Danny Ainge is Taking Over the Draft

Danny Ainge is showing off his power with the top pick in the draft, and the rest of the NBA should be scared

Everyone already knew of the immense power that Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge has in this year’s draft. The Celtics are in a position where they can feel comfortable trading the top overall pick, and it appears as though they can have their pick of suitors.

Twitter blew up yesterday as multiple reports form some of the most respected reporters confirmed that the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers were in serious talks to trade that first and third pick, while bringing back future firsts next season.

Celtics fans should be used to this by now. Ainge has been reported to be on the brink of a trade countless times in his tenure, and more often that not it does not materialize.

What is most staggering about this situation is that Markelle Fultz reportedly had a meeting with the Celtics cancelled today, in order to have a meeting with the 76ers, so they can make their final determination as to whether or not he is worth it.

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If you are reading everything you see right now, it sure feels like this deal is a lot more likely to happen than not. But, that is exactly where Ainge wants it to be. Ainge realizes that the way Fultz has been touted as the next generational talent gives him immense power. Ainge is stretching the absolute limits of the kind of value they can get for that top pick, and they are making anyone else panic if this trade could impact their plans.

The Celtics could realistically move to any position in the draft they want, and get immense value. The 76ers appear to be the most intriguing, because they can offer the kind of astronomical return that Ainge appears to be looking for.

Taking all that into account, keep in mind that there is little sense in Ainge making a trade before draft day. The value for Fultz will only go up, and Ainge will not stop pushing unless he knows he has reached maximum value for Fultz.

Once Ainge has laid out all the seeds, fielded all the best offers he can possibly get, then he will finally be in the right position to decide what the right course is.

It feels as though Ainge is always the center of attention when it comes to trades, but this one feels as bit different. Ainge has made it clear that he can take the player that he wants the most, and he can do so while potentially getting more value than anyone should have.

If you think back to the trade deadline, with fans clamoring for Ainge to make the kind of trade that would have netted half the return these talks are mentioning, you realize that Ainge might actually know what he is doing.

It is impossible to ignore these reports because of the people they came from, but this feels as awful lot like Ainge playing this game on another level than anyone else.

Ainge is now in a position where he be guaranteed to get the player he wants, while getting more value that anyone should trading that close. He is also in a position to build a collection of assets that maybe no one in the league could turn down.

Ainge is in the best trading situation he has ever been in because he can draft who he wants, and he can go out and get who he wants. Ainge is controlling the market right now, and really none of us can actually know what he priorities are.

For now, expect these rumors to keep swirling around as Ainge tests the limits of how much people believe in Fultz. And, if Ainge decides that is not getting the value he wants, or he does not want to package more assets for an established player, he can go and pick that generational talent himself.

The Celtics have more options than we can even realize, and he has all of twitter on the edge of their seats trying to find out if now is finally going to be the time that he gets the deal done.

The good news is that, right now, it is impossible for Ainge to lose value. He has the piece that everyone wants, and it appears as though the Celtics at least like him enough that Ainge wont sell for anything less than another Brooklyn Nets type haul.

Next: Josh Jackson to Celtics: Legit or Smokescreen?

It is going to be a fascinating week up until the draft, so congratulations Ainge, you have the basketball world in the palm of your hands.

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