Is Boston Celtics president Danny Ainge searching for the team’s next Paul Pierce?
Absolutely.
And he’s not shy about admitting as much.
From the Providence Journal‘s Scott Souza:
The key is to remain as flexible as possible heading into the draft and free agency as Ainge decides whether to double down on the rebuild, or go for broke like he did when he traded a combined seven players and three first-round draft picks for Ray Allen and Garnett in the summer of 2007.
“I’m not sure that we have a Paul Pierce on our roster,” he said, “But I do think that we have a lot more things to trade, a lot more things to move (than in 2007).
“So much depends on the ping-pong balls and where we are. By May 17, we’ll probably know a lot more.”
Mr. Ainge, All-Star Isaiah Thomas would like a word.
For real, though: Danny Ainge isn’t deluded. The Celtics have a bunch of quality guys and high-end talents on the roster, such as Jae Crowder, Marcus Smart and Isaiah Thomas, but no one who projects as a franchise savior. That’s what they are in the market for. And the Brooklyn Nets’ draft pick, which is projected to fall inside the top three of the lottery, could help them get it. The Celtics can either draft the next megastud in Brandon Ingram or Ben Simmons, or they could look to package the pick, along with their plethora of other selections, in a deal for established stars, such as Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love, DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George, etc.
Yes, there is a lot of uncertainty swirling around Boston, starting with the free agencies of Evan Turner, Jared Sullinger (restricted) and Tyler Zeller (restricted), and ending with the team’s ability to make a splash via trade or free agency. But when you’ve already proved to be a playoff squad while amassing assets for the future, this is a good form of uncertainty—the embraceable, exciting kind.
