Why would any top tier free agent sign for a team run by Ainge

[GC003332]

A top tier free agent would sign with the Celtics because their current team just won the championship without him, cementing his role much further down the food chain than need be when you are the best at what you do in the game, and right in the prime of your career. 

Sometimes you have to climb out on a limb to taste the sweetest fruit of all.

I have almost been convinced that that guy will sign with LA with Rondo though, how will it be possible.

[Celtics4ever]

If the team already has good players and a good coach in place, that's reason enough

I think we have the latter and one could argument whether we have the former.  I think we need to improve more at the good player aspect.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I didn't read the thread but if I were them I would! Ainge has traded all of his players to places that appeared to be better situations! If I'm not of any use to a team anymore, I would love for them to send me to a better situation. How can you not consider where he sent them! If he sent me to a place like Minny, Sacto, or Philly I would be mad but PP, KG, RR (his fault), Lee and JG should not be complaining.

[moiso]

I agree that in trades Ainge has sent players to great situations for them, but maybe it's not all because Ainge is such a nice guy.  The Celtics were sellers and the teams that are buyers at the deadline are generally teams with aspirations of making noise in the playoffs.  I don't think it was really possible to send Green and Rondo to bad teams.  Bad teams wanted to stay bad and collect ping pong balls, not give up assets to only slightly improve.

[Tr1boy]

They wont. Boston is not a FA destination

Who was the last big FA the Celtics were able to bring in?

[Onslaught]

They wont. Boston is not a FA destination

Who was the last big FA the Celtics were able to bring in?

When was the last time Boston had the money to get one?

[GC003332]

They wont. Boston is not a FA destination

Who was the last big FA the Celtics were able to bring in?

Dominque Wilkins in 94
Chris Ford actually wanted him to play defense, that didn't end well.

[Ilikesports17]

Let me translate OP:

There is a lot of positive energy around the C's how can I find a reason that this team is screwed?

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I agree that in trades Ainge has sent players to great situations for them, but maybe it's not all because Ainge is such a nice guy.  The Celtics were sellers and the teams that are buyers at the deadline are generally teams with aspirations of making noise in the playoffs.  I don't think it was really possible to send Green and Rondo to bad teams.  Bad teams wanted to stay bad and collect ping pong balls, not give up assets to only slightly improve.

Are you telling me there are not worse situations for those guys, even if it meant to another playoff team? Say he sent JG to the Pels, they still wouldn't be a threat to win it all. Send him to the Bucks and you get the same. He sent them to a team most people think are contenders (if they hadn't met GSW). Could have sent RR to the Kings but he didn't (don't know why but at least it didn't get done), Dallas had a better chance to actually be a very good team. I find it hard to believe those were the only deals he could have made w/ those players. Anyone of course would take the deal they think is the best but who knows if he got similar deals from other teams but chose to make nice for the players/agents. I know I heard him say he sent them to better situations as if it was always his intent, maybe he chose to do that b/c he thought it would help when those/other agents shop their players, knowing we would be in the market soon enough.

[Granath]

They wont. Boston is not a FA destination

Who was the last big FA the Celtics were able to bring in?

When was the last time Boston had the money to get one?

We have a winner!

[Moranis]

Well Horford signed here.  Be interested to see if he makes the end of his 4 years.

[greece66]

@Moranis

Is it really that rare for players to be traded near the end of their contract?

[Moranis]

@Moranis

Is it really that rare for players to be traded near the end of their contract?

Max (or near max) contract players that don't demand a trade, yep.

[Rainmaker]

I've been thinking about this for awhile and if I'm a top tier free agent, there is no way I sign with a Danny Ainge run team assuming money is the same.  Here is why.  I would have to believe that the odds of me making the end of a 4 year contract in Boston is less than 10%.  This afterall is the guy that traded for and then away Kevin Garnett.  A guy whose tinkering was so much that Ray Allen choose to leave for half the money.  A guy that traded away Paul Pierce and who has said multiple times would have traded Larry Bird.  A guy who couldn't stand Antoine Walker's game so much that he immediately trades him away and then re-acquires him a few years a later, only to let him walk again.  A guy that wouldn't re-sign James Posey because he wanted an extra year on a mid-level contract.  Who acquires, re-signs, and then trades away Jeff Green who had a very reasonable contract.  Who consistently tried to move Rajon Rondo before finally pulling the trigger.

So I'm Marc Gasol or some other top tier free agent, why on earth would I willingly choose Boston when I know I will be constantly in trade rumors before ultimately getting traded at some point in time?  Heck Garnett even had a no trade clause and that didn't stop Ainge from trying to and ultimately trading him away.  Why would I want to put up with that headache?  I mean the money is the same and it isn't like Boston is set up to win titles for the next ten years.  There is no incentive for me to sign for Ainge and in fact Ainge would be the biggest reason to not sign in Boston if I was a free agent (and don't get me started on the crappy weather, high taxes, etc.).

I think you have made a number of good points here. And the thought has crossed my mind that free agents might consider this before they are even willing to look at the Celtics.

 When you actually look at it objectively, Ainge is always looking to trade.  From that 2008 Championship Team:  Posey, and both Allens (Tony and Ray)  left on their own accord.  Starters: Perk, Rondo, Pierce and KG were traded.  Bench: Glen Davis, Eddie House were traded. Ouch.  That is really something.  The only other true face of the franchise-Walker- years before was traded and then let go.  Ooooh.
(I never thought we did right by Walker.  I think that had he had a strong coach that molded him, his career would have ended differently. )


If you are a free agent, there is a good chance you will be dealt at some point.  Or you will sign elsewhere.  What player have we kept?

I think in this day and age with free agency, this is part of the modern equation.  However, I think that the question for  a player is the stability of the franchise. No one wants to be uprooted  every few years.

A solution for players might be to have options to opt out. Or a no trade clause for the first few years.

Look back at that  2008  Celtics Team and I think its revealing.

[alldaboston]

LOL at the whole premise of this thread