Makes no sense to me that Ainge made a promise at #21. We all know that Danny is very active on trade day. Making a promise here takes away all his leverage to make deals. What if a player he loves is slipping? He cannot package his two picks to move up. Unless he has White rated as a the 7th best player after the Big 6 of Davis, Robinson, Beal, MKG, Barnes, and Drummond it makes no sense to me. This is why promises are not made this low. We all know the top 6 players isn't sliding to us at #21 but every player from #7 on has the potential to slide. Why handcuff yourself from moving up?
Only way promise was made is if there is a deal in place to select for another team. With word that Atlanta at #23 is interested in White, It makes sense that a team would want to get ahead of them and Cs are the team right in front.
My best guess is that either no promise was made or this pick is part of a more complicated trade with one of the following teams that White has worked out for (Golden State, Indiana, Miami, Houston).
* Golden State- They are looking to trade out of #7. They want a SF but Barnes and MKG will be gone and they were disappointed with Perry & Terrence Jones. White would make sense for them but how do you agree to pick for the Cs not knowing if White will be available when the Cs pick at 21?
* Indiana- Larry Bird DA connection makes this interesting. Indiana has the #26 pick so they need to get ahead of Atlanta. This is the trade that looks possible. Don't know what we'll get in return though.
* Miami- No way Cs help them out unless DA knows he is getting the better end of the deal.
* Houston- This one's also interesting because of DA's relationship with McHale. Again doesn't make sense to have the promise made by the team picking lower in a potential deal of draft picks.