The reality is Ainge is an idiot.
Thats really all they're is to it.
Today's game would have been a Boston win if we got ibaka, instead we let Toronto get him for next to nothing. Now we don't need to worry about beating Cleveland, because we won't get past the raptors.
I'm right there with you on this. I literally see no downside to getting him. Rozier and some late first round pick that we're just going to stash or not use anyways is worth the cost of Ibaka. This is an example of Ainge overvaluing his assets and the mythical "flexibility" once again.
And the free agency argument doesn't work either, because we can always renounce Ibaka's rights if we didn't plan on resigning him if it didn't work out and didn't want him clogging our cap.
Literally, this would've been a way for us to legitimately win now and in the future. Rather, we're just going to waltz into the playoffs with significant holes and weaknesses to be exploited, just so that we can keep Rozier and a late first round pick that will probably never help us anyways.
You want the downside? Ainge didn't want to resign ibaka. So he would have been given up assets for a guy that doesn't come close to putting us over the top this year. And then he's gone.
Cleveland's chemistry is falling apart at the seams. Lebron is getting older and is more worked out then he's ever been. Love is out, so knows when he'll be back to full strength. Cleveland is in a weakened state, they're as vulnerable as they've ever been.
Boston's biggest weakness right now is our second frontcourt position. Amir Johnson is solid when hes healthy, but he never is. He can't play more then 20 mins a game. We need a big who is starting caliber, and having that impacts this team as a unit in a huge way
So maybe ibaka could impact our chances against Cleveland.
But let's say it doesn't. Adding a player as good as ibaka means we are favourites the beat the Raptors and the Wizards, so there's a very good chance we end up playing Cleveland in the East finals...if that happens is unquestionably impacts our attractiveness at free agent time.
But we didn't get ibaka, so now we have almost zero chance of beating Cleveland. And when we doesn't get him the raptors did, so now we almost certainly lose to the raptors, and probably the wizards too.
So now we have a legit chance of a first round of second round knockout, which leaves potential free agents thinking we're still some ways away from being competitive.
And then in the draft we'll draft a guard, pushing rozier even further down the DNP list...making the fact that Danny refuses to trade him all the more ludicrous.
And the Boston 1St which will be useless since we can't find space for any more picks.
So really wed have given up nothing of any value to us.