Ainge On Trading 2018 Nets Pick: "Owed It To Horford And Hayward"

[Phantom255x]

http://www.csnne.com/video/danny-ainge-trading-brooklyn-pick-owed-it-hayward-and-horford

https://clutchpoints.com/celtics-news-danny-ainge-traded-nets-pick-kyrie-irving/

Over the last couple of years, Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge has made a concerted effort to stockpile first-round picks in hopes of keeping a bright future ahead of the franchise.

However, Ainge over the summer decided to part ways with the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round pick as part of the trade that landed them All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving from the Cleveland Cavaliers. During a recent interview with CSNNE.com, he finally divulged why he decided to move on from the prized draft selection.

“I think that having signed Al Horford and Gordon Hayward,  I feel a responsibility to give them a chance. I think that Brooklyn pick could be very very exciting. I think Cleveland could have a really good pick there, but it’s probably going to be a big man that’s 19 years old that probably needs a couple of years to develop, but Kyrie has proven as a sure thing as a guy that’s 25 and can really really play right now. I think that’s fair for Brad, Gordon, and Al.”

In the offseason, the Celtics had made a strong effort to construct a roster that can compete to win an NBA title that saw them make a few other notable moves prior to the addition of Irving that included acquiring All-Star forward Gordon Hayward. On top of that, if Ainge wanted to pursue a player of Irving’s caliber it would have required them to part ways with one of their Nets’ first-round picks as part of any trade offer.

The possibility of landing Irving was something that the Celtics couldn’t pass up on as he the potential to elevate the team over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East. The 25-year-old has developed into one of the premier players in the league and has a chance to become the face of the franchise for the next several seasons.

The promising prospects with the 2018 first-round pick were not convincing enough for Ainge pass up on the chance to put together a potential title contender with the Celtics’ current roster.

Now forgive me for quoting something from Clutchpoints.com LOL, but the quote is taken from the CSNNE video above and does kind of outline what Ainge says too.

So Ainge wanted to trade 2018 Nets Pick away to help Horford and Hayward, but NOT Isaiah Thomas?? HUH??? What kind of logic is that. You didn't want to trade it to help MVP-candidate Isaiah and Al Horford?? Seems like IT just got kicked to the curb here despite all he's done for the organization (due to injury as well). Sad. 

Anyways, the last part is interesting. We have the LAL pick and we better HOPE it conveys because the draft is FLUSH with big men.. and that pick could get us our franchise-changing BIG man (whether it's a drafted one, or a trade for Davis/Porzingis). Wish Ainge fought harder for better protections on that Lakers Pick though. Even #6-7 in this draft would likely get us a star player (a big man too). Sucks it's only conveying 2-5 (WAY TOO RISKY.)

Oh, and Michael Holley (who I like and think is pretty reasonable/realistic as well) thinks the Celtics offseason moves and hype have been vastly overrated. He also believed the IT-Kyrie rumors before were blasphemy since IT is the better player and had the better season last year (which he did):

https://twitter.com/CSNNE/status/913232400045559808

[CelticsElite]

IT was going to be out until january so it sounds like the trade is so we don't waste half a season losing all our games without a good point guards. It would be bad for horford and hayward who came to win

He's right. The pick could end up being a decent player in 3 years or it could be a bust. Kyrie is a sure thing. And we still got the gamble with the lakers pick and our late first rounder next year isn't so bad

[Fred Roberts]

IT is a lovely human being who had an all world season. Hate to use the term, damaged goods, but that's what it feels like he is.

I'd be shocked if he averages 20+ ppg for the Cavs once he's back. Hope I'm wrong. He is the King in the 4th.

[Phantom255x]

IT is a lovely human being who had an all world season. Hate to use the term, damaged goods, but that's what it feels like he is.

I'd be shocked if he averages 20+ ppg for the Cavs once he's back. Hope I'm wrong. He is the King in the 4th.

I mean if he comes back healthy, even as a #2 guy I see him averaging 23-25 PPG.

[Beat LA]

The promising prospects with the 2018 first-round pick were not convincing enough for Ainge pass up on the chance to put together a potential title contender with the Celtics’ current roster.

And yet he acquired the pick from the Lakers when he traded for Tatum on draft night, which somehow managed to elude the immortal Bob Garcia IV .

[CELTICSofBOSTON]

If the Lakers pick is higher than the Nets pick I will tatto Danny Ainge on my arm.

[TheReaLPuba]

The promising prospects with the 2018 first-round pick were not convincing enough for Ainge pass up on the chance to put together a potential title contender with the Celtics’ current roster.

And yet he acquired the pick from the Lakers when he traded for Tatum on draft night, which somehow managed to elude the immortal Bob Garcia IV .

Lol we still aren't a contender.

Warriors are on another level.

[tazzmaniac]

Anyways, the last part is interesting. We have the LAL pick and we better HOPE it conveys because the draft is FLUSH with big men.. and that pick could get us our franchise-changing BIG man (whether it's a drafted one, or a trade for Davis/Porzingis). Wish Ainge fought harder for better protections on that Lakers Pick though. Even #6-7 in this draft would likely get us a star player (a big man too). Sucks it's only conveying 2-5 (WAY TOO RISKY.)

The Sixers wanted the top 1 protection.  Ainge was the one that wanted it protected 6-30.  If we get the pick next year, it will be a top 5 pick.  If not, we have a chance to get a top 5 pick in 2019. 

[incoherent]

Hey Phantom, your heart will heal eventually, just give it time.

I'm going to answer your question in your post.  So Ainge wanted to trade 2018 Nets Pick away to help Horford and Hayward, but NOT Isaiah Thomas?? HUH??? What kind of logic is that.

I fail to see the logic in your confusion. IT was injured and had 1 season left on his deal. Are those two factors important to you?

Also how can we keep Crowder when we have Hayward taking his spot, and 2 young wing players who have much much higher ceilings than Crowder. 

Why is the 2018 Nets pick so important? We got the LA pick now? Kinda devalues.  Could the Celtics cap even afford to take 2 top 10 picks next season and resign IT to max while still filling out roster with veterans to compete for Gordon and Horford's sake?!?!?  I kinda think just having 1 top pick next season is better for us cap wise, since we are contenders now we have to keep money available for real contributing players not just 19 year old rookies,we already have 2 on this team.

[tarheelsxxiii]

He's a great GM, and always has been a complete tool.

What purpose does this comment serve?  Seems very insulting to IT.  Maybe he was a locker room problem that a rabid fanbase wasn't aware of.  Or, perhaps Danny is feeling insecure about mixed reactions to the trade. 

Presumably, it was Ainge's decision to make -- we can't know.  But he made this comment, and undoubtedly, many would argue that IT was very influential in landing 2 top FAs.  Then he replaced IT with a younger and very talented (but limited) cupcake that's also insecure about his IQ and loves to hear himself talk.  Are we in Boston, or LA?

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I think I read on CB just in the last couple days that the Celtics talent evaluators, as a whole, believe that the BKN pick will end up somewhere in the 5-9 range, which is one of the main reasons Danny was okay with trading the pick. If it indeed ends up in that range, the odds of landing a cornerstone go way down. So, I think Danny's final thinking regarding the IT-Kyrie trade can be summarized in the following equation:

Lower BKN pick + IT's hip + IT's age + IT's Brinks talk = better get Kyrie while the getting's good

[TheSundanceKid]

Seriously? If you're taking Ainge at face value then you don't know him at all.

[tarheelsxxiii]

I think I read on CB just in the last couple days that the Celtics talent evaluators, as a whole, believe that the BKN pick will end up somewhere in the 5-9 range, which is one of the main reasons Danny was okay with trading the pick. If it indeed ends up in that range, the odds of landing a cornerstone go way down. So, I think Danny's final thinking regarding the IT-Kyrie trade can be summarized in the following equation:

Lower BKN pick + IT's hip + IT's age + IT's Brinks talk = better get Kyrie while the getting's good

Which is fine, but what purpose does this comment serve?

Seriously? If you're taking Ainge at face value then you don't know him at all.

Some of us know him better than others?  He's a great GM and a tool.  Is that a reach?

[2short]

If the Lakers pick is higher than the Nets pick I will tatto Danny Ainge on my arm.

This sounds like another complete thread.  I vote for the whining Ainge player face over the smirking gm face.   

[Smartacus]

He's a great GM, and always has been a complete tool.

What purpose does this comment serve?  Seems very insulting to IT.  Maybe he was a locker room problem that a rabid fanbase wasn't aware of.  Or, perhaps Danny is feeling insecure about mixed reactions to the trade. 

Presumably, it was Ainge's decision to make -- we can't know.  But he made this comment, and undoubtedly, many would argue that IT was very influential in landing 2 top FAs.  Then he replaced IT with a younger and very talented (but limited) cupcake that's also insecure about his IQ and loves to hear himself talk.  Are we in Boston, or LA?

Kyrie is one talented cupcake though. Something that often gets overlooked between the 2 of them is that IT shot effectively twice as many free throws as Kyrie during the regular season last year. (8.5 FTA on .909 shooting to 4.6 FTA on .905 shooting) Not trying to bash a legendary Celtic season too much but that is an unsustainable free throw rate to expect the refs to continue to reward season after season and it takes a real hit in the playoffs when the refs are more apt to swallow their whistles.

In the 2017 the playoffs Isaiah averages dropped from 7.4 FTA   on .820 shooting while Kyrie remained a model of consistency at 4.7 FTA on .905 shooting.

Once playoff time rolled around IT was complaining to officials for not rewarding the contact he'd often create like they had during the regular season while Kyrie was draining shots from all over the court with defenders draped all around him.

That's not even mentioning that Hoiberg drew attention to Isaiah's blatant carries and Coach Nick from BBall breakdown confirmed it with a video ( https://youtu.be/UpRZUazIurw ). Isaiah's free throws also drew scrutiny for the step he takes into the lane after shooting it ( www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2017/05/04/yes-celtics-isaiah-thomas-always-commits-free-throw-violations-that-arent-called/ ). Meanwhile Kyrie is widely recognized as having one of the tightest handles in league history.

Question Kyrie's public persona all you like but I'll take the guy who scores his points from the field and not the charity stripe every time. Never comfortable with guys (*cough*Marcus Smart*cough*) putting game in the hands of the refs at crucial moments in the game.