In the aftermath of the trade deadline, many are wondering why Danny Ainge didn't blow it up.
Rumors were swirling about the Celtics potentially unloading the cornerstones of the franchise in Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, although both are still here.
Questioning Ainge's thinking is valid. Why not get younger and, to steal a line from Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington, build the next great Celtics team? Wasn't Ainge the one who said he would've traded Larry Bird when he was on his last leg (literally and figuratively)?
But let's consider the circumstances. Ainge decided to bring the band back together this past offseason. He was the one that gave Kevin Garnett a full no-trade clause in a three-year deal for a 36-year-old Garnett. He decided not to let go of Paul Pierce. He assured Rajon Rondo's agent that his client was not going to be traded.
Does Ainge have to be held accountable?
Of course.
Could Ainge have traded Rondo for Dwight Howard straight up, or could he have acquired Josh Smith?
We'll never know.
But let's give credit where credit is due. Ainge basically stole Jordan Crawford from the Wizards, solidifying Boston's backcourt. As a result, the Celtics are a better team today than they were yesterday. So kudos to Ainge for that.
Ainge said earlier this week that no other team values Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce like the Celtics do, and this is true. Their leadership, toughness and playoff experience are characteristics that don't grow on trees. They both are extremely close with Doc Rivers. They are the heart and soul of this team, and for a team that has seen its TV ratings plummet 35% during the course of the season, detonating this team would've seen those ratings go down the crapper. Because again, it is a business.
But why did Danny hold on to aging super stars that appear to be on their last legs? We've been saying that for years now, but they continue to prove us wrong year after year. Well, this is why:
Even with its latest loss, Boston is only 4 games behind the Brooklyn Nets in the loss column. Realistically, Boston can climb the Eastern Conference ladder. In this neck of the woods, we like to overreact. The Celtics won 7 straight without Rajon Rondo, and everyone thought the Celtics would finish the season undefeated. They've lost two straight coming out of the break, and people are calling for the Celtics to blow it up.
The Celtics are close to the luxury tax mark, and combine that with the new language in the CBA, it makes life extremely difficult for an NBA general manager to make a big trade like acquiring Kevin Garnett back in 2007.
When J.J. Redick is the biggest name to come out of an NBA trade deadline, you know the pickings were slim.
Ainge said today that the Celtics are now in the hunt for a big man, and a big man would now have to come via buyout or waivers. According to reports, Kenyon Martin has signed with the Knicks, so scratch him off the list. Ainge did open up two roster spots for the Celtics, and he made a great trade today, so Ainge did a good job given the circumstances.
In the end, do we as Celtics fans want to go back to the doldrums of 2006-2007? To me, a first-round sweep in the playoffs is more exciting than living in the basement of the Eastern Conference. But that's not why Ainge held on to his core. He feels they can make a run. The players feel they can. Doc believes they can. And that's half the battle. With the way the Eastern Conference is going right now, they most certainly can.
Come playoff time, those same people who are wondering why Ainge didn't blow up the team are going to be in awe of what Garnett and Pierce will be able to do to make another memorable run.
No comments:
Post a Comment