I think the issue is that sometimes at CB, and I have done this, when someone is trying to make a point that is slightly critical or even just trying to paint a less green version of things, people get up in arms.
All I was trying to say is that Roy was painting Giddens as "a rare Ainge misfire". I just don't think that is true. I think he misfires quite a bit. Less than many, more than some. My post was to illustrate that when he is drafting it is not a rare thing for him to miss, it is quite common. Were some of his draft picks at the behest of other teams? Yes. But then who he brought in has to also be looked at.
His draft day dealings have overall been great, but it is not a rare thing for him to do very poorly as well. He has just been very good at taking those misses and turning them into another opportunity to succeed.
But come on, as I think I have illustrated, I am not trying to be overly critical of Ainge I just think saying he rarely misses is looking at the world through very Green glasses. He misses a lot. Everyone does. It is the nature of the business.
I think this explains the issues that others have raised with your initial post. You made a big deal of who he drafted (which was skewed to exclude any picks based on direction from other teams and excluding the players Danny directed other teams to take) with your acknowledgement of the other draft-day work (i.e. trades) in what equated to fine print afterwards.
This presented a very slanted view of what Danny has accomplished in the draft to try to present your viewpoint as accurate. You may not be seeing it that way but that's how it comes across.
Personally, I consider Danny's draft-day skills to be among the best in the NBA. It's not just who he drafts, it's what he does with those draft picks and the ones he can accrue from other teams. The only ones I consider to be misses at this point are Banks and GG. Even GG is difficult to classify as a bust since he was supposed to go very high in the draft. When a player like that falls to you that far down in the draft, it's hard to fault Danny for taking him-->particularly when the preferred choice of Granger wasn't available. Did GG pan out, no. Can I fault Danny for taking him, not really.
With that in mind, Banks is the real "bust". But even with Banks, he's not getting a lot of PT but as far as I know, he's still collecting an NBA paycheck from someone this season. Danny isn't the only one that's misjudged Banks' abilities but at least he was smart enough not to sign him to contract as a FA.
The point you acknowledged you missed is draft position. This is an important aspect to drafting. Danny hasn't kept the higher draft picks that should be pretty much guaranteed contributors but has more than made due with the lower picks that are typically role players if you're lucky. From that bottom of the first round he's gotten Big Al, Delonte, TA, Perk and Rondo. Pretty darn good by any standards. So Giddens, last pick of the 1st round, hasn't lived up to those players. It's a shame but hardly something to slam Danny for.
Anyone from the second round that can produce anything is a good find. Gomes, Powe, Davis are at the top of that list. Walker and Hudson might make that group as well. Brandon Hunter, Justin Reed, Oriene Greene. They each contributed a little in their own way. Not spectacular but they were good enough to make the team and see some court time. Better than most GMs whose 2nd rounders can't make the roster. Pruitt's the lowlight of the 2nd round picks since he was the highest pick and didn't develop into a contributor.
One other thing, I believe it was technically Brandon Roy taken with the C's pick opposed to Foye. I could be wrong but if my memory serves me correctly, Danny wanted Foye but couldn't get him so he was more willing to deal the pick that was eventually Roy.
In short, I disagree with your viewpoint and the way you presented it. Now if you wanted to debate that Danny should have retained his high picks instead of trading them, that would be a different topic and be well worth some discussion.
Topic: We'll know the fate of Giddens today... (Read 33584 times)