How Many More Years Do We Give Ainge to Win a Championship?

[Neurotic Guy]

This team right now, isnt going to win any titles in the upcoming years

You'll be surprised.

This current Celtics team will be better than last season's Celtics team.

One move and this current Celtics team will be a contender.

The upcoming season could really go in any direction. I don’t think the Kyrie trade reflects poorly on Ainge.  I think he’d have been a fool not to pull the trigger. Sometimes the kind of “due diligence” that produces 20-20 foresight is impossible. I think Danny probably knew the risks in trading for Kyrie and probably thought it was worth it. Good gambles don’t always pan out.

But... despite not getting AD and losing KI, had the C’s kept Al Horford I think many here would be thinking the C’s would be in contention this year.   This supports the idea that the C’s may indeed be a move away. 

Horford was the bigger loss (over Kyrie). Not sure that Al could have been had if DA/Wyc had offered more, but if he proves to be the difference for Philly this year, hindsight may be filled with regret.

[iadera]

I don't know but I expect us to rule the east this year. So, NBA finals is a minimum of my ecpectations.

[Sophomore]

This team right now, isnt going to win any titles in the upcoming years

You'll be surprised.

This current Celtics team will be better than last season's Celtics team.

One move and this current Celtics team will be a contender.

The upcoming season could really go in any direction. I don’t think the Kyrie trade reflects poorly on Ainge.  I think he’d have been a fool not to pull the trigger. Sometimes the kind of “due diligence” that produces 20-20 foresight is impossible. I think Danny probably knew the risks in trading for Kyrie and probably thought it was worth it. Good gambles don’t always pan out.

But... despite not getting AD and losing KI, had the C’s kept Al Horford I think many here would be thinking the C’s would be in contention this year.   This supports the idea that the C’s may indeed be a move away. 

Horford was the bigger loss (over Kyrie). Not sure that Al could have been had if DA/Wyc had offered more, but if he proves to be the difference for Philly this year, hindsight may be filled with regret.

Agreed. The Kyrie experience leaves a bitter taste, but it really isn’t all that hard to think it could’ve gone differently - if Hayward doesn’t have one of the worst injuries in the entire NBA during the first half of game 1 of his Celtics career. Ainge did a masterful job putting that team together and then fate just decided to say “nope”.

I bet golden state warrior fans would’ve said their front office were idiots if curry had suffered a freak injury before their first title and the team never quite made it after that.

[Csfan1984]

It may not even be a matter of championships if the team regresses again BS and DA will feel the heat.

[feckless]

How many more seasons do we give Ainge to win a championship? It has been almost a dozen years. 2? 3? 4? Another 11?

I, for one, am going to be sorely disappointed if we do not win a championship by 2022, particularly if the Lakers somehow win another. I think Ainge should be given three more years/seasons to win a championship before it’s time to move on. The Kyrie thing is not his fault. But if we continue to fail 3 more years, that would be one championship in how many seasons?

I am sure Danny is losing sleep because he doesn’t want to disappoint you?

How many years have you been a C’s fan?

[Fierce1]

This team right now, isnt going to win any titles in the upcoming years

You'll be surprised.

This current Celtics team will be better than last season's Celtics team.

One move and this current Celtics team will be a contender.

The upcoming season could really go in any direction. I don’t think the Kyrie trade reflects poorly on Ainge.  I think he’d have been a fool not to pull the trigger. Sometimes the kind of “due diligence” that produces 20-20 foresight is impossible. I think Danny probably knew the risks in trading for Kyrie and probably thought it was worth it. Good gambles don’t always pan out.

But... despite not getting AD and losing KI, had the C’s kept Al Horford I think many here would be thinking the C’s would be in contention this year.   This supports the idea that the C’s may indeed be a move away. 

Horford was the bigger loss (over Kyrie). Not sure that Al could have been had if DA/Wyc had offered more, but if he proves to be the difference for Philly this year, hindsight may be filled with regret.

I disagree.

The time has come for Horford and the Celts to part ways.

Losing Horford is a blessing in disguise.

Twice the Celts went to the east finals against Lebron and the Cavs and twice Horford failed to rise to the occasion.

Horford's a great player, no doubt, but he doesn't step up in the big moments, like Game 7 of the east finals in 2018.

The Hawks of Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, and Horford also never reached the east finals.

I'm just not sold on extending Horford's time in Boston.

[__ramonezy__]

Ainge has been great at playing the hand you're dealt... which is all you can ask a GM to do. In this era of player movement, judging a GM by championships is not the best metric.

[Fierce1]

I still believe that back in 2016, the Celts should not have signed Horford if KD wasn't coming to Boston.

[Neurotic Guy]

This team right now, isnt going to win any titles in the upcoming years

You'll be surprised.

This current Celtics team will be better than last season's Celtics team.

One move and this current Celtics team will be a contender.

The upcoming season could really go in any direction. I don’t think the Kyrie trade reflects poorly on Ainge.  I think he’d have been a fool not to pull the trigger. Sometimes the kind of “due diligence” that produces 20-20 foresight is impossible. I think Danny probably knew the risks in trading for Kyrie and probably thought it was worth it. Good gambles don’t always pan out.

But... despite not getting AD and losing KI, had the C’s kept Al Horford I think many here would be thinking the C’s would be in contention this year.   This supports the idea that the C’s may indeed be a move away. 

Horford was the bigger loss (over Kyrie). Not sure that Al could have been had if DA/Wyc had offered more, but if he proves to be the difference for Philly this year, hindsight may be filled with regret.

I disagree.

The time has come for Horford and the Celts to part ways.

Losing Horford is a blessing in disguise.

Twice the Celts went to the east finals against Lebron and the Cavs and twice Horford failed to rise to the occasion.

Horford's a great player, no doubt, but he doesn't step up in the big moments, like Game 7 of the east finals in 2018.

The Hawks of Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, and Horford also never reached the east finals.

I'm just not sold on extending Horford's time in Boston.

You could be right that it was the correct move to let Al go without a fight. But I do think an argument could be made that the current team with Al is a serious contender in the East. And without him, the C’s need a few possible player performances  to pan out exceptionally  well to be in the top 3.

[celts10]

I think Horford has another year of solid basketball in him before he starts to slowly drop off.

[footey]

This team right now, isnt going to win any titles in the upcoming years

You'll be surprised.

This current Celtics team will be better than last season's Celtics team.

One move and this current Celtics team will be a contender.

The upcoming season could really go in any direction. I don’t think the Kyrie trade reflects poorly on Ainge.  I think he’d have been a fool not to pull the trigger. Sometimes the kind of “due diligence” that produces 20-20 foresight is impossible. I think Danny probably knew the risks in trading for Kyrie and probably thought it was worth it. Good gambles don’t always pan out.

But... despite not getting AD and losing KI, had the C’s kept Al Horford I think many here would be thinking the C’s would be in contention this year.   This supports the idea that the C’s may indeed be a move away. 

Horford was the bigger loss (over Kyrie). Not sure that Al could have been had if DA/Wyc had offered more, but if he proves to be the difference for Philly this year, hindsight may be filled with regret.

I disagree.

The time has come for Horford and the Celts to part ways.

Losing Horford is a blessing in disguise.

Twice the Celts went to the east finals against Lebron and the Cavs and twice Horford failed to rise to the occasion.

Horford's a great player, no doubt, but he doesn't step up in the big moments, like Game 7 of the east finals in 2018.

The Hawks of Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, and Horford also never reached the east finals.

I'm just not sold on extending Horford's time in Boston.

You could be right that it was the correct move to let Al go without a fight. But I do think an argument could be made that the current team with Al is a serious contender in the East. And without him, the C’s need a few possible player performances  to pan out exceptionally  well to be in the top 3.

Exceptional performance will be required to make top 2 but not 3rd. Consensus around league seems to place Celtics solidly 3rd in Eastern Conf.

[PhoSita]

I reject the premise.


Ainge is doing a great job and as long as that continues to be the case I'll be happy with him as GM.


No GM can guarantee a championship. All you can do is play the cards youre dealt in order to put together a team that can be competitive. Ainge has consistently done that.


If you value only championships and can't stomach the notion that the team might handle their business really well and still not win a title for 15-20 years at a time, well, maybe you're following the wrong sport.

[KGs Knee]

Ainge's biggest mistake was not trading Terry last summer when he still had trade value.  Also, by keeping Terry around he signaled to Kyrie the team wasn't 100% invested in him, which I think poisoned the well a bit.  It's clear they resented each other, which led to a whole host of other team chemistry issues.  Had Ainge removed Terry from the equation much sooner things might have turned out a lot differently.

I don't think it's a fireable offense, though. Ainge has quite a bit of leeway.  I do hope that it's not an indefinite leash, however.  If Ainge keeps slipping there could be cause to look in a new direction.

[Ty_Unabi]

Ainge has kept the Celtics very competitive.  I think he is doing a great job. Hope he stays a long time.

[W8ting2McHale]

Wyc, it’s okay. Everyone was a little frustrated with how last season turned out. It’s okay to vent, Wyc, we’re all friends here.