Tatum pick alone should get Danny Exec of the Year

[moiso]

he got the best player in the draft with potentially another lottery pick to boot.

I have said it before on this blog but I think the Fultz trade / Tatum pick, if the Lakers pick conveys, will go down as his greatest move ever.

Tatum is so good.

Tatum is going to be awesome, no doubt about it.  And if the Lakers pick conveys, it's an amazing move. 

I'm not ready to say what most people on this blog seem to be saying though- that they already know Tatum will be the best player from the draft when it's all said and done.  It's far too early to make that call.  All these players are basically kids and aren't even close to being finished products.  Fultz could be awesome, Ball could be awesome, Markkanen will be excellent, Mitchell is already excellent... It was a very deep draft.  I keep thinking back to the 98 draft when everyone, including me, was jealous of Toronto getting Vince Carter.  He was the man and there was little doubt by anyone that he was the best player in that draft for a few years or more.  It turns out that Pierce had a far better career.  Also, nobody thought anything of Dirk until a couple years later, and he had the best career of them all. 

I think we can be thrilled with the trade without claiming to be certain that Tatum will be the best player from that draft.  And it's crazy how quickly guys like Ball (who will be great) and Fultz (who could be great and hasn't even really played yet) have been written off by the majority here.

[Surferdad]

It isn't likely, but given how incredible these top 6-7 players in 2018's draft are, we may end up wirh a talent equal or superior to Tatum.

And it was FREE for all intensive intents and purposes

Or you can legitimately rationalize the Kyrie trade as only losing IT, Crowder, Zizic, and a 2nd, since Danny waived his magic wand and got "his guy" and also gained a blue-chip trade asset in the process.

Ainge for President!

Grammar cop here, fixed it, this is one of the most common mistakes in English phrases.

Thank you for your service. It's a shame that most greet you with "you know what he meant" "don't be a jerk" You're taking time out of your day to help people and should be thanked.

TP Erik.  Part of my job is document review for government submissions.  I actually resist the temptation to be a grammar cop on CB unless I see something egregious.

[manl_lui]

It isn't likely, but given how incredible these top 6-7 players in 2018's draft are, we may end up wirh a talent equal or superior to Tatum.

And it was FREE for all intensive intents and purposes

Or you can legitimately rationalize the Kyrie trade as only losing IT, Crowder, Zizic, and a 2nd, since Danny waived his magic wand and got "his guy" and also gained a blue-chip trade asset in the process.

Ainge for President!

Grammar cop here, fixed it, this is one of the most common mistakes in English phrases.

Thank you for your service. It's a shame that most greet you with "you know what he meant" "don't be a jerk" You're taking time out of your day to help people and should be thanked.

TP Erik.  Part of my job is document review for government submissions.  I actually resist the temptation to be a grammar cop on CB unless I see something egregious.

to be fair, i'm one of the weird guys who doesn't mind getting corrected...I like to learn and if i mess something up i am glad someone pointed something out to me so i won't get embarrassed next time

[Moranis]

Ainge is certainly the leader for exec of the year, but I don't think he is a shoe-in.  Houston had a great off season.  The Wolves and Thunder both went up a couple of levels with their off season moves such that they could give the Warriors fits (and maybe even beat them in a perfect scenario).  The Cavs did pretty good in the trade demand circumstances and could still turn that BKN pick into something.  Still too early to give Ainge the award, but he is definitely the front runner.

[MikeB12]

Frankly, so far Ball IMO has been a disappointment.  He can't shoot - very poor percentages - which offset his passing ability.  Unless he drastically improves in that area (I'm not sure he will or can), then it is way too early to say he will be a star in the NBA.

MikeB
Celtics fan since the 60s

[rochrist]

Tatum hasn't even scratched the surface.

Wait until Ainge lands the 2nd-5th pick this year. Talk about dangling an asset.

IF it's #2, you take Bagley, if it's #3, you take Bamba, if it's #4, you trade it.

Nah. There are five, maybe even six players in this year's draft that will be difference makers.

[nickagneta]

It isn't likely, but given how incredible these top 6-7 players in 2018's draft are, we may end up wirh a talent equal or superior to Tatum.

And it was FREE for all intensive intents and purposes

Or you can legitimately rationalize the Kyrie trade as only losing IT, Crowder, Zizic, and a 2nd, since Danny waived his magic wand and got "his guy" and also gained a blue-chip trade asset in the process.

Ainge for President!

Grammar cop here, fixed it, this is one of the most common mistakes in English phrases.

Thank you for your service. It's a shame that most greet you with "you know what he meant" "don't be a jerk" You're taking time out of your day to help people and should be thanked.

TP Erik.  Part of my job is document review for government submissions.  I actually resist the temptation to be a grammar cop on CB unless I see something egregious.

We discourage grammar and spell correction on this site as it tends to create hard feelings most of the time.

[Moranis]

Frankly, so far Ball IMO has been a disappointment.  He can't shoot - very poor percentages - which offset his passing ability.  Unless he drastically improves in that area (I'm not sure he will or can), then it is way too early to say he will be a star in the NBA.

MikeB
Celtics fan since the 60s

and yet, the Lakers losing streak pretty much coincides with Ball's injury and missed time.  Ball's shooting ability (or lack thereof) has been blown way out of proportion.

[Rondo9]

Frankly, so far Ball IMO has been a disappointment.  He can't shoot - very poor percentages - which offset his passing ability.  Unless he drastically improves in that area (I'm not sure he will or can), then it is way too early to say he will be a star in the NBA.

MikeB
Celtics fan since the 60s

and yet, the Lakers losing streak pretty much coincides with Ball's injury and missed time.  Ball's shooting ability (or lack thereof) has been blown way out of proportion.

I think it's more than just Ball's injury.

[rochrist]

Frankly, so far Ball IMO has been a disappointment.  He can't shoot - very poor percentages - which offset his passing ability.  Unless he drastically improves in that area (I'm not sure he will or can), then it is way too early to say he will be a star in the NBA.

MikeB
Celtics fan since the 60s

and yet, the Lakers losing streak pretty much coincides with Ball's injury and missed time.  Ball's shooting ability (or lack thereof) has been blown way out of proportion.

I think it's more than just Ball's injury.

It's also the schedule.

[saltlover]

Frankly, so far Ball IMO has been a disappointment.  He can't shoot - very poor percentages - which offset his passing ability.  Unless he drastically improves in that area (I'm not sure he will or can), then it is way too early to say he will be a star in the NBA.

MikeB
Celtics fan since the 60s

and yet, the Lakers losing streak pretty much coincides with Ball's injury and missed time.  Ball's shooting ability (or lack thereof) has been blown way out of proportion.

I think it's more than just Ball's injury.

It's also the schedule.

Yep.  Oh look, Lonzo returns tomorrow and the Lakers will win a couple. Must be thanks to him, rather than a 3-game stretch at home against Charlotte, Sacramento, and Atlanta.  Yep, all hail Lonzo.

[Moranis]

Frankly, so far Ball IMO has been a disappointment.  He can't shoot - very poor percentages - which offset his passing ability.  Unless he drastically improves in that area (I'm not sure he will or can), then it is way too early to say he will be a star in the NBA.

MikeB
Celtics fan since the 60s

and yet, the Lakers losing streak pretty much coincides with Ball's injury and missed time.  Ball's shooting ability (or lack thereof) has been blown way out of proportion.

I think it's more than just Ball's injury.

It's also the schedule.

Sure it is harder, but Ball's last 3 games, the Lakers won in Houston, lost by 7 at GS, and lost to Portland by 3.  Aside from the 2OT game to Houston, they haven't been within 10 points of a team without Ball, and a lot of the losses are near 20 points.

The Lakers are a much different team with Ball on the floor then they are without him. 

[mctyson]

Ainge is certainly the leader for exec of the year, but I don't think he is a shoe-in.  Houston had a great off season.  The Wolves and Thunder both went up a couple of levels with their off season moves such that they could give the Warriors fits (and maybe even beat them in a perfect scenario).  The Cavs did pretty good in the trade demand circumstances and could still turn that BKN pick into something.  Still too early to give Ainge the award, but he is definitely the front runner.

I think if the Celtics draft in the top-5 for three consecutive years and also play in the East finals those three years that Danny should get the award for the next three years.

[Rondo9]

Frankly, so far Ball IMO has been a disappointment.  He can't shoot - very poor percentages - which offset his passing ability.  Unless he drastically improves in that area (I'm not sure he will or can), then it is way too early to say he will be a star in the NBA.

MikeB
Celtics fan since the 60s

and yet, the Lakers losing streak pretty much coincides with Ball's injury and missed time.  Ball's shooting ability (or lack thereof) has been blown way out of proportion.

I think it's more than just Ball's injury.

It's also the schedule.

Sure it is harder, but Ball's last 3 games, the Lakers won in Houston, lost by 7 at GS, and lost to Portland by 3.  Aside from the 2OT game to Houston, they haven't been within 10 points of a team without Ball, and a lot of the losses are near 20 points.

The Lakers are a much different team with Ball on the floor then they are without him.

So they'll go from very bad to bad.

[Celtics4ever]

I think if the Celtics draft in the top-5 for three consecutive years and also play in the East finals those three years that Danny should get the award for the next three years.

I agree but also have faith in the strong Anti-Celtics media bias so I doubt he wins.