The risk taker
From the moment he took over the Boston Celtics, and continuing on to this very day, Danny Ainge has had one enduring philosophy: think outside the box. As in, way outside the box.
He doesn’t care where you’ve been or what you’ve done. He will roll the dice. Sometimes, it comes up 7’s and 11’s, as it did with Rajon Rondo, Leon Powe and Glen Davis. Sometimes, it will come up snake eyes, as it did with Sebastian Telfair, Marcus Banks or Ricky Davis.
But in virtually every instance where his intuition failed him, Ainge has been able to recover by getting some other unfortunate soul to take on his mistakes. As the saying goes, it only takes one. And there always is that someone (unfortunately for Minnesotans, that someone has more often than not been Kevin McHale.)
The 2008 NBA Draft once again showed Ainge’s willingness to take a chance. It had nothing to do with the fact that he had just won a championship and could afford to gamble. He was doing the same thing when he was drafting after 24- and 33-win seasons. With the last pick of the first round, he drafted JR Giddens out of New Mexico, a somewhat surprising selection among the so-called cognoscenti. (The website NBADraft.net projected him as the No. 58 selection.)
Once the intrepid press went to work, it was discovered that Giddens had basically been booted out of Kansas, where he had been stabbed in a bar fight. An artery in his right calf was cut and the wound required 30 stitches to close. He ended up at the University of New Mexico where, in his first season, he twice wadaaincels suspended for what then-coach Richie McKay termed his inability to adhere “to the pillars of the program.”
Did any of that concern Ainge? If it did, he didn’t let it affect his judgment. He loves the kid’s explosiveness. He loves the kid’s defensive promise. So what if he transferred after a bar fight at one school and was suspended at another?
Ainge has shown himself to be extremely open-minded on matters like these. Take the case of Rondo. After a stunning freshman season, the Kentucky guard went backwards as a sophomore. The body language stunk. There were clashes between a headstrong kid and the do-it-my-way head coach. What, Ainge wondered, had happened to the player the Celtics had targeted the year before?
The Celtics had the 7th pick in 2006. That might have been a reach for Rondo, but Ainge might well have taken him there, especially since Brandon Roy was gone and Randy Foye didn’t excite the Celtics all that much. But instead, Ainge engineered a trade for Telfair.
Then, Ainge went to work to try and get Rondo, as he saw the Kentucky guard drop further and further in the first round. Finally, at No. 21, Ainge got the Suns to draft Rondo, trading a future first-rounder in a loaded draft class (2007.) Where others saw a history of conflict, a cocky kid and a guard who wasn’t anything close to a classic point guard, Ainge saw athleticism, defensive ability and intelligence, and wasn’t the least-bit put off by all the negativity emanating from Lexington, Kentucky.
“You know,’’ he said, “it isn’t always a bad thing when the player and the coach don’t see eye to eye. We interviewed a lot of people before we drafted Rajon. We heard all the stuff; he was cocky, uncoachable, all that stuff. But at the end of the day, we thought he’d be a good addition to our basketball team.”
Clearly, they’re hoping the same thing from Giddens, although he will have to fight for minutes. Giddens had an uneventful senior year at New Mexico (in terms of distractions, that is) The Celtics also are hoping for similar things from their second-round pick, Billy Walker out of Kansas State. His story brings to mind one of the recent Boston successes – Leon Powe.
Like Powe, Walker was a high school hotshot. Like Leon Powe, he suffered two torn anterior cruciate ligaments. Like Leon Powe, Walker went from being a likely lottery pick before the injuries to a second-rounder. (Sonny Vaccaro, the legendary shoe mogul and high school talent guru, told ESPN The Magazine that the pre-ACL tear Walker was the second coming of Vince Carter.)
The actual drafting of Powe was the result of some quick work by Ainge’s lieutenant, Leo Papile, who had fallen in love with the University of California big man while scouting him in the 2005-06 season. Papile also had seen Powe in high school, when, in 2003, Powe was mentioned (almost) in the same breath as LeBron James. Powe thought about turning pro out of high school; destitute does not begin to describe his home situation at that point in his life. But the ACL tear did him in. Another tear came after his first season at California.
Powe declared for the 2006 draft, despite having two years remaining of eligibility, but the knee injuries and questions about where he would fit in combined to send him tumbling into the second round. Papile started frantically working the phones. The picks go quickly at that point – two minutes a choice – and Papile finally convinced the Nuggets to draft Powe and trade him to the Celtics. The Walker transaction was essentially the same thing. If it works out as well as Powe, the Celtics will really be on to something.
Should Walker or Giddens be any kind of help to the Celtics, they will join the list of late first- and second-rounders who have been able to contribute. Kendrick Perkins was the 27th pick in 2003. Delonte West (24) and Tony Allen (25) were picks in 2004. Ryan Gomes was the 50th pick in 2005. Powe was the 49th pick in 2006 and, in 2007, the Celtics feel they got a couple of keepers in Gabe Pruitt and Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis, both taken in the second round.
While Pruitt should get time this season, Davis was a revelation of sorts as a rookie. On draft night in 2007, there were rumors he had a deal with a team to take him in the first round. It didn’t happen. He was large (to be charitable) and that could have scared away some teams. But watching the guy on the floor, he simply knows how to play. He has power, good hands and even some beguiling finesse. He held his own when Tim Duncan came to town. He personally beat the Pistons in a huge regular season win on the road.
But, knowing Ainge, any or all of the above could also be future ex-Celtics. That was the case for Al Jefferson, Gomes and Telfair, all of whom went to Minnesota in the Kevin Garnett trade. West went to Seattle in the Ray Allen trade.
By now, however, Ainge has enough chips, not to mention newfound cachet, to keep doing what he’s always been doing. Whether it’s trying to coax Reggie Miller out of retirement for one last run, slightly preferring Kevin Durant to Greg Oden, or drafting a kid with so-called “issues,’’ he is not going to shy away. Expect the unexpected.
Where others see potential trouble, Ainge sees only potential. More often than not, history has shown him to be on the mark.
tobuyautoinsurance » Blog Archive » The risk taker Said,
August 29, 2008 @ 3:35 pm
[...] Original post by Peter May [...]
Dany Said,
August 29, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
Nice Article, Coulda mentioned the Miles signing 2. But I guess we’re only talking about draft picks. Didnt know that about Giddens, kinda excited 2 c him play now
Don Sellers Said,
August 29, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
Congrats to Danny and to Leo. I had the pleasure of watching the Leon Powe story happen first hand. I worked with Frank Matrusciano getting Leon and Dan Grunfeld (yes Ernie son) ready for Dan pre-draft camp and Leon’s workouts. The problem was no one and I mean no one wanted to bring Leon in for a simple workout. He was being advised to go back to college some which sounded like decent advice, but the kid had already made up his mind he was not going back. So being the Memphis Grizzlies former scout I made calls to friends all over the NBA and only Mitch Kupchak (Lakers) and the Portland Trailblazers would bite. The one thing I was taught by a very wise basketball man was to look for passion first, skill next (Jerry West). Leon did very well at the Laker workout and good at the Trailblazer workout although he returned with a headache after the mental aptitude testing (smile). Workouts started to come in now including the Celtics and Leon made a little name on the workout wire. He and his mentor, father, brother, friend Bernard Ward were feeling good about his status, draft slot promises were made after the switch to Aaron Goodwin only to have a very mysterious report put out two days before the draft on his knee, after being declared sound two months earlier. (Hmmm a pissed off agent perhaps hmmmm!!) Leon draft status dropped faster than the current real estate market. Thank god for Leo and Danny, I have scouted a few games with Leo and he is very underrated (other teams are you listening) very underrated. The lesson here is look at the kids background yes, but sometimes tough upbringings and hard luck make better more passionate players but more importantly it a lot of times builds great character. Do not bet against this Powe kid, he has been through to much in life for basketball to be tough. Hell of a job Danny, Leo, and there is no way you forget unsung big man’s coach and teacher who does not get enough credit in the NBA Clifford Ray. Danny realize what you have behind that bench in this dude. Complete unbridled passion in Clifford and a guy that is just as good in the post as Tim Grugrich is on the perimeter. Period. Good luck this season
Max Said,
August 29, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
I know it’s a perspective piece - To me it focusses on the fact the Celtic success in Ainge’s regime has come from his cavalier ways and going for talent in spite of character flaws…big time disagree.
Their success has more to deal with having an Ace in the hole (Mchale) to be able to take on nothing and giving away Garnett to complete the three headed dragon. Make no mistake that Ainge had to do something big since his job was on the line. Those pieces that Ainge drafted were excellent role players because of Garnett’s ability to get them in line.
If there’s anyone else to complete the big three other than Garnett, let’s say Gasol - then you’re championship isn’t happening and all those trouble makers on the team will be just that - Trouble makers and the Celtics will go back to being lousy.
Talent over character is good in cases ala Jordan keeping a lid on Rodman. In all other cases it’s not, so rolling the hard dice will just cost you your job. Those draft pics came before the big three.
Porky Said,
August 29, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
Danny Ainge is Executive of the Year and well deserving. The hapless Celts rebounded to win the title. Case closed…he is a basketball genius. Celts will win again.
Jax Said,
August 29, 2008 @ 5:46 pm
hey… i like the way Ainge looks at things.
Barack McCain Said,
August 30, 2008 @ 3:55 am
Giddens was drafted in 2008
The Gambler « RedsArmy.com: The Voice Of Celtics Fans Said,
August 30, 2008 @ 9:05 am
[...] Boston Globe basketball guru turned Hoopshype blogger Peter May breaks down the genius that is Danny Ainge. May hails Ainge as a ballsy risk-taker, smart enough to cut his losses and creative enough to move [...]
Celtics247.com » Blog Archive » Today’s Links 8/30 Said,
August 30, 2008 @ 9:07 am
[...] The Sports Guru It may be time to give the Olympics back to the college players Hoopshype The risk taker (Peter May rises again) AP Favorite Son: Knicks trade for Ewing, Jr Game Time All the Time Will Darius Miles be [...]
Bill Walton Said,
August 30, 2008 @ 9:19 am
Welcome back, Peter.
Good to have you on board.
Let me know if you ever want to offer anything for this site.
http://lexnihilnovi.blogspot.com/
Badax Said,
August 30, 2008 @ 10:36 am
Hey NBA lookout, Danny is getting ready to do the same thing again. Let’s look at his signing this off season - Patrick O’Brien, Darius Miles, JR Giddens and Bill Walker. Ainge is collecting assets, that’s what he talked about when he first joined the Celts. If one or two become good players, next year we find another guy, then we get lucky on a draft choice (Al Jefferson). Next thing you have a big trade with those assets and VOILA you hang a banner.
And yes, he will have successes and failures, but it only takes 1 or 2 good deals to turn a team around. Right now everyone is talking about the youth in Portland, but what young team ever won a championship. It takes Vets to win. Also, with all the youth on Portland in 3-5 years if they sign everyone to long term deals that payroll will be $125M dollars - I can’t see that happening. There is another issue with young players, they all want to establish themselves and that means scoring and more selfish play rather than team work - that’s just the way the NBA is. But Vets have their money and want to win and will sacrifice.
Cman Said,
August 30, 2008 @ 12:24 pm
Great article and interesting comments. Really appreciate Don Sellers’ insights.
Max — you blow the issue of “character” way out of proportion. You make is sound like Danny takes risks on players with questionable character. You call them “trouble makers” — making it sound like the Boston Celtics would be the Portland Jailblazers of the East without Garnett. This is far from reality; really the only player drafted that fits that bill is JR Giddens. Powe, BBD, Gomes, West — these guys are all high character draft picks.
Harold Miner Said,
August 30, 2008 @ 2:17 pm
A couple of things. One, nobody was mentioned in the same breath, or even close, to LeBron James in HS. Secondly, Rondo was benched at Kentucky because SEC teams packed their zone into the paint which let Rondo to be ineffective. He sulked at this move but it was caused by Rajon as he could not penetrate the seams of a zone without turning the ball over or breaking off the offensive set. It is not surprising he is a better pro than college player with the more wideopen style of play.
Summers Said,
August 30, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
Al Jefferson is hardly nothing. He averaged 21 points and 11 rebounds last year, and he’s only 23 years old. Minnesota also got back their own first round pick in that deal.
Better Version Said,
August 30, 2008 @ 3:33 pm
This article is pretty homerish with sloppy inaccuracies to boot. Brandon Roy was not gone - he was ultimately available to the Celtics in the 2006 Draft and they DID acquire him, only to trade him for Telfair - Here, Ainge got viciously Pritchslapped, to use Blazer talk. Also, I believe Rondo was traded to the Celtics for cash, not a pick - typical Sarver move. And, again, Giddens was drafted in 2008 not 2007.
kevin Said,
August 30, 2008 @ 4:23 pm
Up to the the KG and RA trade, Ainge had no clue what he was doing as a GM or talent evaluator. I say Ainge is the second worsted GM behind McHale. If those trades didn’t get done, I’m sure Ainge be fired by now.
Funny how the Blazers of the “JailBlazers” era, wasn’t a big issue with their bad character until they started losing. So guess, if Boston keep winning, they can add Miles (nut case) and be fine with it to the media.
Kevin Said,
August 30, 2008 @ 5:06 pm
I think the “blogger” means 2008 draft. Bloggers will be legitimized once they learn to edit themselves.
Kevin Said,
August 30, 2008 @ 5:08 pm
Hey Badax,
Players are only assets if someone else covets them.
potero joe Said,
August 30, 2008 @ 5:28 pm
1) He drafted JR in the 2008 draft.
2) What the heck does “wadaaincels” mean?
3) The snake-eyes players aren’t all that terrible. Not winners, but not going to kick me off the table either. True snake-eyes are as follows:
August 2 2005: Signed forward Brian Scalabrine
July 3 2005: Signed guard Gerald Green.
August 27 2004: Signed forward Justin Reed.
August 16 2004: Signed forward Tom Gugliotta.
October 27 2003: Exercised the contract option on forward Kedrick Brown through 2004-05.
Daniel Del Cid Said,
August 30, 2008 @ 8:13 pm
I can’t believe this kid got stabbed in the calf and still ended up having a successful basketball career.
Seriously lol!
but I hope he lives up to some of the expectations, we really need our young guys to contribute.
I’ve noticed that the level between Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and say Darius Miles, Leon Powe, can’t even think of the boston celtics back up small forward. My point being is that the level of skill between the backups and starters I think is growing way too large.
I really believe the Celtics need to secure some more talented ball players, especially at the guard position and center.
Paul Said,
August 31, 2008 @ 6:16 pm
Peter may has from slamming to parsing DA. What a turn of events for the ex BOS writer. You suck Peter because your cocky,arrogant condescending and lack creativity in your writing. The man who slammed Ainge the most locally is now praising him the most nationally. Funny how that works. No one even tha rage in BOS didn’t want you anymore.
Don Sellers Said,
August 31, 2008 @ 7:50 pm
Thanks for the compliment Cman.
Legend Said,
September 1, 2008 @ 6:34 am
It is interesting how my comment was erased only because I mentioned Peter May’s past and his previous mistakes while writing for the Globe.
Hey, Peter, is the shame too hard to take?
Come on, show some balls and tell us how could you not realize that Pierce was in his contract year when he was re-signed (actually in the year before a player option) and you criticized the future NBA FInals MVP signing.
Since I am the fortunate owner of “The Last Banner” and of “The Big Three”, I think I should deserve some respect.
Or my money are good but my opinion is not?
Fabio Anderle
Italy
bolvbball Said,
September 1, 2008 @ 8:33 pm
Now if Danny could figure a way to rid Scalibrini,before the season starts up,id be happy.I know thats the impossible at the moment,but can’t a guy dream a minute…if he could find some team to take Scal,Tony Allen,and maybe one of the wing men,in trade for 1 vet. BIG
for backup to Perkins,or split the duties at center. Personally,i find Perkins to be a second rate center,that has about reached his ceiling.I do not see much more improvements down the road here.Perk will be ok as long as their is top flight talent surrounding him,but the team could use some extra help,veteran wise in the BIGS dept.This is where the Celtics,Ainge has yet to score this summer,(imo).Now it could end up he hit 11’s and 7’s with O’Bryant,but im feeling like its going to be a snake-eye kind of season if DA doesn’t get a little busier.
Damon Said,
September 2, 2008 @ 3:06 am
All things aside, Rondo still had a very good sophomore season at Kentucky. He led the team in rebounds, assists, steals, had a better assist-to-turnover ratio after receiving an increase in minutes, and despite a drop in FG% and PPS, he was still able to penetrate to the lane, dish, and make his teammates better. He did have 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists against UConn in the NCAA tournament and actually was a more efficient shooter than either Farmar or Marcus Williams. It was interesting of note that he added another skill in his extra year of college, and developed the ability to rebound the basketball, to push it and run. To say he was ineffective would be a shortsighted view of it, Rondo had many skills that could prove useful to a coach citing his ability to distribute, penetrate, run the team, and play defense.
space Said,
September 3, 2008 @ 9:23 am
who wrote this?
getting three aged juggernauts doesn’t make you a great GM. there had been a ‘big three’ of talented players in milwaukee, orlando, houston, golden state, even atlanta not to mention a bunch of others years past, yet they don’t wave a championship banner.
giving credit to one guy when they have a staff of draft officials is ridiculous.
powe, rondo, big baby were all players who were expected to contribute at some point. rondo was a guaranteed backup point guard even if he had a terrible career, powe had an extreme amount of possibilities injuries or not, and big baby was nearly a 1st round pick. the descriptions above make it seem like they were absolute gambles. picking a guy low doesn’t make him a gamble and the GM a genius— it actually means that teams drafting before you made a mistake. telfair, gomes, west, allen, etc. are not stars, but able contributors on any 12-man roster. give the players some credit for actually being players.
Ron Said,
September 3, 2008 @ 2:56 pm
Celts did a great job last year but they won’t repeat. Although the big three were got most of the credit, James Posey was just as important. He was their second best defender and THE best perimeter defender. In their run to the championship, the Celtics had to go through both future MVP LeBron James and current MVP Kobe Bryant, the leagues top two players and scorers. Also, two players that Posey did a great job defending. Not to mention the superb job he against 2007 MVP Dirk Nowitzki when the Heat won the title in 2006.
In the playoffs, Joe Johnson and Rip Hamilton ran circles around Ray Allen, and despite all the praise Paul Pierce received for his defense, he’s still a liabilty against most of his forward counterparts. He’s not fast or athletic enough to keep up with the likes of Lebron James, Josh Smith, and Tayshaun Prince. What bails him out is his strength, which he uses knock defenders off balance and bully his way to the rim. The point is the Celtics would need another lock-down perimeter defender to go for a repeat and none of their off-season acquisitions fit the mold. And definitely look for Posey’s new club to make some serious noise and maybe get Posey his third Championship ring with three different teams, in just four years.
Ron Said,
September 3, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
On a side note, please don’t let Ben Gordon go overseas. What are the Sixers doing signing Donyell MArshall? A guy who will ride the bench all year. That’s just $1.2M that could’ve gone to Ben’s base year salary. Just imagine: Miller, Gordon, Iguodala, Brand and Dalembert. The NBA needs Ben Gordon to stay. He would help any good team like the Sixers and Jazz become contenders.
Eastside Celtics Said,
September 6, 2008 @ 1:19 am
I know how it all worked out for Ainge; but this article just gives Ainge way to much credit. Ainge lucked out that KG needed a change of venue. Until KG got there, Perkins did not have enough space to be the great clean-up man he is now. He had to try to be a one-on-one post scorer and he simply does not have the size and speed for that.
Ainge came in ready to tear down the Celts and deal Pierce, but could not get what he wanted back. Also Walker and Giddens are both liabilities (not to mention Rondo, though I do applaud that pick). You can only take on liabilities before it catches up. For instance Ainge took on Telfair knowing he’s bad. If it weren’t for the KG trade they’d still be stuck with him.
Coach Godwin Said,
September 7, 2008 @ 11:05 am
Profit is a function of risk!!! You have to do it sometimes to win. http://www.jumpstarthoops.com
kevin Said,
September 7, 2008 @ 6:04 pm
Ben Gordon demanding a star contract. Yeah he led the Bulls in scoring last year, but did anyone look on his defence side. Awful! Gordon is just an undersize 2 and will never be a full time starter on a contending team. Good luck in Russia or where ever Gordon, cause GM in thier right mind would sign you to the star contract you think you deserved.