I can't imagine Ainge trading for more picks unless he already has another deal in place to trade them for a star. I do like the idea of picking up additional assets if we land outside the top 2, though. I would rather have to take somebody like Dunn at seven than choose to take Bender at three.
But I don't think it will matter anyway. Like the 07 draft, if we don't land inside the top 2, then it makes too much sense not to make a trade for a Bulter, Love, etc and then try to sign a relevant body in free agency. I am also not so sure we don't bring back Amir - without his foot injury, he is playing exactly how I hoped.
pretty much this. unless Ainge has something set up to move newly-acquired assets, I can't see him making a deal to acquire more draft picks. I could see him dropping back a few slots if he also gets a future unprotected first rounder from a team that doesn't figure to get out of the lottery. another pick in next year's deeper draft wouldn't suck
An all-rookie team? Not happening. Ainge is moving picks. He's not making moves for more.
And given his spotty draft record, the LAST thing I want to see him do is make more draft picks.
Spotty draft record?
Taking:
* Tony Allen at #25 in 2004
* Gerald Green at #18 in 2005
* Rajon Rondo at #21 in 2006
* Avery Bradley at # 19 in 2010
* E'twaun Moore at # 55 in 2011
* Jared Sullinger at #21 in 2012
* Kelly Olynyk at #13 in 2013
* Marcus Smart at #6 in 2014
It's pretty hard to argue against Ainge's drafting ability. That's 8 guys over the past 10 years that Danny Ainge has drafted who have grown to become legitimate NBA players, and that is despite the fact that outside of Olynyk and Smart, every one of those guys was taken well outside of the lottery.
In the past decade Danny has only had one opportunity to select in the top 12, in which he chose Smart. While Smart hasn't broken out yet, he's a quality young player who has has definite upside, and with the exception of maybe (and that's a MAYBE) Zach Lavine, none of the guys available at that point (Randle, Payton, McDermott, etc) look any better then Smart right now.
Not sure how anybody could have realistically made better draft selections then Danny Ainge over the past 10 years, once taking into account where his picks were (and who was available). You might have your odd Rudy Gobert here and there that slipped through (for everybody, not just Ainge) but other then that he's selected [dang] near flawlessly.
Getting picks like Tony Allen at #25, Rajon Rondo at #21, Avery Bradley at # 19, E'twaun Moore at # 55, Jared Sullinger at #21 - those are absolute home runs as far as draft performances go. I think we'll be saying the same about Terry Rozier and Jordan Mickey a couple of years from now too. Maybe even Hunter.