Danny Ainge Is one of the best GMs in the League!

No GM is going to score hits on every trade/signing/draft pick – and Ainge has certainly made mistakes. But things like the Big 3, Rondo’s extension, not re-signing Posey etc certainly outweighs the mistakes like not re-signing Tony Allen. And let’s be honest – when not resigning TA is one of your biggest errors, chances are you’re a GM with a strong track record.

People have to remember that for every inspired GM move, there’s going to be a miss. Dallas may have stolen Chandler, but they also gave boneheaded contracts to Haywood and Dampier (not to mention not resigning Nash). Buford from the Spurs may have struck gold with Ginobili and Parker, but he also gave Jefferson 28 million dollars and very nearly signed Jason Kidd to a huge contract. The 2010 Suns were assembled by the same man who traded Kurt Thomas and two no. 1’s for a second rounder. In that context, I think Danny definitely warrants a mention as one of the top executives in the league.

- If only by default, GMs that have built championship-winning teams deserve kudos for such, and since 1999 there have only been 6 championship organizations – SA, LAL, DET, MIA*, BOS, and DAL. Ainge deserves credit for crashing that party. *I don’t recall who the GM of the Heat was back in 2006, but it wasn’t yet Pat Riley.

- GMs have to be both smart and ballsy, long-term and short-term. In 2008, Ainge went for broke and won it all, then tried to sustain that for a few years. Barring injuries to KG in ’09 and Perk in Game 6 of ’10, the Celts could very well have three titles. Putting a competitive championship contender on the floor is all a GM can do.

- GMs from non-championship-winning teams have to be on the right track with something special to be considered in the conversation for best GM. The only one that comes to mind in my opinion is Sam Presti of OKC. Oh, and perhaps Pat Riley, though he’s going about it in the opposite manner of Presti.

Top GMs:
1. Mitch Kupchak (LAL) – I don’t like it, but the man has 4 titles and always seems to pull off a trade or signing that keeps his team in contention (unless Stern gets in his way).

2. RC Buford (SA) – Same as above. 3 titles and the playoffs in each season he’s been GM. SA may be slowing down as their Big-3 age, and the Jefferson signing didn’t pan out, but they’re in the thick of the playoff hunt yet again.

3. Danny Ainge (BOS) – Took an under-performing and young Celts team and traded for two Hall of Fame players, which led directly to Banner 17. Barring injuries over the next few seasons, the team could have added two more titles. He has a lot of work to do to more on from the Big-3 Era, and his legacy (especially in Boston) will probably be determined by how he handles the next three years or so. He could either rise or drop on this list.

4. Sam Presti (OKC) – He’s doing a fine job, locking up all his young talent and bringing in solid role players who contribute. He has his team on the brink. Will anyone be surprised if OKC wins a title or two over the next five seasons? In hindsight, absolutely stole Perkins from Ainge, while Perk was injured nonetheless. Boston doesn’t have one player from that trade still on its roster. Perk? He’s starting for the top team in the NBA.

5. Donnie Nelson (DAL) – How much of this team is the reflection of Nelson’s work as opposed to owner Mark Cuban’s? The Mavs just won the title and have made the playoffs in each of Nelson’s years at GM. He wasn’t around to draft Dirk, but has certainly surrounded him with talent over the past decade. Keep your Hall of Fame superstars happy and competing – Rule #1B of being a GM*.

(Dis)Honorable Mention: Pat Riley (MIA) – He hasn’t yet won anything as a GM, so he doesn’t deserve to be any higher up this list, but he deserves credit for bringing in James and Bosh to pair with Wade, and his steal of Battier was probably the best free agent move of the past off-season.

*Rule #1A is Win, Win, Win.

as I have mentioned recently at times that Ainge has done a pretty good job of running the C’s.

He built us a great Celtics team in the summer of 07 with the goal to win a championship or 2 .
The C’s won the title in 08 ending a 20 year title drought which Ainge deserves alot of credit for.
The C’s may have won another when the big 3 were still young in 09 if KG did not get hurt.
The C’s were minutes away from winning the titles in 10 and probably would of if Perk and Rasheed were not injured.
The C’s in 11 built a older but maybe one of the most deepest and talented clubs in Celtic history but due to injuries and the Perk trade the C’s fell short of winning a title.
I think the C’s this year in year 5 of the big 3 window , Danny and many fans (including myself) thought the chances of winning a title would be the slimmest of all previous years since due to the big 3’s advanced age, which is not Dannys fault.

Ainge gave the The C’s a nice 5 year run of exciting basketball , where they accomplished there goal to win a title, had shots to win additional titles also.

I think we were lucky to enjoy this team he built (especially after the previous 20 plus year title drought and being in the NBA cellar) and this championship window which most NBA citys would of loved the chance to have.