Boston Celtics Danny Ainge Will Not Deal “Big Three” Despite Statements
“First of all it’s a different era,” Ainge told the Globe. “I sat with Red (Auerbach) during a Christmas party (in the 1990s). Red was talking to Larry, Kevin, and myself and there was a lot of trade discussion at the time and Red actually shared some of the trade discussions. And I told Red what are you doing? Why are you waiting?
“He had a chance to trade Larry (to Indiana) for Chuck Person and Herb Williams and (Steve) Stipanovich and he had a chance to trade Kevin (to Dallas) for Detlef Schrempf and Sam Perkins. I was like are you kidding? I mean I feel that way now. If I were presented with those kind of deals for our aging veterans, it’s a done deal to continue the success.”
“After those guys retired, the Celtics had a long drought,” he said. “But those (types of fruitful trades) aren’t presenting themselves. In today’s day and age with 30 teams in the NBA, 15 teams know they have no chance of winning a championship. They are building with young players. It’s a different era that we live in. It’s easy to say conceptually but you have to always weigh what are real opportunities.”
Courtesy Of Boston Globe
Once again the media is making a story out absolutely nothing. Danny Ainge has once again said that he would listen to offers for any member of his aging “Big Three”. This may have been news say two years ago in 2010, but this is really just a tired story. “News Flash” to the world: Danny Ainge will trade anyone on his roster if he feels it will help the team. However, do not hold your breath waiting for him to deal Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, or Kevin Garnett.
Oh wait….I forgot this time like the last time is different. These guys are older and playing terrible. They are on their last legs now and Ainge feels if there is no shot at a title, he will deal them. Forgive me if I did not hear this garbage in 2010. Forgive me if I feel this is just another motivational tool by AInge to get his troops to focus and play better ball.
Let us examine the facts. Danny AInge is a very smart basketball executive. He knows better than anyone this basketball team. He must realize that the season is only 13 games old out of 66. He knows that there is plenty of time for this team to come around. Pierce and Garnett will get into basketball shape. Ray Allen is ageless. Rajon Rondo is getting better. The team also has a much better bench than the one that was the third seed and played Miami very close in their playoff series to the point a healthy Rondo changes that series. Guys like Brandon Bass, Mickael Pietrus, Marquis Daniels and Keyon Dooling, were not brought in for only a thirteen game attempt.
This team has slowed flashes of being dominant even in losses. After falling down big in games against teams like Chicago, OKC, and Miami, the Celtics dominated them to not only get back into the game, but even have a chance to win it. If they could have cut down on the unforced mistakes, they would have come away with a lot more wins. I am taking nothing away form these teams, but Boston shot themselves in the foot more often than not during those games with costly turnovers. The veterans will get their legs back and then these unforced errors will go away.
The other fact that Ainge even alluded to in his statement to the Globe is the right deal would have to be on the table. A deal that Ainge himself feels will not present itself. A contending team like Miami, or Chicago does not have the pieces to make it worth wild for Ainge to deal Pierce. Younger veteran teams are not going to give up a key piece for an aging veteran. Atlanta is not going to give Joe Johnson and Josh Smith for Pierce and KG. Heck, they could not even do a deal for a one for one swap due to KG’s contract number.
21 million dollars is a lot of money to try to fit into your cap folks. Ainge will not make a deal and bring in garbage pieces to tie up the cap that he has so masterfully set up to be way under next year. Any deal would have to include some serious pieces for the future and fit the cap number to make the deal work. This means KG is going no where.
The simple fact also is AInge does not need to make a trade to blow this up next season. Ray Allen and KG are free agents. They can be allowed to walk. The Celtics only have three guys under contract next season with Pierce being one of them. Pierce’s expiring contract alone makes a solid trading piece next year if Ainge chooses. This means this team can blow up next year without having to make a deal for the sake of a deal.
I am not saying Ainge is not listening to offers. I know he listens to EVERY OFFER. This is not news. He would trade his own kids if he felt Boston would be better off in the long run. However, he is too smart to deal these guys right now to get pennies on the dollar. This means Celtics fans better pray that this team rebounds this year because the future is not now. Remember Go Green Or Go Home!!!!!!!
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