA GMs saw that Giannis was a first round talent, whereas none of his brothers were.  Giannis was taken just outside of the lottery; the other three aren't NBA players.

The fact that Giannis grew definitely gave him even higher upside, but even at 6'8" Giannis would have been a heck of a player.  It's what had so many people intrigued about him, and it's that talent that had Danny and other scouts traveling to Europe to scout him.

Ultimately, Danny missed.  He wanted a solid, good player who could stretch the floor, rather than a project with high upside.

[KG Living Legend]

I am not sure if you’re aware but the youngest and supposedly most talented (according to Giannis) Antetokounmpo, Alex went undrafted the other week. After several workouts and playing a season in Spain, now Alex is on the Sacramento Kings summer league squad and was a dnp yesterday.

To say Ainge was an idiot for not picking Giannis in 2013 is in itself idiotic.

Since Giannis was selected, his older brother Thanasis and younger brother Kostas have been drafted in the second round and used as a free agency ploy. Now Giannis has signed long term with the Bucks, Alex has since been let go by the Lakers and plays in France, while Thanasis remains unsigned.

To retroactively look at Giannis now is foolish, he was 3-4 inches shorter, much, much skinnier while playing in a reserve league of Greece against high school level talent. His agent refused to work out with any team and only released Giannis’ medical to a select few teams (Celtics weren’t one).

Just because Giannis was selected 15th in 2013 doesn’t mean he was widely valued there, the Bucks selected Thon Maker in 2016 with the 10th pick and he’s now out of the league.

I’d wager there was a likelier chance that Nikola Jokic became a top player then Giannis.

 This post is idiotic.  Did you know Danny went to Greece to scout him? Did you know scouts were calling him a 6'9" Scottie Pippen?

 That was an incredible call by that scout. He was as close as you could be to nailing his ceiling. Giannis ends up better than Pippen.

 Wonder what the same scout thought Kellys upside was?

.you draft for upside.  What a player will look like in 5 years. Sometimes you miss big.  Thon Maker, Kendrick Brown

 But when Giannis, Michael Porter JR, Kawhi,  when you hit those picks in the middle of the first round.  You keep your job forever.

 Bye bye Danny.  If you would have taken Giannis over Kelly you would still have your job. # Facts

[Ed Monix]

I don't think his brothers are particularly relevant.  NBA GMs saw that Giannis was a first round talent, whereas none of his brothers were.  Giannis was taken just outside of the lottery; the other three aren't NBA players.

The fact that Giannis grew definitely gave him even higher upside, but even at 6'8" Giannis would have been a heck of a player.  It's what had so many people intrigued about him, and it's that talent that had Danny and other scouts traveling to Europe to scout him.

Ultimately, Danny missed.  He wanted a solid, good player who could stretch the floor, rather than a project with high upside.

I understand your point, but apparently Alex was originally seen as a lottery talent when he was in High School.

Although his brothers weren’t as talented, their frames are all similar and Giannis was the only one to have that late growth spurt and able to bulk up. Honestly Giannis may have only been seen as a first round talent because his agent allowed such little access.

The 2013 Draft was seen as one of the weakest in decades and Giannis hasn’t even been involved in junior a FIBA tournament, so there was nothing to go on. Young Giannis wasn’t an elite vertical athlete, wasn’t a genius passer, couldn’t shoot or post up. Everything he has now was learned after being drafted, his potential was completely theoretical.

[greg683x]

For every Giannis, there’s 5 Darko Milicics and Dragen Benders

Danny would still have his job if he picked Giannis, but many more GMs lose their jobs swinging and missing on players like this in the lottery. 

[Donoghus]

Danny played it safe rather than taking a risk.

In retrospect, it cost him.  I don't think anyone had an inkling Giannis would be this transcendent, though.

[obnoxiousmime]

My main complaint, or lament about that pick has always been that it was the first pick of the rebuild and we should have been drafting for upside, not floor. It was obvious to me that Olynyk, despite being more versatile and skilled than your typical stiff big man, could not be a starter on a championship team due to his defensive limitations. Basically, they traded up to draft a solid player that was sure to have a long career due to his smarts, size, and skillset but would never be a star and couldn't be a starter on a contender.

I've always suspected that they thought Olynyk could be better than what he ended up being which is why they traded up to get him. They thought yes, his defense isn't the best but Nowitzki also wasn't a great defender. Unfortunately, Olynyk didn't have a scorer's mentality and he could never reach an efficient enough level shooting the ball to make up for his bad defense.