Is Danny Ainge an idiot?

[Full Surface]

When he became the Celtics GM two seasons ago, he was a man on a mission. He wanted to bring the glory days back to the franchise and improve the team's roster. They had their dynamic duo Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce.

Rumor has it that Gary Payton and Ricky Davis are going to be traded away. Wait, didn't Danny Ainge trade away for these two players in the past year? Weren't they the players that he was trying to "build" upon? To make matters worse, he's trading back for Antoine Walker, a player he sent packing to Dallas for Raef LaFrentz. How can you do that? Trading away an All-Star player for a mediocre Center?

Now he's basically sending GP and R. Davis for someone he gave away. The Celtics are back to where they began.

The shuffling he does with this team is absurd and is more than questionable.

[Jona]

When he became the Celtics GM two seasons ago, he was a man on a mission. He wanted to bring the glory days back to the franchise and improve the team's roster. They had their dynamic duo Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce.

Rumor has it that Gary Payton and Ricky Davis are going to be traded away. Wait, didn't Danny Ainge trade away for these two players in the past year? Weren't they the players that he was trying to "build" upon? To make matters worse, he's trading back for Antoine Walker, a player he sent packing to Dallas for Raef LaFrentz. How can you do? Trading away an All-Star player for a mediocre Center?

The shuffling he does with this team is absurd and is more than questionable.

I agree with you totally. He shouldn't have traded Walker (although I don't think he's All-Star caliber right now).
Raef LaFrentz is pretty good, he can shoot the 3 and is tough on the boards. Although the GP and Ricky trades are just rumors...

[Amphatoast]

couple years ago celtics were actually a playoff team. now they borderline

[dsigns]

Finally people who agree with me. I have been saying this for a while.

[Linguo]

He is an idiot for trading Walker away...and now what? He wants him back. Complete idiocy. Should've thought it through.

[Jowe]

Admit it.
Danny Ainge is a young larry brown when it comes to trades. With this deal they are potentially where they were 2 seasons ago.

[GloveGuy]

If rumors are true, then yes, he's an idiot. Payton and Davis have been the two most consistent players on the Celtics this year. Each of them hold more value than Walker.

But let's say the rumors are false, and let's forget about the Antoine Walker shit.

The Celtics, on paper, are one of the most talented teams in the East. They are playoff material. As a team that still needs time to gel, they could quite possibly run away with the Division Title, which would result in an automatic third seed.

Danny Ainge might have dismantled a solid core of players, but no one should be arguing about what he's received out of it and the moves he's made over the past two summers.

First, let's look at this year's draft. He found a steal in Al Jefferson -- who is right now, the only untradable player on this Celtics team. The guy's footwork is Kevin McHale-like, and he, along with Pierce, is the only player on this team with the chance to have his number retired in the rafters.

He was then given two picks late in the first round, in which he picked Tony Allen, who is just one of those energetic guys, great to bring off the bench, and Delonte West, who has been given the title of the Celtics' PG of the future, even though he's been injured for the bulk of the season. Two excellent picks right there, that I can't really argue over.

Also during the summer, he picked up Gary Payton for three role players. As one of the few people who's actually been able to see the Celtics play this year, I will say(and most Celtics' fans will agree with me), that GP is the MVP of this team. The offense runs so much better when he's in the game, he keeps PP in check, and he's an unbelievable floor general. There's very few point guards out there who can control the tempo of a basketball game like he does. At 36 years old, he's the best point guard the Celts have had since Dennis Johnson. The intangibles he possesses are those of a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and people need to remember that there's just some stuff that great players are able to keep with them throughout their careers.

Also last year, Ainge picked up Ricky Davis for a couple role players. This guy couldn't be a better 6th man. I can't think of any team who's second unit has a better number one scorer than Davis. He's been more consistent than Pierce and has been able to win some games for Boston this year. What attitude problems does this guy have? None. I've never seen a player handle a bump from the starting lineup better than this guy has.

Overall, I don't see the bad that Ainge has done. Now if this trade goes through, then I think it's fair that Boston riots(though they won't since it's not the Red Sox). But over the past two years, Ainge has been able to keep his franchise player, add a franchise player of the future in Jefferson, and surround Paul Pierce with an even better set of players than before. These things take time, and I wouldn't be surprised if Boston plays very well after the all-star break.

[Matt]

I don't see the problem in Ainge wanting to trade away Payton or Davis.

Payton is 36 and is not in the teams long term plans and neither is Davis. Davis was brought in to help Pierce score so he was basically replaceing Walkers offenseive production but how long do you think he'll be a 6th man before he starts bitching? this is a guy that's in his prime, he's got an ego, and he's erratic despite his solid play this season.

I'd keep Payton for the season bu move Ricky

[Sauru]

i cannot believe i am reading this. people are saying he is an idiot for trading walker away? walker was a curse on the celtics. my only gripe with the walker trade was they didnt trade him sooner to get more in return. he had some market value for a little while there and teams actually tried to aquire him from us and we kept saying no til he was worthless and look what we ended up with.

[Full Surface]

He traded Walker (All-Star calibur player) for a piece of trash called LaFrentz, who hasn't done jack for your team at all. Ainge definitely could have gotten something more for Walker.

[Jing]

wow.. this is more interesting... i don't think he should try to get walker, at least if you are trading away 2 of your best players, getting better stuff to replace them

[Sauru]

lafrentz may not do anything for our team but he dont hurt us either. walker was a cancer on the celtics and it was a happy day when he was traded. if they sent him away for a 2nd round pick only i would be happy. they should have traded him to the pacers when they had the chance.

[tm_typical]

leprechaunts are doing some weird things nowadays... nevertheless i think lafrentz is a good player, but yeah his last yeear wasnt much of a shine