Danny Ainge excuses and lack of trades(merged threads)

[Ogaju]

Ainge has failed again. He didn’t do his job and get a scorer off the bench or front court depth. There is no way this team as it is constituted right now is beating Philly it Milwaukee in the playoffs. Philly gave up nothing and improved their bench scoring. Ainge couldn’t do anything? He gets touted for all these picks and young players yet he does nothing? So keep picking players and they can go back and forth to G league. Danny Ainge needs to stop living of off the 08 championship. Enough is enough, this is another second round exit coming. He also should have seen Kyrie being a head case but instead gambled and was left with nothing. Time to move on from Ainge.

You don't want Ainge to gamble but you want him to make trades?

Where did I say I don’t want him gamble? I’m not even sure what your talking about? I want to know how Philly took care of a need which was bench scoring and gave up practically nothing to get it. Yet Ainge sits on his hands and does nothing to help the team out. I’m not talking about trading fro Drummond I’m taking about being able to get someone who can come off the bench and score, or maybe a defensive big. Instead he does nothing and we all expect what? I will tell you whats going to happen, we will watch them get whipped by Milwaukee up front, ska ewith Embiid for Philly. We will see a lack of scoring off the bench. We will watch Gordon Hayward be even softer come playoff time and wish we had a more reliable scorer off the bench. I promise you Hayward will disappear at times and not be consistent. That’s were bench scoring would help.

"He also should have seen Kyrie being a head case but instead gambled and was left with nothing."

I know right?

I also don't understand the focus on bench scoring. If our top 4 scorers are healthy we don't need bench scoring, we need bench D, rebounding and playmaking. We will have two of Tatum/Brown/Walker/Hayward out there every minute. People look at our occasional scoring troubles but it's only because we haven't been healthy.

Exactly right. Our biggest need heading into the playoffs is health.

One way to keep your starters healthy is through load management.

[Moranis]

Amazing how these are seemingly the most common assertions on this forum:

1) "No matter how good your team is, you can't win the championship without a top-5 player!"

2) "We need to trade our first round picks to fortify our bench if we want any hope to win a championship!"

It's very difficult to win a title without a top-5 player. It's been done only a handful of times in the last 20 seasons:

• 2011 Mavs (Dirk, Terry, Marion)
• 2008 Celtics (Pierce, KG, Ray)
• 2007 Spurs (Duncan, Parker, Ginobili)
• 2005 Spurs (Duncan, Parker, Ginobili)
• 2004 Pistons (Billups, Wallace boys)
• 1999 Spurs (Robinson, Duncan)

And some people might argue that Duncan was a top-5 player some of those seasons, which would make this list even smaller. It can be done, but it's really tough.

So over the last 20 years, 30% of titles were won without a top 5 guy on the roster. That is actually a significant statistical number. You kinda proved the point you are arguing against.

Although they’re wrong. TD and KG were top 5 guys, and there’s definitely an argument for Dirk. Playoff Dirk that year was a top 5 guy

Dirk finished 6th in MVP voting that year and there are strong arguments he was better than both Kobe and Rose (who actually won it).  I don't think anyone behind him in voting was better, so if he wasn't top 5 he was close enough to count for this discussion.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Amazing how these are seemingly the most common assertions on this forum:

1) "No matter how good your team is, you can't win the championship without a top-5 player!"

2) "We need to trade our first round picks to fortify our bench if we want any hope to win a championship!"

It's very difficult to win a title without a top-5 player. It's been done only a handful of times in the last 20 seasons:

• 2011 Mavs (Dirk, Terry, Marion)
• 2008 Celtics (Pierce, KG, Ray)
• 2007 Spurs (Duncan, Parker, Ginobili)
• 2005 Spurs (Duncan, Parker, Ginobili)
• 2004 Pistons (Billups, Wallace boys)
• 1999 Spurs (Robinson, Duncan)

And some people might argue that Duncan was a top-5 player some of those seasons, which would make this list even smaller. It can be done, but it's really tough.

So over the last 20 years, 30% of titles were won without a top 5 guy on the roster. That is actually a significant statistical number. You kinda proved the point you are arguing against.

Although they’re wrong. TD and KG were top 5 guys, and there’s definitely an argument for Dirk. Playoff Dirk that year was a top 5 guy

Dirk finished 6th in MVP voting that year and there are strong arguments he was better than both Kobe and Rose (who actually won it).  I don't think anyone behind him in voting was better, so if he wasn't top 5 he was close enough to count for this discussion.

In that case, there's only one champion in the last 20 years that didn't have a top-5 (or top-5ish) player: the 2004 Pistons.

Amazing how these are seemingly the most common assertions on this forum:

1) "No matter how good your team is, you can't win the championship without a top-5 player!"

2) "We need to trade our first round picks to fortify our bench if we want any hope to win a championship!"

It's very difficult to win a title without a top-5 player. It's been done only a handful of times in the last 20 seasons:

• 2011 Mavs (Dirk, Terry, Marion)
• 2008 Celtics (Pierce, KG, Ray)
• 2007 Spurs (Duncan, Parker, Ginobili)
• 2005 Spurs (Duncan, Parker, Ginobili)
• 2004 Pistons (Billups, Wallace boys)
• 1999 Spurs (Robinson, Duncan)

And some people might argue that Duncan was a top-5 player some of those seasons, which would make this list even smaller. It can be done, but it's really tough.

So over the last 20 years, 30% of titles were won without a top 5 guy on the roster. That is actually a significant statistical number. You kinda proved the point you are arguing against.

Well some people disagreed with my classification of Duncan and KG as not top-5 guys, and I actually was unsure about them—I put my list together pretty quickly and didn't bother to think too much about who was top 5 those years. So if you remove those from my list, that leaves only two instances of the champ having no top-5 player, which would be only 10%. And the '90s were no different—from '90 through '98 (9 seasons), there was Jordan 6 times and Olajuwon twice.

But even if we say, for the sake of argument, it were closer to a 30% chance, those still aren't great odds. Any way you slice it, it's much easier to win a title if you have a top-5 player.

As always, which comes first? Does the title make the top 5 player or does the top 5 player make the title?

If Tatum went for 25-8-3-1-1 in the playoffs and the Cs won the title, would he be in the conversation?

I'm not saying he will do that. I just want to point out that the narrative normally shifts, but the narrative has very little to do with actually on court effectiveness.

That's a fair question. I think it's possible for a player to become a top-5 player during the season he wins his first title. For example, Kawhi was not a top-5 player during the 2013-14 regular season, but he was Finals MVP that year, so maybe that was the beginning of his run as a top-5 player? And maybe Tatum could do something similar this season.

In general, though, I think the player is already top-5 before leading a team to a title.

[NKY fan]

Danny's thoughts (some might say excuses) after the deadline.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge keeps a John Wooden book on his desk, and he likes to think back to one of the legendary UCLA coach’s famous quotes when the NBA trade deadline arrives.

“Don’t confuse activity with achievement,” Ainge said. “It might be that the best thing you ever did was stand pat. Red [Auerbach] told me in my first year doing the job, ‘The best trades I ever made were the ones I didn’t make. I held restraint.’ I’ve actually often thought of that, because sometimes you start feeling the heat because everybody around you is doing things. It’s like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ But it doesn’t always mean that it’s making everybody better. It just means that you’re making changes.”

“We were looking to improve our team and we didn’t find any deals,” Ainge said by phone Thursday afternoon. “We’ve been pretty open to making trades over the years, but there’s a time and a place to make deals, and sometimes you just aren’t in those times and places. We didn’t feel like there was anything we needed to do.

“It’s always iffy of how much to give up, but we like our team. And we haven’t been healthy and are a top-five offense and defense in the NBA at this point and haven’t enjoyed the benefit of being healthy.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2020/02/06/celtics-could-add-player-buyout-market-but-don-make-any-moves-trade-deadline/blx0QtDXxOcU4CsTwWuNUM/story.html?p1=HP_Feed_ContentQuery

Totally agree with Danny. No need to keep introducing change for change's sake.

Yeah, stupid Danny with his logic...

While I agree mostly with Danny on the above paragraphs I don’t agree with couple things:
- I think it’s probably ok from time to time make a trade for the sake of making a trade. He had so many picks and kept them close and overvaluing them. He’s sending the wrong message to other GMs

It’s ok to remind other GMs that he is willing to play ball and he doesn’t want to win every trade but to improve his team.

Sometimes you can send a second rounder for a lateral move.
- it sounds like other GMs just don’t want to do business with him :Detroit and wizards turning him down today

[greg683x]

Danny's thoughts (some might say excuses) after the deadline.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge keeps a John Wooden book on his desk, and he likes to think back to one of the legendary UCLA coach’s famous quotes when the NBA trade deadline arrives.

“Don’t confuse activity with achievement,” Ainge said. “It might be that the best thing you ever did was stand pat. Red [Auerbach] told me in my first year doing the job, ‘The best trades I ever made were the ones I didn’t make. I held restraint.’ I’ve actually often thought of that, because sometimes you start feeling the heat because everybody around you is doing things. It’s like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ But it doesn’t always mean that it’s making everybody better. It just means that you’re making changes.”

“We were looking to improve our team and we didn’t find any deals,” Ainge said by phone Thursday afternoon. “We’ve been pretty open to making trades over the years, but there’s a time and a place to make deals, and sometimes you just aren’t in those times and places. We didn’t feel like there was anything we needed to do.

“It’s always iffy of how much to give up, but we like our team. And we haven’t been healthy and are a top-five offense and defense in the NBA at this point and haven’t enjoyed the benefit of being healthy.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2020/02/06/celtics-could-add-player-buyout-market-but-don-make-any-moves-trade-deadline/blx0QtDXxOcU4CsTwWuNUM/story.html?p1=HP_Feed_ContentQuery

Totally agree with Danny. No need to keep introducing change for change's sake.

Yeah, stupid Danny with his logic...

While I agree mostly with Danny on the above paragraphs I don’t agree with couple things:
- I think it’s probably ok from time to time make a trade for the sake of making a trade. He had so many picks and kept them close and overvaluing them. He’s sending the wrong message to other GMs

It’s ok to remind other GMs that he is willing to play ball and he doesn’t want to win every trade but to improve his team.

Sometimes you can send a second rounder for a lateral move.
- it sounds like other GMs just don’t want to do business with him :Detroit and wizards turning him down today[\b]

How do you know this has anything to do with Ainge?  I read that Ainge was the one walking away from the Wizards bc he wasn’t going to give 2 first rounders for Bertans.  I also read that Detroit rejected whatever offer Ainge gave Detroit bc they weren’t trying to move Wood.  Most likely bc they were trading away their other big man Drummond.

How does that make one think that GMs just don’t want to deal with Danny Ainge?

[ozgod]

Danny's thoughts (some might say excuses) after the deadline.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge keeps a John Wooden book on his desk, and he likes to think back to one of the legendary UCLA coach’s famous quotes when the NBA trade deadline arrives.

“Don’t confuse activity with achievement,” Ainge said. “It might be that the best thing you ever did was stand pat. Red [Auerbach] told me in my first year doing the job, ‘The best trades I ever made were the ones I didn’t make. I held restraint.’ I’ve actually often thought of that, because sometimes you start feeling the heat because everybody around you is doing things. It’s like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ But it doesn’t always mean that it’s making everybody better. It just means that you’re making changes.”

“We were looking to improve our team and we didn’t find any deals,” Ainge said by phone Thursday afternoon. “We’ve been pretty open to making trades over the years, but there’s a time and a place to make deals, and sometimes you just aren’t in those times and places. We didn’t feel like there was anything we needed to do.

“It’s always iffy of how much to give up, but we like our team. And we haven’t been healthy and are a top-five offense and defense in the NBA at this point and haven’t enjoyed the benefit of being healthy.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2020/02/06/celtics-could-add-player-buyout-market-but-don-make-any-moves-trade-deadline/blx0QtDXxOcU4CsTwWuNUM/story.html?p1=HP_Feed_ContentQuery

Totally agree with Danny. No need to keep introducing change for change's sake.

Yeah, stupid Danny with his logic...

While I agree mostly with Danny on the above paragraphs I don’t agree with couple things:
- I think it’s probably ok from time to time make a trade for the sake of making a trade. He had so many picks and kept them close and overvaluing them. He’s sending the wrong message to other GMs

It’s ok to remind other GMs that he is willing to play ball and he doesn’t want to win every trade but to improve his team.

Sometimes you can send a second rounder for a lateral move.
- it sounds like other GMs just don’t want to do business with him :Detroit and wizards turning him down today[\b]

How do you know this has anything to do with Ainge?  I read that Ainge was the one walking away from the Wizards bc he wasn’t going to give 2 first rounders for Bertans.  I also read that Detroit rejected whatever offer Ainge gave Detroit bc they weren’t trying to move Wood.  Most likely bc they were trading away their other big man Drummond.

How does that make one think that GMs just don’t want to deal with Danny Ainge?

With Bertans:

https://twitter.com/FredKatz/status/1225522216550436864

And Wood:

https://twitter.com/detnewsRodBeard/status/1225528500733521920

I'm sure Danny would have been able to get both by overpaying, maybe that would make some of the more trigger happy folks happy. I'm pretty sure everyone wants to do business with Danny, they just want to do so on their terms. Thankfully Danny feels the same way.

[Csfan1984]

If we keep Hayward I'm okay with being patient but if Hayward opts out and leaves in FA I'm going to agree that DA dropped the ball this deadline.

[NKY fan]

Danny's thoughts (some might say excuses) after the deadline.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge keeps a John Wooden book on his desk, and he likes to think back to one of the legendary UCLA coach’s famous quotes when the NBA trade deadline arrives.

“Don’t confuse activity with achievement,” Ainge said. “It might be that the best thing you ever did was stand pat. Red [Auerbach] told me in my first year doing the job, ‘The best trades I ever made were the ones I didn’t make. I held restraint.’ I’ve actually often thought of that, because sometimes you start feeling the heat because everybody around you is doing things. It’s like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ But it doesn’t always mean that it’s making everybody better. It just means that you’re making changes.”

“We were looking to improve our team and we didn’t find any deals,” Ainge said by phone Thursday afternoon. “We’ve been pretty open to making trades over the years, but there’s a time and a place to make deals, and sometimes you just aren’t in those times and places. We didn’t feel like there was anything we needed to do.

“It’s always iffy of how much to give up, but we like our team. And we haven’t been healthy and are a top-five offense and defense in the NBA at this point and haven’t enjoyed the benefit of being healthy.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2020/02/06/celtics-could-add-player-buyout-market-but-don-make-any-moves-trade-deadline/blx0QtDXxOcU4CsTwWuNUM/story.html?p1=HP_Feed_ContentQuery

Totally agree with Danny. No need to keep introducing change for change's sake.

Yeah, stupid Danny with his logic...

While I agree mostly with Danny on the above paragraphs I don’t agree with couple things:
- I think it’s probably ok from time to time make a trade for the sake of making a trade. He had so many picks and kept them close and overvaluing them. He’s sending the wrong message to other GMs

It’s ok to remind other GMs that he is willing to play ball and he doesn’t want to win every trade but to improve his team.

Sometimes you can send a second rounder for a lateral move.
- it sounds like other GMs just don’t want to do business with him :Detroit and wizards turning him down today[\b]

How do you know this has anything to do with Ainge?  I read that Ainge was the one walking away from the Wizards bc he wasn’t going to give 2 first rounders for Bertans.  I also read that Detroit rejected whatever offer Ainge gave Detroit bc they weren’t trying to move Wood.  Most likely bc they were trading away their other big man Drummond.

How does that make one think that GMs just don’t want to deal with Danny Ainge?

2 tanking teams turning down draft picks because they want to keep their role players ? 🤔
Maybe they were thinking Danny was ripping them off

[gouki88]

Danny's thoughts (some might say excuses) after the deadline.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge keeps a John Wooden book on his desk, and he likes to think back to one of the legendary UCLA coach’s famous quotes when the NBA trade deadline arrives.

“Don’t confuse activity with achievement,” Ainge said. “It might be that the best thing you ever did was stand pat. Red [Auerbach] told me in my first year doing the job, ‘The best trades I ever made were the ones I didn’t make. I held restraint.’ I’ve actually often thought of that, because sometimes you start feeling the heat because everybody around you is doing things. It’s like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ But it doesn’t always mean that it’s making everybody better. It just means that you’re making changes.”

“We were looking to improve our team and we didn’t find any deals,” Ainge said by phone Thursday afternoon. “We’ve been pretty open to making trades over the years, but there’s a time and a place to make deals, and sometimes you just aren’t in those times and places. We didn’t feel like there was anything we needed to do.

“It’s always iffy of how much to give up, but we like our team. And we haven’t been healthy and are a top-five offense and defense in the NBA at this point and haven’t enjoyed the benefit of being healthy.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2020/02/06/celtics-could-add-player-buyout-market-but-don-make-any-moves-trade-deadline/blx0QtDXxOcU4CsTwWuNUM/story.html?p1=HP_Feed_ContentQuery

Totally agree with Danny. No need to keep introducing change for change's sake.

Yeah, stupid Danny with his logic...

While I agree mostly with Danny on the above paragraphs I don’t agree with couple things:
- I think it’s probably ok from time to time make a trade for the sake of making a trade. He had so many picks and kept them close and overvaluing them. He’s sending the wrong message to other GMs

It’s ok to remind other GMs that he is willing to play ball and he doesn’t want to win every trade but to improve his team.

Sometimes you can send a second rounder for a lateral move.
- it sounds like other GMs just don’t want to do business with him :Detroit and wizards turning him down today[\b]

How do you know this has anything to do with Ainge?  I read that Ainge was the one walking away from the Wizards bc he wasn’t going to give 2 first rounders for Bertans.  I also read that Detroit rejected whatever offer Ainge gave Detroit bc they weren’t trying to move Wood.  Most likely bc they were trading away their other big man Drummond.

How does that make one think that GMs just don’t want to deal with Danny Ainge?

2 tanking teams turning down draft picks because they want to keep their role players ? 🤔
Maybe they were thinking Danny was ripping them off

I think you're reading too much into it. Bertans is a high-level bench player (probably a 6MOTY candidate most years before the recent Clippers team structure) and is pretty clearly part of Washington's long-term plan, as they outwardly appear to want to keep him for when Wall gets back. They certainly need all the shooters they can.

Wood is a 24 year-old having a breakout year. In his brief 8 game stint with the Pels last year he averaged 17/8 in 23MPG, and this year (with a much bigger sample size) he's putting up really solid bench-big performances. Look to see him put up a lot more points with Drummond gone and Blake still out for a while.

Makes sense that these two teams preferred their guys to low first rounders (one being the likely last pick)

[Fafnir]

I agree that Washington and Detroit both had clear reasons for not being interested with parting with Bertans or Wood without being overpaid. Given how the reporting has been about Washington I bet they asked for the Memphis pick as one of the picks for him. Detroit just seemed to want to keep Wood so they had at least one young prospect their fans/FO could be hopeful with.

I really don't get the argument that Danny should do a deal that is an overpay just to remind other GMs he'll actually make a trade. Such a weird self destructive bargaining philosophy. Danny has been in the league a long time and has played ball plenty of times before. (ie when he helped clear cap space for Cleveland to get LBJ, or reroute Sheed to Detroit)

[SHAQATTACK]

maybe  trade for new Doctors ?

[greg683x]

Danny's thoughts (some might say excuses) after the deadline.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge keeps a John Wooden book on his desk, and he likes to think back to one of the legendary UCLA coach’s famous quotes when the NBA trade deadline arrives.

“Don’t confuse activity with achievement,” Ainge said. “It might be that the best thing you ever did was stand pat. Red [Auerbach] told me in my first year doing the job, ‘The best trades I ever made were the ones I didn’t make. I held restraint.’ I’ve actually often thought of that, because sometimes you start feeling the heat because everybody around you is doing things. It’s like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ But it doesn’t always mean that it’s making everybody better. It just means that you’re making changes.”

“We were looking to improve our team and we didn’t find any deals,” Ainge said by phone Thursday afternoon. “We’ve been pretty open to making trades over the years, but there’s a time and a place to make deals, and sometimes you just aren’t in those times and places. We didn’t feel like there was anything we needed to do.

“It’s always iffy of how much to give up, but we like our team. And we haven’t been healthy and are a top-five offense and defense in the NBA at this point and haven’t enjoyed the benefit of being healthy.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2020/02/06/celtics-could-add-player-buyout-market-but-don-make-any-moves-trade-deadline/blx0QtDXxOcU4CsTwWuNUM/story.html?p1=HP_Feed_ContentQuery

Totally agree with Danny. No need to keep introducing change for change's sake.

Yeah, stupid Danny with his logic...

While I agree mostly with Danny on the above paragraphs I don’t agree with couple things:
- I think it’s probably ok from time to time make a trade for the sake of making a trade. He had so many picks and kept them close and overvaluing them. He’s sending the wrong message to other GMs

It’s ok to remind other GMs that he is willing to play ball and he doesn’t want to win every trade but to improve his team.

Sometimes you can send a second rounder for a lateral move.
- it sounds like other GMs just don’t want to do business with him :Detroit and wizards turning him down today[\b]

How do you know this has anything to do with Ainge?  I read that Ainge was the one walking away from the Wizards bc he wasn’t going to give 2 first rounders for Bertans.  I also read that Detroit rejected whatever offer Ainge gave Detroit bc they weren’t trying to move Wood.  Most likely bc they were trading away their other big man Drummond.

How does that make one think that GMs just don’t want to deal with Danny Ainge?

2 tanking teams turning down draft picks because they want to keep their role players ? 🤔
Maybe they were thinking Danny was ripping them off

Again, the wizards wanted two first round picks and Danny was not willing to give that to them. A lot of people say the wizards didn’t want to trade him period

By all reports Danny was the one turning down the wizards, so you’re just spreading fake news

[slamtheking]

Danny's thoughts (some might say excuses) after the deadline.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge keeps a John Wooden book on his desk, and he likes to think back to one of the legendary UCLA coach’s famous quotes when the NBA trade deadline arrives.

“Don’t confuse activity with achievement,” Ainge said. “It might be that the best thing you ever did was stand pat. Red [Auerbach] told me in my first year doing the job, ‘The best trades I ever made were the ones I didn’t make. I held restraint.’ I’ve actually often thought of that, because sometimes you start feeling the heat because everybody around you is doing things. It’s like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ But it doesn’t always mean that it’s making everybody better. It just means that you’re making changes.”

“We were looking to improve our team and we didn’t find any deals,” Ainge said by phone Thursday afternoon. “We’ve been pretty open to making trades over the years, but there’s a time and a place to make deals, and sometimes you just aren’t in those times and places. We didn’t feel like there was anything we needed to do.

“It’s always iffy of how much to give up, but we like our team. And we haven’t been healthy and are a top-five offense and defense in the NBA at this point and haven’t enjoyed the benefit of being healthy.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2020/02/06/celtics-could-add-player-buyout-market-but-don-make-any-moves-trade-deadline/blx0QtDXxOcU4CsTwWuNUM/story.html?p1=HP_Feed_ContentQuery

Totally agree with Danny. No need to keep introducing change for change's sake.

Yeah, stupid Danny with his logic...

While I agree mostly with Danny on the above paragraphs I don’t agree with couple things:
- I think it’s probably ok from time to time make a trade for the sake of making a trade. He had so many picks and kept them close and overvaluing them. He’s sending the wrong message to other GMs

It’s ok to remind other GMs that he is willing to play ball and he doesn’t want to win every trade but to improve his team.

Sometimes you can send a second rounder for a lateral move.
- it sounds like other GMs just don’t want to do business with him :Detroit and wizards turning him down today

trade just for the sake of trading, give up an asset for a lesser asset that's at best a lateral move and overpay to make a trade.  three of the dumbest things a GM can do.   

[Donoghus]

Danny's thoughts (some might say excuses) after the deadline.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge keeps a John Wooden book on his desk, and he likes to think back to one of the legendary UCLA coach’s famous quotes when the NBA trade deadline arrives.

“Don’t confuse activity with achievement,” Ainge said. “It might be that the best thing you ever did was stand pat. Red [Auerbach] told me in my first year doing the job, ‘The best trades I ever made were the ones I didn’t make. I held restraint.’ I’ve actually often thought of that, because sometimes you start feeling the heat because everybody around you is doing things. It’s like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ But it doesn’t always mean that it’s making everybody better. It just means that you’re making changes.”

“We were looking to improve our team and we didn’t find any deals,” Ainge said by phone Thursday afternoon. “We’ve been pretty open to making trades over the years, but there’s a time and a place to make deals, and sometimes you just aren’t in those times and places. We didn’t feel like there was anything we needed to do.

“It’s always iffy of how much to give up, but we like our team. And we haven’t been healthy and are a top-five offense and defense in the NBA at this point and haven’t enjoyed the benefit of being healthy.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2020/02/06/celtics-could-add-player-buyout-market-but-don-make-any-moves-trade-deadline/blx0QtDXxOcU4CsTwWuNUM/story.html?p1=HP_Feed_ContentQuery

Totally agree with Danny. No need to keep introducing change for change's sake.

Yeah, stupid Danny with his logic...

While I agree mostly with Danny on the above paragraphs I don’t agree with couple things:
- I think it’s probably ok from time to time make a trade for the sake of making a trade. He had so many picks and kept them close and overvaluing them. He’s sending the wrong message to other GMs

It’s ok to remind other GMs that he is willing to play ball and he doesn’t want to win every trade but to improve his team.

Sometimes you can send a second rounder for a lateral move.
- it sounds like other GMs just don’t want to do business with him :Detroit and wizards turning him down today

trade just for the sake of trading, give up an asset for a lesser asset that's at best a lateral move and overpay to make a trade.  three of the dumbest things a GM can do.   

But, fireworks!

[slamtheking]

Danny's thoughts (some might say excuses) after the deadline.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge keeps a John Wooden book on his desk, and he likes to think back to one of the legendary UCLA coach’s famous quotes when the NBA trade deadline arrives.

“Don’t confuse activity with achievement,” Ainge said. “It might be that the best thing you ever did was stand pat. Red [Auerbach] told me in my first year doing the job, ‘The best trades I ever made were the ones I didn’t make. I held restraint.’ I’ve actually often thought of that, because sometimes you start feeling the heat because everybody around you is doing things. It’s like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ But it doesn’t always mean that it’s making everybody better. It just means that you’re making changes.”

“We were looking to improve our team and we didn’t find any deals,” Ainge said by phone Thursday afternoon. “We’ve been pretty open to making trades over the years, but there’s a time and a place to make deals, and sometimes you just aren’t in those times and places. We didn’t feel like there was anything we needed to do.

“It’s always iffy of how much to give up, but we like our team. And we haven’t been healthy and are a top-five offense and defense in the NBA at this point and haven’t enjoyed the benefit of being healthy.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2020/02/06/celtics-could-add-player-buyout-market-but-don-make-any-moves-trade-deadline/blx0QtDXxOcU4CsTwWuNUM/story.html?p1=HP_Feed_ContentQuery

Totally agree with Danny. No need to keep introducing change for change's sake.

Yeah, stupid Danny with his logic...

While I agree mostly with Danny on the above paragraphs I don’t agree with couple things:
- I think it’s probably ok from time to time make a trade for the sake of making a trade. He had so many picks and kept them close and overvaluing them. He’s sending the wrong message to other GMs

It’s ok to remind other GMs that he is willing to play ball and he doesn’t want to win every trade but to improve his team.

Sometimes you can send a second rounder for a lateral move.
- it sounds like other GMs just don’t want to do business with him :Detroit and wizards turning him down today

trade just for the sake of trading, give up an asset for a lesser asset that's at best a lateral move and overpay to make a trade.  three of the dumbest things a GM can do.   

But, fireworks!