NBA Trade Rumors and the Ainge Draft List
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by user Sportsinboston
Much speculation has surrounded Danny Ainge and what he will do with the #5 pick. Some people like ESPN's Chad Ford and a writer at the Boston Globe are spreading rumors that the Celtics might trade the 5th pick along with someone like Theo Ratliff and Delonte West to Phoenix for Shawn Marion. Chad Ford says that such a trade would make Paul Pierce happy? I think this is all a bunch of nonsense to tell you the truth. How is trading for Marion good in the short term and the long term? It would obviously help the team somewhat, but does it make the Celtics a legitimate contender? The Celtics might be better off just drafting someone like Al Thornton who is physically similar to Marion, will put up solid statistics, and won't hurt the Celtics' salary cap.
The whole idea is to bring Banner 17 (and 18, 19, 20, 21, etc.) to Boston and a trade for Marion does not ensure that. It might get us deeper into the playoffs (or at least into the playoffs). But Celtics fans do not want a team that simply makes some noise; they want a dynasty, a team that will be a winner for years to come. A Marion trade does not do that. If Marion could not win a championship on a team that included Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Leandro Barbosa, and Boris Diaw, then what makes one think that he will do it with Boston? If the Celtics can somehow scam Phoenix by sending the 2nd round pick plus a second-stringer and Ratliff for Marion, then the Celtics should do it. But that's not going to happen.
What Danny Ainge and the Celtics need to do is remain patient for once. Sometimes the best moves are the ones you don't make. They should draft the best players available at numbers 5 and 32. This does not mean drafting Yi Jianlian at #5. We've all heard these rave reviews about how great Yi is, how he's the next Yao, how he can leave a chair in the dust; but Yi is not the answer. Brandan Wright is a better selection; Horford, Brewer, and Thornton are all better fits for the Celtics and are locks to have good or even all-star careers.
Ainge needs to make the decisions that legitimately improve the Celtics for the 07-08 season, but at the same time do not cost the Celtics for years after that sending fans into 2 more decades of misery. Hastiness and poor decision-making are what have cost the Celtics. Pitino traded away Billups, then they traded away Joe Johnson (although it helped the Celtics get to the Eastern Conference Finals), then Ainge came and traded away Walker, he acquired Dan Dickau and Brian Scalabrine, signed Mark Blount to a big deal, and he traded away the number 7 pick for Telfair. To Ainge's credit he has made some solid selections (i.e. Jefferson).
Now let's rank Danny Ainge's top six prospects. I'm calling this "The Ainge List".
1. Al Horford of the Florida Gators is probably Ainge’s top choice, at least he should be. Horford is the safest pick for the Celtics; he could step right in and contribute immediately. Horford averaged 13.2 pts, 9.5 reb., and 61% FG. Listed at 6’10”, 245 lbs., Horford would satisfy the Celtics desperate need for a power forward if indeed Al Jefferson will continue to play center. Let’s admit it right away: based upon what Kendrick Perkins has shown so far through four seasons with the Celtics, Perkins is not a starter on an NBA contender. Horford has a good defensive presence, is athletic, runs on the fast break well, and has a much better offensive touch compared with Perkins. Horford probably will not slide to number five.
2. Corey Brewer of the Florida Gators is second on the Ainge list primarily because of his defensive capabilities. Brewer is considered NBA ready on the defensive end and a good “complementary” offensive player according to Ainge. Brewer has been a favorite of the “Sports in Boston” writers because of his balanced play, his huge heart and insatiable desire to win at whatever cost. “He has terrific instincts. It’s amazing,” Coach Doc Rivers said after a pre-draft workout last Thursday. He would be a great fit for the Celtics who desperately need help on the defensive end, but is #5 too high for Brewer? Probably not.
3. Al Thornton of Florida St. is third on the Ainge list. Thornton is considered by Ainge and most scouts to be the second best offensive player in the draft after Kevin Durant. Thornton exploded offensively against tough ACC and non-conference competition this past season: he scored 28 pts. against the Florida Gators on 10 of 16 shooting; he had 29 pts. on 11 of 19 shooting and 12 rebounds against UNC; he had 30 points (12 of 23 shooting) and 16 rebounds against Virginia; and he exploded for 45 points (16 of 24 FG, 11 of 11 FT) against Miami. The list of great games goes on and on. He averaged 19.7 pts. (53% FG, 44% 3P FG) and 7.2 reb. for the season. Ainge thinks Thornton could be a top scoring threat in the NBA. But the question again is: is #5 too high for him? Would Ainge consider trading down a few slots to take him? We’ll have to wait and see.
4. Jeff Green. Green is still thinking about returning to Georgetown for his senior year. Green, who has a very high basketball IQ, is a dynamic player who will contribute right away in the NBA. Listed at 6’9”, 235lbs, Green averaged 14.3 pts. (51% FG, 77.5% FT) and 6.4 reb and was named the Big East’s player of the year. I personally would take Green ahead of Yi, but Ainge is apparently a huge fan of Yi so it might not happen.
5. Yi Jianlian is probably the most mysterious draft prospect on the Ainge list. Just how good is he? Can he play defense in the NBA? Some NBA scouts have said that one day Yi will be better than Yao. (Yi's game is more like Dirk Nowitzki's than Yao's, however). But when will that happen and can the Celtics afford to wait? Doc Rivers said last Thursday that “We would love a guy that can walk on the floor and help us now, but there might be a guy out there that we see and say, ‘You know what? It’s worth waiting.” Rivers is probably referring to Yi, but maybe also to Brandan Wright who is also only 19. Yi has not faced real competition in pre-draft workouts and was recently the object of a Danny Ainge pun: “It was a good workout, Yi against a chair or a coach," said Ainge. "That's how some of those workouts are beautiful. The chair played good defense a couple times.”
6. Brandan Wright of the North Carolina Tar Heels is considered by some to be the third best player in the 2007 draft, but the more I learn about him the less I feel he is the right pick for the Celtics. He’s only 19 years old and he might have the most "upside" out of the Ainge top six. As a freshman he averaged 14.7 pts., 6.2 reb., and 65% FG. He still needs to work on being a more consistent rebounder and a better free-throw shooter.
7. Joakim Noah. I'm quickly adding Noah here even though he is not part of the official "Ainge List". #5 is too high for Noah, but do not be surprised if Ainge trades down and takes Noah. Noah is a high energy player who will provide an instant spark to the Celtics on both the defensive and offensive ends. But having a lot of energy alone does not make him the right pick for the Celtics.
What the Celtics actually end up doing depends a lot upon what Atlanta and Memphis do with their picks at 3 and 4 respectively. Ainge has tried his best to keep his master-plan a secret; so, much of what's going around in mock drafts is pure speculation. Does Danny Ainge really want to win now and start a dynasty or is he looking to wait another 5 years? Picking Yi would be a clear indication that he's willing to wait. Rivers clearly wants someone who can come in right away and help the Celtics win now and for years to come. Celtics fans can only hope that Ainge agrees.
