Was signing Horford still a good idea after missing out on Durant?
I was hoping for quite possibility the greatest news to descend upon me and all Celtics nation, that Kevin Durant would come to the Boston Celtics. What a day it would have been. Needless to say, I’m over it and maybe this is the backlash of the Durant decision, but I think I may even be over the Al Horford signing, as well.
Who knows maybe Ainge went all in on Horford to get Durant to fold towards Boston. Either way, Horford makes this team better, which is why pulling the trigger on that absurd offer was an easier pill for Danny Ainge to swallow.
How much better has Boston really gotten? Perhaps a couple more regular season wins is a lot more important as we stunningly found out at the end of last season. On top of those regular season wins, comes more pos season success. I will not begin to speculate what round this team gets punched out for fear of a major let down.
This team, without Horford, was going to win around 50 games, and depending on the development of guys on the roster, a trip to the second round is not far-fetched. Having Horford is a luxury, having Horford for four years… not so much.
Danny Ainge has drafted more front court players than some second graders can count. I’m sorry Danny Ainge, but you must have accrued luck on at least one of these picks spanning three years. Names like, Jordan Mickey, Kelly Olynyk, Ben Bentil. I feel as if Ainge was caught between a rock and a hard place, obtain Horford and eventually it will be labeled a misfire or do not go that extra mile, and leave the public baffled.
The way the fans responded to the games and players on the roster last year suggests Ainge could have let those same band of misfits run wild on the parquet, with little, if any drop off in overall interest.
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Why not explore the talents of each player before adding a piece that would completely hinder that process. I’m glad Horford will be in green playing thirty minutes a night, I’m not happy that possible untapped potential will rot up in Maine or on the bench.
The Celtics have too many players who have yet to flash any conceivable talent for either Brad Stevens or a general manager on another team to fall in love with. Sooner or later these players will need to be forgotten, might as well acquire something or someone for those once bench warmers.
Ultimately, this piece is a realization that there are so many problems under the hood of this 2016 Land Rover, sure it looks good but upon a closer look, it may have been a bad investment. There are more decisions than Will Hunting could calculate let alone some second graders.
Next: Ainge Should Shift Attention to Westbrook
I’m ready to shut my eyes and ride this roller coaster and hopefully that second grader is wise beyond her years.