Ainge interview: Last year his fault, he should have cleaned out roster

[nickagneta]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28169512/celtics-danny-ainge-more-roster-moves-needed-last-season

"I think that in hindsight, we should have cleaned out the roster a little bit to make it easier for [coach] Brad [Stevens], more joy for him to coach," Ainge told ESPN's Rachel Nichols in an interview that was released Tuesday.

The Celtics were expected to be title contenders in 2018-19 after losing in Game 7 of the conference finals the year before with a team that lacked injured stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. However, the duo's return to a rotation that featured Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart led to a logjam of players.

"It just didn't mesh," Ainge said. "You know, it just didn't, and I knew, and we talked about it."


The Celtics lost the conference semifinals to the Bucks in five games last season. AP Photo/Morry Gash
Ultimately, Ainge said he refrained from trading any players last season because, after an uneven start, the team entered the All-Star break 37-21.

"So that's why I didn't do any deals, but in hindsight, you know, I would," Ainge told ESPN.

There is more. Rachel Nichols did the interview that has more including Danny defending Kyrie.

Video:

https://mobile.twitter.com/Rachel__Nichols/status/1199352155259523072?s=19

[GreenCoffeeBean]

Correct and many here wanted just that

[saltlover]

It’s not wrong, obviously, in hindsight.  And Ainge is wise to try to fall on the sword himself so that everyone can stop talking about last year.  This year’s team is playing well, whatever the reason, and they should focus their energies on continuing that, not reliving the troubles of a failed season.

[gpap]

I give Ainge credit for what he said and he’s right in many respects.

[GreenFaith1819]

Kudos to Danny for doing this.

Here is hoping that all parties can move forward now.

[Fierce1]

I was furious at Ainge for not making a move at the trade deadline.

But Ainge was all in on Anthony Davis.

The Celts even told the Pels that they should wait until after the season so that the Celts can trade for AD.

It was just unfortunate that AD didn't want to come to Boston.

So yes, Ainge made a mistake by not making any moves at the trade deadline, but the reason is because he was all in on the Anthony Davis sweepstakes.

[Csfan1984]

So do we sell high on Smart at this year's deadline?

[GreenFaith1819]

I was furious at Ainge for not making a move at the trade deadline.

But Ainge was all in on Anthony Davis.

The Celts even told the Pels that they should wait until after the season so that the Celts can trade for AD.

It was just unfortunate that AD didn't want to come to Boston.

So yes, Ainge made a mistake by not making any moves at the trade deadline, but the reason is because he was all in on the Anthony Davis sweepstakes.

On the one hand I know that Anthony Davis is going to rue his decision to spurn BOS. He, Kyrie or Kemba and Utah Gordon Hayward would've made a devastating threesome.

On the OTHER - I'm glad we kept our young studs.

Sometimes the best trade is the one that didn't happen.

[Fierce1]

I was furious at Ainge for not making a move at the trade deadline.

But Ainge was all in on Anthony Davis.

The Celts even told the Pels that they should wait until after the season so that the Celts can trade for AD.

It was just unfortunate that AD didn't want to come to Boston.

So yes, Ainge made a mistake by not making any moves at the trade deadline, but the reason is because he was all in on the Anthony Davis sweepstakes.

On the one hand I know that Anthony Davis is going to rue his decision to spurn BOS. He, Kyrie or Kemba and Utah Gordon Hayward would've made a devastating threesome.

On the OTHER - I'm glad we kept our young studs.

Sometimes the best trade is the one that didn't happen.

True.

Ainge was wise for not trading Tatum for AD.

It's very clear Kyrie's not winning a championship in Brooklyn, even with KD.

AD's decision to pick the Lakers will only be the right decision if he wins a championship with the Lakers.

If AD chose the Celts, there would be no stopping the Celtics right now.
AD would surely get a ring in Boston.

Time will tell.

[Scottiej23]

The thing most often overlooked about those who say a move should of been made at the trade deadline often neglect one critical piece of information.

We started the seaon 10-10, and that was easy to disregard as a real concern as we were integrating Kyrie and Gordon back into the lineup.

After that we went 27-11 heading into the all star break (winning 10 of the last 13). That's a 58 win pace in that period. So, heading into the trade deadline, there was a very real indication that the team was playing well and there was no need for any real roster changes. The decision to stand pat is quite easily justifiable.

I don't think anyone would have expected they would go 12-12 after the break.

[Moranis]

I was furious at Ainge for not making a move at the trade deadline.

But Ainge was all in on Anthony Davis.

The Celts even told the Pels that they should wait until after the season so that the Celts can trade for AD.

It was just unfortunate that AD didn't want to come to Boston.

So yes, Ainge made a mistake by not making any moves at the trade deadline, but the reason is because he was all in on the Anthony Davis sweepstakes.

I don't buy that at all.  At least the not making moves part because he wanted Davis.  He easily could have traded Morris or Rozier and not affected an Anthony Davis trade in the least.  In fact he could have traded Rozier and Morris and made it easier to acquire Davis by actually adding salary fodder for the next season (i.e. the current one).  I was one of the people that proposed several different smaller moves using Morris and Rozier for both what I felt were better fitting pieces and in many cases salary for this year to help with a trade.  Now in retrospect that might have made acquiring Walker more difficult, but the assumption was Horford was coming back which would have made Walker impossible anyway.  It was clear the team had chemistry issues and it was also clear that Morris and Rozier weren't great fits and were role players (much more difficult to trade a star that doesn't fit like Irving then role players like Morris and Rozier). 

[Fierce1]

I was furious at Ainge for not making a move at the trade deadline.

But Ainge was all in on Anthony Davis.

The Celts even told the Pels that they should wait until after the season so that the Celts can trade for AD.

It was just unfortunate that AD didn't want to come to Boston.

So yes, Ainge made a mistake by not making any moves at the trade deadline, but the reason is because he was all in on the Anthony Davis sweepstakes.

I don't buy that at all.  At least the not making moves part because he wanted Davis.  He easily could have traded Morris or Rozier and not affected an Anthony Davis trade in the least.  In fact he could have traded Rozier and Morris and made it easier to acquire Davis by actually adding salary fodder for the next season (i.e. the current one).  I was one of the people that proposed several different smaller moves using Morris and Rozier for both what I felt were better fitting pieces and in many cases salary for this year to help with a trade.  Now in retrospect that might have made acquiring Walker more difficult, but the assumption was Horford was coming back which would have made Walker impossible anyway.  It was clear the team had chemistry issues and it was also clear that Morris and Rozier weren't great fits and were role players (much more difficult to trade a star that doesn't fit like Irving then role players like Morris and Rozier).

Absolutely!

I totally agree with you about trading Morris and Rozier at the trade deadline.
But I think Ainge was not willing to take back salary.

The key to acquiring AD was to have enough cap room.

If Ainge knew Horford was going to leave, cap room would not have been an issue.

Or maybe Ainge was torn because if he traded Rozier and Morris for picks, that would weaken the Celts even more.

Only way the cap wouldn't be affected is if Ainge traded Morris and Rozier for picks.

If Ainge traded Morris and Rozier for a player not having an expiring contract, that would complicate the AD trade because the Celts are a team over the cap.

Here's the thing, if only Anthony Davis agreed to come to Boston, all of this would be irrelevant.

There were pros and cons in not making a trade at the trade deadline.

It also didn't help that Morris had an expiring contract and Rozier was to become a RFA.
Maybe no team was willing to give up anything significant for Morris and Rozier.

A compromise would've been to only trade Rozier and keep Morris for the playoffs.

[TDurden]

It's nice to see Danny admit what a vocal minority of posters (myself included) were arguing all last season: That the team as constructed was fundamentally flawed.

But since Danny doesn't do anything without producing a congratulatory media campaign I'm guessing this interview is much more strategically designed to promote what's about to happen this season - namely that he's going to address the Hayward problem.

Buckle up, fireworks incoming.

[Surferdad]

It's nice to see Danny admit what a vocal minority of posters (myself included) were arguing all last season: That the team as constructed was fundamentally flawed.

But since Danny doesn't do anything without producing a congratulatory media campaign I'm guessing this interview is much more strategically designed to promote what's about to happen this season - namely that he's going to address the Hayward problem.

Buckle up, fireworks incoming.

It's only a problem if you think it's a problem.  You are implying he will trade Hayward and blow up the team to get what? a center?  Last year's mistakes are completely unrelated to this year so I disagree with your post.

[Adelaide Celt]

It's nice to see Danny admit what a vocal minority of posters (myself included) were arguing all last season: That the team as constructed was fundamentally flawed.

But since Danny doesn't do anything without producing a congratulatory media campaign I'm guessing this interview is much more strategically designed to promote what's about to happen this season - namely that he's going to address the Hayward problem.

Buckle up, fireworks incoming.

Do you DreamCeltics?