Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge is one of the most savvy front-office executives in the NBA. Heās also the guy you shouldnāt believe.
Not evenĀ 24 hours after the news came out Gordon Hayward would sign with the Celtics, GM Danny Ainge has already moved on to his nextĀ big move. There were reports the Celtics are interested in acquiring Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol.
At first glance, Aingeās capabilities as a GM are indisputable. Heās leading a team that is both contending and rebuilding and has made the Celtics one of the healthiest organizations in the NBA. But thereās something you need to know about himĀ [puts on tinfoil hat]:Ā Heās a master of illusion. A man riding the LeBron-James-is-too-dominant vehicle to trick you into thinking the Celtics donāt have to make any big moves. You canāt get criticizedĀ if youāre constantly presenting the image that youāre doing everything in your power to make your team better. And you canāt fall flat on your face if you donāt jump.Ā As Kevin Spacey once said inĀ The Usual Suspects: The greatest trick Danny Ainge ever pulled was convincing the world he was negotiating trades for superstars.
Aingeās constant throwing of his name into news has left him regarded as one of the savviest and most active executives in the all of North American sports, let alone the NBA. That is on the surface. That is unless youāre interested in the truth. Iām interested in the truth. (And Iām interested in having a little fun with one of the leagueās best execs.) And the truth is for every one moveĀ Danny Ainge has made, there have been two or three heās almostĀ made.Ā And itās those moves that are the true image of Danny Ainge. Heās Melisandre without the glamour. Itās time you open your eyes.
Here are the five best moves Ainge hasĀ ALMOST made.
Honorable Mention:Ā Danny Ainge almost trades forĀ Chris Paul
Thereās a formula for any Ainge almost-deal, and it usually entails two things: Looking good after-the-fact and opening up about a potential move well after the move wasnāt made. Sometimes that comes after days, weeks, years or, in this particular case, almost a decade later.
In 2013, when Bill Simmonsā podcast was theĀ B.S. Report, Ainge was a guest and revealed, after the 2005 postseason, he almost traded Paul Pierce ā who clashed with the Celtics and head coach Doc Rivers ā to the New Orleans Hornets for the rights to Chris Paul, a 20-year-old rookie.
The trade fell through, and Pierce was laterĀ a cog in the Celticsā championship run in 2008, but the timing and the state of bothĀ players at that point in their careers when the comments were made is textbook Ainge.
AingeĀ sent Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn in the now legendaryĀ Nets trade a few weeks priorĀ to his podcast appearance. As for Paul, he just so happened to become the best point guard of his generation. Funny how things work, huh? Ainge was so far ahead of the curve on Paul, he was willing to give up his franchiseās best talent in the middle of his prime to take a chance on a rookie who hadnāt played a single minute in the NBA. Ah, hindsight, I love ya!