I'm only new here, I think this is only my 10th post, but I've been a fan of the Celtics since I first started watching them as a little kid in 1985 (betraying my age here). Seen the ups and downs over those years. I've been spending more time lurking than posting but wanted to put my 2c in. Sure we want to win but I don't get the whole desperation to sign someone, anyone just for the sake of it. The Celtics are in a strong position, certainly not top tier, but getting there and the worst thing that could happen is to blow it all on a foolhardy chase for mid-tier "stars" that won't add long term value who won't help us win anyway.
Of those mid-tier "stars" I would include Butler (who some seem to think is the second coming of Michael Jordan, after seeing him in the playoffs this year I don't think so), Griffin (who seems to be injured more often than not) and George (who Indiana wanted to hose us for a one year rental for, no thanks). So those players went elsewhere. Sucks but so what? We could argue about the merits of them and I'm sure any of them will make us better but would the cost be worth it in both the short and long term, given the cost that we would have to pay? These are decent players but not ones that we should bet the farm for. Just because other teams are doing deals is absolutely not a good enough reason that we should be doing the same. The talk radio narrative seems to be that the Celtics have to sign someone, anyone, so that we can be reassured that Ainge is actually doing something. If Ainge is sitting on assets he should be dealing the assets to help us win now. But what if there is nobody that is worth dealing the assets for? Additionally, what if people want too much of those assets for what we would get in return?
Doing something for the sake of doing is foolhardy. The Celtics have improved the team significantly in the past few years but it's still short a few pieces to get to Golden State or Cleveland. You're not going to get those pieces in one year. Think how many years it took Golden State to get where they were today. They attracted a top tier FA like Durant because they had already built over years to get to the top tier. The players who are worth betting the farm for, the transcendent ones that will get us to the next level - players like Anthony Davis, Durant, Westbrook, Antetokounmpo, Harden - those take time to chase if they can be chased at all. Sometimes, like in Durant's case, you bet the farm and the guy goes to Golden State to chase an easy (or easier) ring. That's just the way it goes, I'm sure Danny would have been willing to give up a lot for the guy but he wanted to play with Curry, Draymond and Klay. Or someone like Porzingis who is very promising but no way should we hamstring ourselves in the future by giving up two top 5 draft picks and a couple starters for him as was reported.
Certainly we can criticize Ainge for missing out on some deals that he could have done but doing a deal just to give the talk radio or short-attention-span Boston sports fans something to talk about is not something you want in a team executive whose responsibility it is to ensure continued and sustainable team success over a long period. Had Golden State done that six years ago they wouldn't be where they are today. I think you do the best deals that are available to you, but a bad deal is worse than no deal IMO. Sometimes doing no deal is the best course available. I think in this case it is.
Just my 2c.
Topic: Lol nobody wants to win anymore (Read 3669 times)