Question: Is there any proof this actually happened?

[EJPLAYA]

Well, Simmons is buddy buddy with Daniel Morey, GM of Houston, who used to work in the Boston office. It's not very unrealistic to think that he knows people who know things.

Ahem. . .ummm. . .Daryl Morey?

If it is so "well documented" can you give us a few really good links to this supposed "man-crush"? I have heard about this off and on as well, but have never seen any proof of this. It'd be interesting to read so we could assess his off-season intentions.

Here's an SI guy noting how Danny was going to demand Swift in the Ray Allen trade:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/ian_thomsen/06/28/draft/
(do a "CTRL+F" for Swift's name)

Here's NBC Sports noting Danny's attraction to Swift all the way back in 2004:
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/5279525/
(CTRL+F for Swift)

A pre-draft article where Andy Katz states that Ainge was interested in Swift, Jefferson and Wright:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2004/columns/story?id=1811392

In the sidebar of this article, another reporter confirms the Swift-Ainge phenomenon:
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081222/SPORTS/812220308/-1/sports0704

Scout.com, a noted sports site has a mock draft where they also purport that Ainge would've taken Swift:
http://preps.scout.com/2/269725.html

Yet another mock draft from 2004.  Similar sentiments:
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/7399445

Is this enough of a confirmation, or do you need more?  If so, your google search string should be 'danny ainge robert swift draft'  or 'danny ainge robert swift trade'. 

So let's see. Since the Sonics were upping their requirement in getting Rondo Ainge upped his wanting a big man which never even materialized it means he has a man crush on him?

The next one this reports he "could" be interested in him and Ainge says no one knows what I'm thinking?

The next mentions that the Celtics could be interested in guys in their teens. They took Big Al.

The next said it was no secret, yet doesn't quote anything or name any sources.

Same with the following in a mock draft?!  The next one as well?!


Come on man! This is nonsense. Not one quote of Danny saying he wanted Swift. Just a bunch of guys trying to fill space in mock drafts and throwing rumors around that were never confirmed. Every single person quoted on these sights said they loved Swift, so obviously he was well thought of coming out. I am not saying that Danny didn't think Swift had potential, but there is no foundation whatsoever that he was in love with Swift. Had he been I'm sure they could have worked something out.

You probably believed Boston was Joe Smith's first choice as well...

I'm not sure why you felt the need to trash another poster, when you could have just read my post above.

There were deal possibilities,'' said Ainge, ``but as it unfolded and it looked like we were going to get Jefferson or Swift - those were the two guys we targeted as the top big guys - then we didn't really want to pay the price to do anything different.

``We felt like we had to get one of those two guys, Swift or Jefferson, and that's where the contingencies were built. But just a combination of picks wasn't going to do it. It would have had to be a player. Teams had interest in Jiri, and we didn't want to make that sacrifice. We think Jiri is better than a lot of the guys that were being drafted from 5-10.'

I think it's fair to say that Danny liked Robert Swift.  Since he tried to deal draft picks to move up to get him, I think it's fair to say that he liked him better than Big Al, as well.  However, your outrage that somebody would suggest that Danny liked Robert Swift is just...  odd.  I thought that was a well-known fact.

First of all I fail to see where I was "trashing" another poster. I rebutted each one of his links that were supposed to prove this, and then pointed out that if we believe everything thrown out there by "supposed experts" and people in the know that we'd believe almost anything. There were multiple reports that we were Joe Smith's main choice and this has been shown to be just a bunch of hype, speculation, and reading into comments. The same is the case with Danny and Swift.

I fail to see where him saying he was interested in Jefferson and Swift (and each time in your quotes mentions Jefferson first whom he selected) has created this mythical arena where people think that Swift is his Holy Grail of players such that any trade or free agent pickup mentioned has Swift thrown in there with this supposed "man-crush" as reasoning. I said in my comments that I was sure Danny felt Swift had potential. EVERYONE felt that way when he came out. That doesn't however justify all this hype posters have somehow turned him into.

[RAcker]

One of the things I love most about Danny is that people always seem to know what he's thinking and they are almost always 100% wrong.  It shows that my BYU homie has a poker face.  When it serves him well to NOT tip his hand, he simply won't comment publicly and risk even the most unlikely deal not getting done.

The most telling thing he has said as a GM in my opinion is that he is talking to other teams all the time about deals but that most of these conversations are not even taken seriously.  His days must be interesting from these crazy phone calls and text messages alone.  Plus, think about the scouting and other stuff that he gets to do.  He has a blogger's dream job and he works pretty hard at it.  

[Brickowski]

Ainge's alleged infatuation with Robert Swift was one of the better NBA draft smokescreens of all time.  It's apparently still working.

[RAcker]

Ainge's alleged infatuation with Robert Swift was one of the better NBA draft smokescreens of all time.  It's apparently still working.

It turns out that Veal was the redhead that he wanted all along.   

[Roy Hobbs]

Ainge's alleged infatuation with Robert Swift was one of the better NBA draft smokescreens of all time.  It's apparently still working.

Right down to the part where he offered other teams the 24th or 25th pick and cash, along with the #15 pick, for the right to draft him.

[Fan from VT]

Here's how Steve Bulpett described it after the draft:

Yeah, the Celtics got one of the guys they'd targeted with the 15th pick.

But that didn't stop Danny Ainge from spending much of yesterday trying to move up to assure himself of his fondest wish.

The Celts offered No. 15 and either 24 or 25 to get up for high school 7-footer Robert Swift. Managing partner Wyc Grousbeck was even willing to part with cash to sweeten the deal. But all of that wasn't enough to get it done.

When clubs ahead asked for 15 and Jiri Welsch, the conversations ended.

So the Celtics opened their arms and took 19-year-old power forward Al Jefferson at 15.
...
`There were deal possibilities,'' said Ainge, ``but as it unfolded and it looked like we were going to get Jefferson or Swift - those were the two guys we targeted as the top big guys - then we didn't really want to pay the price to do anything different.

``We felt like we had to get one of those two guys, Swift or Jefferson, and that's where the contingencies were built. But just a combination of picks wasn't going to do it. It would have had to be a player. Teams had interest in Jiri, and we didn't want to make that sacrifice. We think Jiri is better than a lot of the guys that were being drafted from 5-10.'

So, at the very least, the team was willing to move Big Al + Tony / Delonte + cash.  The deal breaker, weirdly, was Jiri.

The above is proof that Danny sometimes is as lucky as he is good.

I fail to see where him saying he was interested in Jefferson and Swift (and each time in your quotes mentions Jefferson first whom he selected) has created this mythical arena where people think that Swift is his Holy Grail of players such that any trade or free agent pickup mentioned has Swift thrown in there with this supposed "man-crush" as reasoning. I said in my comments that I was sure Danny felt Swift had potential. EVERYONE felt that way when he came out. That doesn't however justify all this hype posters have somehow turned him into.

Other than this article that Roy quoted, with direct quotes from Ainge, written by a writer in touch with the Boston office, stating that Ainge offered AL and picks for Swift, I'm not sure what else anyone could want as "proof." If this doesn't tell you that Ainge tried to trade #15 (Al) and other stuff for Swift, I'm not sure what one would accept as proof.

So, what would constitute "proof?"

[Fan from VT]

and before people laugh at the concept of Jiri being a deal breaker, remember that Jiri was traded straight up for a future first rounder that was flipped for the pick for rondo. he had the perception of value around the league.

[Roy Hobbs]

One of the things I love most about Danny is that people always seem to know what he's thinking and they are almost always 100% wrong.  It shows that my BYU homie has a poker face.  When it serves him well to NOT tip his hand, he simply won't comment publicly and risk even the most unlikely deal not getting done.

I think the "Danny is a master of the smoke screen" thing is wrong, honestly.

We were rumored to be selecting Marcus Banks.  We selected (or rather, traded for) Marcus Banks.

It was reported that he wanted to move Antoine.  He moved Antoine.

We were rumored to be selecting Robert Swift or Al Jefferson.  We tried to move up to get Swift, and selected Jefferson.

We were rumored to love Rajon Rondo.  Danny traded for Rajon Rondo.

I think that there have been more accurate media reports regarding Danny's intentions than there have been of smokescreens that have turned out to have no basis in reality.

[EJPLAYA]

Here's how Steve Bulpett described it after the draft:

Yeah, the Celtics got one of the guys they'd targeted with the 15th pick.

But that didn't stop Danny Ainge from spending much of yesterday trying to move up to assure himself of his fondest wish.

The Celts offered No. 15 and either 24 or 25 to get up for high school 7-footer Robert Swift. Managing partner Wyc Grousbeck was even willing to part with cash to sweeten the deal. But all of that wasn't enough to get it done.

When clubs ahead asked for 15 and Jiri Welsch, the conversations ended.

So the Celtics opened their arms and took 19-year-old power forward Al Jefferson at 15.
...
`There were deal possibilities,'' said Ainge, ``but as it unfolded and it looked like we were going to get Jefferson or Swift - those were the two guys we targeted as the top big guys - then we didn't really want to pay the price to do anything different.

``We felt like we had to get one of those two guys, Swift or Jefferson, and that's where the contingencies were built. But just a combination of picks wasn't going to do it. It would have had to be a player. Teams had interest in Jiri, and we didn't want to make that sacrifice. We think Jiri is better than a lot of the guys that were being drafted from 5-10.'

So, at the very least, the team was willing to move Big Al + Tony / Delonte + cash.  The deal breaker, weirdly, was Jiri.

The above is proof that Danny sometimes is as lucky as he is good.

I fail to see where him saying he was interested in Jefferson and Swift (and each time in your quotes mentions Jefferson first whom he selected) has created this mythical arena where people think that Swift is his Holy Grail of players such that any trade or free agent pickup mentioned has Swift thrown in there with this supposed "man-crush" as reasoning. I said in my comments that I was sure Danny felt Swift had potential. EVERYONE felt that way when he came out. That doesn't however justify all this hype posters have somehow turned him into.

Other than this article that Roy quoted, with direct quotes from Ainge, written by a writer in touch with the Boston office, stating that Ainge offered AL and picks for Swift, I'm not sure what else anyone could want as "proof." If this doesn't tell you that Ainge tried to trade #15 (Al) and other stuff for Swift, I'm not sure what one would accept as proof.

So, what would constitute "proof?"

Alright. I am going to have to have you be a little more specific here, because the only thing I see that he quoted was Ainge saying he thought that Al and Swift were the two best big men. Can someone provide me a link to this quote of him saying he offered Big AL and a pick for Swift? I haven't seen this yet.

[Roy Hobbs]

Alright. I am going to have to have you be a little more specific here, because the only thing I see that he quoted was Ainge saying he thought that Al and Swift were the two best big men. Can someone provide me a link to this quote of him saying he offered Big AL and a pick for Swift? I haven't seen this yet.

Why would any GM ever admit to a failed trade like that, with the new guy still on the roster?

Danny admitted they tried to move up.   Danny admitted that he liked Swift (which you seemed to doubt a couple of minutes ago).  Bulpett -- a very credible and connected reporter -- reported that Danny's target was Swift, and that he offered the #15, another pick, and cash.

Face it:  Danny liked Swift better.  He also really liked Jiri, and Marcus Banks, and other guys who haven't amounted to much in the NBA.  Danny is a good GM, but he isn't infallible, in the draft or otherwise.

[EJPLAYA]

Alright. I am going to have to have you be a little more specific here, because the only thing I see that he quoted was Ainge saying he thought that Al and Swift were the two best big men. Can someone provide me a link to this quote of him saying he offered Big AL and a pick for Swift? I haven't seen this yet.

Why would any GM ever admit to a failed trade like that, with the new guy still on the roster?

Danny admitted they tried to move up.   Danny admitted that he liked Swift (which you seemed to doubt a couple of minutes ago).  Bulpett -- a very credible and connected reporter -- reported that Danny's target was Swift, and that he offered the #15, another pick, and cash.

Face it:  Danny liked Swift better.  He also really liked Jiri, and Marcus Banks, and other guys who haven't amounted to much in the NBA.  Danny is a good GM, but he isn't infallible, in the draft or otherwise.

Very well may be accurate, but it's still speculation and I'm sorry that I'm not magically convinced. There are a ton of things out there that people throw out there as having happened that were never more than talk. I would agree that this seems very plausible, but it sure doesn't add up to the "well-documented proof" that everyone seems to be throwing around. They were quoting reputable sources on the Joe Smith saying it was fact and we all know that wasn't the case. Pardon me if I don't quite believe the media. They try to act like they know more than they really do on just about all subjects.

[LB3533]

Speculation?

If the Sonics were willing to part with Swift in the Ray Allen deal we'd be without Rajon Rondo and stuck with an injury prone tattoo man.

My god that would be the worst trade in the history of sports (no offense Ray Ray).

[bostonfan23]

Simmons is privy to much more information that is passed around NBA circles than anybody here. I trust him on this one. As others have said, Danny is extremely lucky - but he's also turned out to be a very talented GM for us.

[CoachBo]

Chuckle.

The lengths and rationalization people will go to to elevate Ainge to something he quite clearly isn't - a genius - never cease to amaze me.

Danny's been infatuated with stiffs for years - Swift, Paddy, Telfair.

[Truck Lewis]

Chuckle.

The lengths and rationalization people will go to to elevate Ainge to something he quite clearly isn't - a genius - never cease to amaze me.

Danny's been infatuated with stiffs for years - Swift, Paddy, Telfair.

i cant blame danny for his infatuation with stiffs....it is an epidemic that spread to the celts front office in the early 90's

Montross, Acie Earl, Tony Massenburg, Travis Knight, Potapenko, Mark Blount...i would say Declerq, but i liked him