Ainge full of options
Good position entering draft
Danny Ainge has a team in the Eastern Conference finals, but he has, in addition, something of even more intrinsic value. Possibilities. While many people running NBA teams are clinging to thread-the-needle hopes they can make their clubs better, the Celtics president of basketball operations has real options.
That Ainge also has time and, thus far at least, patience, the Celts need only act when and if the right scenario presents itself.
By getting the first overall pick in next month’s draft via Tuesday night’s NBA lottery and the still-arriving benefits of the 2013 trade with Brooklyn, the Celtics are in better position to choose their path.
The basic options are to make the pick and look to create a squad that, considering its youth, might be able to work its way to long-term contender status, or trade the pick, perhaps in a package, and acquire a more ready-made star that could enhance a run in 2018 but might not have the same staying power for the next several seasons.
(The C’s chose the latter in 2007 when they traded the fifth overall pick for Ray Allen and dealt Al Jefferson and others for Kevin Garnett. Both pickups had a good deal of mileage on their odometers, but the Shamrocks were able to extract a title in 2008 and come within a late Game 7 collapse of another in 2010.)
In any of the present cases, it is certain the Celts will be looking to make a splash in the free agent market, and it’s no secret their target will be a former Brad Stevens pupil at Butler, Gordon Hayward.
And even if Ainge holds onto the No. 1 choice, trades still figure to be a major part of the Celtics offseason. While some on the roster are destined to be set adrift, there are a number of players who have good value and could be part of moves that will be necessary as space is found for some kids.
Guerschon (Dancing Bear) Yabusele and Ante Zizic, overall picks No. 16 and 23, respectively, from last June, are expected to end their overseas stashings and sign with the club. And with rookie Jaylen Brown still five months shy of his 21st birthday, there exists the possibility the Celts would be extremely young overall next season.
With the players already on the roster, those whose rights they own, and the No. 1 overall pick (plus the Nets’ first-rounder next year), Ainge no doubt will have the opportunity to peruse some interesting offers from other clubs.
Prudent moves, patience to avoid quick-fixes, and the Nets/lottery matter have brought the Celtics to this position.
Aingle talked Monday about the good fortune afforded his club from the Nets trade, noting that at the time of the move, Brooklyn wasn’t expected to fall on such hard times so quickly. But after failing even with great odds in previous lotteries, the light of luck was shining on the Celtics Tuesday.
The process begins with 1,001 fourball combinations, with the number of combinations weighted toward the team with the worst record. So the Nets, by virtue of having the worst mark in the league, had 250 combinations assigned to them.
Inside the secured room where the lottery took place, the first drawing was for the No. 1 pick, and the 7-1-910 that came out was a combination owned by the Nets/Celtics.
Interestingly, when subsequent drawings were made for the Nos. 2 and 3 picks, the first combinations that came out were ones also belonging to the C’s. (So redraws were made that put the Lakers at 2 and the 76ers, via a pick swap with Sacramento, at 3.)
The Celts will need more luck and good moves down the line, but for now, they’re more than satisfied to have options and an amount of self-determination that is rare in a league in which so many aspects have to fall into line to build a championship contender.