The Danny Ainge Draft Appreciation Thread

[AB_Celtic]

Okay, so this is just something that came to me. Danny Ainge has effectively built a very solid starting unit for the future, as well as some role players that show potential. He has done this, I might add, by drafting. Every one of the following players was drafted by the Boston Celtics within the past 6 years:

PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Avery Bradley, (E'Twaun Moore... eh)
SF: Jeff Green, Kris Joseph
PF: Jared Sullinger, JaJuan Johnson
C: Fab Melo

Rondo needs no discussion. Bradley looks like Tony Allen but with more offensive ability. We'll see the true Jeff Green this year, but it could go either way. Sullinger has the potential to be a star in the NBA. Joseph looks like a young Pierce. Johnson is a rebounding phenom. Melo, with the ever-wise KG to tutor him, could also be a solid NBA center.

That's a top 7/8 that with the right development and a little bit of luck could turn into a successful NBA team. It just goes to show how much of a difference it makes to have a smart-drafting GM like Ainge.

[celtsfan84]

Okay, so this is just something that came to me. Danny Ainge has effectively built a very solid starting unit for the future, as well as some role players that show potential. He has done this, I might add, by drafting. Every one of the following players was drafted by the Boston Celtics within the past 6 years:

PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Avery Bradley, (E'Twaun Moore... eh)
SF: Jeff Green, Kris Joseph
PF: Jared Sullinger, JaJuan Johnson
C: Fab Melo

Rondo needs no discussion. Bradley looks like Tony Allen but with more offensive ability. We'll see the true Jeff Green this year, but it could go either way. Sullinger has the potential to be a star in the NBA. Joseph looks like a young Pierce. Johnson is a rebounding phenom. Melo, with the ever-wise KG to tutor him, could also be a solid NBA center.

That's a top 7/8 that with the right development and a little bit of luck could turn into a successful NBA team. It just goes to show how much of a difference it makes to have a smart-drafting GM like Ainge.

He's drafted very well over his tenure.  One of the best in the league.

But that particular roster would be in the lottery easily.

[AB_Celtic]

...

He's drafted very well over his tenure.  One of the best in the league.

But that particular roster would be in the lottery easily.

Right now, yes. Give it a couple of years, and who knows?

[bfrombleacher]

...

He's drafted very well over his tenure.  One of the best in the league.

But that particular roster would be in the lottery easily.

What'd you expect with 20th picks? But, like the other guy said, the others haven't panned out one way or another. They are all high potential unproven players except Rondo. They're basically pure potential now.

[celtsfan84]

...

He's drafted very well over his tenure.  One of the best in the league.

But that particular roster would be in the lottery easily.

What'd you expect with 20th picks? But, like the other guy said, the others haven't panned out one way or another. They are all high potential unproven players except Rondo. They're basically pure potential now.

Didn't say I expected more.  Said he drafted well.  Re-read my post.

[fairweatherfan]

Can't really count JG since we drafted him for Seattle.  The rumor was we would've taken Yi had we kept the pick.  If you go that route why not just throw MarShon Brooks on the list?

Danny's also taken several players who have done well with other teams.  BBD was a very good pick for where he was taken; so was Semih, though he might be in Europe now.  Bill Walker has managed to stick in the league despite not doing much, and it looks like Lester Hudson and Harangody might be able to hang around awhile too. 

The only real busts Danny has drafted lately have been Giddens and Pruitt, and Pruitt was taken late too.

So here's a revised roster:

PG: Rondo, Hudson
SG: Bradley, Walker, Moore
SF: Joseph
PF: BBD, Sullinger, JJJ, Harangody
C: Erden, Melo

Not a great team but a phenomenal success rate for where our picks have been.

[celtsfan84]

Can't really count JG since we drafted him for Seattle.  The rumor was we would've taken Yi had we kept the pick.  If you go that route why not just throw MarShon Brooks on the list?

He's not with the team any more but BBD was a very good pick for where he was taken; so is Semih Erden.  Bill Walker has managed to stick in the league despite not doing much, and it looks like Lester Hudson might be able to hang around awhile too.

The only real busts Danny has drafted lately have been Giddens and Pruitt, and Pruitt was taken late too.

So here's a revised roster:

PG: Rondo, Hudson
SG: Bradley, Walker, Moore
SF: Joseph
PF: BBD, Sullinger, JJJ
C: Erden, Melo

Not a great team but a phenomenal success rate for where our picks have been.

My sentiment exactly.  As I had stated, Danny has done one of the best jobs in the league during the draft and has earned great value from his picks.  But if that were our lineup, it'd be a bad one.

[AB_Celtic]

Can't really count JG since we drafted him for Seattle.  The rumor was we would've taken Yi had we kept the pick.  If you go that route why not just throw MarShon Brooks on the list?

He's not with the team any more but BBD was a very good pick for where he was taken; so is Semih Erden.  Bill Walker has managed to stick in the league despite not doing much, and it looks like Lester Hudson might be able to hang around awhile too.

The only real busts Danny has drafted lately have been Giddens and Pruitt, and Pruitt was taken late too.

So here's a revised roster:

PG: Rondo, Hudson
SG: Bradley, Walker, Moore
SF: Joseph
PF: BBD, Sullinger, JJJ
C: Erden, Melo

Not a great team but a phenomenal success rate for where our picks have been.

My sentiment exactly.  As I had stated, Danny has done one of the best jobs in the league during the draft and has earned great value from his picks.  But if that were our lineup, it'd be a bad one.

The point is DA has allowed us to have a smooth transition from the Big Three era to the Rondo and Friends* era. By making good free agent signings and perhaps a couple of trades to build around the young core we have, it's unlikely we'll see a losing season in Boston for a while (assuming JG, Joseph, Sullinger and the like realize some of their potential by the time KG and Pierce retire).

*Copyright 2012 AB_thefaithful_C

[celtsfan84]

Can't really count JG since we drafted him for Seattle.  The rumor was we would've taken Yi had we kept the pick.  If you go that route why not just throw MarShon Brooks on the list?

He's not with the team any more but BBD was a very good pick for where he was taken; so is Semih Erden.  Bill Walker has managed to stick in the league despite not doing much, and it looks like Lester Hudson might be able to hang around awhile too.

The only real busts Danny has drafted lately have been Giddens and Pruitt, and Pruitt was taken late too.

So here's a revised roster:

PG: Rondo, Hudson
SG: Bradley, Walker, Moore
SF: Joseph
PF: BBD, Sullinger, JJJ
C: Erden, Melo

Not a great team but a phenomenal success rate for where our picks have been.

My sentiment exactly.  As I had stated, Danny has done one of the best jobs in the league during the draft and has earned great value from his picks.  But if that were our lineup, it'd be a bad one.

The point is DA has allowed us to have a smooth transition from the Big Three era to the Rondo and Friends* era. By making good free agent signings and perhaps a couple of trades to build around the young core we have, it's unlikely we'll see a losing season in Boston for a while (assuming JG, Joseph, Sullinger and the like realize some of their potential by the time KG and Pierce retire).

*Copyright 2012 AB_thefaithful_C

Enitrely possible.  We'll see how the big guys pan out.

I'm in no rush to end the KG, Pierce, Jet run though.  Hopefully we get at least a couple of years out of it.

[bfrombleacher]

...

He's drafted very well over his tenure.  One of the best in the league.

But that particular roster would be in the lottery easily.

What'd you expect with 20th picks? But, like the other guy said, the others haven't panned out one way or another. They are all high potential unproven players except Rondo. They're basically pure potential now.

Didn't say I expected more.  Said he drafted well.  Re-read my post.

My bad. No offense intended...

It felt like you were expecting more...

Just reiterating then...

But then again, only two players have played more than...a season. So you might be wrong in a few years, again, like the other guy said.




But I gotta say. Loving Kris Joseph and loving that he's not been failing my expectations.

[celtsfan84]

...

He's drafted very well over his tenure.  One of the best in the league.

But that particular roster would be in the lottery easily.

What'd you expect with 20th picks? But, like the other guy said, the others haven't panned out one way or another. They are all high potential unproven players except Rondo. They're basically pure potential now.

Didn't say I expected more.  Said he drafted well.  Re-read my post.

My bad. No offense intended...

It felt like you were expecting more...

Just reiterating then...

But then again, only two players have played more than...a season. So you might be wrong in a few years, again, like the other guy said.




But I gotta say. Loving Kris Joseph and loving that he's not been failing my expectations.

No offense taken, my man.  I admit, it is always hard to distinguish tone, intent, and all that stuff in a message board post and I am the stubborn and snappy type.  Working on it.  Appreciate the message.

But as far as the young bigs go, there are a ton of teams who feel the same way.  For instance, I'm sure Houston thinks all three of their first round picks are home runs.

Rondo is a home run.  Bradley is a home run.  Glen Davis was a hit.  Semih was useful. Bill Walker was useful.  The rest are speculative, much like every player on every team in the last two drafts.

[clover]

I'm generally a fan of Danny's efforts and this year's crop looks promising.

But with this year's rookies and various flotsam recently washed back ashore from overseas outplaying last year's picks in SL right now, this might not be just the moment to trumpet his drafting.

[SHAQATTACK]

Danny has done ok,  I'm not going to bad mouth him .  Its a lot pressure and alot of work.  Danny like  is one of the top 10 GM in the league IMO. Combine that with Doc as one of the top 5 coachs , its a pretty good combo.

Celtics ARE due ....Let me say....Danny is getting wiser doing his job just like anybody...

Future looks good.

[clover]

Danny has done ok,  I'm not going to bad mouth him .  Its a lot pressure and alot of work.  Danny like  is one of the top 10 GM in the league IMO. Combine that with Doc as one of the top 5 coachs , its a pretty good combo.

Celtics ARE due ....Let me say....Danny is getting wiser doing his job just like anybody...

Future looks good.

I'd put them both in the top 5.

[AB_Celtic]

Danny has done ok,  I'm not going to bad mouth him .  Its a lot pressure and alot of work.  Danny like  is one of the top 10 GM in the league IMO. Combine that with Doc as one of the top 5 coachs , its a pretty good combo.

Celtics ARE due ....Let me say....Danny is getting wiser doing his job just like anybody...

Future looks good.

I'd put them both in the top 5.

I'll do you one better. Name more than two coaches and two GM's better than Doc and Danny.