I think Danny's gonna go after AD whether or not Kyrie is coming back.
Smart - Brown - Hayward - Davis - Horford
That team plus the right supporting pieces could be a heck of a defensive team. If Hayward gets anywhere close to where he was in Utah, maybe they have enough shot making to be a real threat in the East.
Anyway, I think Ainge is going for it. He didn't come this far just to give up because Kyrie turned out to be a sourpuss weirdo.
Do we think Ainge gets fired if it doesn't work out though? I don't mean to come across like a troll asking that, but that would be a MASSIVE risk to take, and a franchise-altering one too. Would look worse if AD bolted to NY or LA a year after anyways.
If wyc and co are actually serious about wanting to win titles at any cost, they are going to be pushing Danny to take those risks.
With Irving + AD along with much of our current team, we can certainly win a title.
With no Irving in the mix though, I'm not sure how adding AD makes us a Finals threat. Sure, we could make the ECF, but if Kawhi stays in Toronto do we really think we can take them, or even MIL?
Ainge would have to have another good move planned in addition to an AD trade if Kyrie leaves. Doesn't have to be another star per say, but someone (likely a guard) who is really solid. And no, that's NOT Rozier