Quote from: libermaniac on July 11, 2015, 04:33:52 AM

Does anyone else remember, that in the 2005 draft, Ainge wanted to take Amir Johnson in the second round because he liked him better, but instead honored his pre-draft promise to draft Orien Greene?  What's ironic about that promise is that he also had made a promise in the same draft to take Monta Ellis, but reneged on it when Gerald Green was available.  He whiffed on both of those decisions.

Shows the stupidity of making draft promises. I hope he learned--although it might be comforting if that were the excuse for some of his more recent picks, such as 3J and Melo.

I think adding Stevens to his draft brain trust has helped, and they're on a better track with this year's picks.

The team gains nothing from maing promises. I never reay got it. Whats the point?

There were rumors that ainge took Giddens in 08 over Jordan because he made a promise.

This predates Ainge, but isn't there also a story that the Celtics gave a promise to Tony Parker and then took Joe Forte, instead? I guess that's the opposite, reneging on a promise given to the player they should've taken anyway.

So many what-ifs.

I've never read that Ainge gave Monta a promise.  I know that he scouted him heavily, but passed him partially due to him getting injured prior to the draft.

The Greene promise sucked, because his agent wouldn't let the team out of it even with a promise to bring him in as a free agent.  At least that's the way it was reported; maybe the agent just said that he wouldn't guarantee Greene would sign with the Celts if he reached free agency.

What I don't understand is, if Danny liked Amir so much, why didn't he buy a 2nd rounder from somebody?  A pick in the 50s is probably available for $200k or so.  If you really see the potential in somebody, that is chump change.

The purpose of a promise is to try to convince players to not work out for other teams. I don't think they make sense, but that's the logic I guess.

You can also get guys to come out for the draft who would otherwise stay in school. I heard a rumor (not sure if true) that WCS would've declared last year if we'd given him a promise at #17.

I've never read that Ainge gave Monta a promise.  I know that he scouted him heavily, but passed him partially due to him getting injured prior to the draft.

The Greene promise sucked, because his agent wouldn't let the team out of it even with a promise to bring him in as a free agent.  At least that's the way it was reported; maybe the agent just said that he wouldn't guarantee Greene would sign with the Celts if he reached free agency.

What I don't understand is, if Danny liked Amir so much, why didn't he buy a 2nd rounder from somebody?  A pick in the 50s is probably available for $200k or so.  If you really see the potential in somebody, that is chump change.

I remember there being questions about the knees of Ellis too.  There was a question if they would degenerate quickly like Brandon Roy's.  I guess that is out the window now.