A tip of the hat to Danny Ainge

by **gyso** Sat Dec 10, 2011 9:04 am

In less than 72 hours, Danny Ainge revamped the entire Celtics bench and significantly added to Boston’s future prospects… and he did it WITHOUT USING HIS ONLY REAL ASSET!!! At the risk of repeating myself, Ainge just transformed the Celtics using a power forward Boston didn’t want (Davis), a draft pick or two (or maybe three, who cares), the rights to somebody named Albert Morales, a center whose body was destroyed by termites years ago, the brass balls of a burglar, the creativity of an artist, and the vision of a world-class point guard.

Granted — and this should only be a (very) slight buzz kill, all things considered — the center would probably be someone like Kwame Brown. But it would be a center. And he would be surrounded by a supremely deep roster. And the Celtics would still have cap space after this season. And do you see what Danny Ainge has done? He just hit for the cycle. He scored 80 points. He pitched a perfect game. He threw for six touchdown passes. He scored a hat trick. For 72 hours, give or take, Ainge basically didn’t miss on a single move. Maybe the Celtics should be trying harder to re-sign Delonte West. But at this point, if you’re complaining about that, you’re more spoiled than a batch of eggs left on the counter for six months.

Again, this is all assuming the Celtics acquire West. Even if they don’t, Ainge had a hell of a day. But let’s hope like hell they do.

And a wag of the finger to the Boston Herald for saying the West deal fell through:

Despite a Boston Herald report saying that Celtics trade talks to acquire David West fell through, the Celtics are believed to be close to acquiring the two-time All-Star in a trade with the New Orleans Hornets (as first reported by David Aldridge). Better yet, the C’s are expected to acquire West in a sign-and-trade deal for… wait for it… chuckling at the prospect… the decaying corpse of Jermaine O’Neal, and then offer West a $27-29 million contract for the next three years, a number that’s considerably less than an All-Star power forward (albeit one coming off major knee surgery) is normally worth.

Links:

http://www.celticstown.com/2011/12/10/celtics-acquiring-david-west-on-west-chris-wilcox-jeff-green-and-the-wizardry-of-danny-ainge/

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/2011_1210daniels_backeven_better

Green yes, West no

Ainge, known for his blockbuster moves, nearly pulled off another one last night when he reportedly came close to signing pricey free agent David West. It was unclear whether he attempted to use restricted free agent Jeff Green in a sign-and-trade to make the deal for West possible.

“They’re out of that race, but they did try,” said a league source.

The Herald seems to be one step behind with that story.

Here is another Stephen Colbert-ism:

Danny Ainge: Great Basketball General Manager or Greatest Basketball General Manager!!

http://www.celticstown.com/2011/12/10/celtics-acquiring-david-west-on-west-chris-wilcox-jeff-green-and-the-wizardry-of-danny-ainge/

by **swedeinestonia** Sat Dec 10, 2011 9:08 am

No credits to the guy, he didnt give us Paul and Howard while keeping the Big 4.

No cookie for him Wink

by **Matty** Sat Dec 10, 2011 10:44 am

swedeinestonia wrote:No credits to the guy, he didnt give us Paul and Howard while keeping the Big 4.

No cookie for him

he'll flip marquis daniels and a second rounder from the yr 2300 for both somehow king

by **Sam** Sat Dec 10, 2011 11:19 am

Nicely put, gyso. I awoke this morning all charged up to post almost exactly what you did. This guy just traded a passel of players who weren't going to play for the Celtics, and he traded them for value. Whether it all adds up to championship-caliber value remains to be seen. But I believe it's no coincidence that the team's biggest need is yet to be filled and the team's greatest asset has yet to be spent. I expect that, as money and cap space around the league diminish, some workable center will surface and will sign for the MLE.

Also, I'm totally confused about the David West situation. But, IF he's going to be a Celtic (an all-star on the bench), I can't see them freeing up satisfactory minutes for KG, West and Bass all at the same position. I wouldn't be surprised to see Bass flipped for....guess what...something of value.

And, you're absolutely right. With the one-year contracts being signed by guys like Green, Danny has not compromised the team's ability to score big time in the free agency market next season. In fact, IF it unfortunately happens that it should become obvious around all-star time that they're not quite championship material this season, he has the option of using the expiring contracts of KG and/or Ray to score a biggie or two in advance of next season.

Sam

by **dboss** Sat Dec 10, 2011 12:23 pm

SAM

I think you framed this well. If nothing else Boston is aquiring assets for future dealings. But the specific needs have not been addressed (center, realiable BU for PP, reliable BU for Ray) But a collection of 4's could permit DA to get other parts.

This however has to be consider as Plan B or maybe even Plan C.

I think DA wanted to get Chris Paul and then tempt DH to move to Boston.

That one is gone so now he has made a pivot to Plan B and Plan C

The timing however of what he is doing is perhaps 1 year too late because the two big prizes out there are CP and DH. Once they are gone it really may not matter how much cap space they have next year because there are no top 20 free agents in the mix next year.

While I thnk the Celtics can be competitive using undersized 5's it is probably not the right formula to even make it to the championship.

I think I am very uncertain about the direction they want to go in.

If the D-Leagtue player can really play it could enhance Boston's chances of having a great year. But if history tells us anything he will quickly turn into another Erden. The David West situation is not finalized but I know it usually takes a full year to recover from ACL surgery. JON has for a long time been one play away from the injury list. So do you risk signing West to a long term contract until he proves that he can still play or do you go with JON for the last year?

Look... Danny Ainge has acquired too many players over the years that are coming to the Celtics after being injured the previous year. This is like groundhog day. And every year I keep mentioning the same thing.

Can't tip my hat to DA because he really has not made the right decisons to help us win since he assembled the big three.

He has made some moves so far and the only one that i think deserves a nod is the swap for Bass. Dooling to a lesser extent is acceptable to BU Rajon.

More shoes to fall perhaps as the final roster tskes shape.

dboss

by **dboss** Sat Dec 10, 2011 12:36 pm

One more thought

The CP deal has not been done.. Is the David West signing a backdoor move by DA to entice the CP trade to Boston?

I still think DA is still in the mix to move Rondo.

by **bobheckler** Sat Dec 10, 2011 12:36 pm

Here's a list of the free agents next summer that Danny's been juggling cap space for over the past few years. It makes the "LBJ sweepstakes" year look positively anorexic. Asterisks mean the player is not on rookie-scale contracts. The unrestricted free agents are in bold (mine):

http://www.hoopsworld.com/2012-nba-free-agents/

Point Guard
(name, team – 2011-12 salary – status)

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls – $7.0 million – Restricted ($9.1 million Qualifying Offer)
Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets – $16.4 million – Player Option ($17.8 million)
Deron Williams, New Jersey Nets – $16.4 million – Player Option ($17.8 million)
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder – $5.1 million – Restricted ($6.7 million Qualifying Offer)
Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers – $1.7 million – Team Option ($2.7 million)
Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns – $11.7 million – Unrestricted
Raymond Felton, Portland Trail Blazers – $7.6 million – Unrestricted
Kirk Hinrich, Atlanta Hawks – $8.0 million – Unrestricted
Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks – $8.6 million – Unrestricted
Andre Miller, Denver Nuggets – $7.8 million – Unrestricted
Chauncey Billups, New York Knicks – $14.2 million – Unrestricted
Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic – $7.8 million – Player Option ($7.8 million)
Toney Douglas, New York Knicks – $1.1 million – Team Option ($2.1 million)
D.J. Augustin, Charlotte Bobcats – $3.2 million – Restricted ($4.4 million Qualifying Offer)
Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks – $10.7 million – Unrestricted
Gilbert Arenas, Orlando Magic – $19.3 million – Early Termination Option ($20.8 million) - Note: Arenas just got amnestied by ORL
George Hill, Indiana Pacers – $2.1 million – Restricted ($3.1 million Qualifying Offer)
Jordan Farmar, New Jersey Nets – $4.0 million – Player Option ($4.3 million)
Leandro Barbosa, Toronto Raptors – $7.6 million – Unrestricted
Beno Udrih, Milwaukee Bucks – $7.0 million – Player Option ($7.4 million)
Goran Dragic, Houston Rockets – $2.1 million – Unrestricted*
Jerryd Bayless, Toronto Raptors – $3.0 million – Restricted ($4.2 million Qualifying Offer)
Derek Fisher, L.A. Lakers – $3.4 million – Player Option ($3.4 million)
Randy Foye, L.A. Clippers – $4.3 million – Unrestricted
Mo Williams, L.A. Clippers – $8.5 million – Player Option ($8.5 million)
Nate Robinson, Oklahoma City Thunder – $4.5 million – Unrestricted - Note: Nate just got waived by OKC
Jonny Flynn, Houston Rockets – $3.4 million – Team Option ($4.3 million)
Keyon Dooling, Milwaukee Bucks – $2.2 million – Unrestricted - Note: Now a Celtic
Greivis Vasquez, Memphis Grizzlies – $1.1 million – Team Option ($1.2 million)
Ishmael Smith, Memphis Grizzlies – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*
Ramon Sessions, Cleveland Cavaliers – $4.3 million – Player Option ($4.6 million)
Manny Harris, Cleveland Cavaliers – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*
Armon Johnson, Portland Trail Blazers – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*
Sundiata Gaines, New Jersey Nets – $0.9 million – Unrestricted*
A.J. Price, Indiana Pacers – $0.9 million – Unrestricted*
Baron Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers – $13.9 million – Early Termination Option ($14.8 million)
Royal Ivey, Oklahoma City Thunder – $1.2 million – Unrestricted
John Lucas, Chicago Bulls – $0.9 million – Unrestricted

Shooting Guard
(name, team – 2011-12 salary – status)

Eric Gordon, L.A. Clippers – $3.8 million – Restricted ($5.1 million Qualifying Offer)
O.J. Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies – $5.6 million – Restricted ($7.4 million Qualifying Offer)
Evan Turner, Philadelphia 76ers – $5.0 million – Team Option ($5.3 million)
Gerald Henderson, Charlotte Bobcats – $2.3 million – Team Option ($3.1 million)
Ray Allen, Boston Celtics – $10.0 million – Unrestricted
Landry Fields, New York Knicks – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*
Vince Carter, Phoenix Suns – $18.3 million – Unrestricted
Carlos Delfino, Milwaukee Bucks – $3.5 million – Unrestricted
Louis Williams, Philadelphia 76ers – $5.2 million – Early Termination Option ($5.4 million)
Mickael Pietrus, Phoenix Suns – $5.3 million – Unrestricted
Courtney Lee, Houston Rockets – $2.2 million – Restricted ($3.2 million Qualifying Offer)
Rudy Fernandez, Dallas Mavericks – $2.2 million – Restricted ($3.2 million Qualifying Offer)
Xavier Henry, Memphis Grizzlies – $2.2 million – Team Option ($2.3 million)
Damion James, New Jersey Nets – $1.2 million – Team Option ($1.3 million)
C.J. Miles, Utah Jazz – $3.7 million – Unrestricted
Terrence Williams, Houston Rockets – $2.4 million – Team Option ($3.1 million)
Jodie Meeks, Philadelphia 76ers – $0.9 million – Unrestricted*
James Anderson, San Antonio Spurs – $1.5 million – Team Option ($1.6 million)
Matt Carroll, Charlotte Bobcats – $3.9 million – Early Termination Option ($3.5 million)
Eddie House, Miami HEAT – $1.4 million – Unrestricted
Brandon Rush, Indiana Pacers – $3.0 million – Restricted ($4.1 million Qualifying Offer)
Jannero Pargo, Chicago Bulls – $1.3 million – Unrestricted
Stephen Graham, New Jersey Nets – $1.1 million – Unrestricted
Charlie Bell, Golden State Warriors – $4.1 million – Unrestricted
Alonzo Gee, Cleveland Cavaliers – $0.9 million – Unrestricted*
Terrico White, Detroit Pistons – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*
Jeremy Lin, Golden State Warriors – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*
Danny Green, San Antonio Spurs – $0.9 million – Unrestricted*

Small Forward
(name, team – 2011-12 salary – status)

Danilo Gallinari, Denver Nuggets – $4.2 million – Restricted ($5.6 million Qualifying Offer)
Gerald Wallace, Portland Trail Blazers – $10.5 million – Player Option ($10.5 million)
Nic Batum, Portland Trail Blazers – $2.2 million – Restricted ($3.2 million Qualifying Offer)
Chase Budinger, Houston Rockets – $0.9 million – Unrestricted*
Sam Young, Memphis Grizzlies – $0.9 million – Unrestricted*
Matt Barnes, L.A. Lakers – $1.9 million – Unrestricted
Andres Nocioni, Philadelphia 76ers – $6.7 million – Team Option ($7.5 million)
Anthony Tolliver, Minnesota Timberwolves – $2.1 million – Unrestricted
Donte’ Greene, Sacramento Kings – $2.0 million – Restricted ($3.0 million Qualifying Offer)
Bill Walker, New York Knicks – $0.9 million – Unrestricted
Devin Ebanks, L.A. Lakers – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*
Dahntay Jones, Indiana Pacers – $2.7 million – Player Option ($2.9 million)
James Posey, Indiana Pacers – $7.6 million – Unrestricted
Keith Bogans, Chicago Bulls – $1.3 million – Unrestricted
Jeremy Evans, Utah Jazz – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*
Joey Graham, Cleveland Cavaliers – $1.1 million – Unrestricted
Robert Vaden, Oklahoma City Thunder – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*

Power Forward
(name, team – 2011-12 salary – status)

Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves – $4.6 million – Restricted ($6.1 million Qualifying Offer)
Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics – $21.2 million – Unrestricted
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs – $21.2 million – Unrestricted
Michael Beasley, Minnesota Timberwolves – $6.3 million – Restricted ($8.2 million Qualifying Offer)
Brandon Bass, Orlando Magic – $4.0 million – Player Option ($4.0 million)
J.J. Hickson, Sacramento Kings – $2.4 million – Restricted ($3.4 million Qualifying Offer)
Elton Brand, Philadelphia 76ers – $17.1 million – Early Termination Option ($18.2 million)
Antawn Jamison, Cleveland Cavaliers – $15.1 million – Unrestricted
Jason Thompson, Sacramento Kings – $3.0 million – Restricted ($4.1 million Qualifying Offer)
Marreese Speights, Philadelphia 76ers – $2.8 million – Restricted ($3.8 million Qualifying Offer)
Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic – $2.2 million – Restricted ($3.2 million Qualifying Offer)
D.J. White, Charlotte Bobcats – $2.0 million – Restricted ($3.0 million Qualifying Offer)
Patrick Patterson, Houston Rockets – $2.0 million – Team Option ($2.1 million)
Anthony Randolph, Minnesota Timberwolves – $2.9 million – Restricted ($4.0 million Qualifying Offer)
Ronny Turiaf, New York Knicks – $4.4 million – Unrestricted
Antonio McDyess, San Antonio Spurs – $5.2 million – Unrestricted
Boris Diaw, Charlotte Bobcats – $9.0 million – Unrestricted
Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee Bucks – $2.5 million – Unrestricted
Darrell Arthur, Memphis Grizzlies – $2.0 million – Restricted ($3.0 million Qualifying Offer)
Louis Amundson, Golden State Warriors – $2.4 million – Unrestricted
Jason Maxiell, Detroit Pistons – $5.0 million – Player Option ($5.0 million)
Jordan Hill, Houston Rockets – $2.9 million – Team Option ($3.6 million)
Craig Brackins, Phildelphia 76ers – $1.4 million – Team Option ($1.5 million)
Chris Johnson, Portland Trail Blazers – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*
Derrick Caracter, L.A. Lakers – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*
Austin Daye, Detroit Pistons – $1.9 million – Team Option ($3.0 million)
Brian Cook, L.A. Clippers – $1.3 million – Unrestricted
Ian Mahinmi, Dallas Mavericks – $0.9 million – Unrestricted
Luke Harangody, Cleveland Cavaliers – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*
Magnum Rolle, Atlanta Hawks – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*

Center
(name, team – 2011-12 salary – status)

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic – $18.1 million – Early Termination Option ($19.5 million)
Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers – $2.6 million – Restricted ($3.7 million Qualifying Offer)
Andrew Bynum, L.A. Lakers – $14.9 million – Team Option ($16.1 million)
Brook Lopez, New Jersey Nets – $3.1 million – Restricted ($4.2 million Qualifying Offer)
Chris Kaman, L.A. Clippers – $12.7 million – Unrestricted
Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons – $3.0 million – Team Option ($3.2 million)
JaVale McGee, Washington Wizards – $2.5 million – Restricted ($3.5 million Qualifying Offer)
Marcus Camby, Portland Trail Blazers – $12.9 million – Unrestricted
Robin Lopez, Phoenix Suns – $2.8 million – Restricted ($4.0 million Qualifying Offer)
Jermaine O’Neal, Boston Celtics – $6.2 million – Unrestricted
Nazr Mohammed, Oklahoma City Thunder – $3.8 million – Unrestricted
Omer Asik, Chicago Bulls – $1.9 million – Unrestricted*
Semih Erden, Cleveland Cavaliers – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*
Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons – $2.2 million – Unrestricted
Mehmet Okur, Utah Jazz – $10.9 million – Unrestricted
Earl Barron, Portland Trail Blazers – $1.1 million – Unrestricted
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Miami HEAT – $1.4 million – Unrestricted
Daniel Orton, Orlando Magic – $1.1 million – Team Option ($1.2 million)
Solomon Alabi, Toronto Raptors – $0.8 million – Team Option ($0.9 million)
David Andersen, New Orleans Hornets – $2.7 million – Unrestricted*
Hasheem Thabeet, Houston Rockets – $5.1 million – Team Option ($6.5 million)
Kosta Koufos, Denver Nuggets – $2.2 million – Restricted ($3.2 million Qualifying Offer)
DeSagana Diop, Charlotte Bobcats – $6.9 million – Player Option ($7.4 million)
Ryan Hollins, Cleveland Cavaliers – $2.5 million – Unrestricted

bob

.

by **dboss** Sat Dec 10, 2011 12:45 pm

Bob

The list is extensive and all over the place as are my thoughts about everything that is happening.

dboss

by **bobheckler** Sat Dec 10, 2011 1:38 pm

dboss wrote:Bob

The list is extensive and all over the place as are my thoughts about everything that is happening.

dboss

dboss,

I concur 100%. In fact, with the volume and velocity of everything that has happened this week it is a bit overwhelming. My point in providing this list is precisely to show just how extensive it is.

Extensive = options, and Danny now has amassed quite a few in both quality players and cap space to begin the rebuilding next year with veterans, drawing from this extensive list of available talent.

bob

.

by **Sam** Sat Dec 10, 2011 3:12 pm

Dboss,

I'm ready to give Danny a load of credit for what I see so far.

This year, there's a premium on serviceable players who want to play for a contender in this shortened season and then have free agent status after this season. As articulated by Doc, these are the guys the Celtics are going after with one-year contracts. And Danny has snapped up a number of decent players who fit that description precisely.

Not only do the Celtics have the opportunity to be in great cap position next season but also they're in excellent position this season to parlay modest-to-huge expiring contracts and draft picks into players whose names rhyme with Smite Ploward or other major assets.

Moreover, IF the West thing happens, Danny will have massively overloaded the Celtics at PF. (KG, West, Bass, Wilcox, Johnson, Green (although I don't like him at PF), Troy Murphy????). Therefore, Danny will be in position to include a big man (ranging in quality from youthful potential to complementary player to all-star) in a trade for a quality center. In addition to having the MLE exception available should it be appropriate to go that route.

I'm willing to bet that, if I put my mind to it, I could come up with other benefits of Danny's moves to date. Yes, he could still blow it, or one or more of his acquisitions could go down for the season. But, a week ago, many of us were moaning that the supporting cast on this team was going to be very weak because the Celtics had very few bargaining chips. Now he has turned flotsam and jetsam into substantial bargaining chips at the very least and possible contributors to a contender at the very most.

In the "Woulda Coulda" category, he found ways to make the Celtics a very attractive trading partner for Chris Paul. He was thwarted by Paul himself, and I don't know why the owners wouldn't have screamed as much about a trade to the Celtics as they did about a trade to the Lakers. But Danny was in there pitching like crazy, while not being so preoccupied with L'affaire St. Paul that he overlooked the other opportunities on which he has since capitalized.

On a scale of 0-10, and considering the fact that he was not operating from a position of strength, I'd give Danny a 10 in terms of how he has acquitted himself so far in this very crucial and mercurial period of time. And there's absolutely no way I can imagine he's even close to being finished.

The one caveat I would issue involves one of my favorite topics—chemistry. No matter how many people they add to the roster, there will probably be only a handful of players on this team who are familiar with the system and their teammates. Can they all come together in a shortened season? It remains to be seen. But that's part of the fun of watching professional basketball.

Go Celtics! Go Danny!

Sam

by **swish** Sat Dec 10, 2011 3:35 pm

It's too early to be speculating on the amount of cap space that the Celtics will have available for the 2012-13 free agency market. With Ainge running the show it will more than likely be May of 2012 before a clear picture develops. I wasn't able today to log onto nba salary cap by Larry Coon so I will be working wi th numbers that apply to the old cba and relying on my memory. At my age a very risky practice.
As of today the Celtics,for the 2012 season, will have about 40.8 million on the books. Pierce-16.7 mil--Rondo-11.0 mil---Bass--4.0 mil---Bradley--1.6 mil--- Mid-level exception cap hold-- 3.0 mil--- 1st round draft pick cap hold--1mil--- 7 open roster spots cap holds--3.5 mil. With the cap for next year at about 58-60 mil. that leaves 20 mil or so to fill a minimum of 8 roster spots. Even less if West signs a 3 year 10 mil per year contract without any of the 4 players above being involved in the trade.
swish

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