Ainge’s Patience has Driven Paul George’s Price Down

Danny Ainge has remained patient in dealing for a superstar, and it will eventually pay off for him.

According to Zach Lowe, the Celtics and Pacers are far apart in a deal revolving around Paul George. Indiana reportedly wants the 2018 first round pick the Celtics have from the Brooklyn Nets, the 2018 first rounder from the Lakers, and a starting caliber player.

This is far too expensive of a package for the Celtics to give up for a player like George, who has told the Pacers he is leaving next summer for the Lakers. The Pacers will need to come down from that ridiculous asking price, or they will most likely lose George for nothing.

Ainge has been patient throughout the Celtics’ rebuild, and hasn’t let go of his assets from the Nets for the first available star. However, Ainge is running out of time to add that missing piece to put his team over the hump, and dealing for George could be the right move if the team also signs Gordon Hayward.

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The patience of the Celtics’ president of basketball operations should still be appreciated. At this year’s trade deadline, Boston approached Indiana about a George trade due to the team’s underwhelming season and eventual departure of their star player. It was said that the Pacers wanted both 2017 and 2018 Nets picks, as well as their choice of three players from the pool of Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart.

Now that haul is easily much larger than the most recent reported price for George. The Celtics at the deadline weren’t going to give up that much, and they still won’t give what Indiana is asking. The difference is that the price has gone down, and the Pacers are losing leverage by the second. The longer they hold on the George, the cheaper he’ll be to other teams.

Considering that the Celtics have the most assets of any team competing for the star wing player, this is a good situation for them. Especially if they sign Hayward, Boston will be able to put themselves in position to compete with the Warriors and Cavaliers while still having the future assets of a franchise deep within a rebuild.

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So instead of criticizing Ainge for being afraid to pull the trigger on the first player that becomes available, realize that there’s a plan in place, and he’s not going to overpay for a player that he knows he won’t have to. I know that most Celtics fans know that the Celtics are better off waiting for the Pacers to come back down to earth, but outside fans do not. Nick Wright decided to voice his complaints with Ainge on live television. Remember that this was the same guy that thought the Warriors were better off without Durant.