Danny Does it Again. Something (in Fact, Plenty) for Nothing!

Just for the heck of it, I attempted to track Danny's personnel moves since the end of the 2013-14 season to see where they netted out.  I did it quickly, and I'm pretty sure there are some trade exceptions (and possibly some other elements) missing.  But following is what I found:

 
Picked Smart and Young in the draft.
 
Traded future 2^nd round pick for Marcus Thornton, Tyler Zeller and a protected first round pick, which (in combination with Thornton) just became Isaiah Thomas.  So, in essence, he traded a 2^nd round pick for Tyler Zeller, Isaiah Thomas, and a protected first round pick.
 
Signed-and-traded Kris Humphries for a trade exception and 2015 2^nd round pick, thus getting something for a player who had already decided on free agency.
 
Traded Bogans and two 2^nd round picks for three players who were waived plus Dwight Powell plus two 2^nd round picks.  Got rid of Bogans and his salary.
 
Signed Evan Turner as a free agent.  Turner would become the starting floor general.
 
Traded Joel Anthony for Will Bynum, getting rid of Anthony’s salary and waiving Bynum.
 
Traded Powell and Rondo for Jae Crowder, Brandan Wright and Jameer Nelson.  Got a $13 million trade exception for Rondo, who would have walked at the end of the year for no return.  Crowder has become a solid rotation player.
 
Traded Brandan Wright for a protected 1^st round pick, which becomes two 2017 2^nd round picks if not used before then.
 
Traded Jeff Green (who would probably have walked in return for nothing at the end of the season) for Tayshaum Prince, Austin Rivers, and a future first round pick.
 
Traded Jameer Nelson for Nate Robinson, who was subsequently waived.
 
Traded Austin Rivers for Chris Douglas-Roberts, Shavlik Randolph and a 2^nd round draft pick.
 
Signed Andre Dawkins to a 10-day contract.  Didn’t re-sign him after second 10-day contract.
 
Traded Marcus Thornton and protected 1^st round draft pick for Isaiah Thomas.
 
Traded Tayshaun Prince for Jones Jerebko, Luigi Datome and a trade exception.

I tried to keep track of the incoming and outgoing draft picks, which tended to cancel each other out except for a plurality of one incoming 1st rounder and one incoming 2nd rounder.

By my admittedly rough calculation (and I'd be delighted if someone wanted to correct any omissions or errors) following is the "balance sheet:"

Net inflow: Jae Crowder, Evan Turner, Isaiah Thomas, Shavlik Randolph, Marcus Smart, James Young, Jonas Jerebko, Luigi Datome, a protected first round draft pick, a second round draft pick and several trade exceptions.
 
Net outflow: Two starters (Rondo and Green) who probably would have bolted at the end of the season, leaving the Celtics nothing in return, a good rebounder (Humphries) with a large salary, a malingerer (Bogans) with a mid-range salary.
 
In short, Danny has netted eight human assets (including at least four strong rotation players plus a potentially future star plus a protected 1st round draft pick plus a 2^nd round pick plus significant trade exceptions in return for shedding at least $15 million in salary and getting something in return for two starters who probably would have left the team this summer in return for nothing.

I've heard that all female pigs residing within 200 miles of Boston are missing ears because Danny has all of them and is busy making silk purses out of them.

And none of the information contained above includes Danny's pre-2014-15 moves to get the three unprotected Brooklyn first round picks and the Clippers' first round pick

No general manager (or President functioning in that role) is perfect.  A year or two ago, I posted a tabulation of Red Auerbach's first round picks through the years, and something like 40% or 50% of them didn't make it as NBA rotation players.  Well Danny's average in the totality of his transactions is significant better than 50%.

It seems to me that people who disparage Danny's expertise in the personnel part of the job are (let's use a nice word) ill-advised.  Given what he's had to work with, I believe his performance borders on the incredible.

As just one example, try to imagine the game of "chicken" that was probably played between the two franchises in the negotiations over the Thomas deal.  And then take a wild guess at who didn't blink first!

Nice going Danny.  Go Celtics!

Sam

good to see there are others that agree with me about the Thomas move.

While I didn't see the Jerebko addition as much needed at first, once I saw the Sully injury reports, it made more sense.

the Swede is a stretch four at worst, who supposedly plays good defense (we'll see about that).

losing Sully will make it much harder to make that playoff push this year, as someone will need to pick up the rebounding slack. I 'm not sure who on our roster can do that.

Looks like Zeller will be back starting though.

I'm back in CA, ridiculously jet-lagged, wondering what the hell I was thinking when I booked my travel out of Asia on Chinese New Years and the NBA trade deadline.

So, trying to wrap my mind around all this while using toothpicks to prop my eyelids open:

Two trades:

1.  26 year old Isaiah Thomas, who was the first person Danny called last summer when the balloon went up on free-agent hunting, for Thornton and our least valuable first rounder since it is useless unless Kyrie Irving and LeBron get into a knife fight.  I like Thornton and appreciate what he gave us, including no bitching about minutes, but we needed an upgrade at point more than we needed a SG.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thomais02.html

2.  28 year old Jonas Jerebko (who is not bad, just not spectacular), and 27 year old Gigi Datome for 34 year old rental Tayshaun Prince.  This reporter says that Datome is "bench fodder".  I can see International's head exploding from here.  International was quite excited that the Celtics were in the "Gigi Datome Sweepstakes" when he was thinking of making the move from Italy to the NBA.  We'll see.  One person's "bench fodder" is another person's perfect role player.  It will be quite interesting to see how these two Euro players fit into Brad's uptempo style.  Euros seem to thrive in that style.  With Sully being down for a while Jerebko's acquisition might be timely.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jerebjo01.html

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/datomlu01.html


They don't call him Trader Danny for nothing.  He gets good looks at two players for a player that was absolutely, positively going to be gone next year (and, it was suggested, could have been bought-out and gone next week meaning $ out and nothing in return except an open roster slot) and he moves a player who probably would not have been here next year because there is no way Danny would have paid him anywhere near the $8M he is making now and gets a player he coveted but couldn't get until now. And all he had to give up for all this was two rentals and a useless pick and none of our core.

Also, Thomas's contract was front-ended and actually declines over time, so salary cap issues get easier going forward.


bob


.

Bob,

Welcome back. Dr. Outside's proven remedy for jet lag is to take two Anchor Steams and then see me in March, though Dr. Sam's method is to see me in April.

As I mentioned in another post, almost seems like Danny is operating at another level as GM. These deals are steals for the Celtics. The Cleveland pick might have brought in a Delonte West-level talent, but it could have just as easily brought in a Fab Melo. Thomas is a proven entity. Thornton was great for us, but he was not in our long term plans. Does Thomas have some flaws? Of course, but a guy who can generate points as quickly as Thomas can be important piece of a good team.

Don't know much about the two euro guys, but considering Prince was going to be bought out anyways, Danny scored again.

Danny has begun to cash in some of his assets for actual players. Is this a turning point in the rebuilding process?

Outside wrote:Bob,

Welcome back. Dr. Outside's proven remedy for jet lag is to take two Anchor Steams and then see me in March, though Dr. Sam's method is to see me in April.

outside,

thanks. I'm anticipating about 2 weeks of cultural and sticker shock. I had one last night when I paid $50 for sushi. That's an entire day's bill, including room and food, in almost every place I've been in the past 3 1/2 months.

Anchor Steams sound about right and getting 2nd opinions are always wise. Maybe I'll follow the prescription of both doctors and have 2 Anchors for March and another two for April. I'm such a cautious fellow.


bob


.

bobh,

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back!

You wrote,

"26 year old Isaiah Thomas, who was the first person Danny called last summer when the balloon went up on free-agent hunting, for Thornton and our least valuable first rounder since it is useless unless Kyrie Irving and LeBron get into a knife fight. "

Danny wanted him then, but all we could use to sign him as a free agent was the NTP-MLE.  Thomas signed with the Suns for a little bit more and now we have him locked up long term anyway.  Win: Danny.

The 2016 first rounder from the Cavs would be projected to be a pick very late in the 1st round.  Definite crap-shoot territory, plus since it is a 1st round pick, it is guaranteed.  We have two 2016 second-rounders, one from Philadelphia 76ers and one from the Minnesota Timberwolves.  I don't expect much of a turnaround from either of those teams, so the picks should both be very in the early 2nd round.  Still crap-shoot territory, but for less money and non-guaranteed.  Win: Danny

All that, and we still have Bass.  Who would have guessed that?  The market for a stretch-4 that cannot stretch it out to the 3 point line is less than many of us guessed.

gyso

Welcome back my friend It is good to know are back on American soil!!!

So, looks like we got our wish, Steady Eddie Bass is still with us and it sounds like DA is going to sign him to another contract. Go figure.

Thomas looks like a good pick up and the other guys can take this time to show if they are really NBA worthy. D-leaguers?

Anyway, glad you are home, take your time de-compressing, and before you know it it will feel like you hardly went anywhere. Hope you had a great time, sounds like you did.

Rosalie

As I've always said, trust the Mormon.