The 5 best trades Danny Ainge ALMOST made
By Chazz Scogna
2. Danny Ainge almost trades for Paul George
This is where Ainge pulled his finest Ainge. The Paul George mini-saga went haywire when the final result was a trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder for guard Victor Oladipo, who would be making $21 million per year for the next four seasons, and Domantas Sabonis for George. Apparently, according to the Pacers, that deal beat out the Celtics’ deal, which included three picks and a couple starters.
However, ESPN.com’s Zach Lowe reported none of those assets included any of the Celtics’ premium assets: The 2018 Nets pick, the Lakers/Kings pick, Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown. Essentially, Ainge wanted to be the guy from your fantasy football league who’s only willing to part with a WR4 and TE2 with the expectations of a WR1 in return. Then, even though you always say no, and he denies every counter offer, he claims to be the most active owner in your league, always wheeling and dealing.
Even better for Ainge, and worse for us truthers, because the uncertainty surrounding Paul George’s free agency next season looms over, Ainge had an out. (He’s so good at that.) Why give up those assets if you can only guarantee yourself one year of Paul George? Who cares if your hope was to have him linked with Hayward, Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford?