Yall are nutters... Danny Ainge turned Antoine Walker and a group of rotten carcasses into the 2008 NBA Title, 4 franchise players, Rondo and a group of role players.
You guys realize we basically have 5 allstars/borderline allstars on this team now if you include Rondo? Crazy. Ainge is my hero.
Completely agree about the job Ainge did turning the no upside group he inherited into a championship team. The question was about this offseason.
If you strictly look at what he did before the regular season started (offseason transactions in a vacuum), I'd say he clearly failed. If you view the signings of Cassell and POB as insurance/fliers (part of a larger strategy of the calculated gamble of hoping decent guys would be bought out), I still regard it as only a partial success (even in light of signing Marbury and Moore).
I say partial because I would like to have seen Posey signed *and* still employ the hope for buyouts strategy. My own feeling (and I know I've dragged it out here before) is that Posey's window (and age) is about that of PGA's. So even as Posey will not be worth what he's paid in the extra year he wanted, neither will Garnett or Pierce be worth what they'll be paid in their final year, so resign Posey and maximize your potential this year and next.
If we'd have Posey *and* Marbury and Moore added to the crew, I think we'd be prohibitive favorites. As is, there is still concern at backup 3.
For this reason, I regard his offseason (and I'm including his strategy of not spending on lesser light free agents over the summer)as a partial success, since he did land Marbury and Moore.
I realize that it's a stretch to call that the "offseason", but teams can add players into March, as long as they're free agents by March 1st. Really, I'm talking 2008/09 season rather than just offseason.
I think this is the best and most level-headed explanation of the situation to date.
The Posey situation is always an issue to discuss - its not just about not over-paying, but realizing that the team made what was the 2nd best offer to him, but was out-bid by an over-spending NO team that now regrets the move...its hard to vilify Ainge for not making a poor investment simply for the sake of a player's on-court benefit.
The point about the big 3's value at the end of their deals is well-taken, but you have to factor in for their roles on the team and the fact that they are all likely to still be the 3 best on a contending team for the length of all their deals...so the monetary value is somewhat lessened by the overall impact they have regardless of pay.
As always, I cannot stress enough the importance of weighing opportunity cost when looking at the past summer. Not only was Posey not worth what he got, but it would have prevented the team from spending MLE money on THIS COMING summer's FA crop.
There will be much more talented players on the market this year and considering the buyers market, Boston has a real chance to solidify its spot as the top dog over the next 3 years by adding a true player of impact off the bench.
Moore and Marbury represent quality depth at two positions of need and I believe the team is a true contender that can win a series against anyone in the NBA - unless you are hell-bent on determining that Posey and/or a replacement wing was the only shot this team had, I can't see how Ainge misplayed his hand.
Now, playing in pure theoretics now - lets say that Marbury has no problems accepting his role and harnesses his talent to become the team's 6th man - backing up the 1 and 2 and getting 20-30 minutes to do his thing.
Let's theorize that this now means that Boston will re-sign him to a 3 year deal to match KG's contract and serve as the 6th man for this team's remaining window.
the team can NOW go out and use the LLE to snag a quality veteran wing - say Grant Hill perhaps - or it can bank on Bill Walker's development into that role and spend on another big man...there will be a number of vets who will be searching for MLE money, but will ultimately be looking at less because of the economy and the perception that spending will be tight.
Say the team gets Sheed for that LLE for one year with Marbury getting part of the MLE...then Sheed gets his compensation the following year from the MLE to be made whole...
This may seem complex, but based off the current economic climate, the age, rep, and production of the two vets in questions, and Boston's position as title contenders, these are going to be scenarios that have legit traction.
By NOT signing Posey to a multi-year deal, Ainge has left the window open to spend that money on a player or players of greater impact...if that decision hasn't cost him a chance at this year's ring - which I believe it hasn't - then its smart business....and a successfully managed 2008 season...