Ainge Argues Semantics, Makes A Point

I’d say he’s doing alright.

Maybe, maybe not, but it’s speculation.

But he’s being honest about the fact that he want Chris Paul, and obviously Rondo was the only chance he had of making that happen. But he’s right, there’s a big difference between saying “I’d trade Rondo for Chris Paul”, and “I want to trade Rondo.”

The following is speculation on my part. But it fits all the data that we know of.

As became realized by the Trade That Would Be Nullified™, the Lakers obviously were trying to get CP3 to combine him with Kobe and Bynum for a very potent Big 3 – that would be a HUGE upgrade for them, given their mediocre backcourt. Yes, they would have given up some of their front court advantage. But they would finally be a much more balanced, complete unit from front to back.

Danny almost certainly new that was going on. So even if he would much rather have kept Rondo, strategically, if he trades Rondo to NOH for CP3, he still has a top PG and LA would not. In other words, whether or not CP3 is or is not ‘better’ than Rondo or whether Danny wanted Rondo more or less would not be the driver. They are both great and if you can’t have one, then having the other is great. And if you have to swap them to keep one of them out of LA’s hands, that’s what you do.

I think that explains why he was willing to also throw in Green and the pick. In basketball terms, that was a huge amount to be offering for CP3. I think Danny was willing to pay that premium because he was desperately trying to prevent LA from getting CP3.

As we all know now, LA was indeed trying to get him and for a very brief time, won the deal.

Again, this is speculation, but it would not surprise me to find that at that point, Danny got on the phone to Wyc and said, “Wyc, you gotta stop this deal! Get on the phone to the other owners and put the heat on Stern to stop it!”

And lo, the deal was stopped. CP3 ended up going to the Clippers, and Rondo stayed here.

So viewed in those terms, Danny could be very honestly saying he would rather have Rondo than any other PG in the whole world – yet still felt strategically compelled to try to swap him for CP3.

A guy who gets on their level, and understands things from their perspective. So yes, there is a great deal of respect there. And that’s not just this team, because other teams of his have said the same thing.

Maybe it didn’t work out in Orlando, and yes he was Coach of the single worst season a Celtics team has had, but through all that, what you never heard, not once, was any players saying they didn’t like playing for him. And many (West, Jefferson) since have talked about how great it was to play for him.

I’m not saying he’s the greatest Coach ever, I question his rotations at time, I’m not sure he’s the best at developing talent, but what I am sure of, is there might not be anyone in the league better at understand and reaching his players.