Now that Brad Stevens is overlord of the Boston Celtics, rumors are already swirling over the idea that a Danny Ainge-Jazz deal could be in the works.
It is a remarkably awful idea by Utah, even if it would make sense for the begotten former Celtics general manager.
For Ainge, landing on his feet is what he'll want. From a purely speculative position, all the insane Wednesday morning news dumps appeared as if Danny was trying to get his leaks out first, but then Boston cut him off at the knees by leaking the information that Brad Stevens would be transitioning from coaching to head of basketball.
Maybe, just maybe, they had enough of his antics. Let's digress from that for now, though.
Anyway, that news came out as soon as the Danny Ainge-Jazz stuff began to surface, which was “reportedly” an idea in the works for months. For MONTHS! Given the historic precedence of all positive stuff about Ainge leaking at the perfect times — most famously after NBA Trade Deadlines when the Celtics and Ainge were forever allegedly on the cusp of super deals — this feels a bit too on the nose.
Nevertheless, can't blame Dangerous Danny for trying to leak his way into some leverage. It's why he swore he was doing for years with all the assets he had when overseeing a Celtics team that always felt one or two moves away from making a run at the NBA Finals. Granted, he used that leverage poorly, but he did try to use it… all the time! And man, the media tried to help him in the process.
Wait. What's this piece about again?
As for the Jazz, bluh! Don't do this. Why chase after Boston's leftovers. More importantly, don't risk it all for a man who did a solid enough job over the years — and he should get credit for that — but one who failed to ever pull the trigger on a meaningful trade the last few seasons despite having more assets than a Wall Street broker with inside information.
Utah doesn't currently have all the assets Boston had the last five years. The Jazz are an excellent team with a good core and are in a prime position to be excellent for the next several years. That being said, at some point a move will likely need to be made to put them over the top.
Outside of being gifted the Celtics' version of their Big 3 back in the day, which was as much the work of the players involved (and nepotism) as it was him, Danny Ainge isn't exactly known to make take those sort of risks. Instead, he was dangling around the idea trade, using assets/trade theories as protection from the media since he could always swear he was saving them for a rainy day.
Alas, there's no more rainy days to be had for Ainge in Boston.
In a sport where so many minds are brilliant, there's no reason to retread a dolt who apparently has no pulse for this generation of NBA stars. A man who is only consistent at being inconsistently willing to push the envelope on the trade market.
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