Danny Ainge” class=”wp-image-190666″/>The Celtics Owe Danny Ainge A Championship Ring
Every Celtics fan owes Danny Ainge a thank you letter. This will be my attempt at doing so. Let’s be clear about one thing. The Celtics have successfully raised Banner 18 and are NBA Champions but none of this would be possible without Danny Ainge.
Don’t listen to people who have this opinion. The 2023-24 Boston Celtics finished with a record of () and will go down as a historically great team. It has everything to do with the foundation that Ainge built and Brad Stevens successfully found the right whipped cream and cherries to top it off with. It was a perfect storm, but let’s please make sure we’re on the same page about giving Ainge his flowers.
I could spend all day here. Obviously, guys Ainge drafted like Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, etc, were integral pieces used in trades to build the team the Celtics have today. We could go over 100 brilliant trades that Ainge pulled off to help the team that won a championship. In reality, we only have to three ballsy decisions that forever changed the course of history for the better.
Kevin Garnett / Paul Pierce Trade
This trade truly built the foundation of Banner 18. Tearing it down was the right thing to do. Ainge robbed Brooklyn blind and got the draft picks that eventually became Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Jaylen Brown
People forget. Bill Simmons threw a temper tantrum when Boston picked Brown. Blasted Ainge and never once apologized for being wrong.
But let’s not make this post about that dope. Does anybody remember the mock drafts during that time? Look back at this draft class. Ben Simmons turned into a total bum. All the mocks had them taking Kris Dunn. Dragan Bender went with the next pick. Jamal Murray is the only other successful pick in the top 10.
It took balls to pick Brown and Ainge deserves so much more credit for doing so.
Jayson Tatum
If you need a refresher, let me do that for you real quick.
The Celtics had the first pick. They moved down with Philly. The 76ers take Markelle Fultz. The Lakers take Lonzo Ball. Boston and Danny Ainge takes Tatum. That’s legendary stuff right there.
Let’s just make sure Ainge gets his flowers. He deserves them in spades.
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