Ainge is not perfect, he has a penchant for drafting tweeners. Sometimes, I think he looks for a guy that can play who has value but might have some flaws that scared off others. When it works it is brilliant when it does not, them it is chalked up to their flaws.
I hope he goes for some athletic bigs this year. I hope CBS can strengthen his college drafting skills with his connections.
You could not name 5 better than him with a track record.
Pat Riley gets value where he drafts - MIA
OKC are superb drafters- OKC
Bird was a good drafter - IND
Isiah Thomas was excellent at drafting. _ NYC got a lot of NBA players
Pop/ RC Buford get value as well. -SA
Neil Oshey gets value - PORT Lilliard, Aldridge\
I think that is five who draft better than are currently drafting for their teams. I named six overall.
Ainge is not on this list as a drafter
http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/232776/Study-Finds-Isiah-Thomas-As-Best-Drafting-GM-Since-1989That being said, I think still overall Ainge is the one of the best GMs in the NBA. Draftee is not his strongest asset but he is not terrible at it either.
Sully, KO and Smart are all good picks!
Will you say that if Sully continues to eat himself out of the league? Jury is till out, all three have a place in the NBA but I would not say that all three are good. I am delighted with Smart;s effort and I think he will work hard in the off season to improve. KO and Sully were guys who are limited athletically, this trend on our bigs needs to stop. CBS trusts Jonas a lot more down the stretch than KO and takes him out for defensive possessions all the time. He has a fondness for two way guys as do all coaches.
I would rather have Giannis or Dieng than KO. That does not mean KO is terrible, I just think the others are better than him. In fact, put Dieng on this roster instead of KO and we have our rim protector.
9.7 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2 APG and 1.7 BPG for Dieng on 50% FG
10.3 PPG, 5 RPG, 1.8 APG and .7 BPG for Olynyk on 49% FG
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2534781/gorgui-dienghttp://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2489663/kelly-olynykNow Kelly can spread the floor something Dieng cannot but I would still almost have rather taken Dieng. Dieng is two years old 25 to KOs 23 ( soon to be 24).