So would you have rather traded for Isaiah or had a top 8-12 pick?

[chambers]

So looking back,what road would you have taken? Why?

I think the IT trade was understandable at the time, and Danny stated that they didn't think it would make them that much better- but he felt he had to do it because it was great value...But that which could potentially jeopardize our draft position. Obviously he would never know that Winslow would slip to #10 at the time of making the IT trade, but I wonder if he'd take it back if he knew Winslow, Johnson or Turner would still be around after #7?

It wouldn't be fair not to note that if we hadn't traded for IT, our chances of making the playoffs would've been much slimmer, so taking one of the draftees instead means we'd obviously miss the playoffs.

Personally, I'd say if Danny had known that Winslow would be available that he'd actually cancel the IT trade and gone for the higher pick.
Why?
Well my main reasoning is that I couldn't ever see Danny giving up the same bounty of picks for Isaiah Thomas that he was certainly prepared to give up for Justise Winslow.

 For me personally I'd have rather had Winslow, Johnson or Myles Turner.
I love IT but ultimately I can't see him being part of the next Celtics championship squad. Just too much of a defensive liability- but a definite annual candidate for 6th man of the year.

I think the main reason I would personally rather the higher pick is because putting one of Stanley Johnson, Winslow and Turner next to Smart could potentially given us a long term wing/front court combination to build around.

 I would have been stoked to see a line up this season of something like:
Smart, Hunter, Crowder, Sully, Myles Turner or
Smart, Hunter, Winslow, Sully, Zeller
...and gambling on their long term development under Brad Stevens rather than taking IT for a late season bargain.
At the end of the day it's a personal preference and I can completely understand why some fans would prefer to take IT, get better now and make the playoffs vs gambling on some unproven rookies.

So looking back if you'd had the crystal ball in front of you and seen that Winslow/Johnson/Turner would be there would you cancel the IT trade?
What do you think Danny would have done with that crystal ball?

[Celts Fan 508]

Great post, TP, I voted that I would rather have missed the playoffs and drafted Winslow.  I think IT could have been had after the season (although I do think I heard he was going to Philly if we didn't get him) and I am a Celtics lifer and would have enjoyed watching Smart-Hunter- Winslow growing together.

[chambers]

Great post, TP, I voted that I would rather have missed the playoffs and drafted Winslow.  I think IT could have been had after the season (although I do think I heard he was going to Philly if we didn't get him) and I am a Celtics lifer and would have enjoyed watching Smart-Hunter- Winslow growing together.

That is an excellent point that I hadn't thought of (DURP) and it makes me even more certain about my position of taking Winslow over IT.
TP, there's certainly a very strong chance he could have been had after the season- although we do probably miss the playoffs...

[saltlover]

Except that there's no guarantee we don't make the playoffs without IT.  He only played 21 games for the C's.  The team was playing well for a month before the trade, and also played well while IT was injured thanks to D-Wade. So the option could have been make the playoffs with no IT.

[Csfan1984]

I choose option C. They could have traded for IT then tanked. It would have been easy too if they dumped Bass, Jerekbo and Turner at deadline. Also when IT got hurt sat him the rest of the year. Also gave Smart more rest days for ankle. That right there is at least 5 wins.

[Eja117]

Kinda revisionist cherry picking. Nobody knew those guys would last to those picks or have such good summers.

IT could still easily end up a better player than every one of them and on a very good contract and seems to actually want to be here.

[Eja117]

Making the playoffs may have had just as much to do with the Crowder/Rondo trade. Or Sully and KO getting hurt.

I'm not ok with the idea that you don't make good moves during the season because it couuuuullllddd maybe help you get a little better draft position where you coooouuuullllddd maaaayyybbee get a better player that mmmiiigggghhht stay here his whole career while you continue to lose.

This is New England. We aren't Philly. We try to win here.  We saw the ML Carr years. Not going back. Ever

[jpotter33]

Kinda revisionist cherry picking. Nobody knew those guys would last to those picks or have such good summers.

IT could still easily end up a better player than every one of them and on a very good contract and seems to actually want to be here.

Good points. IIRC, Winslow really just came on in the tournament, which really helped his stock.

I'll still say I'd rather have Thomas, because, like you said, there's no guarantee that any of them will ever be as good as IT.

This wouldn't even be a post if MJ/Charlotte had any sense in their brain and took that ridiculous offer Danny offered (if it did in fact include a Brooklyn pick). Honestly, I don't see Frank the Tank having any better career than RJ Hunter, or even KO for that matter.

[Hemingway]

I'm happy with how it all worked out. Who knows maybe one of the guys we did draft will turn out to be a star. WE are rebuilding a great culture here, I wouldn't trade that for something so unproven. If we had played anyone but the cavs in round 1 I think we would have won some games and maybe a series. As someone said above, once you start tanking its not like you can say, oh wait this didn't work lets be good again. You are stuck. I really think the pro tank every year crowd is pretty young or didn't watch the games when we stunk. The answer to all these hypothetical tank questions is no.

[celticsclay]

this has seriously had like 15 threads about it, most of them quite long. I dont think people are changing their minds at this point.

[Moranis]

can't forget the future 1st that was traded for Thomas as well

[SHAQATTACK]

I think we'd have needed a top five to actually came out any better ..overall ....our three picks are looking decent.

Not to mention ,  none of the draft will have the immediate skill or impact of IT .....who is a scoring machine.

I think we lucked out considering .i

[celticsclay]

This was such an amazing coup for us. I think god every day we were able to consumate this trade. What a stroke of luck and genius by Ainge. Cheers everyone

[Surferdad]

Given that the question is posed as having clairvoyant hindsight, the voting was easy.  I definitely would have not done the trade.  I think Stanley Johnson is going to be a beast in this league.  Not sure amount Winslow but SL is probably not a good indicator. 

[Eja117]

This is one of the first world problems you encounter when you have the best coach in the NBA.

"Heeeeyyyyy we're trading away a relatively recent all star for not a whole lot that should help you this year"

"Yeah I'm taking this team to the playoffs"

"Heeeeyyyyy we're trading for a decent 5 ft 10 guard that might take time away from a great defender and a recent top 10 pick"

"Yeah I'm taking this team to the playoffs anyway"

"HHhhhheeeeyyy this is kinda crazy but we're sitting Jared Sullinger for being out of shape. It's a pretty rare reason to sit someone but we're doing it, and Kelly Olynyk just got hurt".

"Yeah I'm taking this team to the playoffs anyway"